South Korea

Korea has two short and excellent seasons. Blossom moves north through early April and lasts about ten days in Seoul. Autumn colour peaks in the mountains in late October and reaches the city in early November, and it is the more reliable of the two. Summer is hot and humid with the monsoon arriving in July. Winter is dry and genuinely cold, which is when the resorts east of Seoul are worth the trip.

Incheon takes anything and is one of the best-run airports anywhere. Gimpo is closer to the city and worth asking about for a private arrival. Inside the country the KTX reaches Busan in under three hours, which is faster than flying once you count the airports.

Among our preferred hotel partners, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is in Gwanghwamun beside the palaces, Park Hyatt Seoul is in Gangnam for members here on business, Park Hyatt Busan sits on the marina in the south, and JW Marriott holds both the Banpo and Dongdaemun addresses in the capital.

Ask your advisor about temple stays outside the city, DMZ access, which needs lead time and identification, and adding Busan or Jeju as a second leg.