Rec's for DMZ Tour from Seoul?
Feb 15, 2014, 1:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
Rec's for DMZ Tour from Seoul?
I'll be in Seoul for 4 days and looking for a tour to the DMZ on a Sunday or Monday (could do a Saturday if Sun/Mon are closed days). Can anyone recommend a good tour to book? it's just one person, if that makes a difference.
I did search and a recent thread referenced a "VIP" tour but I couldn't find any more info on it. Hope this isn't a dupe post.
Thanks in advance!
I did search and a recent thread referenced a "VIP" tour but I couldn't find any more info on it. Hope this isn't a dupe post.
Thanks in advance!
Feb 16, 2014, 5:41 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
Try doing a search using "DMZ tour".
Quite a few threads come up, including this one
Quite a few threads come up, including this one
I could only find viator specifically called out in that and other threads. But they don't work for my dates. I was hoping someone here could provide more options with recent information instead of the other older thread with company URLs that were valid (two I tried gave error pages).
Feb 17, 2014, 6:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere in Y class
Programs: OZ D+ Lifetime
Posts: 1,181
I have never tried them before, but I have heard good things about the tour offered through the USO. I don't have any contact info for them but found this.
In the past, I have used Panmunjom Travel Center. Link to their website. I have used them twice before and it was easy to arrange everything via email. I went with the Panmunjom / DMZ combined tour and it was an all day trip.
Hope this helps. Enjoy the trip!
In the past, I have used Panmunjom Travel Center. Link to their website. I have used them twice before and it was easy to arrange everything via email. I went with the Panmunjom / DMZ combined tour and it was an all day trip.
Hope this helps. Enjoy the trip!
Feb 18, 2014, 5:50 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
I have never tried them before, but I have heard good things about the tour offered through the USO. I don't have any contact info for them but found this.
In the past, I have used Panmunjom Travel Center. Link to their website. I have used them twice before and it was easy to arrange everything via email. I went with the Panmunjom / DMZ combined tour and it was an all day trip.
Hope this helps. Enjoy the trip!
In the past, I have used Panmunjom Travel Center. Link to their website. I have used them twice before and it was easy to arrange everything via email. I went with the Panmunjom / DMZ combined tour and it was an all day trip.
Hope this helps. Enjoy the trip!
Feb 18, 2014, 6:11 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: KE Morning Calm; AA Plat
Posts: 314
I went on the USO tour (thanks to flyertalk) and would recommend it to others. Here is the link for the USO tour: http://www.koridoor.co.kr/bbs/board....fo&sca=JSA/DMZ
Make sure whatever tour you sign up for includes the JSA (Joint Security Area). This is the area with the familiar blue buildings where the South and North forces face each other.
From what I remember, I reserved the tour on the website and had to call them to provide my credit card payment. Our tour had to be rescheduled four hours later due to whatever undisclosed reasons the military had, but they were very good with communication. So keep that in mind when booking your tour.
Make sure whatever tour you sign up for includes the JSA (Joint Security Area). This is the area with the familiar blue buildings where the South and North forces face each other.
From what I remember, I reserved the tour on the website and had to call them to provide my credit card payment. Our tour had to be rescheduled four hours later due to whatever undisclosed reasons the military had, but they were very good with communication. So keep that in mind when booking your tour.
Feb 19, 2014, 4:51 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
I went on the USO Tour and researched it on FT and other boards prior to going, and the consensus seemed to be that they're the one to use. I felt it was a bit expensive for what it is (someone at Kooridor is making a nice profit on it with 50 people on a bus @ $90/person), but they're all kinda priced highly and they did a decent job and I have no complaints.
Feb 19, 2014, 5:44 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere in Y class
Programs: OZ D+ Lifetime
Posts: 1,181
I'm not sure what the $90 covers in the USO tour, but I paid $120 using Panmunjom Travel Center. This was for the Panmunjom / DMZ combined tour. It is possible that you might get more for your money going on the USO tour. I will have to take the USO tour someday to see what is different.
Feb 19, 2014, 8:32 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
I'm not sure what the $90 covers in the USO tour, but I paid $120 using Panmunjom Travel Center. This was for the Panmunjom / DMZ combined tour. It is possible that you might get more for your money going on the USO tour. I will have to take the USO tour someday to see what is different.
Curious if there was anything interesting on your tour that I missed.
Feb 20, 2014, 1:36 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
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Posts: 4,859
Looks like USO and another place do not offer tours on the dates I'll be there due to holidays and their specific schedules. Grace Travel does offer a tour that does not include Panmunjom. It notes it includes:
Hotel Pick-up
Imjingak Park
The Bridge of Freedom
DMZ Theater & Exhibition Hall
The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
Dora Observatory
Dora Station
Pass by Unification Village
Drop Off at Itaewon or City Hall
For $42 USD. Is that worth it? Or without Panmunjom is any tour pretty lacking in substance?
Hotel Pick-up
Imjingak Park
The Bridge of Freedom
DMZ Theater & Exhibition Hall
The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
Dora Observatory
Dora Station
Pass by Unification Village
Drop Off at Itaewon or City Hall
For $42 USD. Is that worth it? Or without Panmunjom is any tour pretty lacking in substance?
Feb 20, 2014, 4:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere in Y class
Programs: OZ D+ Lifetime
Posts: 1,181
I think one of the highlights of my visits to the DMZ was the Panmunjom. Being able to take photos inside the blue room and then being able to walk across the line and stand in NK was pretty neat.
Feb 20, 2014, 4:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
Feb 20, 2014, 8:49 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
Take a side trip to Chuncheon/Namiseom area. Chuncheon is the home of dak galbi. Namiseom is a cool, beautiful little island nearby. You can take the ITX train from Yongsan Station and it takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. Easily done in a full day.
Or, if you want to use up more time, take the KTX to Gyeongju (Singyeongju station). It's around 2.5 hours. Gyeongju is the historical capital of Korea - lots of interesting history, a cool temple on top of a mountain, small quiet town. You can rent a bike for like 6 USD and enjoy a day.
Or, if you want to use up more time, take the KTX to Gyeongju (Singyeongju station). It's around 2.5 hours. Gyeongju is the historical capital of Korea - lots of interesting history, a cool temple on top of a mountain, small quiet town. You can rent a bike for like 6 USD and enjoy a day.
Feb 20, 2014, 9:02 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere in Y class
Programs: OZ D+ Lifetime
Posts: 1,181
Sorry to hear the DMZ tour won't work this time. I had to be very flexible with my dates and they cancelled one date due to some training exercise so I had to hastily rearrange my travel plans for a new date.
Besides DMZ, there are lots of other fun/interesting/cultural things to do in Seoul. I could spend a whole day just walking around the areas near city hall, with the different palaces and interesting places such as Insadong etc.
Besides DMZ, there are lots of other fun/interesting/cultural things to do in Seoul. I could spend a whole day just walking around the areas near city hall, with the different palaces and interesting places such as Insadong etc.