OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- South Korea
- Seoul
- Korean DMZ
Korean DMZ
For those with even a passing interest in historical affairs,
the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) - a 4km-wide strip of land that
divides the Korean peninsula in two - is an absolute must-see. The
DMZ was established in 1953, at the end of the Korean War, and
remains not only the most heavily-armed and guarded territory on
the planet, but also the last surviving relic of the Cold War.
Day-trips, which include guided tours of North Korean infiltration
tunnels and the Joint Security Area (
Panmunjeon), the site of negotiations between the warring
nations, cost around USD 40 and leave from downtown Seoul. Upon
entry into the DMZ, visitors are required to put their signature on
an indemnity form, acknowledging that they are entering a "hostile
area", where they face "the possibility of injury or death as a
direct result of enemy action" - this, however, is all part of the
quiddity of the experience, and should be appreciated as such.
Another interesting aspect of the DMZ is that - due to the total
absence of development in the area for nearly 60 years - it has
become the site of what must be the world's most unlikely wildlife
sanctuary. An area of serene and unspoiled beauty, it is
(putatively) home to several rare and endangered species, such as
Asiatic black bears, Amur leopards and Korean tigers. There are
also plenty of hotels and hostels in the area, should one desire to
spend their entire weekend 'on the 38th parallel' - enjoying the
pristine natural surroundings, soaking up the unique atmosphere,
and stealing otherwise-impossible glimpses into the most mysterious
country on earth.
Information & Facts
Admission
Tour costs are as follows: USD 42 (USO); KRW 77, 000
(Korean Travel Bureau and Chung Ang Express); KRW 78, 000
(International Cultural Service Club)
Language
The official language is Korean.
Money
South Korea's monetary unit is the won (KRW). Currency can be
exchanged at most banks and at casinos, and travellers cheques
cashed at authorised banks and hotels. Most merchants in the cities
accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, but
Koreans traditionally prefer cash. ATMs at banks are usually
accessible only during banking hours, and instructions on the
machines are generally only in Korean. Public ATMs at convenience
stores and subway stations are generally available 24 hours. US
Dollars are an accepted form of foreign currency and can be used as
US Dollars in the areas around the American Military bases in South
Korea.
Opening Times
Time