The Best of South Korea: Local Culture and Ancient History

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

South Korea requires a Q-CODE (Health Declaration Form) to be completed online within 7 days before your departure to Seoul. Please review the program notes section for more information.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

For travel to South Korea, please consult your physician, a Travel Clinic and the CDC website for vaccine/medication recommendations. Health Concerns We want you to arrive healthy, stay healthy, and return home healthy! The full schedule is demanding and can be tiring, especially in unfamiliar surroundings. It is important to arrive well rested and free from illness to take full advantage of our time together. While we take appropriate health and safety precautions on all programs, we urge you to be informed and to share in the responsibility for your well-being. If you have specific concerns regarding your participation in this program, please consult your physician and feel free to contact us with your questions. *Inoculations* No immunizations are required to enter South Korea, although we strongly suggest that you contact your physician for recommendations regarding your individual health requirements. You should be up-to-date with all your shots, including tetanus and standard immunizations (e.g. DPT and MMR). *Food Allergy* If you have any life threatening food allergies, please make sure to bring any emergency medication you normally take in case of a reaction. While your group leader will kindly assist you with food choices, it may be difficult to manage emergencies if something unexpected happens. Of course, the best situation is not needing the medication at all, but if you have sever food allergies, please do not forget to bring it with you just in case. *Medications* Pack a supply of all medications you take regularly. Prescription drugs for personal use may be subject to inspection or approval. To be safe, bring along copies of your prescription and a doctor's note for a larger quantity of medication. Also, if you have an unusual prescription, carry a letter from your physician explaining your need for the drug. As an extra precaution, carry the generic names of your medications with you because pharmaceutical companies overseas may use different names from those used in the United States. NOTE: Any prescribed medication containing amphetamine is completely illegal in South Korea, and thus may not be brought into South Korea under any circumstances. Some prescription drugs are illegal in South Korea and others require pre-approval from the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. If traveling with amphetamines, narcotics, or opioids, you must have proper authorization. To prevent problems in case your luggage is lost or misrouted, keep medications in their original containers and pack them in carry-on luggage.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on October 29, 2026

Meet the group at Novotel Suites Ambassador Seoul in Seoul

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in. Orientation and the welcome dinner will take place the next day on Day 3.

Getting to the site: Participants who purchased Road Scholar airfare and arrive on the program start date, will receive an arrival transfer from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to the first program hotel (Novotel Suites Ambassador Seoul). Participants who arrive early or who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and for the costs involved. Information about requesting private airport arrival and departure transfers is at the end of the mailing packet. Additional information for public transportation options are listed below. Train/Subway: From Incheon International Airport, take the Airport Railroad (AREX Direct Train or All Stop Train) to Seoul Station, then transfer to Subway Line 1 and get off at Yongsan Station. Exit through Entrance 3, The hotel is about a 7-minute walk from there. Airport Limousine Bus: From the Incheon Airport Limousine Terminal, take bus #6001 and get off at Sinyongsan Station. The travel time is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. From Sinyongsan Station, it is about a 14-minute walk to Novotel Suites Yongsan. When you get off the limousine bus, you will see Yongsan Station across the street. Take the escalator up to the 2nd floor and exit through Entrance No. 3. Taxi: The distance is approximately 57 km (35 miles), and the journey takes about 55-65 minutes. The taxi fare is around KRW 55,000–60,000. ($40-$50USD) Hotel check-in is available at 3:00 p.m. on the program start date (Day 2). If you arrive a few hours early, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until check-in time. If you wish to check in upon arrival in the morning, or if you arrive a day before the program starts, we suggest booking the additional pre-program nights in advance with the hotel directly or through a third-party website. Program nights at this hotel are booked in the junior suite double or junior suite twin rooms.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Both train/subway and Airport Limousine bus options are available.

Your trip ends on: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 in Incheon at Grand Hyatt Incheon

End of Trip: 9:00 a.m. after breakfast; 12:00 noon hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Participants who purchased Road Scholar airfare and depart on the program end date take the pre-arranged airport shuttle service to the Incheon International Airport (ICN), located approximately less than one mile from the hotel. Participants who are departing later or have not purchased Road Scholar airfare are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and the costs involved. There is easy access from the hotel to the airport via the airport shuttle. Your Group Leader and the hotel staff will be able to assist you on your way. Hotel check-out is at 12:00 noon on the last program date of your itinerary (Day 14). Shuttle service operated by Grand Hyatt Incheon runs every 30 minutes between the hotel and Incheon International Airport. If your flight departs a few hours later, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until you head to the airport. If you wish to arrange a late check-out or a post-program night, we suggest booking it in advance with Road Scholar Travel Services at 800-241-1404, the hotel directly or through a third-party website. Program nights at this hotel are booked in the twin bed or king bed rooms.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.