Beautiful ancient palaces of bygone eras and hilltop mazes of traditional hanoks stand alongside soaring skyscrapers and glaring neon lights in the capital of Korea. With a religious fascination with the very idea of innovation and an adamant attachment to traditions and cultural formalities alike, from throngs of fashion worshippers strutting their latest wares on its many glamorous streets to office workers merrymaking their stresses away in modest roadside tents, Seoul is a city of contrasts in many ways, with one foot in the past and another in the future. To realise your epiphany of such a Seoul, let Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours customise a Seoul or Korea tour package for you. We are bringing you Seoul searching.

Satisfy your curiosity of the hermit country of North Korea with a visit to this fearsome border that is the DMZ, or Korean Demilitarized Zone. As you journey away from central Seoul to the city outskirts, the seamless transition from the hustle of the city to the world’s most heavily armed border is as surreal as it is tense. The two countries are technically still at war and this is poignantly evident at Panmunjeom, where soldiers from both countries eyeball each other across just a courtyard. Many travellers cite the Joint Security Area as the major drawcard of their journey as this is the last remaining frontier of the Cold War, and offers rare glimpses into the mysterious north and the tumultuous dynamics of the two Koreas.

Frozen fun at the Ice Gallery
Kids, kidults and adults alike can up their cool factor at the world’s first indoor ice sculpture museum all year round. Featuring miniature ice sculptures of world-famous landmarks and ice replicas of the rooms of a typical Korean household, including a goosebump-inducing exhibit, the Ice Gallery makes for great and interesting phototaking opportunities. You can even DIY your own ice goblet and drink a soda with it while you take in the freeze.

Sleep the hanok way
Fancy staying in a traditional Korean house that is over hundreds of years old? Old furniture, paper-pasted windows, curved roofs, paved courtyards with huge stones and ochre and an olden spiritual sentiment envelop these abodes which many referred to as living museums. To deeply immerse into ancient Korean lifestyle and society, a traditional Korean homestay in a hanok is the essential experience not to be missed. And did we mention the added possibility of waking up to stunning views of woods and mountains?

Searching for more Korean and East Asian destinations, try:

• Busan tour package
• Hualien tour package
• Japan tour package
• Jeju Island tour package
• Kaohsiung tour package
• Taichung tour package

Dying to jump right into the arms of Seoul and shop, eat, play and relax to your heart’s content? How about experiencing a more private side of Seoul with its ancient traditions and the simpler joys of life? Whether you are searching for an indulgent city break or a luxury holiday, Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours can customise that perfect Seoul holiday for you. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg to find out more.