Seoul

Seoul rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the Korean War, becoming known as the “Miracle on the Han River” thanks to the waterway that bisects the city. Here, you’ll find a 123-story skyscraper peering down on traditional Korean homes and palaces. Where an elevated highway once cut a roaring path, now a restored sunken creek brings fresh, cool air to the heart of downtown. Public art pieces, striking modern architecture, and futuristic waterfront parks all contribute to Seoul’s status as a UNESCO City of Design.

The city’s love for design goes back many centuries. Changdeokgung Palace was built in 1405 with a mountain behind it and a stream in front—a harmonious nod to feng shui. In Bukchon, visitors can wander in the narrow lanes between hanok, traditional Korean homes topped with slanting tile roofs. Above it all, the 600-year-old city walls thread their way along the four peaks that overlook the city—in the days of the Joseon dynasty, the gates were opened and closed each day to the sound of ringing bells.

Explore Seoul with O.A.T. on:

• South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures
• Pre Trip:South Korea: Seoul & Volcanic Jeju Island on Japan's Cultural Treasures

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

Ideologically opposed since the end of World War II, North Korea and South Korea’s conflict came to a head during the Korean War—and resulted in the creation of a buffer zone over two miles wide and 160 miles long, known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Within the DMZ lies the Joint Security Area, a truce village where the two Koreas—the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the North, and the Republic of Korea to the South— meet and negotiate.

While military activity is forbidden within the DMZ, both sides are lined with electric fences, land mines, and fully-armed soldiers on constant patrol. The area immediately surrounding the DMZ has been on high alert for over six decades, and the tension has only grown in recent years. Very rarely, a soldier from the North will cross the no-man’s-land to defect to the South. The DMZ is the closest most outsiders will ever get to North Korea, and observatories offer a glimpse across the border.

Explore the DMZ with O.A.T. on:

• South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures
• Pre Trip:South Korea: Seoul & Volcanic Jeju Island on Japan's Cultural Treasures

Jeju Island

A popular vacation spot for South Koreans, Jeju Island is ringed by white sandy beaches that have earned it the nickname “the Hawaii of South Korea.” At the center of the island sits Hallasan Mountain, a now-dormant volcano whose history of eruptions can be seen in the island’s unique geographical landscape in the form of craters and lava tubes. The island is also home to women sea divers called haenyeo—a long and respected tradition that is under threat of fading away as less women opt to undertake this difficult lifestyle. These real-life “mermaids” dive without equipment and have been trained to hold their breath underwater for up to two minutes as they search beneath the sea’s surface for seaweed, clam, and abalone.

Explore Jeju Island with O.A.T. on:

• Pre Trip:South Korea: Seoul & Volcanic Jeju Island on Japan's Cultural Treasures

Yangpyeong Village

Located just an hour outside of the bustling city of Seoul, rural Yangpyeong Village transports visitors back to a simpler time. Family-owned farms grow and harvest seasonal produce using traditional methods. Our small group will have the opportunity to visit one of these farming families where we will help with the harvest, share a meal, and ask our hosts any questions we may have about daily life and the village's traditions and local culture.

Explore Yangpyeong Village with O.A.T. on:

• South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures