Premier Journey: Timeless South Korea
About the Trip
March 22 – April 1 | 11 Days
A rare opportunity to see South Korea beyond the surface, this 11-day Premier journey moves between royal capitals, preserved folk villages and dramatic coastal landscapes. Moments range from wearing hanbok inside palace walls to walking the historic DMZ 3rd Tunnel, with multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites revealing Korea’s architectural and spiritual legacy. Busan’s seaside temples and creative neighbourhoods balance tradition with modern energy, while regional cuisine and cultural performances add depth at every turn. Curated experiences, comfortable travel and expert guidance shape an immersive, deeply memorable introduction to Korea.
CAA Premier Collection Tours
One-of-a-kind departures that offer immersive and intimate group journeys.
- Our CAA Hosts lead you on incredible adventures to iconic destinations. They will take care of every detail on each journey.
- Travel in style: Stretch out on spacious motorcoaches while exploring during the day and rest easy at night in the best hotels each destination has to offer.
- Memorable dining: Delicious local dishes and the season’s most flavourful offerings will have you savouring every bite.
Member Exclusive Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours/cruises.
- Bon voyage gift‡
- Plaza Premium Lounge pass†
- 100 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
Package Includes:
- Return airfare from Toronto or Winnipeg to Seoul
- First-class high-speed train from Busan to Seoul
- 3 +1-night stay in deluxe accommodation in Seoul
- 1-night stay first-class accommodation in Andong
- 1-night stay in first-class accommodation in Gyeongju
- 3-night stay in deluxe accommodation in Busan
- 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
- Land transportation via first-class motorcoach
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Hanbok Wearing Experience
- Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
- Prepaid gratuities
- Destination transfers
- CAA Host (Requires a minimum number of participants)
Premier Journey: Timeless South Korea
Activity Level: Moderate. Ancient palaces, UNESCO sites, seaside temples and DMZ history weave together over 11 culturally rich days across unforgettable South Korea.
Day 1
Depart from Toronto or Winnipeg on your overnight flight to Seoul.
Day 2
Seoul – Arrive at Seoul Incheon International Airport, meet your English-speaking Tour Director and transfer to your hotel for a three-night stay. Take time to relax before a welcome dinner featuring authentic Korean flavours. (D)
Day 3
Seoul – Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grandest of Korea’s Five Palaces, where you’ll wear a traditional hanbok for photos in its historic courtyards. Then visit Cheonggyecheon Stream, now a revitalized urban oasis. You may also explore lively Myeongdong Shopping Street and its Korean street food. (B/L)
Day 4
Seoul – Enjoy the morning at leisure before the DMZ 3rd Tunnel Tour. Visit the fortified border zone, walk through the Third Infiltration Tunnel, view North Korea from Dora Observatory and spend time at Imjingak Park, a symbolic site for peace and reunification. (B/L)
Day 5
Andong – Travel to Daegu to see Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO-recognized Joseon Dynasty stronghold, then continue to Andong to visit Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy, part of a UNESCO World Heritage complex, before hotel check-in. (B/L/D)
Day 6
Gyeongju – Discover Hahoe Village, known for its heritage and famed Hahoe Masks. Continue to Donghwasa Temple’s forested setting and stone Buddha, then visit Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond, a restored Silla Dynasty site, before travelling to Gyeongju. (B/L/D)
Day 7
Busan – Explore Daereungwon Tumuli Park’s royal tombs and Cheomseongdae Observatory, the Far East’s oldest astronomical observatory, then visit Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Continue to Busan for a three-night stay. (B/L/D)
Day 8
Busan – See oceanside Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, walk the glass-floored Oryukdo Skywalk and explore colourful Gamcheon Cultural Village. Finish at lively Gukje Market before returning to your hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 9
Busan – Enjoy a full day at leisure to relax or explore Busan independently. (B)
Day 10
Seoul – Travel by high-speed train to Seoul, attend an energetic performance blending traditional Nanta drumming with modern K-Pop rhythms, then gather for a farewell dinner. (B/D)
Day 11
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on double occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits.
‡Bon Voyage Gift is based on one per person.
†Plaza Premium Lounge is based on one voucher per person and applies to departures from Canadian airports where applicable. Subject to availability.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊CAA Travel Insurance, an Orion Travel Insurance product, is underwritten by Echelon Insurance. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2027. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to the promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance.
Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. Deposit is non-refundable at the time of booking. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from Toronto or Winnipeg on your overnight flight to Seoul.
Day 2
Seoul
Upon arrival in Seoul Incheon International Airport, meet your English-speaking tour director and transfer to your hotel for a 3-night stay. Enjoy some time at leisure before your welcome dinner featuring authentic Korean flavours. (D)
Day 3
Seoul
This morning, explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and most magnificent of Korea’s Five Grand Palaces. Experience history firsthand as you try on a traditional hanbok, capturing memorable photos against the palace’s stunning backdrop. Then visit Cheonggyecheon Stream, once a polluted waterway hidden beneath a highway and now transformed into a vibrant art-filled, nature-lined walkway in the heart of Seoul. At the end of your tour, you may choose to stop at Myeongdong Shopping Street, famous for its bustling atmosphere, endless shops and tempting Korean street food stalls. (B/L)
Day 4
Seoul
Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure, with time to unwind or explore Seoul at your own pace. In the afternoon, depart for the DMZ 3rd Tunnel Tour. This eye‑opening experience takes you to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea. Walk down into the tunnel and view the area near the Military Demarcation Line for a rare glimpse into one of the most tense borders in the world. Continue to the Dora Observatory, offering panoramic views into North Korea, including the famous propaganda village. Finish with free time to explore Imjingak Park, a symbolic site dedicated to peace and reunification. (B/L)
Day 5
Andong
After breakfast, depart for Daegu to visit the remarkable Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, one of the four key regional government centres during the Joseon Dynasty. Built to defend the city, this impressive structure has been designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Continue onward to Andong to visit Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy, a UNESCO World Heritage complex, before checking in to your hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 6
Gyeongju
This morning, visit Hahoe Village, a National Folklore Cultural Heritage site. Encircled by the scenic Nakdonggang River, this well‑preserved community is home to numerous cultural treasures including the famous Hahoe Masks. Continue your journey to Daegu to explore Donghwasa Temple, a serene Buddhist temple known for its magnificent stone Buddha statue and peaceful forested setting. Then, visit Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond, a beautifully restored palace site from the Silla Dynasty. After your visits, travel to Gyeongju and check in to your hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 7
Busan
Visit Daereungwon Tumuli Park, an impressive complex of ancient royal tombs offering a fascinating glimpse into the Silla Dynasty’s burial traditions. Continue to Cheomseongdae Observatory, a 9.17‑metre‑high stone tower and the oldest astronomical observatory in the Far East.
After lunch, journey to Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple. Perched on Mt. Tohamsan, Seokguram Grotto is a serene hermitage and part of the Bulguksa Temple complex—both designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Later, travel to Busan and check in to your hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 8
Busan
After breakfast, begin your day at Haedong Yonggungsa, the stunning Temple of the Sea Goddess perched on Busan’s northeastern shoreline. Continue to the thrilling Oryukdo Skywalk, built along a 35‑metre coastal cliff. Step onto the transparent glass floor and look straight down to the crashing waves below—an unforgettable experience above the sea. Next, visit Gamcheon Cultural Village, a colourful hillside community originally formed by Korean War refugees. Today, its narrow alleys are filled with vibrant murals, playful sculptures and creative art installations. Your final stop is Gukje Market, one of South Korea’s largest and most lively markets. Browse through endless stalls offering local goods, snacks, crafts and unique souvenirs before returning to your hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 9
Busan
Spend the day at your leisure, with free time to relax, explore, or discover Busan at your own pace. (B)
Day 10
Seoul
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station and board a high‑speed train to Seoul. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax. In the evening, depart for a dynamic musical performance that blends traditional Korean drumming (Nanta) with modern K‑Pop rhythms for an energetic, culturally contemporary show. Finish the eveing at a local restaurant for your farewell dinner. (B/D)
Day 11
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner