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Middle School: Discover South Korea

9 days in Seoul and Busan

watchtower and wall around seoul south korea
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OVERVIEW

Discover how South Korea’s creative energy turns tradition into global influence

South Korea feels instantly exciting to middle-schoolers because so much of its culture already reaches them through music, fashion, food, and media. This tour turns familiarity into deeper discovery as students truly step into the culture. In Seoul, a K-Pop dance class showcases creativity and global influence, while temples and palaces reveal how traditions still shape daily life. As students go beyond the capital, they learn how South Korea has preserved its cultural identity while becoming a leader in innovation and popular culture. With hands-on activities and a pace designed for younger travelers, this tour helps students build confidence while turning curiosity into real connection.

route map from seoul to busan via gyeongju south korea

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly to South Korea

Board your international flight to Seoul

Day 2: Seoul

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 3: Seoul

Take a tour of Seoul. With your Tour Director, you will:

  • See Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon Stream

  • See Gwanghwamun Square

  • Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace

Enjoy a guided tour of Jogyesa Temple

Engage in a paper lotus lantern-making workshop and a meditation led by a local monk

Immerse yourself in HiKr Ground, a vibrant interactive museum that’s the perfect introduction to Korean culture—you can even make your own K-Pop music video

Day 4: Seoul

Participate in a K-Pop dance class, learning from K-Pop dancers who will guide you step-by-step through choreography

Enjoy time to independently explore the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, an exhibition space dedicated to art, music, fashion, and more

Create your own decorative Dancheong mobile, using iconic geometric and floral patterns seen across Korean architecture and design

Enjoy an evening belting your favorite jams in a private karaoke room

Day 5: Seoul • Gyeongju • Busan

Travel to Gyeongju

Stroll through Tumuli Park

Visit Bulguksa Temple

Travel to Busan

Day 6: Busan

Enjoy a cable car ride over Songdo Beach

Visit Gamcheon Culture Village

Enjoy time to independently explore Gamcheon Culture Village

Visit Museum 1 and explore its contemporary art galleries

Day 7: Busan • Seoul

Explore the UN Memorial Cemetery and Peace Memorial Museum

Travel by train to Seoul

Take in panoramic views of Seoul from the Lotte World Tower

Day 8: Seoul

See the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site from the Joseon dynasty, and learn about its role protecting the city of Suwon

Visit a Korean Folk Village, a living museum filled with traditional homes and market streets that immerses you in what life was like during the Joseon dynasty

Enjoy time to explore Seoul on your own

Take a walking tour of Myeongdong, a modern shopping district

Day 9: Depart for home

Board your flight home from Seoul

What makes this tour special?

Enjoy a guided tour of Jogyesa Temple, where you’ll also engage in a paper lotus lantern-making workshop and a meditation led by a monk

Enjoy a guided tour of Jogyesa Temple, where you’ll also engage in a paper lotus lantern-making workshop and a meditation led by a monk

Participate in a K-Pop dance class, learning from K-Pop dancers who will guide you step-by-step through choreography

Participate in a K-Pop dance class, learning from K-Pop dancers who will guide you step-by-step through choreography

Explore the Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside maze of pastel houses and colorful street art

Explore the Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside maze of pastel houses and colorful street art

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

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Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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