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.

Seoul - DMZ - Seoul

Total distance covered: 250 km.

Important note: Please remember to bring your passport, as it is required. The DMZ is a military zone and could be closed unexpectedly without prior notice. If this happens, an alternative route will be provided.

07:30 a.m. – Early departure to the Cheorwon region and its section of the DMZ, the Demilitarized Zone marking the separation between the two Koreas.
09:30 a.m. – Arrival in Cheorwon. We’ll explore the Second Tunnel, secretly dug by the North Korean army and discovered in 1975. Next, we’ll head to the Cheorwon Peace Observatory, which offers panoramic views of the DMZ and the first villages of North Korea. Inside, there is a small museum detailing the Korean War. Our route will continue with a visit to the disused Woljeong-ri train station. We’ll also visit the Baek Ma Battle Memorial, commemorating the intervention of a French UN battalion during the fighting. Lunch included. Lastly, we’ll visit a local distillery that produces Korea’s traditional rice liquor, Makgeolli.

03:00 p.m. – Departure from Cheorwon. Return to Seoul.

06:00 p.m. – With our guide, we go to City Hall, to see this impressive tsunami-looking building. Across from City Hall, we’ll see Deoksugung Palace, beautifully lit at night, allowing us to appreciate the blend of tradition and modernity in this country. From there, we’ll walk to the Myeongdong district, South Korea’s largest shopping and entertainment area, whose name means “bright town.” Dinner will be included at a local restaurant. To return to hotel we’ll take the modern and efficient metro (ticket included). Overnight accommodation.

Seoul

08:30 a.m. – Today, we’ll include a comprehensive five-hour tour of Seoul. We’ll explore Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a complex of palaces set within a large park. Afterward, we’ll stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a historic neighborhood with traditional small homes. Next, we’ll visit the War Memorial, an impressive museum that illustrates the conflicts experienced in Korea throughout its history, especially the Korean War, in which soldiers from numerous countries participated with the United Nations.

01:00 p.m. – Lunch will be included at a local restaurant.

02:00 p.m. – We’ll continue to the Gangnam District, one of the busiest areas in the city, home to numerous shopping and entertainment centers. Finally, we’ll stop at Lotte World Tower, an impressive 550-meter-tall building, where you’ll have free time to either go up the tower (ticket not included) or stroll through its park or luxury shopping malls.

04:30 p.m. – Return to the hotel and free time.

Seoul - Suwon - Jeonju

Total distance covered: 227 km.

Scenery: Pleasant landscapes, rolling hills, and vast cultivated areas.

08:00 a.m. – Today, we’ll visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, an impressive palace with 600 years of history, where we’ll witness the changing of the guard ceremony, if it takes place.
10:00 a.m. – We’ll depart from Seoul and head south through Korea.

11:00 a.m. – Arrival in Suwon, the former capital of Korea, known for its impressive UNESCO World Heritage walls.
12:15 p.m. – Before leaving the city, we’ll take a scenic drive along the city walls and their fortifications, and visit Hwaseong Haenggung, the summer palace.

01:30 p.m. – Lunch will be included.

02:30 p.m. – Departure for Jeonju.
04:30 p.m. – Arrival in Jeonju. With our guide, we’ll explore the fascinating historic center (Hanok Village), filled with little houses, traditional shops, and art galleries. After the tour, you’ll have free time.

Jeonju - Sunchang Gochujang Village - Damyang County – Haeinsa - Busan

Total distance covered: 415 km.

Scenery: We’ll travel through high mountains, with beautiful landscapes around Haeinsa in the National Park.

Note: We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for the walk to Haeinsa Temple.

08:30 a.m. - Departure from Jeonju.
09:40 a.m. - Sunchang Gochujang Village. Nestled at the foot of Mount Amisan, where you’ll find traditional hanok houses and courtyards filled with clay jars called hang-a-ri, this town is home to master artisans who make gochujang (Korean chili paste) using traditional methods. We’ll get a chance to see how this iconic sauce is made.

10:20 a.m. - Departure from Sunchang Gochujang Village.
10:40 a.m. - Damyang. We’ll explore the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest, with scenic trails that are perfect for peaceful walks and meditation. You’ll also find various products made from bamboo, which are honored and studied in centers such as the Bamboo Museum. Lunch will be included, featuring a local dish of rice steamed inside a bamboo stalk.

01:50 p.m. - Departure from Damyang.
04:00 p.m. - Arrival at Haeinsa. Surrounded by breathtaking forested mountains, we’ll visit one of the country’s most important Buddhist temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 802, it houses the Tripitaka, the most comprehensive collection of Buddhist scriptures, carved on 80,000 wooden blocks.

05:00 p.m. - Departure from Haeinsa.
07:45 p.m. - Busan. We’ll arrive in Korea’s second-largest city, famous for its lively atmosphere. Overnight stay.

Busan - Haedong Yonggung - Busan - Fukuoka

Total distance covered: 85 km
Note: We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for the walk to the Haedong Yonggung Temple entrance.

08:30 a.m. – Departure from Busan.
09:15 a.m. – Arrival at Haedong Yonggungsa.
Visit this 14th-century Buddhist temple, dramatically located on the coastal cliffs of Busan. Along the main path to the temple, you’ll see a row of stone statues representing the twelve figures of the Chinese zodiac, which, according to Eastern philosophy, serve as guardian deities.

10:15 a.m. – Departure from Haedong Yonggungsa.
11:15 a.m. – Arrival in Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, for a city tour. We’ll visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, where people from many different countries are laid to rest. We’ll also explore Korea’s largest fish market, located near Nampo Port.
Lunch included at a local restaurant.

Afterward, transfer to the airport for our flight (included) from Busan to Fukuoka.

8:00 p.m. – Welcome to Japan!
Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.

Note: Arrival time is approximate and depends on the flight schedule.

Fukuoka- Iwakuni- Itsukushima- Hiroshima

Total distance covered: 290 km
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Fukuoka.

11:30 a.m. – Arrival in Iwakuni, a small city where we’ll see its beautiful and historic Kintai-kyo Bridge.
12:15 p.m. – We’ll continue our journey to Miyajima, taking a ferry to the island known as “where men and gods coexist.” There, we’ll visit the Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and built partially over the water. You’ll have time to visit the shrine, stroll through the charming town center, and enjoy lunch.
4:00 p.m. – Departure from Miyajima.

4:45 p.m. – Arrival in Hiroshima, a city sadly known for the atomic bombing it suffered in 1945, which completely destroyed it. We’ll take a walk through the Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome, and visit the impressive Peace Memorial Museum. Dinner included.

Hiroshima - Matsuyama

Total distance covered: This stage will be completed by ferry, covering approximately 50 km.

Scenery: Fascinating views onboard as we pass by a multitude of islands.

Note: We recommend enjoying the journey from the deck; bring warm clothing.

Today, we’ll board a ferry to Shikoku Island, a pleasant journey of just over two and a half hours that offers insight into Japan, a nation composed of many islands. If there are no schedule changes, our ferry will depart at 09:20 a.m. (departure from the hotel at 08:00 a.m.).

12:00 p.m. – Matsuyama – arrival. We’ll take a cable car or chairlift to visit its impressive castle. Afterward, we’ll visit Ishiteji, a stunning Buddhist temple and important pilgrimage site. Lunch will be included.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll include admission to Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese bathhouse built in the 19th century.

Note: We highly recommend experiencing Japan’s Onsen culture. There are specific customs that will be explained to you, such as gender-separated baths and the requirement to thoroughly clean yourself before entering the hot water naked. Please be aware that some Onsen facilities may deny entry to individuals with tattoos.

Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe

Total distance covered: 345 km

Scenery: Pleasant mountainous landscapes in some areas. Passage over large suspension bridges across the sea.

Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.

07:30 a.m. – Departure from Matsuyama.
10:00 a.m. – Kotohira. We’ll visit a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors, a pilgrimage site located on Mount Zozu, accessible by climbing 785 steps. For those who prefer not to climb, the base of the mountain offers a lively tourist area and a small sake museum (Japan’s traditional distilled beverage).

12:00 p.m. – Departure from Kotohira.
01:00 p.m. – Takamatsu. We’ll visit Ritsurin, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant.

03:00 p.m. – Departure from Takamatsu.
04:15 p.m. – Naruto. We’ll stop at an impressive bridge that crosses the sea. Here, we’ll explore its fascinating construction and walk on its glass floor to admire the stunning sea whirlpools (visible depending on the schedule and tides) from 45 meters above.

05:15 p.m. – Departure from Naruto. Enjoy beautiful scenery as we cross large suspension bridges.
07:00 p.m. – Kobe. A modern city by the sea, where you’ll have the chance to stroll through its lively downtown area.

Kobe - Osaka - Mount Koya

Total distance covered: 140 km.

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum, a site dedicated to remembering the tragic earthquake that struck the city in 1995 and showcasing its remarkable reconstruction.

10:30 a.m. - Departure from Kobe and continuation toward Osaka.
11:15 a.m. – Osaka, Japan´s second-largest city. We’ll make a brief technical stop in Osaka only if required for the start or end of a tour for any passenger.

11:30 p.m. - Departure from the city toward the sacred mountain of Koya, the most important center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. We’ll stop for lunch along the way. This magical pilgrimage site is home to 120 temples and monasteries. We’ll visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a deeply spiritual place and vast cemetery set in nature, with over 200,000 graves. We’ll also visit the Kongobuji Temple, built in 1593.

We will spend the night in a Buddhist monastery. The monks will guide us through a Zen meditation practice (Ajikan). Dinner will be included (vegetarian meal). If you wish, you can also attend the religious ceremony at the temple before breakfast.

Notes:
-On certain dates, the visit to the Earthquake Museum may be replaced by a visit to the Sake Museum or a trip up Kobe Tower.
-Staying at the monastery is considered a highly valuable experience. The rooms are simple, without private bathrooms, and follow traditional Japanese style with tatami mats. Bathrooms are shared.
-We cannot guarantee the meditation practice during peak tourist dates. Since accommodation capacity in the temples on Mount Koya is limited, in some cases, we may accommodate groups in nearby hotels (with half board included).

Mount Koya - Kyoto

Total distance covered: 130 km.

We’ll begin the day with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple.

07:15 a.m. - Departure for Kyoto.
10:30 a.m. - Kyoto. We’ll spend the entire day exploring this historic city, which served as Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 and was the seat of the Imperial Court. Remarkably, Kyoto was spared from bombing during World War II, allowing it to retain its incredible artistic and cultural heritage. The famous Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions was signed here in 1997.

Our tour will cover some of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks, including the Kinkakuji Temple—commonly known as the "Golden Pavilion"—surrounded by its stunning gardens and the Imperial Palace. Free time for lunch. Afterwards, visit the breathtaking Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari. Transfer to Gion will be included. This lively, traditional district is renowned for its Geisha culture and offers a glimpse into Kyoto’s historic charm. Enjoy free time to explore. The return to the hotel will not be accompanied; we recommend taking a taxi, and the guide will provide instructions on how to do so.
Note: If you have already visited Kyoto as part of your circuit, our guide will offer personalized advice and information for exploring other parts of the city on your own.

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