China and South Korea: East Asia Adventure

China and South Korea: East Asia Adventure

• Trip code: 480X034
• Dauer: 15
• Stil: Classic

China and South Korea, let’s go! This two-week adventure brings the best of both worlds — ancient wonders, futuristic cities, and street food so good you’ll dream about it for years. Stroll through neon-lit Seoul and cutting-edge Beijing, sleep in a traditional hanok house, scale the Great Wall, and stand in awe before the Terracotta Warriors. With every bite, step, and story, you’ll dive deep into two vibrant cultures that are close in distance but worlds apart in feel. Bags packed? Let’s do this.

Übersicht

Accommodation

Hotels (12 nts), temple (1 nt)

Checklist

Cold Weather:
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
• Scarf
• Warm gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm layers
• Warm waterproof jacket

Conservative Dress:
• Modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders (Long pants, long skirts, shirts that cover shoulders)
• Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Headphones (Noice-cancelling recommended)
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Light Hiking:
• Hiking boots
• Hiking pants (Convertible/Zip-off and quick dry recommended)
• Walking poles

Train Travel (Optional):
• Slip-on shoes
• Small container with lid
• Travel cutlery
• Travel or camp cup

Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear

Group Leader

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides

Group Size Notes

Max 16, avg 12

Highlights

Hike along one of the best-preserved stretches of the Great Wall of China, Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors and dive into China’s ancient past, Discover the dynamic contrasts of futuristic cities and time-honoured traditions in both countries, Explore Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace and wander through Bukchon Hanok Village, Spend a peaceful night in a traditional temple stay in historic Gyeongju

Introduction

China and South Korea, let’s go! This two-week adventure brings the best of both worlds — ancient wonders, futuristic cities, and street food so good you’ll dream about it for years. Stroll through neon-lit Seoul and cutting-edge Beijing, sleep in a traditional hanok house, scale the Great Wall, and stand in awe before the Terracotta Warriors. With every bite, step, and story, you’ll dive deep into two vibrant cultures that are close in distance but worlds apart in feel. Bags packed? Let’s do this

Meals Included

7 Frühstück, 1 Mittagessen, 1 Abendessen

Meal Budget

Plane USD425-555 für nicht inbegriffene Mahlzeiten ein

Optional Activities

Beijing
- Der Seidenmarkt (Gratis)
- Besichtige den Trommel-und Glockenturm (30CNY pro Person)

Mutianyu
- Toboggan at Great Wall (100-140CNY pro Person)
- Seilbahn auf der Großen Mauer (100-140CNY pro Person)

Shanghai
- Yuyuan-Garten (40CNY pro Person)

Seoul
- Gwangjang-Markt
- Besuch im historischen Museum von Seoul (Gratis)
- N Seoul Tower Observatorium (16000KRW pro Person)
- Besuch im Stadtviertel Gangnam
- Besuch der Schwimmenden Insel
- Regenbogenwasserspiel an der Banpo-Brücke (Gratis)
- Kimchi & Hanbok-Erlebnis (25-89USD pro Person)
- Samsung Leeum Gallery
- Besuch im Stadtviertel Itaewon (Gratis)

Busan
- Jjimjilbang
- Karaoke
- Night Yacht Ride
- Busan Monorail Ride

Start / Finish

Beijing nach Seoul

Transport

Bullet Train, Local Train, Metro, Private Vehicle

What's Included

Dein Welcome-Moment: Anreise und Begrüßungstreffen
Dein Discover-Moment: Shanghai
Dein Local-Living-Moment: Overnight Temple Stay, Gyeongju-si. Mutianyu Great Wall Visit, Free time in Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City Tour, Terracotta Warriors Guided Tour, Free time in Xi'an, Xi'An Ancient City Wall, Master of the Nets Garden Tour, Shangtang Street, Shanghai orientation walk, Free time in Shanghai, Acrobatic Performance, Free time in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong Alley, National Folklore Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village Exploration, Seoul City Tour, Overnight Temple Stay, City Tour of Gyeongju, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Yangdong Folk Village, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Visit, The War Memorial Hall of Korea, Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Visit, Transportation to and from all included activities

Internationale Flüge

No, international flights are generally not included in the price of your tour.

However, on some combo tours travelling between two different countries, international flights are included as part of the itinerary and price of the tour. Please speak to your GCO or booking agent for further details.

In addition, check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport

Minimum Age

Um ohne Begleitperson mit G Adventures zu reisen, musst du mindestens 18 Jahre alt sein. Das Mindestalter für Kinder in Begleitung eines Erziehungsberechtigten (über 21) beträgt 12 Jahre

Itinerary

Day 1 Beijing

Ankunft zu jeder Zeit möglich

Day 2 Beijing

Enjoy an included visit to the Great Wall. Later, explore Tiananmen Square

Day 3 Beijing/Xi'an

Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City. Later, board a fast train to Xi'an

Day 4 Xi'an/Suzhou

Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. Continue exploring Xi'an with a visit to the Ancient City Wall and the Muslim Quarters. Tonight, board an overnight train to Suzhou

Day 5 Suzhou

Wake this morning and grab coffee and a snack on the train as you prepare to pull into Suzhou. After arrival, visit Suzhou's famed Master of the Nets Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in China and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander around Shantang Street. Enjoy a free dinner before riding the metro back to the hotel with your CEO

Day 6 Suzhou/Shanghai

This morning, ride the bullet train to Shanghai. Join your CEO for an orientation walk of the famed Bund and Nanjing Shopping Road before a free evening in Shanghai

Day 7 Shanghai

This morning, join your CEO for an orientation walk around the city to see the shops and historic buildings. Join your CEO at the Shanghai Museum or head out to venture through this beautiful city on your own. Maybe start with a visit to the nearby Yuyuan Gardens

Day 8 Shanghai/Seoul

Say goodbye to China today as we board our flight to Seoul, South Korea! We trade in our xiao long bao for kimchi and bibimbap! And after arrival, you have the rest of the day to get acquainted with our first stop in South Korea

Day 9 Seoul

Sit back and relax on a private bus and enjoy a tour of the bustling metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples and street markets. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley

Day 10 Seoul/Gyeongju-si

After breakfast, board a high speed bullet train for a relaxing morning ride through the countryside to Gyeongju. Once the group arrives to this old capital city for 1,000 years, they will experience an overnight stay in a local temple. During the stay the group will learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk martial arts performance, experience the daily prayer ritual and a temple style dinner

Day 11 Gyeongju-si/Busan

Enjoy a peaceful morning meditation, martial arts practice, and drum and bell ritual before exploring in Gyeongiu. On the city tour visit to the UNESCO site of Bulguksa Temple located on the slopes of Mount Toham and admire the national treasures there, such as Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo, and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. Enjoy a visit to Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO site located in Gyeongju National Park, to get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty. Afterwards, experience the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and the surrounding Royal Tombs. After a great day in Gyeongju, travel by private bus to Busan

Day 12 Busan

Spend the day getting to know colourful Busan visiting the 14th century seaside temple hidden in the rocks - Haedong Yonggungsa. After exploring the temple, visit the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village, the bustling Jagalchi fish market, Gukjesijang market, and Yongdusan Park. The evening is yours to explore as you wish. Opt to take a see the Busan skyline with a nighttime yacht experience or ride the Coastal Monorail

Day 13 Busan/Seoul

In the seaside city of Busan, visit Haeundae Beach and Dongbaekseom Island, before traveling back to Seoul. After arriving in Seoul by train, check out Korea's oldest traditional market - Namdaemun Market. Then make your way by cable car to N Seoul Tower to see this beautiful landmark and opt to make the trip up to the observation deck. Spend the rest of your day in Seoul opting to see Banpo Bridge, the floating islands, or hanging out in the Gangnam district

Day 14 Seoul

Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), founded in 1953, separating North and South Korea. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, it is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. With a buffer zone 4km wide and spanning 250 km long there has been very little development in the area, therefore nature and wildlife have pretty much taken over. Spend about 3-4 hours visiting the Demilitarized Zone, then head to The War Memorial of Korea. Later, return back to Seoul for another night in the city

Day 15 Seoul

Depart at any time

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Beijing

Steht Beijing ganz oben auf deiner Liste von Orten, die du unbedingt gesehen haben musst? Wenn du Übernachtungen vor Beginn des Trips buchst, kannst du Beijing auf eigene Faust erkunden, bevor du mit der Gruppe zusammentriffst.

Day 2 Beijing

Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs. In the afternoon head to Tiananmen Squarem followed by a night walk to the local market.

Day 3 Beijing/Xi'an

Due to restrictions in China after the pandemic, the maximum daily capacity in the Forbidden City has been reduced from 80,000 to 30,000. This significant decrease in daily tickets has had a great impact on availability for both individuals and group tours to secure tickets, especially during he summer season. Our local team works very hard to secure tickets for each group. However, on the off chance we are unable to secure tickets to the Forbidden City, we will visit the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, places of similar architecture and importance

Day 4 Xi'an/Suzhou

Train is our main mode of transport in China and it's a great way to travel. We aim to get the best sleeping berths available on each train journey. However, train tickets availability is limited during peak travel times, including summer vacations and Chinese national holidays. As such, it is possible that the group may be separated into different carriages or assigned top sleeping berths.

Day 5 Suzhou

Day 6 Suzhou/Shanghai

Day 7 Shanghai

Day 8 Shanghai/Seoul

Day 9 Seoul

After exploring the city, opt to see a show, explore a local museum, or hit the pavement and eat your way through street markets trying local fares such as bibimbap, soondae, and kimchi.

Day 10 Seoul/Gyeongju-si

Stay in rooms called Ondol. These rooms are very traditional, heated to be cozy and comfortable, with beds made up directly on the floor. The rooms here are multi-share, divided up by male and female rooms. Enjoy a traditional dinner and breakfast during the stay.

Have the opportunity to learn about temple etiquette, experience the daily drum and bell ritual and take an easy hike up to the only stone cave temple in Korea for morning meditation.

Day 11 Gyeongju-si/Busan

Day 12 Busan

Day 13 Busan/Seoul

Day 14 Seoul

Opt to visit the Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery, explore the Itaewon neighbourhood, or prebook the Kimchi making and Hanbok experience.

Day 15 Seoul