South Korea 360°: Between Modernity And Tradition
The trip in a nutshell
South Korea is getting on the bucket list of every real traveller, so it should also be on your list of countries to visit at least once in a lifetime. Its culture and traditions remain intact despite its great openness to all things modern. We will see immense metropolises such as Seoul and Busan, but we will also find small oases of peace where time seems to stand still, as in the village of Andong or among the temples of Gyeongju.
Our journey begins in one of the world's most beautiful capitals, Seoul! From the majestic Changdeokgung Palace to the picturesque Bukchon Hanok district, here we will have our first impact with modern Korean culture. Immediately, however, we will leave the big city to visit a typical village in Andong, famous for its old hanok houses: here we will have a traditional lunch and learn the ancient paper colouring artcraft. We will then move on to Gyeongju to admire the historic temples, enjoy the beautiful beaches of Busan, visit typical markets and discover Yonggungsa, one of the most beautiful temples in all of Asia! We will finally return to Seoul, where we still have plenty of things to do: from Gwangjang Market to K-pop culture on Insadong Street, from Dongdaemun Design Plaza to the view we will enjoy from the spectacular N Seoul Tower! After so many adventures we will by now be experts in a culture that is so far removed from our own but at the same time beckons us with its timeless charm... are we moving here then?
Trip type
360º - it's our great classic that allows you to discover the destination in all its aspects. We recommend packing a backpack rather than a suitcase as there will be lots of moving around.
Physical rating
MODERATE - this itinerary may involve hiking or other activities that require a moderate amount of physical effort. Be prepared for some potential long transfers and early wake up calls!
Entry requirements
Please visit your country's official government website to find out the necessary requirements for entering the country of destination.
Arrival and departure
This trip starts and ends in Seoul. Aim to arrive on the first day by 5pm - on the last day you are free to leave whenever!
What's included
9 nights accommodation in shared rooms
Local English speaking guide on day 3
Private bus with driver on day 3
Train from Seoul to Andong on day 3
Local Experience: Entrance tickets to Hahoe folk village (lunch included)
Private transfer from Andong to Gyeongju on day 3
Train from Gyeongju to Busan on day 4
Train from Busan to Seoul on day 7
Travel coordinator services
Free cancellation with 100% refund up to 31 days before departure
Itinerary
Welcome to South Korea!
Check-in: our adventure starts in Seoul
Roundtrip flights or transportation to reach the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide from where and when you want to leave! This gives you complete freedom of choice to adjust your travel itinerary to your needs.
Embarking on our South Korea journey, we kick off in the capital: the lively and culturally abundant Seoul! Depending on our arrival, we can choose to explore initial iconic city spots. A must is the Hongdae district, ideal for our inaugural evening and a chance to savour a delightful 'bibimbap' - a classic dish of rice, vegetables, and meat.
Included: overnight stay
Not included: airport transfer, food and drinks
Seoul, between modernity and tradition
Our first hanoks
Today, our exploration leads us to the city's most renowned temples, nestled amidst skyscrapers and futuristic edifices - a true testament to the capital's unique allure! We commence with the grandeur of Changdeokgung Palace, a beloved Joseon dynasty residence ensconced within a picturesque park. Then, we embark on a journey into history within the Bukchon Hanok district. Its name, signifying 'northern village', is derived from its position between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung royal palaces and is famed for its traditional hanok houses!"
Included: overnight stay
Money Pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: food and drinks
Towards Gyeongju via Andong
Towards Andong
This morning, our guide awaits to lead us into a Korean tradition as we hop on board the ultra-modern Korean trains, set for Andong. Our destination is the Hahoe village, renowned for its traditional hanok houses, scenic setting, and deep ties to Korean history and culture. Preserving its original charm, the village's origins stretch back over 600 years!
We could also savor a typical dish from Andong, the Jjimdak! After lunch, we'll have some free time to explore this town and enjoy some leisure activities.
We arrive in Gyeongju
We haven’t reached our final destination for today yet: it’s time to head to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla dynasty. In the evening, we’ll have the chance to visit Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. But beyond its rich history, Gyeongju is a vibrant city full of young energy—what better opportunity to enjoy Gyeongju’s culinary specialties together? We won’t spoil anything, but your taste buds will thank you!
Included: overnight stay, Seoul - Andong train, private bus with driver and English speaking guide, entrance to Hahoe village with lunch
Money pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: other meals and drinks
From Gyeongju to Busan
Temples and palaces
This morning, we can take it easy and enjoy a leisurely start, exploring the streets of Gyeongju at our own pace. The city is considered an open-air museum for its stunning artistic treasures, such as Bulguksa Temple. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, it’s a complex of Buddhist temples originally dating back to around 600 AD. Although it has been destroyed and rebuilt over time, it remains absolutely breathtaking. Nearby, we can also visit the Seokguram Grotto, a Buddhist temple carved into the rock that houses a 4-meter-tall Buddha statue.
In the afternoon, we’ll treat ourselves to one last cheese-filled delicacy before catching the express train to Busan, where we’ll stay overnight. Did you know there’s a movie called Train to Busan? Of course, in the movie, the train is full of zombies… Will that be the case for us too? We’ll find out when we get there, but either way, we’re ready and equipped!
Included: overnight stay, Gyeongju - Busan train
Money pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: meals and drinks
Busan: between the sea and street food
Exploring Busan
Today in Busan, we're free to soak in the city at our own pace. We've got a bunch of options: there are awesome beaches like Haeundae and Gwangalli to kick back on, or we can explore the historic Beomeosa Temple, a big deal in Korean Buddhism. For a lively scene, there's the Gukje Market where we can shop, eat, and check out local stuff.
Later, we can hit up the Cinema Center for a change of pace, and as the sun starts to set, why not head up to the Gamcheon Culture Village on the hill? It's this artsy, colorful neighborhood with twisty streets, and the view of the city from there is killer—especially during sunset!
Included: overnight stay
Money pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: meals and drinks
Back to Seoul
Let's go back to Seoul
Before bidding farewell to Busan, let's pay a visit to the stunning Yonggungsa Temple, perched by the sea waves—a true Korean gem. Then, a flavourful lunch awaits with Dwaeji Gukbap soup, featuring tender pork, in Nampo-Dong. Afterward, we hop back onto the express train, bound for Seoul.
To celebrate your return to the capital tonight, how about a little festivity? We can hit the dance floor in Itaewon, or if we're in the mood for a more sophisticated vibe, a chic bar in Gangnam might be the ticket. Oh, and that name might ring a bell—yes, it's the same Gangnam from the famous tune 'Gangnam Style'!
Included: overnight stay, Busan - Seoul train
Money Pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: food and drinks
Seoul: Markets and K-POP
Karaoke anyone?
Traditional markets are like windows into local culture, don't you think? Our morning begins at Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's oldest and biggest, where we can soak up the vibrant Korean lifestyle, shop for souvenirs, and most importantly, relish the street food scene!
In the afternoon, we'll traverse the colourful Insadong street, surrounded by traditional art and young folks engrossed in K-pop culture. How about capping the day with some evening karaoke? Who knows, we might uncover our hidden talents! In Seoul, the possibilities are endless!
Included: overnight stay
Money Pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: food and drinks
The modern soul of Seoul
A step into the future
After so many temples and history, the time has come to also see the more modern soul of Seoul . A perfect example is the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a convention centre with curvy architecture and a rooftop park!
Since we are already at the top, we cannot miss the ascent to the Seoul Tower, the N Seoul Tower , from which we can admire the incredible Korean metropolis - which is the perfect way to say goodbye to this country, which we have discovered in all its facets!
Included: overnight stay
Money Pot: entrance fees to museums or temples and any public transport
Not included: food and drinks
Goodbye South Korea
Check-out and goodbyes
Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!
Not included: airport transfer, food and drinks
End of services. The itinerary may undergo some variations that differ from what is stated above. These variations may not be predictable nor depend on WeRoad’s will, i.e. climate conditions, national holidays, strikes, etc.

The travel coordinators
Our travel coordinators are chosen because they are people like you. Not only are they the best travel buddy you could hope for, but they're trained professionals guaranteed to show you a travel experience like never before
For all trips starting on or after January 1, 2025, Day 3 will feature a visit to Andong, followed by a private transfer to Gyeongju, where we will spend the night. On Day 4, we will explore Gyeongju in the morning and then take a train to Busan, where we will stay for Days 5 and 6.
Info to know
Staff
Our trips are led by a Travel Coordinator who has been specifically trained by us to lead group travels to ensure you have the best time. A WhatsApp group with all travel participants will be created two weeks prior to departure by your Travel Coordinator.
Luggage
Backpacks are mandatory to allow easy transfers - we recommend a 45L backpack for our trips.
Change of Program
For all trips departing from January 1, 2025, on day 3 there will be a visit to Andong only. A private transfer will take us to Gyeongju for the night. On day 4, after visiting Gyeongju in the morning, we will take the train to Busan, where we will stay for days 5 and 6.
Available dates
Travel coordinator
Maria Carmela
Group
6 WeRoaders
Travel coordinator
Maria Carmela
Group
6 WeRoaders
Group
1 WeRoader
Group
1 WeRoader
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Round-trip flights are not included in any of our trips because we like to give you autonomy and flexibility: you can choose the airline you want to fly with, the departure airport that suits you best, and how many and which stops you want to make.
Since flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: if possible, you can arrive at your destination a few days earlier or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!
This is the question of all questions, and here’s the answer, broken down into points!
The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator.
It is used to streamline paymentsfor extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
You’ll find the amount of the money pot on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the money pot’ – how do you get there? Look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money pot? Click here’, and you’ll find the details.
The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
It is used exclusively for group expenses that ALL participants decide to take part in.
It is estimated based on the experiences of other groups but can vary depending on the needs of the group itself. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
If not all of the money pot is used, the difference will be returned to all participants at the end of the trip in equal amounts.
The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the money pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
If you pay in advance part of the money pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded in case of trip cancellation.
We offer several payment methods to meet all needs:
1. Credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
2. Installment payments for certain countries only
If you choose the deposit and balance option, you can pay the balance from your MyWeRoad Personal Area via bank transfer.
Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.
If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option.
How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.
In general, we always choose local accommodations, avoiding large hotel chains, because we love to experience the culture of the place and, whenever possible, contribute to the local economy. Typically, our accommodations are hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and hostels run by local entrepreneurs, with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.
For our Collection trips, which are our premium category, the accommodations are always 4 or 5-star or carefully selected boutique hotels.
The list of accommodations for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator between 5 and 3 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!
If you're wondering why WeRoad trips have a money pot, we’re assuming you already know what it is. If not, or if you have any doubts, we invite you to read all the information here!
Let’s quickly recap: The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. It’s used to speed up payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
But let’s get to the point: why the money pot? First of all: it gives us a lot of flexibility. In all WeRoad trips you will have a bunch of Must See/Must Do activities already included - these are experiences, places or activities that simply cannot be missed! Any extra activities is decided by the group, why? Because each group is unique and may have particular wants or desires and the Money Pot allows each group to customise their trip to make it perfect for their requirements!
It also helps us speed up payments – imagine being in the subway in New York City, one by one purchasing the ticket...a nightmare right? Thanks to the Money Pot, the Travel Coordinator can simply purchase the tickets for everyone making the entire processes smoother! Any leftover money will be returned at the end of the trip and split equally amongst all participants.
In some destinations, buying goods or services on site is more economical as you are able to negotiate the price - places like Morocco, or South East Asia, bargaining is part of the culture. As such, our Travel Coordinators will be able to secure the best deal for all participants.
The amount of the money pot is specified in each trip – look for this button
which will take you to a detailed breakdown for each trip, like this:
WeRoad is not authorised to provide this information due to privacy reasons.
However, there is a solution - you can connect with your travel buddies by joining our Facebook group. Look for a post related to your trip, or ask the group admins for help in connecting with your future travel companions!
If a Travel Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you're interested in, you can easily find their introduction post in the group via the website: in the tour list, click on 'Ask the coordinator', or in the trip details page, in the coordinator section, click on 'Ask [coordinator's name] for information on this trip in our Facebook group'. For both cases, see the screenshots below!
Tour List
Trip details page
In all our groups, the Travel Coordinator and participants speak English – knowing how to speak and understand English is therefore a fundamental requirement to participate in our trips.
On average the groups are made up of 6-15 people, with a minimum of 3/4 participants and a maximum of 15.
All our travellers are in theirs 20s, 30s and 40s. If you're very curios to know the age range of the group for a tour you're interested in, you can contact us by WhatsApp at +447716573700
Regarding the male-female ratio, this is not guaranteed and varies trip by trip.
The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller and will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will be available for any eventuality and will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary (transports, timings, accommodations, meeting points, etc.), so you can enjoy the trip without any worries!
You will have the chance to get to know them when the WhatsApp group is created approximately 2 weeks before departure - this will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking – their details will be specified in the schedule or on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your Personal Area, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.
Yes, in all our trips you will share a room with other same-sex travellers, and the bathroom will either be private or shared only with fellow participants of the trip. The rooms we select can be doubles, triples, quadruples, or multi-bed (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.
There are never dorms with people outside the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodations like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.
During the booking process, you can also choose to opt for a mixed room: in this case, if needed, only those who have agreed to this option may share a room with travellers of a different sex. If you are booking for multiple people together and select this option, the room will not be exclusive to your group but may be shared with other travellers in the group.
When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'Once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you, even if you no longer travel with us.
But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. We can also meet up for a dinner or a trek together at one of the events organised by our coordinators around the world!