DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Day Tour from Seoul

I don't speak much English, so I was a little worried about joining an English and Chinese tour, but I really wanted to go to Jeondeungsa Temple, which is difficult to get to on your own, so I joined this tour. MAC, the tour guide, spoke a little Japanese and was very considerate to ease my anxiety, which I am very grateful for. We communicated in advance via LINE, he used LINE to give me detailed explanations in Japanese so that I could understand, and he showed me directions with photos so that I wouldn't get lost. I am very grateful. If I have the opportunity, I would like to join MAC's tour again. Thank you very much.

A truly unique and surprising tour! We had the chance to visit a lesser-known area of the DMZ, away from the typical tourist spots, and I have to say the experience went far beyond my expectations. In my opinion, it was even more interesting than the usual DMZ tour in Paju! Another highlight was the visit to a traditional market, full of authentic local street food plus, we were the only tourists there, which made the experience feel even more special and genuine. The tour ended with a visit to a beautiful temple surrounded by nature. A big shout-out to our guide, Sky, who was super informative, engaging, and fun. I definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for something authentic and off the beaten path!

This DMZ tour was different from the rest you can find on tour booking platforms like Klook - and it was worth it. In this tour, you are actually closer to the 38th Parallel than the rest. Literally the Hangang River was the only thing separating South Korea and North Korea. While it was enjoyable, it was also sobering espcially that you get to visit Gyongdo Island. It was also a grounded experience that makes you empathize with the families who were torn by the Korean War. On the other hand, our guide Sky was really accommodating and hilarious, kept us entertained throughout the trip. He also has a lot to share about the area so it was really a fulfilling trip. Would definitely recommend!

One day during the Seoul trip, we joined the DMZ one-day tour group. In the end, we found that there were only four of us, including our guide Kevin. It was a private tour. Kevin was very enthusiastic. He has lived in Japan and South Korea for more than 10 years. He can speak Chinese, Japanese and Korean. He has also explored the culture of each place in depth. He was very talkative and enthusiastic during the trip. The Hwakai Garden on the Ganghwa Island route opened a mountain tram last year. We were too lazy to climb the mountain and added this project early in the morning. However, we didn't expect its speed to exceed everyone's expectations. After sitting on it, people with impatient temperaments will be anxious: "Isn't this cable car too slow?!" Hahaha, but every time you need to climb a very steep slope, you think it should be so slow, otherwise it will become a "roller coaster". The 60+ uncle who is in charge of order at the mountaintop cable car station is very energetic. He has been to many places in China and is planning to take 18 people to Datong, Shanxi in April next year. I have to say that I really admire him. We watched North Korea from across the river, only 2 kilometers from the demilitarized zone. The weather was very good that afternoon, and we even saw the "residents" walking on the other side through the telescope. The old market on the island was quite interesting. We tried some local snacks, which are said to have retained the traditional style of the 1970s and 1980s. The sugar cakes were delicious, and the carbohydrate happiness from oil and sugar.

Although there was no Japanese guide, I joined this tour because I wanted to go to Ganghwa Island. I previously participated in a DMZ tour in Paju, but on Ganghwa Island I was able to see North Korean people up close, which was a completely different experience from the Paju tour. The memorial hall was also interesting, and I think it was a very valuable experience. The tour of the warm Daeryong Market and the traditional Jeondeungsa Temple was also wonderful. The guides were kind enough to tell me the best places to look and answer all my questions, making it a memorable day!

Had a fantastic day touring around the islands to the west of Seoul. Sky was a great tour guide who had a wealth of knowledge and lots of jokes to keep us entertained on the journey between locations. The tour group was small, just 4 of us, but that was great as we had a bit more flexibility. The tour itself was also really interesting. We particularly enjoyed the temple and the textile factory cafe. One thing to note when booking is there are some short but steep inclines and a longer set of optional steps at the temple. You aren't rushed and you can take them slow, but worth mentioning. Thanks again for a great tour!

This tour has super beautiful scenery. Please be aware that there will be a lot of stairs and slopes on a steep incline, so wear super comfy footwear and clothing. The first stop was the temple, the walk up to the temple was so steep, I felt like if I tripped I may just go rolling down the hill lol. Stairs up to the hilltop Buddha was over 1200 steps. If you came solely for the vibes think again, this includes a workout. Overall even though I was huffing and puffing all over the place I still had a great time, K was a great guide and super informative. He let us to explore a few locations on own own which I preferred. Our group was small, only three of us which was still great. Vehicle is comfy and K is a great driver - I had a few naps in between locations haha. Try the dish recommended by K at the market, it is super delicious and not as spicy as I thought it would be. Overall I had a great experience and would definitely recommend. The last destination Joyangbangjik- the cafe/museum was a great spot to rest at the end of our tour with coffee and dessert.

The tour was great! Small group that it was almost a private tour, there was only two groups of three total, plus the driver and the second guide. We visited beautiful places, like the temple (quite a hike from the parking lot, bring good shoes) and another hike by stairs to reach the top of the cave with the Buddha carving. The market is small but gives a good overview of how locals may live. The Hwagae garden is beautiful, be sure to take the monorail as it’s an interesting point of view throughout the way up and down to the observatory. Our final stop at the café was maybe the highlight of the tour for us. It’s quirky and vintage and full of things to explore, the ingeniosity of making tables and chairs out of common objects was fun to see, and many places to sit. While the tour itself was great, I wouldn’t actually describe it as a DMZ tour, since we got close to the zone and saw North Korea from far away (from the temple and from the garden/observatory) but not the DMZ itself in a more traditional description like we would for other tours, so just keep that in mind. On the plus side, that means no dress code for this specific tour.

We had a fantastic time on this tour. Jun was great company and really helped us out with some recommendations while we’re staying in Seoul. Jun also made great lunch recommendations when we were at the markets. We can’t recommend this tour enough.

Noel was our guide,he was very nice and took good care of us. It was a small group tour, we only have 4 in our group, the other Chinese group have around 4 of them in another car. The temple is quite a climb with 400 plus steps and you will need to walk up some slope before that. You have rest stops in between , good exercise and can go up for the view. I love the market. We are greeted with retro korea music and you can go around to try out the different traditional Korea food. They give you samples to try. We had a nice lunch there too. Observatory just feel super unreal. Guess that is the only time we ever get so close to north Korea. You will be able to see the fields and if you are lucky you might spot some people. I saw a man working on the field! You will need to queue up to get the drinks and food before going in to the cafe. We went on a Sunday which is peak but surprisingly the queue cleared quite fast and as the cafe is huge, we managed to find a place quite fast. Nice place to chill in the hot summer. I know this sounds bizzare but you need to go check out their toilet outside. It is very interesting. They have different doors leading to different walkways and the toilet is a room itself. 😂 If you are looking for something different to do in Korea, I will recommend this tour!