Seoul to Jeju: Temples, Hanok Villages & South Korea's Coast

Neon and Waterways in the Capital

Arrive in Seoul and check into the hotel. Spend the afternoon shaking off the jet lag with a walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, an 8.4-kilometre sunken waterway running through downtown. As night falls, head into the crowded neon grid of Myeongdong to sample your first street food.

Dynastic Palaces and Wooden Alleys

Begin exploring Seoul with a journey through its historical core. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the sprawling 14th-century royal complex of the Joseon Dynasty, and browse the adjacent National Folklore Museum to understand early Korean life. From there, wander the narrow, rising lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village, which preserves the city's largest cluster of traditional wooden homes. Keep an eye out for the restored courtyards and dark-tiled roofs. End the afternoon in the antique shops and tea houses of Insadong alley, once the royal studio for painters. The evening is free to seek out local specialties like bibimbap, soondae, and kimchi in the city's street markets.

Bullet Train to a Mountain Temple Stay

Board a high-speed bullet train south to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom for a thousand years. Head into the hills to Golgulsa Temple for an overnight stay. This is a traditional Buddhist temple experience, meaning gender-segregated shared quarters and sleeping on heated 'ondol' floors. Learn the basics of temple etiquette before watching a demonstration of Sunmudo, a traditional Zen martial art. Eat a simple vegetarian temple dinner, then join the monks for the evening drum and bell ritual. Rest early to prepare for the dawn meditation hike up to the stone cave temple.