This is where we start our DMZ tour, we need to take DMZ shuttle bus run by Paju Gov. since it's politically sensitve area. Need to follow their direction. Plus you can find out peace bell, derailed locomotive, freedom bridge, bridge of no return.
Hotel Pickup in Seoul at 09:00 and Head to Paju for DMZ tour - The Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) is a weapons-free buffer zone between North and South Korea. The area was established on July 27, 1953 when the Armistice Agreement was signed during the Korean War, and includes the 2km-wide stretch of land both north and south of the line. Dorasan station, a railway station on the Gyeongui Line, is the northernmost stop on South Korea's railway line. Located 56 km from Seoul and 205 km from Pyeongyang/Dora Observatory Situated in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do and at the northernmost point of the Military Demarcation Line, Dora Observatory replaced the previous Songaksan Observation Post. From the observatory, visitors can overlook North Korea and various locations including Gaeseong, Songaksan, Kim Il-Sung Statue, and Cooperation Farm (Geumamgol)/The 3rd Tunnel was discovered in 1978 by South Korean forces.It is estimated that approximately 30,000 soldiers could move through the tunnel Unification Village *Closed - Mondays & Public holidays (Excluding weekends, Seollal/Chuseok)
Dangerous Tunnel dug by N.Korea after Korean War to invade S.Korea. Found at 1978
Choose 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because its location is furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace) Palace. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful, and remains the largest of all five palaces. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (Japanese Invasions, 1592-1598). However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong (1852-1919). Remarkably, the most representative edifices of the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pond have remained relatively intact. Woldae and the sculptures of Geunjeongjeon (The Royal Audience Chamber) represent past sculptures of contemporary art. The National Palace Museum of Korea is located south of Heungnyemun Gate, and the National Folk Museum is located on the eastern side within Hyangwonjeong.
Whre you can see N.Korea in DMZ tour with you naked eyes Propaganda village, N.Korean Flagfole, Gaeseongcity, industrial complelx and dmz itself can be seen there
Unification village is a souvenior shop where you can buy DMZ thingy and some Korean products
This is one of the fiercing battle field during Korean War, but it has beautiful mountain scenery! It's a short hiking like 10min then you can get there enjoying it!
Choose 1 : ⑵ The War Memorial of Korea The War Memorial of Korea, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, exhibits and preserve materials related to the Korean War and serves as a national moral educational venue.
Choose 1: Gwangjang Market Gwangjang Market was the first permanent market in Korea and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The second floor of the market is filled with silk, satin, and linen bed-sheet stores, which are the largest and most famous in Seoul. Many of the stores in the area even have their own factories supplying fabrics to the Namdaemun Market, Pyoung Hwa Market, and even to some department stores. Even though the goods are not brand-name products, the wide selection of high quality goods at inexpensive prices makes it an enjoyable shopping experience.
Choose 1 : ⑴ Odusan Unification Observatory The observatory is situated in the northernmost ceasefire line of the western front where Hangang River, Seoul’s lifeline, and Imjingang River meet. It offers a wide view of Songaksan Mountain in Gaeseong to the north and 63 Building in Seoul to the south Since its opening, almost 1,900,000 people have visited the observatory to feel the reality of the division, making this area the best national unification education site.
My wife and I went and had an amazing experience! Our guide, Jonghyuk Kwon (aka Jake), was just terrific. Both knowledgeable and kind, funny and fun, in short, a delight. It was a beautiful day, we saw a lot, and gained a much greater understanding of Korean culture, the 1950s war, and the outcome's continuing effects on Korean society. Simply fascinating, a must for anyone visiting Korea!
We absolutely loved our private DMZ tour! Danny was an excellent guide—patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly well organized. Everything ran smoothly and on time, and the car was modern, very comfortable, and spotless. Having a private tour made the experience much more relaxed. Danny gave us excellent explanations, answered all our questions, and even shared great restaurant recommendations in Seoul that we loved. The logistics and transportation were seamless, and communication before the tour was outstanding: they replied very quickly to all my questions. We highly recommend this tour, especially with Danny!
We had a terrific day out with Nammin our driver and guide on the day trip to the DMZ. Nammin was full of interesting historical information and facts about Korea and the DMZ. The DMZ is an immensely important and amazing place to visit. We were there for three hours and every minute was of great interest. Nammin was terrific, essential for providing background information throughout the tour. Highly recommended!
Danny was a great tour guide! We saw everything in the DMZ that we were hoping to see. His explanations were excellent. He was eager to share with us information about South Korea and we gained an appreciation of this area that we previously did not have.
We loved this day! It’s the perfect tour to see the scenery of Korea. We loved the suspension bridge and the trip inside the DMZ zone. I believe it’s something you really should see! Our guide Song was incredible. Very knowledgeable and really helped us understand the history of Korea. Do this tour and ask for Song!
We had a perfect day with guide Song. It was a great experience. The pick up worked without any problems. She even sent us a WhatsApp to tell us, that she was on her way. She is very friendly and open and also a good driver. She is not only very competent about the korean history in general and in particular about the border, she is also willing to share personal storys about her family history that made it easier for us to understand, what the seperation of the country means for each individual. We enjoyed this tour very much! Thank you!
Our family of 5 spent an amazing day on a private DMZ tour with our guide - Jun. I completed this tour with my 2 75 year old parents and my 2 children 12 and 16. My parents were able to complete this tour with some mobility issues. My children were very engaged and learnt a lot from our guide who spoke tremendous English and translated very well. The transport was comfortable and clean. Jun carefully explained the history and showed us around the DMZ area. Including, the suspension bridge, Dora observatory, tunnel 3 and the freedom bridge. Jun was exceptional and also went above and beyond, helping us plan the rest of our week making recommendations we also went to a traditional Korean BBQ for lunch which was also a highlight. Highly recommend booking this trip and asking for Jun!
Jake was our fantastic guide for the whole day of knowledge, history, endless wonderful suggestions for our first time trip to Korea, and the sites we visited were incredible. He communicated well through WhatsApp, picked us up/drop off at downtown hotel, and then we did the bridge (a bit of an uphill hike through gorgeous nature - so worth it), delicious Korean bbq, then off to DMZ the tunnel (another incredible down then up hike, Dora observatory to view across to North Korea), and Jake was professional, fun, and informative. We had a wonderful time, thank you!
Wounderfull experience to know the tragedy division in two koreas
Juan was awesome - we loved him. Very informative about everything Korean and our DMZ tour. Was like having a friend take us on tour. We had a fabulous lunch and tour - oh, and Juan tajes great photos! Thanks “Don Juan”!
Our DMZ tour was one of the absolute highlights of our visit to South Korea. Christine and her husband, Young, were exceptional guides who made the experience both fascinating and unforgettable. Christine was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about Korean history. She explained the complex history of the Korean Peninsula in a way that was easy to understand, providing valuable historical context while sharing personal insights that brought everything to life. Young complemented the tour perfectly, ensuring everything ran smoothly and making everyone feel comfortable throughout the day. The itinerary was well organized, with excellent pacing and plenty of opportunities to ask questions and take photos. Visiting the DMZ is a unique and emotional experience, and Christine and Young's professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail made it even more meaningful. We left with a much deeper understanding of Korea's history and current situation. If you're looking for an informative, well-organized, and memorable DMZ tour, I highly recommend booking with Christine and Young. Thank you both for an incredible day!
We absolutely LOVED our tour with Jun! He was an incredible tour guide. He was so knowledgeable, thoughtful, and he was very kind in taking pictures for us. We highly recommend this tour!!!
It was all so organized and the tour guide was super friendly zero complaints. Anyone could of it, it’s good especially for foreigners or people visiting becaus with makes it super low effort for you
Visiting the DMZ zone was a fantastic experience. The tunnel 3 visit was a bit of a challenge but was well worth the visit. We had great visibility at Dora and saw propaganda village, freedom village, the joint security area and Daeseong-Dong, Panmunjom (truce village) and the mountains in north korea. The Gloucester Heroes bridge was in a beautiful natural area. Jun was an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable about the history. I fully recommend this tour to anyone who visits Korea.
Jun is the BEST tour Guide in South Korea! He was early to the pickup and extremely professional and helpful throughout the day. He did a great job of knowing the details and dates of events when exploring each part of the tour. He has excellent English and does a good job of processing and explaining information! I wish I could have him on every tour. If you have a chance to select this business, it will be wise to request Jun!
Such a great tour with Song, our guide. So helpful, kind, and a wonderful narritive aboit the relationship between North ans South Korea. We would not have comprehended as much about this subject without her informative narritive.
Jun was very professional. He took great care of our family and had a wealth of knowledge about the areas we visited. Jun collected our family from our hotel and was a very safe driver.
Professional and smooth tour operators. Everything was as expected. No issues.
This DMZ tour with Sandy was excellent and truly exceeded our expectations. From the moment my family and I were picked up at our hotel until we were dropped off at the end of the day, everything was seamless and well organized. Sandy provided insightful and engaging explanations about the DMZ and Korean history, helping us gain a much deeper understanding of the region and its significance. The private tour format allowed us to learn efficiently through personalized, face-to-face discussions and gave us plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Having Sandy with us throughout the day was incredibly reassuring. She consistently went above and beyond to make every part of the experience enjoyable, informative, and memorable. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a meaningful and enriching visit to the DMZ.
What a great way to see the DMZ. We did a private day trip with Jake and couldn’t have been happier. Jake is a wonderful guide with amazing knowledge and fabulous enthusiasm
We booked a private tour and had Song as our guide. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and reliable guide. She was extremely friendly, punctual, and shared a lot of interesting information throughout the day. Spending a full day on a private tour with family can only be enjoyable if your guide is good company, and Song was exactly that. She made the experience comfortable, engaging, and memorable. Thank you for a wonderful day!
Wookie was our tour guide for the day. We had a private tour group of 6. Wookie contacted me the day before to confirm the pick up time and place. This gave us a peace of mind. He was prompt and greeted us at the lobby. He then asked if we wanted to see anything special and what we wanted for lunch. Great start. Once near the DMZ private tours are not allow so we had to join the official DMZ tour. Wookie arranged our tickets, bus seating etc and went around the DMZ with us like a private DMZ guide so we did not not have to follow the large groups with the designated guides. After the official DMZ tour Wookie took us to have lunch. Lucky for us he did as we really didn't know how to eat what we were given even though we had requested it. After lunch we went to the suspension bridge. During the day Wookie was also our photographer so it was great to have someone take our group shots. We and a great day and many thanks for Wookie's efforts.
Jake was amazing, thoughtful, patient and highly professional. We will absolutely look to book him again in the future. He has great local and historical insights he shared and we definitely give him our highest recommendation. Highlights included the 3rd tunnel tour, the DMZ visitor area and the suspension bridge. He added a very entertaining airsoft shooting range experience that was super fun.
We had an amazing experience on the DMZ tour. Our tour guide Jun was very knowledgeable, friendly and very engaging. We were not rushed and had enough time for the experience at each location.
Yujin was the best guide and driver! I booked a solo tour before my flight back to California. It was greatly appreciated that they could accommodate my itinerary of the tour plus airport drop off. Yujin is incredibly knowledgeable and informative. I was also appreciative of him keeping up with my fast pace and taking all of the photos I asked for. Overall, if you want to avoid being stuck in a large group tour bus then definitely book this guide!
Jun was our guide and he was great. I am traveling with my parents and kids which is why I decided on a private tour. I wanted pick up and drop off from our hotel, a guide just to us the whole time, and food. I also did not want any sales pitches or unnecessary shopping stops. Jun was patient and spoke English well. The only recommendation is to plan lunch earlier. Jun picked us up at 5am and we did not get to eat lunch until 3:30pm. He did make sure we had multiple opportunities to able to grab snacks.
We had an outstanding DMZ tour experience with our guide Christine Lee and driver Young Lee. Christine was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much meaningful history and context throughout the day—it really brought the entire experience to life. Young made sure we got everywhere safely and comfortably, which allowed us to relax and fully enjoy the tour. The day does involve quite a bit of walking, but it was absolutely worth it for everything we were able to see and learn. This was a truly memorable and well-run experience—we highly recommend this tour and this wonderful team!
We had a great day visiting the suspension bridge, third tunnel, Dora Observatory and unification village. Transport was great and Jun was a fantastic guide throughout.
Kudos to Jones, our amazing tour guide! 😊 He was incredibly patient, helpful, and attentive, tailoring the tour to our preferences. Even snow at DMZ didn't faze him – he enthusiastically shared insights about the area. And the lunch buffet at the recommended restaurant was a treat! 🍴 If you're lucky enough to have Jones as your guide, you're in for a great experience. Hope the next group gets to enjoy his expertise too!
Wookie was an excellent guide and driver. A very interesting experience at the DMZ. Loved the suspension bridge and the hike to the Buddhist temple. Would definitely recommend.
It was a fabulous experience to have a private tour guide show us and educate us. He had a terrific personality and was able to give us appreciated suggestions.
What a great day! Our guide, Jiwon, was punctual, friendly, and very knowledgeable about Korean history! He repeatedly went out of his way to explain every part of the process to get to the DMZ, fill us in on all the facts and history of each area, and relate his personal stories from his time in the military. He helped us order the perfect lunch and made sure we made the most out of each stop, getting us back to our hotel at the perfect time (we had a flight to catch later that evening). We highly recommend this company and if you can, ask for Jiwon. My phone broke the day before our tour, the company responded quickly and helped reestablish communication on my different device so that there were no confusions on pick up. Book this tour! Avoid crowds, enjoy great history, and get VIP treatment!!!
It was better than I imagined! Our guide Sophia Kim was super knowledgeable, and answered all of our questions. She had great insight on history, geographical areas of South Korea, and shared stories that made the experience exceptional. She brought us to a local spot for the best authentic lunch meal, and offered recommendations for sight seeing and shopping spots later. We booked the private tour and she made it worth it! Also, she made sure to get great photos to share with us so we got plenty of family photos in addition to our own. 100% recommendation, and request Sophia if you can!
Thank you so much for guiding us Ian. It was a wonderful tour. We learned so much about Korean history and saw may interesting things.
The tour was great but the driver almost forget that we have to get back on the ship on time!! Other than that it was a good tour.
A private tour of the DMZ and suspension bridge with Sophia. We had a very interesting and informative day about the DMZ with Sophia. She also took a great selection of photos that captured great memories of the day. We also had some local cuisine in a nearby town to the DMZ. Thank you Sophia!
My mom and I did the private DMZ tour with Sophia as our guide. Prior to the tour, Sophia contacted us about the tour and all relevant info. On the day of the tour, we were ready much earlier than our pick up time and she arrived early, so things were already off to a great start. Her vehicle was nice and clean and she was very informative on a bunch of things about our tour and Korea in general. Everything happened smoothly and timely during our tour. If I were to be in Seoul again, I would use Sophia for another private tour.
My wife and I enjoyed everything about this full day. Our guide Ayann navigated us expertly along while providing insightful explanations at each stop. We were able to get an immersive experience without fighting crowds. This guided tour hits all the highlights along and within the DMZ with an amazing lunch and quick walk along a suspension bridge as added benefits. I suggest this day trip for anyone looking to gain knowledge and insight into the history and current state of the DMZ.
Aayon our guide was amazing! Fantastic knowledge!!! The tour was excellent from start to finish! Aayon took great care of us and made sure we all had a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this tour and Aayon as your guide!
I did this tour solo and had an amazing experience. Sophia was deeply knowledgeable weaving in historical context, anecdotes, and a fun mix of local color. She timed the sights perfectly to avoid the crowds—making the day both smooth and memorable. Lunch was perfect. Highly recommend!
My guide was Wookie. He was awesome. Very knowledgeable, accommodating, and hospitable. He was able to provide a ton of details about the are. Made great use of the time.
Wookie was so knowledgable about korean history and answers our qsn with great proffessionalism no matter how wierd or how controversial. And able to answer our qsns despite hiking with us and walking around with us i would definetely recommned him to anyone who is coming to korea. And an excellent photographer
Vincent was our guide and he was excellent. Highly recommend this tour. It takes most of the day but it is worth it. We went with kids ranging from 5 to 14 and they all were interested and learned about the history and current situation.
Sophia I have nothing but great things to say about our tour guide Sophia. She was on time, courageous, knowledgeable, very upbeat and friendly throughout the entire tour to the suspension bridge and the DMZ. She went with us across the suspension, into the third tunnel (which was exhilarating to say the least) and into the new Dora Observatory. All the way she was giving us information that we would not have known without her. She was a real pleasure to have showing us the beautiful countryside of South Korea.. Will definitely be coming back!! Gary and Lori Lett
We had an incredible full-day private tour of the DMZ with our outstanding guide, Jake. From start to finish, the experience was well-organized, informative, and genuinely moving. Jake was not only super friendly and easy to talk to, but he also brought so much depth and context to everything we saw - sharing fascinating and sometimes emotional stories about the conflict with North Korea, the lives of defectors, and the current state of affairs on the peninsula. Each stop on the tour - from the DMZ itself to the Third Tunnel and the observation points - was both educational and impactful. The hike to the suspension bridge was a beautiful way to take in the natural landscape, and we enjoyed the peaceful scenery as a complement to the more historical parts of the tour. Traveling in the private van was extremely comfortable and flexible, which made the experience especially enjoyable for our family. Jake was great at pacing the day in a relaxed and flexible way, which we really appreciated. To top it all off, the Korean BBQ lunch was absolutely delicious—one of the best meals we had during our trip. We also want to give a shoutout to Alicia for her seamless coordination and quick communication. Everything went smoothly from booking to drop-off. Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a meaningful and memorable day trip from Seoul. Thanks again to Jake and the team!
We had a great day with Jung who was very energetic and knowledgeable about the Korean War and division. Will very much recommend this trip as a must-do when visiting Seoul.
My husband and I had a wonderful time on our tour! Our tour guide was Sophia. She reached out to ask if we could leave a little earlier than the scheduled time, since the attraction can get very busy, and to help us beat traffic on the way back. We were staying in Seoul, and it took about an hour to reach the starting point of the DMZ tour. Along the way, she shared the history of the places we passed, and her explanations were very clear. She also took photos of us so my husband and I could focus on enjoying ourselves. Whenever she saw an opportunity to take a photo in front of a spot that typically has long lines, she did so, saving us time. Our first stop was at Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park, where we joined a tour bus/group to enter the DMZ. After she obtained our tickets, she provided a quick yet thorough explanation of the layout of the third tunnel so that we could start exploring immediately upon arrival, without waiting. The tour bus was punctual and departed as scheduled, so returning to the bus on time was very important. Walking down to the third tunnel was a bit hard on the knees, and for anyone taller than 5 feet, it can be somewhat difficult to walk through due to the low ceiling. However, the hard hats provided did a great job of protecting our heads. Climbing back up was challenging for me, as I’m not physically fit. I’m glad the layout of the tunnel was explained to us beforehand, so I knew to bring water. There are many benches along the way where you can stop and rest if needed. The next stop was Dora Observatory, where we were able to view the borders of South and North Korea. Sophia took us to a café in the same building, where we found a comfortable booth to relax. She shared more history about the area and pointed out points of interest from our seats. Before lunch, we visited Tongilchon-gil, a charming area where you can purchase souvenirs and food made by local farmers and villagers. For lunch, we enjoyed authentic bulgogi, which was absolutely delicious! Our final stop was Gamaksan Chulleong Bridge. As I’m not physically very fit, this was a bit of a challenge for me. Sophia stayed behind to encourage me, and I’m glad she did because the view was well worth the effort. This spot is ideal for anyone who loves to hike, although it tends to be very crowded and busy on weekends. Throughout the entire trip and on our way back to the hotel, Sophia shared insights about each location we passed and offered recommendations for places to visit on our own. We had a fantastic experience and an excellent tour guide. We highly recommend this tour!
I had a great day with the very knowledgable Ka. Her vehicle was spotless and clean and water provided is I required. Learnt some history on the way to the DMZ meeting point. The Third Tunnel was some walk back up, but so good to see. The visit to the Observatory and Village were great too. Decided on Ginseng Chicken Soup for lunch and it was amazing. Final stop was the suspension bridge. Being a beautiful sunny day, the views were amazing. Overall a brilliant day.
The overall experience was truly unique, especially the tunnel part — a definite highlight! We were also fortunate to have a guide who spoke good English, which made a big difference in understanding and enjoying the tour. However, the communication could have been better. Despite booking the trip a month in advance, we received a last-minute message informing us that we needed to pay an additional €400 because our family didn’t fit in the van. This was unexpected and disappointing, as such information should have been shared well ahead of time.
Christine was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and has excellent communication. Reached out to me early with advise, the tour went smoothly.
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