Specialist operator InsideAsia Tours has launched new itineraries seeking to capitalise on South Korea’s growing popularity, as the country’s cultural exports across entertainment, tech and food fuel travel demand.
The three new tours have been created to suit different types of travellers – from the K-pop and K-drama-inspired ’Korean Wave’ itinerary, to the more budget-focused ’Essential South Korea’ trip and the family-friendly ’South Korea Family Adventure’ tour.
InsideAsia co-director Alastair Donnelly said: “As interest in South Korea grows, we wanted these three new cultural adventures to offer something a bit different, showcasing modern K-culture together with more traditional and uniquely Korean experiences and some incredible places in Seoul and beyond. There’s so much to this country.”
The operator said its 12-night Korean Wave itinerary offered “strong K-culture credentials” starting and finishing in Seoul.
The trip, leading in from £3,348pp, explores the abandoned Yongma Land theme park, featuring a K-pop dance class, and includes a stay in a traditional hanok guest house in the Unesco City of Gastronomy, Jeonju.
Guests will also head to the small coastal city of Gangneung, which offers temples, traditional café culture and the country’s largest immersive digital experience and the bus stop that featured on the K-pop superstar boyband, BTS’ latest album cover.
InsideAsia’s 13-night South Korea Family Adventure begins in Seoul and offers the chance to explore the city’s back streets by bike and take a day trip to nearby Namiseom – a small island that sits in the middle of the Han River.
The tour, which leads in from £2,907pp (based on a family of four), also features a trip to Korea’s second city of Busan, home to the country’s largest seafood market.
The itinerary also includes a three-night stay on Jeju Island with beaches, the 1,950m Hallassan volcano and a submarine ride over to the neighbouring island of Udo.
InsideAsia said its Essential South Korea trip “aims to save on budget [but] doesn’t skimp on experiences”.
The 7-night trip, bookable from £1,143pp, heads from Seoul for a stay in the ancient cultural capital of Gyeongju and includes a visit to the Unesco World Heritage site of Bulguksa.
The cultural adventure explores Busan, its beaches and markets, before boarding the high-speed Korea Express back to the capital.
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