Day trip

From Seoul: DMZ Guided Tour

4.1 / 5

86 reviews

Activity provider: Cosmojin Tour Consulting
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    Day trip

    From Seoul: DMZ Guided Tour

    Activity provider: Cosmojin Tour Consulting

    From US$ 85 per person

    Explore the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea on a guided tour from Seoul. Learn about the various point of interest and the complex history of the region.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
    Duration 7 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the ticket line
    Live tour guide
    English, Korean

    Experience

    Itinerary
    4 hours

    • Seoul

    • 1.5 hours

    • Northern Limit Line (guided tour)

    • Ganghwa Island (walk)

    • 1.5 hours

    • Myeongdong

    Pickup included
    Main stop
    End point
    Highlights
    • Learn about current situation between South Korea and North Korea
    • Take part in a Q&A session and ask all the questions you want
    • Including ticket and transportation for DMZ admission
    Full description

    With this tour, you will be able to meet and talk to North Korean defectors who have successfully settled in South Korea and can provide a more realistic and accurate picture of North Korean life. On the way to and from the DMZ and at each stop within the DMZ, you will hear from the North Korean defector and the tour guide about the reality of North Korea and two perspectives coming from two Koreas regarding the tragic Korean War. Bring insightful questions to ask the defector about North Korean life, the whole journey to come to South Korea, and other factors about Korean history.

    At the end of the journey, have some tea and ginseng product tasting at Ginseng center while asking even more questions to your tour guide and North Korean defector about your tour and things that you were curious about. If you select the lunch option, try Bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish with rice and various ingredients, or North Korean-style cold noodles, a traditional North Korean dish that was offered for both Korean leaders in the recent summit. You will head back to Seoul, near the City Hall, at around 1:00-2:00 PM depending on your selected option and the traffic.

    Includes
    • Professional English-speaking tour guide
    • Air-conditioned coach
    • Admission Ticket
    • Hotel pick-up service (if option selected)
    • Personal expenses
    • Hotel drop-off
    Not suitable for
    • Wheelchair users
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    • You must keep social distance while in vehicles
    • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
    Traveler requirements
    • You are required to bring and wear a mask
    • You must fill out a travel information form
    • You will receive a mandatory temperature check

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Meet in the lobby of the President Hotel. Address: 16 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

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    Important information

    What to bring

    • Passport

    Not allowed

    • Unaccompanied minors

    Know before you go

    • Sneakers are required for your safety
    • Every tourist must travel on the authorized bus and follow the time and photo regulations
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
    • This tour is not wheelchair accessible
    • Please arrive at least 10 minutes before departure at the meeting point
    • If you have selected the hotel pickup option, please be ready to depart 10 minutes before pickup time
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.1 /5

    based on 86 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.4/5
    • Transportation
      4.5/5
    • Value for money
      3.9/5
    • Safety
      4.8/5

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    Unfortunately the interpreter wasn’t available and we were refunded a bit but we had a lovely experienced guide named S.P. He was full of knowledge ,quick to answer any questions, and added some humor to the trip. I would try to go on a nicer day as the Sky was a bit foggy diminishing our view but overall worth the trip.

    January 19, 2020

    K
    Kyra – Japan Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Despite DMZ being closed due to AFS, I recommend the tour with the NK defector if you are interested in the Korean War and DMZ. Our guide Han was terrific at giving history and context. The NK defector gave amazingly open responses to questions about her harrowing experience. It is well worth the extra cost to hear from her directly. We visited Imjingak and Odusan Observatory. Imjingak is a memorial/theme park site at the edge of the currently closed region, just south of the Imjin River, 10km from the JSA and includes a memorial, BEAT131 bunker exhibit, a peace bell, a train from the war, and a view of the bridge over which POWs were repatriated. Odusan is a modern, 4 story mini-museum and platform to view NK from only 2km across the Imgin River, close enough to see through telescope people riding bikes and walking around buildings. (Note: closed to any tour: Dora train station, Dorasan Observatory, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, JSA. Still open: Imjingak, Odusan & Ganghwa Observatories)

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    January 3, 2020

    W
    William – United States Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Educational and Emotional, a Very Unique Tour Experience

    This tour was unlike any tourism opportunity I have ever had. Being able to speak face-to-face with a North Korean defector about his experience while touring the DMZ is an educational and emotional experience. I think any citizen of a free country has a lot to gain from this tour.

    September 25, 2019

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – South Korea Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 184454