China and South Korea: East Asia Adventure (Self-Launched)
15 days · China & South Korea
G Adventures charges £3,958
No-markup version: ~£822 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, backpacker-friendly version of the classic 15-day Beijing-to-Seoul route — ancient wonders, futuristic cities and endless street food done independently. Ride the bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an, walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu, stand before the Terracotta Warriors, and cross into South Korea for a hanok stay, palaces, temples and coastal Busan before finishing in Seoul. All transport, stays and activities are bookable yourself, typically for a fraction of the guided-group price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Beijing
Beijing, China
Land at Beijing Capital or Daxing airport and make your way by Airport Express train or metro to a hostel in the Dongcheng or Wangfujing area. Spend the evening getting your bearings — grab jianbing (Chinese crepe) from a street stall and stock up on a local SIM/eSIM or data plan. If you have the energy, wander the neon-lit Wangfujing snack street.
🚌Airport Express train ~£4 or DiDi/metro ~£3
🛏Central Beijing hostel or budget hotel, dorm £12–20 / private £30–45
- →Airport Express into the city
- →Evening orientation walk around Wangfujing
Mutianyu Great Wall & Tiananmen Square
Beijing, China
Book a shared shuttle/coach to Mutianyu (the best-preserved, less-crowded section) — most include hotel pickup and a few hours at the wall. Climb the ridgeline between the 22 towers and, for a bargain, take the cable car up and toboggan down. Back in the city, explore Tiananmen Square on foot and optionally climb the Drum & Bell Towers for rooftop photo ops over the hutongs.
🚌Shared Great Wall shuttle ~£15–25 return; metro ~£1
🛏Central Beijing hostel or budget hotel
- →Mutianyu Great Wall visit (cable car + toboggan optional)
- →Tiananmen Square
- →Optional Drum & Bell Tower climb
Beijing → Xi'an by bullet train
Beijing → Xi'an, China
Spend the morning in the hutongs or at the Temple of Heaven, then head to Beijing West station for a high-speed G-train to Xi'an (roughly 4.5–6 hours). Book your seat a few days ahead on Trip.com or the official 12306 app. Arrive in Xi'an, drop bags near the Bell Tower, and eat your way through the Muslim Quarter — roujiamo, biangbiang noodles and lamb skewers.
🚌Beijing–Xi'an high-speed rail (second class) ~£45–55; metro ~£1
🛏Xi'an hostel near Bell Tower, dorm £10–16 / private £28–40
- →Temple of Heaven or hutong stroll
- →High-speed rail to Xi'an
- →Muslim Quarter street-food crawl
Terracotta Warriors & Xi'an City Wall
Xi'an, China
Take the dedicated bus or metro + shuttle out to the Terracotta Army site and explore the three pits at your own pace — a self-guided audio tour or a small-group GetYourGuide tour both work well and are cheaper than a private guide. Back in town, walk or hire a bike on the 14th-century City Wall at sunset, which once anchored the Silk Road.
🚌Local bus/metro to Terracotta site ~£2 each way; city wall bike ~£6
🛏Xi'an hostel near Bell Tower
- →Terracotta Warriors self-guided or small-group tour
- →Xi'an Ancient City Wall walk or bike hire
- →Optional Great Mosque & snack street
Xi'an → Shanghai by bullet train
Xi'an → Shanghai, China
A long but scenic high-speed leg east (roughly 6–7 hours). Use the journey to plan your Shanghai days. On arrival, settle into a hostel in the French Concession or near People's Square — leafy, walkable and packed with cafes and bars.
🚌Xi'an–Shanghai high-speed rail ~£55–70; metro ~£1
🛏Shanghai hostel, dorm £13–22 / private £35–55
- →High-speed rail to Shanghai
- →Evening in the French Concession
Shanghai: The Bund & old town
Shanghai, China
Do your own orientation walk along the Bund, following the Huangpu River between colonial-era facades and the futuristic Pudong skyline — best at dusk when the towers light up. Cross to Pudong for the Shanghai Tower observation deck or wander the Yu Garden and old-town bazaars. Finish with xiaolongbao dumplings in a local canteen.
🚌Metro/ferry ~£2
🛏Shanghai hostel
- →The Bund waterfront walk
- →Pudong skyline / Shanghai Tower (optional)
- →Yu Garden & old town
Shanghai free day & onward planning
Shanghai, China
A flexible day: explore Tianzifang art lanes, the Propaganda Poster Art Centre or a day trip to the water town of Zhujiajiao. Tonight, sort your route to South Korea — flights from Shanghai to Seoul (Incheon/Gimpo) are frequent and cheap if booked a few weeks out, or take the ferry from Shanghai to Incheon if you prefer the slow route.
🚌Metro ~£2
🛏Shanghai hostel
- →Tianzifang or Zhujiajiao day trip
- →Book onward flight/ferry to South Korea
Fly Shanghai → Seoul
Shanghai → Seoul, South Korea
Fly into Seoul (roughly 2 hours). From Incheon, take the AREX express or all-stop train into the city, or the airport bus. Check into a guesthouse near Hongdae or Myeongdong, grab a Korean SIM/eSIM and T-money transit card, and ease in with Korean BBQ or a street-food market dinner.
🚌Flight ~£60–110; AREX train ~£5
🛏Seoul guesthouse/hostel, dorm £15–25 / private £40–60
- →Flight to Seoul
- →AREX airport train to city
- →Evening in Hongdae or Myeongdong
Gyeongbokgung Palace & hanok stay
Seoul, South Korea
Visit Gyeongbokgung, the grand Joseon-dynasty palace — time it for the changing-of-the-guard ceremony, and note that wearing a hanbok can get you free entry. Explore Bukchon Hanok Village and the National Folk Museum nearby. Tonight, check into a traditional hanok guesthouse (in Seoul or nearby Jeonju-style) for the signature experience of sleeping on a heated ondol floor.
🚌Metro ~£1.50
🛏Traditional hanok guesthouse £30–55
- →Gyeongbokgung Palace & guard ceremony
- →Bukchon Hanok Village
- →Traditional hanok guesthouse stay
Seoul → Gyeongju
Seoul → Gyeongju, South Korea
Take the KTX high-speed train south to Gyeongju, the ancient Silla-dynasty capital often called an open-air museum. Use the local buses to reach outlying sites. Afternoon free to roam the Daereungwon royal tomb mounds and Donggung Palace at night.
🚌KTX Seoul–Gyeongju (via Singyeongju) ~£30–40; local bus ~£1
🛏Gyeongju guesthouse/hanok £25–45
- →KTX to Gyeongju
- →Daereungwon Tomb Complex
- →Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond at night
Gyeongju: Bulguksa Temple & city tour
Gyeongju, South Korea
Head out early to Bulguksa, a UNESCO-listed head temple of Korean Buddhism housing seven national treasures, then hike up to the Seokguram Grotto for views. In the afternoon, join a local hop-on bus tour or self-navigate to the Gyeongju National Museum and Anapji Pond. Book day tours via Klook/GetYourGuide if you want a guided option without the group-tour markup.
🚌City bus 10/11 to Bulguksa ~£1
🛏Gyeongju guesthouse/hanok
- →Bulguksa Temple
- →Seokguram Grotto
- →Gyeongju National Museum
- →Optional guided Gyeongju city tour
Gyeongju → Busan city tour
Busan, South Korea
Travel by train or bus to Busan (about 1 hour by KTX from Singyeongju, or 1.5 hours by intercity bus). Get to know the city independently: the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village, the Jagalchi fish market, Haeundae or Gwangalli beaches, and the seaside Haedong Yonggungsa temple. A Busan hop-on/hop-off or Metro day pass makes this easy.
🚌KTX/bus Gyeongju–Busan ~£6–8; Metro day pass ~£3
🛏Busan hostel (Haeundae or Seomyeon) £15–28
- →Gamcheon Culture Village
- →Jagalchi Fish Market
- →Haeundae/Gwangalli Beach
- →Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Busan → Seoul
Busan → Seoul, South Korea
A relaxed morning in Busan — maybe a coastal walk at Igidae or a soak in a Korean jjimjilbang (spa) — before the KTX back up to Seoul (about 2.5 hours). Settle into your final Seoul base and enjoy a farewell night out in Itaewon or Hongdae.
🚌KTX Busan–Seoul ~£35–45
🛏Seoul guesthouse/hostel
- →Igidae coastal walk or jjimjilbang
- →KTX back to Seoul
- →Final night out
Seoul free day & last sights
Seoul, South Korea
A flexible final full day: visit Namsan Tower, the Ihwa Mural Village, Gwangjang Market for mung-bean pancakes and mayak gimbap, or the DMZ on a bookable day tour if you're keen. Do any last souvenir shopping in Insadong. Sort your onward transport or flight home for the next day.
🚌Metro ~£2
🛏Seoul guesthouse/hostel
- →Namsan Tower & cable car
- →Gwangjang Market food tour
- →Optional DMZ day tour
- →Insadong shopping
Depart Seoul
Seoul, South Korea
Check out and head to Incheon or Gimpo airport by AREX train or airport bus for your onward flight. If you have time, a last Korean breakfast before you go. Trip ends on arrival at the airport.
🚌AREX train/bus to airport ~£5
🛏—
- →Departure from Incheon/Gimpo airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£822 | £3,958 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,136 per person (79%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£822
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does China and South Korea: East Asia Adventure (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £822 per person for 15 days in China & South Korea. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,958 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £822 — a saving of roughly £3,136 (79%) per person.
How long is the China & South Korea trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through China & South Korea.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through China & South Korea, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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