11-Day Korea and China Highlights Tour from Seoul: Busan, Daegu, Andong, Beijing, Shanghai | Hahoe Village, Great Wall & Wangfujing Street

What you'll experience

Highlights

11 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Seoul

   Welcome to Korea! You'll be transferred to your hotel and have some free time. In the afternoon, you'll receive information about the start of your tour. 

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur)
2. 2

   Day 2 — Seoul – Busan

   Total distance covered: 395 km (by high-speed train)
   
   08:30 a.m. – Today we include an extensive sightseeing tour of Seoul lasting approximately five hours. We will visit Changdeokgung Palace (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a complex of palaces set within a large park. Afterwards, we will stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historic neighborhood of small houses. We then visit the War Memorial of Korea (admission included), an impressive war museum that illustrates the conflicts experienced in Korea throughout history, especially the Korean War, in which soldiers from many countries participated under the United Nations.
   
   Note on Bukchon Hanok Village:
   Due to regulations established to protect the residential environment, we are only allowed to park in designated areas and must complete an approximate 900-meter walk to reach this historic neighborhood. For operational reasons, this visit may be replaced by Namsangol Hanok Village, also featuring traditional Korean architecture, while still guaranteeing the cultural content planned in the itinerary.
   
   01:00 p.m. – Lunch included at a local restaurant.
   02:00 p.m. – We continue to the Gangnam District, one of the city's busiest areas, home to numerous shopping and entertainment centers. To conclude the day, we stop at Lotte World Tower, an impressive 550-meter-tall building, where you will have free time to go up the tower (admission not included) or to stroll through its park or luxury shopping areas.
   04:30 p.m. – Departure to the train station to board the high-speed train (included). After approximately three hours of travel, we arrive in Busan. Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.

   

   Changdeokgung Palace

   

   War Memorial of Korea

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
3. 3

   Day 3 — Busan – Haedong Yonggung – Songdo – Gamcheon Culture Village – Busan

   Total distance covered: 85 km
   Note: We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for the walk to the entrance of Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and for strolling through Gamcheon Cultural Village.
   
   08:30 a.m. – Departure from Busan.
   09:15 a.m. – Arrival at Haedong Yonggungsa. Visit of this 14th-century Buddhist temple located on the coastal cliffs of Busan. Along the main access path to the temple, there is a row of stone statues representing the twelve figures of the Chinese zodiac, which, according to Eastern philosophy, are considered guardian deities.
   10:15 a.m. – Departure from Haedong Yonggungsa.
   11:15 a.m. – Arrival in Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea, and city tour. We will visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), where people from many different countries are buried. We will then head to the largest fish market in the country, located next to Nampo Port. Lunch included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we walk to Yongdusan Park, home to its impressive 120-meter pagoda.
   02:30 p.m. – Departure to Songdo Beach, which features the country's first maritime cable car (included, subject to weather conditions), offering spectacular views of the bay. We then continue to one of Busan's most picturesque neighborhoods, Gamcheon Cultural Village, filled with brightly colored buildings, labyrinth-like alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops, and charming cafés.
   06:45 p.m. – Departure from Gamcheon Cultural Village. Return to Busan.
   07:15 p.m. – Arrival at the hotel in Busan. Overnight stay.
    

   

   United Nations Memorial Cemetery

   

   Yongdusan Park

   

   Songdo Beach

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
4. 4

   Day 4 — Busan – Seokguram Buddhist Grotto - Bulguksa Temple – Gyeongju - Daegu

   Total distance covered: 225 km
   Scenery: We travel through beautiful forest landscapes.
   
   08:00 a.m. – Departure from Busan.
   10:00 a.m. – Arrival at Seokguram. Visit to this Buddhist Grotto (entrance included), an artificial cave carved into the rock in the 8th century and located on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan. It houses a monumental stone statue of Buddha facing the sea.
   11:00 a.m. – Departure from Seokguram.
   11:30 a.m. – Arrival at Bulguksa Temple (entrance included). Visit to this temple, considered one of the most beautiful in the country and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The temple houses seven National Treasures of Korea and is a masterpiece from the height of Buddhism during the ancient Silla Kingdom.
   12:15 p.m. – Departure from Bulguksa Temple.
   01:00 p.m. – Arrival in Gyeongju. Visit to this coastal city, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, which lasted longer than any other dynasty in Korean history, for a total of 992 years under the rule of 56 kings. We will have the opportunity to photograph the beautiful wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge along the Namcheon River. Lunch included. We then continue to the Tumuli Park, where the tombs of the kings of the ancient Silla Kingdom, more than 1,500 years old, are located. We will visit one of these tombs (entrance included). Walking, we will reach Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   04:00 p.m. – Departure from Gyeongju.
   05:30 p.m. – Arrival in Daegu, the fourth-largest city in Korea. Before heading to the hotel, we will visit Dongsan Cheongna Hill, a historic site where Christian missionaries once lived, and Dongseong-ro Shopping Street, the city's liveliest area, with fashion shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine (entrance included), famous for its history of medicinal herbs in Eastern medicine.
   08:00 p.m. – Approximate arrival at the hotel and overnight stay.

   

   Seokguram Grotto

   

   Bulguksa Temple

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Daegu prince hotel(Daemyeong 2-dong, Daegu, )
5. 5

   Day 5 — Daegu – Andong – Hahoe Village - Byeongsan Seowon – Seoul

   Total distance covered: 287 km
   Scenery: We travel through beautiful forests, valleys, and fields of rice and ginseng.
   
   08:00 a.m. – Departure from Daegu.
   09:30 a.m. – Arrival in Andong. We will visit the traditional village of Hahoe Village (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the outskirts of the city. Free time to stroll through the streets of this rural village that seems frozen in time. We will also visit the excellent World Mask Museum, featuring masks used for dances, medical practices, religious ceremonies, and theatrical performances. Lunch included at a local restaurant.
   01:30 p.m. – Departure from Hahoe Village (Andong).
   01:45 p.m. – Arrival at Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy founded in the 16th century. We visit this site, located beside a river in an idyllic setting full of peace and tranquility.
   02:30 p.m. – Departure from Byeongsan Seowon.
   06:30 p.m. – Arrival in Seoul in the late afternoon. Overnight stay.
   
   Note: The order of visits may be modified without affecting the planned content of the itinerary.

   

   Andong Hahoe Village

   

   Byeongsan Seowon

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur)
6. 6

   Day 6 — Seoul - DMZ - Seoul

   Total distance covered: 150 km
   Important Note: Please remember to bring your passport; it is mandatory. The DMZ is a military area and may be closed without prior notice. If this happens, an alternative tour will be provided.
   
   08:30 a.m.– Seoul. Departure.
   09:30 a.m.– Aegibong Peace Ecological Park (Gimpo)
   Arrival at this symbolic space created to bring together peace, ecology, history, and culture, while promoting the values of Korean unification and collective memory. Observatory visit: From this viewpoint, it is possible to see North Korean territory at a very short distance across the river. This is a truly unique experience.
   11:30 a.m.– Aegibong Peace Ecological Park (Gimpo). Departure.
   12:30 p.m. – Local restaurant. Arrival. Lunch included.
   01:30 p.m. – Local restaurant. Departure.
   02:00 p.m. – Paju Demilitarized Zone (DMZ Imjingang). Arrival at the border area that divides South Korea and North Korea. We will visit the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, the Imjingak Pavilion, a symbol of peace, and take a cable car ride (included) to observe from above the areas near the Military Demarcation Line. Finally, we will visit the Freedom Bridge, a former railway bridge over the Imjin River that, after the war, was used to return prisoners of war to South Korea. Today, it stands as a historic symbol of hope. This site allows us to understand Korean history from a human perspective: family separation, war, the hope for reunification, and the contrast between natural beauty and historical wounds.
   04:00 p.m. – Paju Demilitarized Zone (DMZ Imjingang). Departure.
   04:45 p.m. – Seoul. Arrival.
   05:30 p.m. – Seoul City Hall area. With our guide, we will visit the City Hall building, known for its wave-like (tsunami-shaped) design. Across from City Hall is Deoksugung Palace, where we can appreciate the coexistence of tradition and modernity in Korea. We will then walk to the Myeongdong district, the country's largest commercial and entertainment area; its name means "bright tunnel." Dinner included at a local restaurant. Return by Seoul's modern subway system (ticket included).
   09:30 p.m. – Hotel. Arrival and overnight stay.

   

   DMZ

   

   Deoksugung Palace

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur)
7. 7

   Day 7 — Seoul – Beijing

   After breakfast, we'll provide a transfer to the airport for the included flight to Beijing. Upon arrival in the capital of the People's Republic of China, you'll be dropped off at the hotel.
   
   06:30 p.m. – We'll meet our guide and the rest of the group in the hotel lobby. We'll then head to the famous Wangfujing Street, a lively pedestrian and commercial area with plenty of shops and restaurants. Dinner will be included. After, we'll return to the hotel (arrival around 08:30 p.m.).

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: IncludedStay: Grand mercure beijing central(China, Beijing, Xicheng District), Mercure beijing downtown(No.16 Jia,Xi Da Wang Road, Chaoyang, CP 100124,BEIJING)
8. 8

   Day 8 — Beijing

   07:30 a.m. - An exciting day awaits us as we explore the highlights of China's capital. We'll enjoy a full-day guided tour, starting with a walk through the immense Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world. From here, we'll admire the Great National Theater, also known as the Beijing Opera House.
   Next, we'll visit the majestic Forbidden City, the most impressive architectural complex in China, where 24 emperors ruled for nearly 500 years. We'll also visit Jingshan Park, home to Coal Hill, one of Beijing's best-preserved imperial gardens. Climbing to the top of the hill, we'll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the Forbidden City—weather permitting.
   Lunch will be included.
   In the afternoon, we'll experience local life with a tricycle ride through the traditional Hutong neighborhoods, where we can observe daily life, visit charming shops, and step inside a Siheyuan, a traditional courtyard house.
   We'll then conclude our tour with a visit to the stunning Summer Palace, the former imperial retreat of the Qing Dynasty, renowned for its exquisite gardens and tranquil lakes.
   06:30 p.m. - Tour ends. You may return to the hotel by bus or choose to stay in the city center (in which case, the return to the hotel will be at your own expense. We recommend carrying the hotel's address written in Chinese to show the taxi driver).
   
   Note: Due to heritage conservation measures and enhanced visitor safety, the governing body of the Forbidden City has temporarily reduced daily visitor capacity. As a result, we cannot guarantee access to this site. If the visit is not possible, it will be replaced with a tour of the Confucius Temple and the Lama Temple, both iconic landmarks in Chinese history and culture.

   

   the Imperial Palace

   

   Jingshan Park

   

   Tiananmen Square

   

   Summer Palace

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Grand mercure beijing central(China, Beijing, Xicheng District), Mercure beijing downtown(No.16 Jia,Xi Da Wang Road, Chaoyang, CP 100124,BEIJING)
9. 9

   Day 9 — Beijing - Shanghai

   We'll take an excursion to the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section, a spectacular architectural masterpiece whose history spans more than 2,000 years. We'll ride the cable car up and down to access the Wall (tickets included). We'll bid farewell to Beijing with a delicious lunch included, featuring the famous Peking duck. Afterward, we'll transfer to the train station to board a high-speed train bound for Shanghai. Upon arrival, we'll transfer to the hotel for check-in and overnight stay.

   

   Mutianyu Great Wall

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Novotel shanghai atlantis(28 Pu Dong Avenue 200120 SHANGHAI CHINA)
10. 10

    Day 10 — Shanghai

    08:30 a.m. - This morning, we'll explore the highlights of this fascinating city.
    Our tour will begin in Pudong, Shanghai's striking financial district, located across the Huangpu River. We'll admire its futuristic skyline, including the iconic Pearl Tower, and take a stroll along the elevated walkways, offering breathtaking views of the modern skyscrapers.
    Next, we'll board a local ferry to cross the river, allowing us to take in Shanghai's impressive cityscape from the water while observing daily life along the bustling waterfront.
    Upon arrival, we'll explore the Bund, home to a collection of grand 19th-century European-style buildings, a striking contrast to the modern skyline of Pudong.
    Our tour will continue in Shanghai's Old City, where we'll visit the Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful private garden built during the Ming Dynasty. Here, we'll also experience a traditional tea ceremony, an integral part of Chinese culture.
    We'll then pass through Xintiandi, one of the city's most fashionable districts, known for its blend of historical charm and modern elegance.
    Lunch will be included.
    In the afternoon, we'll visit Tianzifang, a former residential area famous for its narrow, labyrinth-like streets, lined with artisanal shops, trendy boutiques, and art galleries.
    We'll conclude our tour with a final stroll along the Bund, appreciating its historical architecture and the European influence on the city's past.
    06:30 p.m. - Our tour will come to an end. You may return to the hotel by bus or choose to stay in the city center (if so, return to the hotel will be at your own expense. We recommend carrying the hotel's address written in Chinese to show the taxi driver).

    

    Yuyuan Garden

    

    Xintiandi

    

    The Bund

    Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Novotel shanghai atlantis(28 Pu Dong Avenue 200120 SHANGHAI CHINA)
11. 11

    Day 11 — Shanghai

    After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.

    Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Cancellation policy

Important info

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