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Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and JSA Panmunjom Tour from Seoul
1 day
Popular
About this activity
After pickup from your Seoul hotel in the morning, hop aboard your comfortable coach and head to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divided North and South Korea during the Korean War. Now the world’s most heavily fortified border, the DMZ includes historical sites of conflict as well as the last remnants of the Cold War.
Drive along Freedom Road, which stretches along the banks of the Imjin River – bordered by an 8-foot (2.4-meter) razor wire fence and military watch posts – and stop in Imjingak Park to see artillery used during the Korean War. Continue to Freedom Bridge and explore the area on foot as you learn from your guide about the nearly 13,000 POWs who crossed on their return to freedom in South Korea.
Re-board the coach and head to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. In the DMZ exhibition hall, which now stands as a monument to peace, you’ll see photographs and war artifacts on display. Afterward, head to the Dora Observatory to look through telephoto lenses and observe the village of Kijongdong as your guide describes life on the other side. After a stop at Dorasan Station, proceed to the Unification Village to witness life in this small farming community.
Your guide will take your group to a local restaurant for lunch before the Panmunjom portion of your tour. Situated in the middle of the DMZ, this former ‘truce village’ was the site of the 1953 armistice, ending the Korean War and splitting the peninsula in two. The JSA was established as the negotiating site between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC) and is now used for diplomatic dialogue by the two Koreas.
First, pass through a series of checkpoints where your ID will be verified, and stop at Camp Bonifas, a small base where about 5,000 U.S. and South Korean soldiers reside just 440 yards (402 meters) south of the DMZ. Disembark from the bus and head to Ballinger Hall to watch a slideshow, hear historical facts about the JSA’s significance and receive a briefing.
Visit the Freedom House, a four-story building topped with a transparent roof, a facility that functions as a liaison between the South and the North. Visit a conference room and hear how the house supports various forms of inter-Korean dialogue, contracts and exchanges.
Your final stop is the Bridge of No Return, first used for POW exchanges in 1953. The bridge was named for the irreversible choice of whether to remain in the country of their captivity or return to their place of origin. Afterward, your guide will accompany your group back to Ballinger Hall before your return to Seoul.
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Drive along Freedom Road, which stretches along the banks of the Imjin River – bordered by an 8-foot (2.4-meter) razor wire fence and military watch posts – and stop in Imjingak Park to see artillery used during the Korean War. Continue to Freedom Bridge and explore the area on foot as you learn from your guide about the nearly 13,000 POWs who crossed on their return to freedom in South Korea.
Re-board the coach and head to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. In the DMZ exhibition hall, which now stands as a monument to peace, you’ll see photographs and war artifacts on display. Afterward, head to the Dora Observatory to look through telephoto lenses and observe the village of Kijongdong as your guide describes life on the other side. After a stop at Dorasan Station, proceed to the Unification Village to witness life in this small farming community.
Your guide will take your group to a local restaurant for lunch before the Panmunjom portion of your tour. Situated in the middle of the DMZ, this former ‘truce village’ was the site of the 1953 armistice, ending the Korean War and splitting the peninsula in two. The JSA was established as the negotiating site between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC) and is now used for diplomatic dialogue by the two Koreas.
First, pass through a series of checkpoints where your ID will be verified, and stop at Camp Bonifas, a small base where about 5,000 U.S. and South Korean soldiers reside just 440 yards (402 meters) south of the DMZ. Disembark from the bus and head to Ballinger Hall to watch a slideshow, hear historical facts about the JSA’s significance and receive a briefing.
Visit the Freedom House, a four-story building topped with a transparent roof, a facility that functions as a liaison between the South and the North. Visit a conference room and hear how the house supports various forms of inter-Korean dialogue, contracts and exchanges.
Your final stop is the Bridge of No Return, first used for POW exchanges in 1953. The bridge was named for the irreversible choice of whether to remain in the country of their captivity or return to their place of origin. Afterward, your guide will accompany your group back to Ballinger Hall before your return to Seoul.
Included
- Expert guide
- Transport by comfortable, air-conditioned coach
- Hotel pickup
- Lunch
- Entry/Admission - Camp Bonifas
- Entry/Admission - Panmunjom
- Entry/Admission - DMZ
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel drop-off
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 9 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- A current valid passport is required the day of travel
- Minimum age of 12
- A strict dress code applies for all visitors: "faddish, extreme, torn, tattered, frayed, overly provocative or otherwise inappropriate" clothing is not allowed. Sports clothes (incl. tracksuits), military clothing, oversized clothing, sheer clothing, sleeveless shirts/tops, tank tops, anything that bares the midriff or the buttocks, and flip flop-type sandals are specifically banned
- Please check the restricted countries for this tour: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria
- Please follow the instructions of your tour guide when and where to take photos
- If a part of tour itinerary is cancelled by unexpected military condition of Panmunjom, there will be no refund
- For tours on Saturday, the UN requires a scanned color copy of all passengers' passports upon booking. Your reservation will be canceled automatically if your passport copy is failed to be received on time
- For tours not on Saturday, the UN requires a scanned color copy of all passengers' passports at least 7 days before the travel day. Please send your passport copy to the local tour operator within 3 days upon making the booking. Your reservation will be canceled automatically if your passport copy is failed to be received on time
- Not recommended for participants with back problems and people with hearing impairment, due to the nature of the tour
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
70%
Original
35%
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A must visit when you are in Seoul. Both DMZ and SJA, just not only DMZ. We were lucky that the tour to JSA took place, as since April of this year, a number of tours to this region were cancelled because of the high level official meetings at the border between N and S Korea. The Saturday that we visited, it was just the second tour in the month of June that took place. We had booked two months in advance. This tour is in big demand. It was the best experience during our visit to Seoul visiting a very sensitive and tense zone. At the JSA intro meting we were made to sign individual undertakings that we are responsible if any mishap takes in the region. This signed undertaking was returned to us at the end of the tour as a souvenir. The Guide was good, however, the English communication could have been better. The lunch was good. I had a local veg cuisine. ie bibimbap. It was much better than that which I had in Seoul. The DMZ region included the Freedom bridge and the Observatory. From the Observatory you get a good view of the structures in North Korea. We also went into the tunnel that was found by S Korea that N Korea had dug to invade S Korea. The tunnel no 3 has been made a tourist attraction, with a visit to the actual tunnel that is 73 foot underground on a mono rail. there are 4 tunnels that have been located and closed by S Korea. You can walk to the main tunnel underground as well, but our tour was in a mono rail down 73 ft underground. At the end of the monorail, we walk the actual tunnel about 200 meters. Coming up to ground level is also in the monorail. In the highly sensitive and secure JSA area, the UN Army escort answered a lot of our questions. A number of stories are there of this region of escapes from and attacks by N Korea troops in the DMZ. We actually cross into N Korea and are allowed to take photos in designated areas only. According to the UN Army escort, they are not aware of any dress code that is applicable to visit JSA. This must therefore, be only from the tour operator side. Do not forget to carry your passport when on this tour. It gets checked a number of times. A long day. Start at 7 am and return around 7pm pick up from the Hotel exactly on time. The only drawback of the tour is that, we do not get dropped off at our Hotel on return.
If history and politics interests you and even if not, this tour is must see. It's easy to forget that North and South Korea are still at war until you ride the bus north of Seoul. It's about an hour bus ride, but it goes by quick thanks to the tour guides who fill you in with a brief history. The 3rd Tunnel, Dorasan Station, and Dora Observatory are all cool in their own right, but the highlight is the brief tour of the JSA . Standing on the steps of the Freedom House looking across at Panmunguk is quite the surreal experience. The time in the JSA is of course brief, but how much time do you really need to appreciate history and tension of the area? Lunch at the local restaurant was solid. The bus returns you to Seoul around 5:30 pm leaving you plenty of time for nighttime activities. Great day trip!
Had a great day on this tour, they arrived early to collect me from the hotel and the information delivered was most informative. The JSA area was most interesting and the lunch was delicious. The afternoon session in the DMZ was fantastic. The military officer who escorted us was polite informative and happy to answer any question asked. To be able to go into the blue buildings where the amistace was signed was great. Highly recommend this tour. It is a must.