south korea: classic to contemporary

• Delight in contemporary art in stunning locations, including the Museum SAN and Busan Museum of Contemporary Art

• Discover Korea’s extensive UNESCO World Heritage sites, from royal palaces and gardens to the ancient capital’s Bulguksa temple complex

• Get to know Korea’s modern art movements, from minimalism to Nam June Paik’s cutting-edge work

• Understand Korean arts and craft, from celadon ceramics to mulberry-paper calligraphy

• Enjoy an exceptional culinary culture: rich stews, the freshest seafood and a dazzling array of side dishes

• Benefit from the guidance of Dr Nick Gordon, an experienced tour leader who has designed and led many tours to Asia with a focus on contemporary art

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 2026 – ARRIVAL

For those who have arrived by 6.00pm, there is the opportunity to meet your tour leader Dr Nick Gordon in the hotel for a welcome drink. Most direct flights from Australia into Seoul arrive in the evening, however, and an individual transfer from Incheon international airport to our group hotel has been included for all group members; contact us for further information. Overnight Seoul.

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2026 – OLD & NEW SEOUL (B, L)

Situated on the Han River, Seoul has been the capital of the Korean Peninsula since 1394, when the Joseon Dynasty took control after a thousand years of dynastic rivalry. This dynasty would rule until 1910. Today we take a closer look at the different faces of the capital – its heritage and modernity, which often sit side by side. We begin with a visit Bukchon Hanok Village, an aristocratic residential area from the Joseon Dynasty that has remained largely unchanged since the early 20th century. After a welcome lunch together, we turn our focus to Seoul’s burgeoning contemporary art and design scene, with visits to a number of small galleries and museums. These include the Art Sonje Center, a private museum that hosts excellent temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Returning to our hotel, the evening is at leisure with your tour leader at hand to help with independent dining options. Overnight Seoul.

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2026 – ART, HISTORY & CULTURE IN SEOUL (B, L)

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Changdeokgung Palace is the best preserved of all the Joseon Dynasty palace complexes. This morning, our guide introduces us to the sprawling royal residence before we visit the Secret Garden, reserved for the private use of the king and royal family members. After lunch, we continue our survey of Seoul’s contemporary art scene, visiting a number of private galleries. Many are thanks to the patronage of the large corporations that have transformed Korea’s economy in recent decades, such as the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. Its collection features works by Korean and international artists, in buildings designed by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas. Overnight Seoul.

MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2026 – NATIONAL ART & ARCHITECTURE (B, L)

We begin the day with a visit to the National Museum of Korea. Established in 1945, it offers a survey of the major periods of the peninsula’s history, from the paleolithic and on through the periods of the Three Kingdoms of Baekje, Goguryeo and Silla. There are extraordinary works of imperial jewellery and early Buddhist sculpture. Continuing to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, we explore Korea’s connection to a global avant-garde through its collection of works by Korean and international artists. Lunch is in a traditional hanok-style restaurant and in the afternoon we call in at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. It showcases the distinctive futuristic designs of late ‘starchitect’ Zaha Hadid and Samoo. Overnight Seoul.

TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER 2026 – A DAY IN THE COUNTRY (B, L)

Today we leave the city to explore the countryside to the south, which is renowned for its beauty. Our first stop is the SAN Museum, which was designed by Tadao Ando to showcase the relationship between architecture and the natural beauty surrounding the museum. In addition to special exhibitions, the museum features a flower garden, stone and water garden and five permanent works by light artist James Turrell. After lunch in the countryside, we visit the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, whose monarchs were influential in the development of Korean culture. Returning to Seoul, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Seoul.

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2026 – TO GWANGJU (B, L)

We check out of our hotel this morning, sending our checked luggage directly by van to Gwangju. Our own travel is by high-speed train, the comfortable KTX which we take first class to the city of Gwangju. After lunch on arrival in this southern city, we have the first of our visits to the Gwangju Biennale. Our tour has been timed particularly to take advantage of this contemporary art event, which was founded in 1995 and regularly features hundreds of artists from over 40 countries. In 2026 the biennale is curated by Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen, on the theme of You Must Change Your Life. The phrase, selected from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilker, explores art’s transformative power in an era of global crises and climate change, and the curator has deliberately invited a select group of approximately 45 artists to participate, to emphasise “intensity over accumulation”. After checking into our hotel, the evening is at leisure, with your tour leader at hand to assist with independent dining options. Overnight Gwangju.

THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2026 – THE GWANGJU BIENNALE (B, L)

We commence the day with a visit to the Gwangju National Museum. Spread over a number of buildings, it has a large collection of artefacts but is particularly known for its ceramic works. Given Korea’s foundational role in the development of East Asian ceramics, as in Japan for example, this is a key collection. After lunch, we continue our survey of sites associated with the Gwangju Biennale. Overnight Gwangju.

FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 2026 – TO BUSAN (B, L)

We check out today and travel to Busan, where on arrival we visit the Busan Contemporary Museum of Art, a cultural centre which seeks to highlight the issues of nature and the ecosystem. This is cleverly encapsulated in the building’s façade, an artwork by French botanist and artist Patrick Blanc and entitled vertical garden, comprising of 175 species of living plants native to Busan. We also head to the Gamcheon Culture Village. Once a slum that housed refugees following the Korean War, it has been transformed into a thriving cultural and artistic hub. We explore the labyrinthine streets, passing pastel-coloured houses to seek out the street art that has revived the local community. Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure. There is a group lunch today, but after checking into our hotel, the evening is at leisure. The hotel is in a good location for independent dining and your tour leader will be at hand to assist. Overnight Busan.

SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2026 – THE BUSAN BIENNALE (B, L)

Our tour has been timed particularly to two contemporary art events taking place in autumn. We begin today with a visit to the Busan Biennale. Known for the site-specific works that it elicits, often particularly oriented to the sea, it is curated in 2026 by Amal Khalaf and Evelyn Simons, on the theme of Dissident Chorus. We enjoy lunch together before continuing to F1963, a contemporary art centre with a post-industrial feel. We also call in at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a much-loved Buddhist temple that is uniquely directly alongside the sea. Overnight Busan.

SUNDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2026 – GYEONGJU (B, L, D)

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom and centre of Korean history and culture for over 1,000 years and today we take a day trip there. Arriving in Gyeongju, we visit the atmospheric Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, an outstanding Buddhist site dating to the Silla period and known for its autumn colours. There is lunch together before we continue to the Gyeongju National Museum, with outstanding artefacts excavated from the adjacent royal tombs. The collection includes several intricate gold Silla crowns in pristine condition. Returning to Busan, we enjoy a farewell meal together. Overnight Busan.

MONDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2026 – TO INCHEON, DEPARTURE (B)

We check out of our hotel in Busan this morning and send our luggage directly to Incheon airport, where it arrives in good time for direct evening flights to Australia. We travel again by KTX in first class, arriving into Seoul railway station. We meet a coach to travel to Incheon, where we are reunited with our luggage. Our arrival at the airport is timed to the departure of most direct flights to Australia, which generally leave no earlier than 7.00pm; contact us for further information before you book your international flights. 

Pullman Ambassador Hotel 5* Seoul, 5 nights

https://all.accor.com/hotel/0966/index.en.shtml

A well-located and comfortable modern hotel. Our rooms are in the Superior King category, which average 27sqm.

Breev Gwangju by Lotte 4* Gwangju, 2 nights

https://www.lottehotel.com/global/en/coming-soon/gwangju-breev

(Note that the official hotel website is not yet active: you can check in again with this link from time to time!) An entirely new and centrally-located hotel. Our rooms are in the Standard Double category, which average 33sqm.

Shilla Stay by Haeundae 4* Busan, 3 nights

https://m.shillastay.com/haeundae/index.do?lang=en

A bright, modern hotel, located close by the seaside. We have selected Deluxe City rooms for our group. While they do not have a sea view, they are a comfortable 29sqm.

NB: hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.

• 10 nights’ accommodation at 4* and 5* hotels

• All breakfasts and 10 lunches or dinners, with drinks

• All ground transport, guided tours and entrance fees to sites as mentioned in the itinerary, and tipping

• First class tickets on KTX high-speed train from Seoul to Gwangju, and from Busan to Seoul, with separate checked baggage transfer by van

• A transfer on arrival from Incheon international airport to the group hotel

• Commentary by and expertise of an Australian tour leader

• Commentary by and assistance of an English-speaking national guide throughout

A $1,500pp deposit is required at the time of booking to hold your place on tour.

A second deposit of $2,000pp is due on 25 June 2026.

We will invoice you for final payment for the tour, due on 07 August 2026.

When you book on one of tours, we ask you to accept our terms and conditions. You can read our terms and conditions here.