South Korea Circle Adventure — Self-Launched

Start early at Seoul's Express Bus Terminal (Line 3/7/9) or Yongsan Station. An intercity bus to Gongju takes about 1h45 (~£8), or take the KTX to Cheonan-Asan and connect by local bus. Drop your bag in a station locker and walk or take a local bus to the Tomb of King Muryeong (UNESCO, ~£1 entry) and the adjoining Gongju National Museum, then Gongsanseong Fortress (small entry fee, easy 1-hour ridge walk with river views). Continue by bus (~40 min) to Buyeo for Nakhwaam Cliff Observatory overlooking the Baengma River — Busosan Mountain is a gentle 30–40 min climb. From Buyeo there are direct buses to Jeonju (~1h30, ~£6). Check into a hanok guesthouse in or near Jeonju Hanok Village (dorm beds from ~£14, private hanok rooms ~£40–50). Evening: wander the hanok lanes and eat bibimbap (Jeonju is its birthplace) at a local spot, ~£7–9.

🚌Intercity bus Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Gongju (~£8, 1h45); local bus Gongju → Buyeo (~£2); bus Buyeo → Jeonju (~£6, 1h30)

🛏Hanok guesthouse or hostel near Jeonju Hanok Village (dorm ~£14, private hanok room ~£40–50)

• →Tomb of King Muryeong & Gongju National Museum
• →Gongsanseong Fortress walk
• →Nakhwaam Cliff Observatory, Buyeo
• →Jeonju Hanok Village evening wander
• →Jeonju bibimbap dinner

Morning in Jeonju Hanok Village: Jeondong Cathedral, Gyeonggijeon Shrine (~£2) and the craft/food streets, then a 1-hour bus to Gwangju (~£6) for the May 18th National Cemetery (free, moving and beautifully landscaped — reachable by city bus or a short taxi, ~£4). From Gwangju take the train or bus to Suncheon (~1h, ~£5). Suncheon Bay National Garden is ~2–3 hours on foot (~£5 entry); the wetland reserve next door is a short bus ride away if you want the reed beds and birdlife. Late afternoon, take the 30-min train or bus to Yeosu (~£2), check into a guesthouse or budget motel near the waterfront (dorm ~£15, private ~£40). Evening at Yeosu's night sea cable car area or a seafood dinner at the market, ~£10.

🚌Bus Jeonju → Gwangju (~£6, 1h); bus/train Gwangju → Suncheon (~£5, 1h); train Suncheon → Yeosu (~£2, 30 min)

🛏Guesthouse or budget motel in Yeosu (dorm ~£15, private ~£40)

• →Jeondong Cathedral & Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Jeonju
• →May 18th National Cemetery, Gwangju
• →Suncheon Bay National Garden
• →Yeosu waterfront at dusk

Start with a stroll along Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Path and Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, then catch the bus or train to Jinju (~1h30, ~£6). Jinjuseong Fortress is a 20-minute walk from Jinju station: free to enter, with the riverside walls, Chokseoknu Pavilion and the National Jinju Museum inside. Grab lunch in Jinju's central market (~£6) — Jinju bibimbap and the famous Jinju silk noodles. Continue to Busan by train (~1h20, ~£8). Check into a hostel in Seomyeon or near Haeundae (dorm ~£16–20). Afternoon: Jagalchi Fish Market (free, go upstairs for the dried-fish halls and a cheap raw-fish lunch), then metro to Haeundae Beach and the coastal walk to Dongbaek Park and Nurimaru APEC House. Dinner of milmyeon or a seafood stew near Haeundae ~£9–12.

🚌Bus/train Yeosu → Jinju (~£6, 1h30); train Jinju → Busan (~£8, 1h20); Busan metro day ~£3

🛏Hostel in Seomyeon or Haeundae, Busan (dorm ~£16–20)

• →Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Path & Yi Sun-sin Square, Yeosu
• →Jinjuseong Fortress & National Jinju Museum
• →Jinju central market lunch
• →Jagalchi Fish Market
• →Haeundae Beach → Dongbaek Park → Nurimaru APEC House coastal walk

Early train to Gyeongju (~1h, ~£6). From Gyeongju station take bus 10 or 11 to Bulguksa Temple (~£4 entry) and then bus 12 up to Seokguram Grotto (~£4 entry) — allow 3 hours for both. Back in town, a quick loop of Daereungwon Tomb Complex and Cheomseongdae (small combined ticket ~£2) if time allows, then bus to Andong (~1h45, ~£7). Andong Hahoe Folk Village is 30–40 min from the bus terminal by local bus (~£1.50); entry ~£3, and the mask dance performance runs in season — check the schedule at the gate. Stay in Andong city (guesthouse dorm ~£15, private ~£35) or, if you booked ahead, a hanok stay in Hahoe itself. Dinner: Andong jjimdak, ~£9.

🚌Train Busan → Gyeongju (~£6, 1h); local buses in Gyeongju (~£3); bus Gyeongju → Andong (~£7, 1h45); local bus to Hahoe (~£1.50)

🛏Guesthouse in Andong city (dorm ~£15) or hanok stay in Hahoe Village (~£40–60)

• →Bulguksa Temple
• →Seokguram Grotto
• →Daereungwon Tomb Complex & Cheomseongdae
• →Andong Hahoe Folk Village and mask dance (in season)
• →Andong jjimdak dinner

Long travel day — set off early. Bus from Andong to Wonju (~1h30, ~£7), then bus to Pyeongchang/Alpensia (~1h, ~£5) for a look around the Olympic Ski Jumping Stadium area (free to wander the plaza; the ski jump tower lift is a few pounds if it's open). Continue by bus to Sokcho (~2h, ~£9) and take local bus 7 or 7-1 to Seoraksan National Park (~30 min, ~£1.50; park entry ~£2). Walk the Cheonbuldong Valley trail to Biseondae (1–1.5 hours each way, easy-moderate) or, if the weather is good and you have energy, pay ~£9 for the Gwongeumseong cable car for the ridge views. Finish with an intercity bus Sokcho → Seoul Express Bus Terminal (~2h45, ~£13), arriving in the evening. Note this is a genuinely tight schedule — if you can, sleep in Sokcho and return to Seoul on a sixth morning.

🚌Bus Andong → Wonju (~£7); bus Wonju → Pyeongchang (~£5); bus Pyeongchang → Sokcho (~£9); local bus to Seoraksan (~£1.50); bus Sokcho → Seoul (~£13, 2h45)

🛏Not included — hostel in Seoul from ~£16/night if you extend

• →Olympic Ski Jumping Stadium area, Pyeongchang
• →Seoraksan National Park — Cheonbuldong Valley walk to Biseondae
• →Optional Gwongeumseong cable car (~£9)