Up to 40% off!

Up to 40% off!

Backpacking South Korea: Experience

Seoul’s royal palaces, the DMZ border with the North, a night with the monks at a Buddhist temple and the beaches of Busan. For solo travellers aged 18-39, in groups of 4-18, with 13 activities and 11 meals included. Departures run from 26 August 2026.

  • All Trips and Excursions
  • Airport Transfers
  • All In-country Transfers
  • 24/7 Licensed Tour Guide
  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
from$2225Normally$2429 Save $204 (8%)
Pay $350 deposit
  • Length10
  • Starting PointSeoul
  • Ending PointSeoul
  • Avg. Group Size4-18
  • Avg. Age18-39
  • No. Of Activities13
  • No. Of Meals11

Join Your Backpacking Community

Keep up to date with us on social media.

Tour Itinerary

Backpackers walking through a covered shopping street in Seoul lined with brightly lit stores.
A twin hotel room at the Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan in Seoul with two neatly made beds.
DAY 1

Arrive in Seoul

Annyeonghaseyo! Touch down in Seoul, where royal palaces sit in the shadow of neon-lit skyscrapers. Get settled into your hotel, then meet your group leader and the crew you’ll be travelling Korea with. Head out together for a first taste of the city’s street food and late-night buzz.

  • Room TypeHotel
A group of travellers sitting on the stone steps in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
A twin hotel room at the Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan in Seoul with two neatly made beds.
DAY 2

Palaces, Hanoks & Hongdae Nights

Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grandest of Seoul’s royal compounds, then wander the tiled rooftops and narrow lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village. Spend the afternoon shopping and snacking your way down Insadong Street. By night we hit Hongdae, Seoul’s student quarter, for bars, buskers and karaoke.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast
  • Room TypeHotel
  • Activities IncludedSeoul City Tour, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong Street, Hongdae Nightlife
A visitor walking through the DMZ exhibition hall past displays on the Korean War.
A twin hotel room at the Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan in Seoul with two neatly made beds.
DAY 3

DMZ & Netflix Street Food

Head north to the DMZ, the heavily guarded strip that splits North and South Korea, and look across the line into the world’s most secretive country. Your guide unpacks the history behind the division and what it still means today. Back in Seoul, dig into Gwangjang Market, the stalls made famous by Netflix’s Street Food Asia.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast
  • Room TypeHotel
  • Activities IncludedDMZ Tour, Gwangjang Market
Travellers mixing bibimbap in a metal bowl during a hands-on Korean cooking class in Jeonju.
A bright twin room at the Gloucester Hotel Jeonju with two beds and a reading lamp.
DAY 4

Bullet Train to Jeonju

Board the KTX bullet train and speed south to Jeonju, home to Korea’s best-preserved hanok village. Wander the traditional streets before rolling your sleeves up for a hands-on cooking class — bibimbap was invented here. Finish the night tasting local rice wine and soju.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast, Dinner
  • Room TypeHotel
  • Activities IncludedKTX Bullet Train, Jeonju Hanok Village, Cooking Class, Rice Wine & Soju Tasting
Three travellers walking along Haeundae Beach with the Busan skyline rising behind them.
A twin room at the Hound Hotel Haeundae in Busan with woven headboards and white linen.
DAY 5

Busan Coast & Korean BBQ

Travel on to Busan, Korea’s beach city, where green mountains tumble straight into the sea. Walk the coastline and ride the Haeundae Sky Capsule for postcard views over the shore. Tonight it’s a proper Korean BBQ feast, followed by a night out in Busan — karaoke included.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast, Dinner
  • Room TypeHotel
  • Activities IncludedBusan Coastal Walk, Busan Scenic Coastal Monorail, Korean BBQ
A taekwondo master holding a board while a student in a white dobok lands a flying kick.
A twin room at the Hound Hotel Haeundae in Busan with woven headboards and white linen.
DAY 6

Taekwondo Black Belt Class

Swap your trainers for a dobok and take on a taekwondo class led by a black-belt master. Learn the kicks, blocks and stances from scratch, then prove it by smashing a wooden board clean in half. The rest of the day is yours to explore Busan’s beaches, markets and temples.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast
  • Room TypeHotel
  • Activities IncludedTaekwondo Class
Travellers in pink temple-stay vests standing in front of the mountains at a Korean Buddhist temple.
Travellers in temple-stay vests standing with hands pressed together during prayers at a Buddhist temple.
DAY 7

Buddhist Temple Stay

Trade city noise for mountain quiet with an overnight stay at a working Buddhist temple. Tour the grounds, join the monks for their evening prayers and eat the same simple vegan meals they do. Sleep in traditional temple quarters and wake to the sound of the morning drum.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast, Dinner
  • Room TypeTemple Stay
  • Activities IncludedBuddhist Temple Experience
A group of cyclists lined up with their bikes in front of a traditional gate in Gyeongju.
The courtyard of a traditional hanok village in Gyeongju lit up at dusk.
DAY 8

Gyeongju by Bike

Gyeongju is the museum without walls — capital of the Silla Kingdom for a thousand years and packed with UNESCO sites. Cycle between royal tombs, stone pagodas, ancient bridges and palace ruins. Tonight you’ll sleep on floor mattresses in a traditional hanok house, hanbok dress-up included.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast
  • Room TypeHanok Village
  • Activities IncludedGyeongju Bicycle Tour, Royal Tombs & Pagodas, Hanbok Experience
Travellers learning a routine in a neon-lit K-pop dance studio in Seoul.
A twin hotel room at the Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan in Seoul with two neatly made beds.
DAY 9

K-Pop Class & Farewell Dinner

Head back to Seoul for the grand finale: a K-pop dance class with a professional choreographer. Learn the routine, film the video and send your mates proof that you can actually move. Tonight we raise a glass at a farewell dinner with your new travel family.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast
  • Room TypeHotel
  • Activities IncludedK-Pop Dance Class, Farewell Dinner
A traveller browsing colourful souvenir stalls on a busy Seoul street.
DAY 10

Depart Seoul

Your Korean adventure wraps up in Seoul today. Head for the airport, or stick around and keep exploring with the friends you’ve just made. And if East Asia has you hooked, Japan is only a short hop away.

    Tour Dates

    All This Included & More!

    • Seoul City Tour
    • Gyeongbokgung Palace
    • Bukchon Hanok Village
    • DMZ Tour
    • Gwangjang Market
    • Cooking Class
    • Rice Wine & Soju Tasting
    • Busan Scenic Coastal Monorail
    • Korean BBQ
    • Taekwondo Class
    • Buddhist Temple Experience
    • Gyeongju Bicycle Tour
    • K-Pop Dance Class

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are there any age restrictions for this tour?

    Are there any age restrictions for this tour? We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all! While our target age is 20-45, what matters most is mindset. If you’re looking for a backpacking-style experience, with hostel-style stays, local transport, and optional evening activities - you’re welcome to join us.

    What travel insurance do you recommend?

    We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.

    Is there WiFi throughout the trip?

    WiFi is available at all accommodations during the trip.

    Is there safe drinking water in South Korea?

    South Korea generally has safe drinking water. The country has established water treatment and distribution systems that meet or exceed international standards for water quality. Tap water in South Korea is usually treated to make it safe for consumption, and it is regularly tested to ensure that it meets quality standards.

    However, water quality can vary from one region to another, and some areas might have water with a different taste or smell due to local water sources or the treatment processes used. In some cases, people may choose to use water filters or purchase bottled water for their personal preferences.

    Is South Korea safe to travel?

    South Korea is generally considered a safe destination for travelers. It has a low crime rate, and it is known for its safety and well-developed infrastructure.

    Is travel insurance compulsory?

    Yes! Travel insurance is a must for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof (on your phone or printed) to your group leader when you arrive.

    Need to grab a policy? Get a quote and buy travel insurance here.