Private Dmz Tour With North Korea Defector Meetup

I was very skeptical on this tour being worth our time and money. Jones are travel guide made it all worthwhile! This was such a great experience from start to finish and great conversation and very informative. Our guy Jones was friendly, courteous, and knew how to navigate around all the other big tour groups would definitely recommend it to anyone coming to South Korea.

Our tour guide Jake was INCREDIBLY informative and helpful. He knew all the timing and “tricks” to allow us to fully appreciate as much detail and impact as we wanted from our day at the DMZ. Plus he was fun to talk to about other elements of Korean life and history.

Young and Christinelee exceeded our expectations! They were great, knowledgeable and even took on the role of personal photographer. If you have the chance to book this tour I would highly recommend requesting them! Gave us a lifetime of memories!

Vincent our guide was amazing. He has a vast knowledge of the DMZ. He has been doing this tour almost everyday for years. His passion for South Korea and the DMZ was very evident. I would highly recommend this tour to understand the history and present day relationship between North and South Korea.

We had an excellent day. Our guide JUN was great company and really looked after us. The tour had an excellent mix of experiences and insights into Korean history and culture. JUN brought a personal touch and used his local knowledge to make our tour memorable and enjoyable.

Vincent did a superb job with our group of 8. Was able to arrange short notice and increase size of transportation as needed. He arranged an authentic lunch, and our movement between sites was seamless. The trip to the DMZ is definitely worth doing. He had a nice stop at the end exclusive to his tour company that had some dioramas and an area to do some target practice with AirSoft guns!

This tour was incredibly well-organized. Jung was so kind and accommodating that we never felt overwhelmed, even at such a historically significant and intense site. She was extremely knowledgeable about the DMZ and provided information about its history, significance and made the experience both educational and fun. Our driver was very kind as well. We had an amazing time. She handled all the logistics so we didn’t have to worry about a thing, leaving us free to simply take it all in and enjoy every moment. All admission fees were included in the tour. We were able to customize the length of your visit. It was not a big crowd. It’s best for anyone who wants to enjoy and learn and the same time.

DO NOT USE THIS GROUP. We were 2 minutes late for a 5:10am pick up and Joo Ee left us high and dry. We called, they must have been 200m down the road and would not come back. We were accused of yelling at her on the phone but was my wife begging for them to come back. These people are rude and have no care for their customer. Original pick up was 5:45am and changed to 5:10 at last minute. Use another group if you can. Have ruined our day.

Jun was very informative, knowledgeable and his English was excellent . He made our 2 days together fun. Thank you Jun.

We engaged Vincent to arrange a private DMZ tour for two families and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. From the assistance in arranging a bespoke itinerary (yes, the DMZ part is regulated, but there’s more of the day to plan around), to the flexibility of separate pick-up’s and drop-offs, everything was easy. And Vincent’s English commentary and insight made the trip. We had a great time and would highly recommend this trip.

This was a great experience and a very knowledgeable guide. It was fascinating to learn about North Korea. Highly recommended!

Junie was super sweet and excellent with her knowledge of Korean history especially the DMZ. She went out of her way to make our tour special. I will use her again for future visits to Korea. I would highly recommend her for other travelers.

Incredible experience to the middle of the DMZ. It’s a must to have a guide because most of the information are in Korea and you will miss a lot of historical information.

Mostly disorganized. Our guide seemed unfamiliar with the process to get tickets. We booked a private tour but waited 4 hours from arriving at the tour centre to getting on a bus. Our information needed to be entered and re-entered 3 times and it seemed chaotic with our guide leaving the line each time as buses were booking up in realtime. This was during Chuseok so it was exceptionally busy and we did book very close to the tour date, but we definitely had higher expectations than this. I would recommend to friends to do a group tour via bus, or just to Uber/k.ride out to the centre and get your own tickets. Very simple and pretty much the same experience based on what I could see. Overall a very worthwhile place to visit, but this private tour was a disappointment.

Taylor was just a great guide, very personable and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed being with him. Outstanding Guide!

There is so much history surrounding the DMZ, and so much of it is recent. It was amazing to see it up close and personal. Our tour guide,Sophia was excellent and took the time to explain many of the local nuances to us. She took great pictures of us and recommended a great Korean restaurant. Highly recommended!

My 2 kids (11 and 13 yo) and I had a fantastic private tour with James to the DMZ. I booked it via Viator as I was concerned that my kids may have a short attention span and so a private tour would be more captivating. The agency was very responsive as they reached out well in advance to get our passport details, etc. James advised us the night before that he would pick us up from our hotel at 10a and he was there waiting for us in the lobby at 950a. We departed promptly in his very clean and comfortable van. Along the way, he provided very insightful history to give us context on what we would see. Upon arrival, he was able to get us into an earlier departure and quickly showed us the peace bell, etc. His English was superb and very patient with us. The tunnel is amazing albeit it is quite a walk as well as the return uphill is mentally tough. Unfortunately, it was cloudy given the rains so we couldn’t see that well into the North. Nonetheless, I would highly recommend James and his agency for a private tour if you’re visiting Seoul.

Our guide Christine was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of background history about the DMZ. We had a great tour and would highly recommend.

Very knowledgeable tour guide and friendly too. Historic focus and some scenic views were experienced. Henry was very friendly and polite.

Great tour to the DMZ. Wookie met us at our hotel in his clean luxurious van. He showed patience with our children and was able to provide a great background and history to the areas we visited. Great experience and I’m glad we got the chance to explore the DMZ.

We loved the tour. Christine and her husband were great. We did leave a couple hours earlier than it listed, as she had to get tickets, but it all worked out. It was nice not to be on a bus. It was a van, very comfortable and just Me, My husband, and my nephew Joey. It is a must do when in the area and Christine was a great guide. She knew the history very well. I would highly recommend.

First class tour.. (despite the weather)... DMZ and suspension bridge. Our guide Ka was friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Also great sense of timing to miss some crowds. Early start in Seoul, but worth it to get ahead of the crowds Highly recommended

An excellent tour with a very knowledgeable tour guide. Specifically Ka our tour guide made the trip special and enjoyable. At each juncture she prepared us with advanced knowledge and was always accommodating with our questions. Highly recommended

We had a great time with Ka. The private tour was based on what we wanted and she helped us with everything we needed. She even took us to see and take pictures with cherry blossoms. I really recommend Ka if you are going to Seoul. The lunch bulgogi was also amazing! Thank you so much Ka!

Ka was our guide for our private tour to the DMZ. She was not only on time but early to pick us up right at our hotel. We were immediately greeted with her friendly demeanor. There were 3 of us, the van was very spacious and comfortable. Ka is a safe driver and was very knowledgeable on the DMZ tour and Seoul in general. She told us what to expect during the tour and that’s exactly what happened. She was good about giving us history and facts on the DMZ and even took us to the suspension bridge after the DMZ. I would highly recommend her and would go again next time I’m in Seoul.

Kevin was the ideal guide for the DMZ. He got us around the crowds at the 3rd tunnel, provided excellent insight and information on the conflict, brought us to an amazing restaurant for “Army Stew”and did an amazing job getting us back to our hotel through the political protest traffic. I would gladly book any tour with him.

Jake was amazing. Super informative, on time, and was the perfect guide. We highly recommend this tour

Had a wonderful private tour of the DMZ and Mountain Suspension bridge. Sophia was the best guide, very knowledgeable, timely and best of all, friendly! We were picked up exactly at 8am at our hotel. On the way to the DMZ, Sophia gave us great history information about Seoul and the lead up to the Korean War and DMZ. We spent 3 hours in DMZ in the tunnel, observation tower and unity village. We then had a wonderful Korean lunch before stopping at the suspension bridge. The whole experience was so great and fun. Sophia was truly the best of the best and we enjoyed getting to know her!

Thanks to Christine and Young we spent a wonderful and very interesting day at the DMZ. We learned a lot about Korean history. The whole family enjoyed it... Coming back to Seoul they even managed to bring us to a drone festival in time.... thanks again for that

Thank you Harry for this really good day, lots of good informations about the DMZ and the geopolitics in Korea in general

Christine and her husband Young were a wonderful team. Great knowledge of everywhere we visited very friendly, very helpful and accommodating for us and even the children. Arranged for a wonderful lunch during the day of our tour.

James was very knowledgeable and professional, we had best out of the trip with his guide. I wasn’t aware of how close North Korea is to South Korea and it was mind-blowing that we were able to see the town of North Korea and the city of Gaesung from the Dora Tower so clearly. It was a great experience.

Vicente…Our tour guide was very experienced and knowledgeable about the Korean history and culture. He spoke perfectly English. He was very kind and he knew how to guide our group. Tremendous experience. 5 stars.

I was very lucky to have Sophia as my private guide for the day. She showed up at my hotel exactly on time and the communication beforehand was clear and effortless. Sophia was extremely knowledgeable about not only the history of Korea but also the best way to see the DMZ. She was also able to pick out a unique lunch spot away from the tourist areas. I highly recommend this tour.

The DMZ is a must do when visiting Seoul. The tour is well organised. Our guide Jones was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He took us for a great lunch. Highly recommend!

We had an excellent experience with Vincent and this tour. While within the DMZ you do join the larger tour, it was great having a personal guide sharing additional information at each stop and for our kids to have someone of their own to ask all their questions to. The DMZ day trip ended up being one of the most memorable days of our 3 week trip; do not think it would have been if we did not have Vincent and just went on the standard day bus from Seoul. Also, once we left the larger bus we realized a jacket had been left behind. Vincent immediately connected with the bus and went and got it while our kids rode a few rides at the little ride park DMZ - so our day did not miss a beat. We were also able to customize our post-DMZ itinerary and visited the Heyri Art Village on the way back. We choose that for my wife's interests and a good place to get a meal - but one could choose several other places to visit out that way as well. Highly recommend and well worth the cost.

This was exactly what we wanted. Sophia picked us up on-time in a very comfortable car and drove us to the DMZ where she kept us busy by explaining the history while we waited for the bus to take us to the sites. She was flexible and tailored the day after the DMZ visit to suit us. She was very patient and pleasant as well as knowledgeable. Overall a very good experience

I am so glad we chose this tour for our family of 4. It lived up to our high expectations and more. I purposely requested Vincent when booking this tour due to the great reviews I read about him. He went out of his way to be so helpful. He did not disappoint. Vincent was amazing and nothing was too much trouble for him. He was so flexible, we were able to alter our itinerary to suit us, where time permitted. He also gave sound advice as to which attractions we could do ourselves as they were close to our hotel in the city, so we could make an informed decision of where we should get him to take us. On our bus trip within the DMZ area between the attractions, he got roped into being the bus tour speaker (all different tours come together on the bus that transports you into the DMZ restricted area). Vincent speaks excellent english and entertained the whole bus! His knowledge is superb. He accompanied us to the DMZ attractions and made sure we always avoided the crowds and got in first! He was very kind, patient and supportive when we had to trek up the many stairs in intense heat to the Suspension Bridge. The Korean BBQ he took us too was delicious! He expertly helped us to navigate the food market and told us not what to eat to avoid food any funny tummies as it was very hot the day we had our tour. I can't say enough about this tour - Vincent really made it for us!

Tour to the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea. Our guide Vincent was a fountain of information and his English (with a yankee twang) was so good. Thought this was going to be a tourist trap but was actually a great experience 🇰🇷 🇰🇵 This was also a great opportunity to try Korean BBQ at a local restaurant - so yummy!! Highly recommend

I would highly recommend the private DMZ tour with Vincent. We were picked up in his private van and taken to the various places. At the DMZ, we joined the standard tour, but Vincent provided additional historical tidbits at every opportunity. After the DMZ, we had Korean BBQ lunch and traversed the suspension bridge. Add that I am celiac/gluten-free and the challenge that this entails in Korea, and a safe lunch is no small effort. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and Vincent's company. We would look Vincent up on our next visit to Korea.

My family and I really enjoyed this tour. Robert was very patient and so well organised. We had the best time and would definitely recommend this tour.

We had a wonderful experience with Vincent and highly recommend! He was very informative and willing to answer all of our questions about Korea. At the DMZ, he fully explained each area. Lunch was delicious. The second half of the trip was fully customizable. Vincent even went over and above, helping us obtain tickets for a baseball game that evening, and then checking on us to make sure it all went smoothly.

Very good experience seeing the dmz and what it had to offer ro include the suspension bridge and tunnel. The tour guide was very informative in the trip and helped guide us along the way to see the different locations on the trip.

It was the worst tour experience. The guide (I’m not sure if he is a professional guide for that matter) was ignorant and incompetent. He was enjoying his time chatting with local guides and Korean tourists. He didn’t accompany me to the tunnel (all other guides did) and gave pretty much no information. Later after lunch he couldn’t find a way to the next stop (suspended bridge) and had to call another guide to find how to get there. Once we found a place he asked lavatory cleaner how to enter the site! On the way back he was nodding off (the tour started early) and we had to stop 4 times during 80km ride so he could brace up. Twice he almost crashed the car on the motorway and I had to shout and insist that he stops for a rest. I spent almost 400 euros on this tour and am really upset how it worked out.

Robert was an amazing tour guide. He kept us engaged with great info and answered all of our questions. The lunch was also delicious with a great vegetarian option for one of our group members. Everything went very smoothly. Definitely highly recommend this tour.

Our private DMZ tour for family of five with Harry was amazing! Harry was punctual, friendly, and knowledgeable with good information pertaining to our tour. During the bus waiting time Harry took us to the suspension bridge and to indulge on some amazing authentic Korean BBQ with was phenomenal. Overall we were very pleased with our experience to the DMZ all thanks to Harry.

Harry contacted me the day before to confirm our trip. Suggested we leave a bit earlier in order to have an earlier arrival to the DMZ. He was correct, our earlier arrival made for less wait time. The tour was very well conducted with great care to ensure our understanding. We attended our first Korean bbq and it was very enjoyable. The pork was awesome. After our ch we went to the market food tour and saw all the amazing food carts and vendors. After the market Harry made a special stop for me to have my Dalgona cart experience from the (squid game) show I am currently obsessed with. I appreciate he went out of his way to take me!. Harry really took great care of us and we enjoyed every minute of our day!

The flexibility was the best! Since the DMZ was closed, we got to visit all the places my father really wanted to see. He was stationed here in 62 & 63. He has been wanting to see these places again for the past several years. Our tour guide was the best! She accommodated my 81 year old dad with what ever he wanted to see. It was an adventure for all of us! It was just my father and I who came - a trip of a life time for me! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I highly recommend this tour! If you do go be sure to ask for Dean! He was one of the all tome best guides we have ever had. He is very knowledgeable and extremely personably. I would also recommend this as a private tour. You get more information and will not feel rushed. The lunch was also very good. After lunch we went to a market. Dean pointed out many new things to us. By choosing a customizable you can spend more time seeinG the things you are interested in. With the private tour we also did not have to wait in lines or on anyone . Highly recommend taking this tour privately. Definitely take this tour, it is a “bucket list” item and be sure to ask for Dean!