Back Track Hosted Highlights of South Korea with Emma
South Korea
29 October – 7 November 2026
10 Days, 9 Nights
South Korea has a way of getting under your skin. The food, the pace, the people. It’s a destination that rewards the curious, and there’s a lot more to it than most travellers expect.
This 10-day journey takes you from the buzz of Seoul to the dramatic mountain scenery of Seoraksan, the traditional quietude of Andong, and the coastal energy of Busan, before looping back to Seoul to finish. Hosted throughout by Back Track’s own Emma, it’s designed for travellers who want to see the real shape of a country, not just the obvious stops.
There’s a night in a traditional Hanok house, a hike through one of Korea’s most striking national parks, a visit to the Demilitarised Zone, and yes, an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ dinner that will absolutely be a highlight. Comfort-style travel means good hotels, quality transport, and a small enough group that you’ll actually get to know the people you’re travelling with.
Emma’s been looking forward to this one. We think you will be too.
Places are limited. Departure is 29 October 2026.
What Your Ten Days Look Like
Days 1 & 2 — Seoul: Arrive and Get Your Bearings
Touch down in Seoul and settle in. The city moves fast, but your first two days are about finding your feet and starting to understand what makes this place tick. You’ll visit the Demilitarised Zone, one of the most thought-provoking experiences South Korea offers, and spend time exploring the city’s layers: ancient palaces sitting alongside modern neighbourhoods, street food markets around every corner, and a local energy that’s genuinely hard to describe until you’ve felt it.
Days 3 & 4 — Sokcho: Seoraksan National Park
Travel northeast to Sokcho, the gateway to Seoraksan National Park. This is the kind of scenery you don’t find in the guidebook version of Korea. Rugged peaks, forested trails, and a quietness that feels miles from Seoul’s pace. You’ll hike through it properly, with Emma alongside you, and come back to town with the kind of appetite only mountain air produces.
Day 5 — Andong: A Night in a Hanok
Andong is where Korea’s traditional culture runs deepest. You’ll spend the day exploring this, before checking into a traditional Hanok guesthouse for the night. Sliding timber doors, an ondol-heated floor, and a level of stillness that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s one of those nights that tends to come up in conversation long after you’re home.
Days 6 & 7 — Busan: Coast, Culture, and Korean BBQ
Busan hits differently. The city faces the sea, and everything about it reflects that. You’ll visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, one of the few Buddhist temples in Korea built right on the coastline, hear the stories of the Haenyeo, the extraordinary women divers of the southern coast, and wander the colourful laneways of Gamcheon Culture Village. One evening is given over to Korean BBQ done properly. Come hungry.
Days 8, 9 & 10 — Back to Seoul
A high-speed train brings you back to Seoul for the final stretch. Three days to explore more of a city that genuinely rewards time. Markets, palaces, design districts, and the kind of street-food culture that makes you plan a return trip before you’ve even left. Departure transfers are included on Day 10.
The Details
$5,395 per person (twin share)
Single supplement: $1,345
Airport arrival and departure transfers are included on a group basis. All activities listed in the daily itinerary are included, along with entrance and admission fees where applicable.
Accommodation: 8 nights hotel accommodation, 1 night Hanok guesthouse
Transport: Private vehicle, public bus, metro, taxi, boat, and high-speed train
What’s Included
- 9 nights accommodation (8 hotel + 1 Hanok)
- 5 dinners throughout the tour
- Korean BBQ dinner
- Visit to the Demilitarised Zone
- Guided hike in Seoraksan National Park
- Night in a traditional Hanok guesthouse, Andong
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple visit, Busan
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- All included activities and entrance fees per the daily itinerary
- High-speed train transfers between cities
- Airport arrival and departure transfers (group basis)
- Emma’s full-time hosting and guidance throughout
Not included: International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, meals not listed above
Why This One’s Worth Booking Now
South Korea is genuinely underrated. Most travellers haven’t been. That’s exactly what makes it worth going now, before everyone catches on. The food culture alone would justify the trip.
Emma knows how to travel well. As BTA’s Senior Adventure Travel Specialist, she brings real knowledge and genuine enthusiasm to every journey she hosts. You’re in experienced hands, and that makes a difference in a destination where the local nuances matter.
The Hanok night is something else. It’s not a museum. It’s an actual stay in a working traditional guesthouse, and it’s one of those experiences you come home and tell people about.
Comfort style, done properly. Good hotels, quality transport, a small group. No roughing it, no compromise on experience.
Places are limited. This tour is designed to stay small. Once it’s full, that’s it.
Ready to go? Get in touch and we’ll sort the rest.
Email us at enquire@backtrack.com.au or call +61 7 3850 7600
View the full itinerary here: Intrepid x BTA Highlights of South Korea
