Published on May, 2023
My wife and I took this tour in April 2023. Although it seems pricey, it was well worth it, particularly since it was a private 9-hour tour for two in a nice Genesis car. Our guide/driver was Kim Soo, who picked us up as agreed at our hotel. He was a most capable guide, who provided us with a lot of interesting information on Korean history on our drive south.
Our first stop was the folk village, where we saw the rural dance performance and also ate lunch, which was not included but Kim Soo helped us select a quick and tasty meal. (The folk village was packed with kids on school field trips and Kim Soo helped move us along.) The second stop at Hwaseong Fortress was relatively short (as specified in the itinerary) but we did get to walk part of the wall in the northeast section. The final stop was at a master potter in Icheon, where he gamely tried to teach us how to make plates, bowls and cups with limited success. The showroom at his studio offered many lovely items for sale for reasonable prices.
Throughout the day Kim Soo took us to interesting sights and gave us historical information at each place. He is well-travelled, speaks excellent English, and has a good sense of humor. Also he is an excellent driver, which one can appreciate after experiencing the traffic in and around Seoul. I definitely would recommend this tour, especially with Kim Soo.