Wellness, Culture & Creativity in South Korea

10 days from £8,550 per person

• Seoul
• Busan
• Jeju Island

With a focus on South Korea’s world-renowned beauty culture, this restorative journey celebrates wellbeing, culture and creativity in perfect harmony. From learning centuries-old crafts and mastering authentic Korean recipes, to indulging in transformative spa rituals and meeting inspiring women who embody the country’s creative traditions, this itinerary invites you to reconnect and rediscover balance through beauty, heritage and mindful exploration.

Begin your journey in Seoul, where ancient palaces and Buddhist temples sit gracefully among shimmering glass towers. With its elegant architecture, thriving arts scene and devotion to wellness, Seoul embodies modern Korea - one foot rooted in tradition, the other confidently in the future. Explore the city’s highlights such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grandest of the Joseon Dynasty’s royal residences, and disover how fermentation, seasonality and balance define the Korean approach to nourishment in a private cooking class. Stroll through the atmospheric lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village, stopping at teahouses to sample herbal infusions designed for wellbeing or create your own bespoke blend with a local tea master. Meet a new wave of artisans breathing new life into Korea’s craft heritage, from delicate ceramics to shimmering metalwork, and learn the mindful art of bojagi, Korea’s exquisite fabric wrapping tradition.

Dedicate an afternoon to modern Korean self-care; embrace the ritual of beauty at a jjimjilbang, where heat, steam and mineral-rich scrubs rejuvenate body and mind, and visit a leading K-beauty clinic, where ancient herbal wisdom meets state-of-the-art skincare science for that luminous, glass-skin glow. Refine your personal style with a colour consultation and K-beauty masterclass, discovering how tone, texture and ritual combine to enhance natural radiance. End your time in the capital exploring Seoul’s stylish neighbourhoods, Gangnam, Hannam, Cheongdam and Seongsu, and browsing concept stores and ateliers.

Travel south by high-speed train to Busan, a vibrant coastal city where mountains meet the sea and everyday life flows with creativity and energy. Begin with a meditative hike along the Igidae Trail, overlooking rugged cliffs and the glittering skyline, followed by an exploration of Busan’s dynamic food markets. Guided by a culinary expert, sample fresh catches at Jagalchi Market and street favourites at Gukje Market, before concluding your day with a restorative head spa treatment, a signature Korean ritual combining scalp therapy, aromatherapy and relaxation for deep renewal. A day trip to Gyeongju, the “museum without walls,” reveals the serene beauty of Korea’s ancient past; Bulguksa Temple, the royal tombs of Daereungwon and a private dinner inspired by royal court recipes in a former princess’s residence.

The final chapter unfolds on Jeju Island, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure of volcanic peaks, wild coastlines and lush forests. Visit the Bonte Museum, designed by Tadao Ando, where art, architecture and nature coexist in meditative stillness, and unwind in the mineral pools and herbal saunas of a traditional jimjilbang spa. Walk a section of the Olle Trail, tracing black lava cliffs and turquoise waters, and meet the island’s extraordinary haenyeo, the female free divers who embody generations of strength and resilience. Conclude your journey at the O’sulloc Tea Museum, where you’ll enjoy a private tea-making session using Jeju’s finest green leaves, a peaceful finale celebrating beauty, balance and the art of living well.

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus