Private Tour: Talk show with N.K. Defector and Short Hiking

Tour guide, Surag, picked us up promptly and was very informative on everything we asked him about. He also adjusted the itinerary due to the weather that day which worked best for us! The highlight of the tour was meeting Ms. Juon whose incredible story about her life back in NK leading to her human trafficking experience to her dangerous journey to SK to a life of freedom. She answered all of our questions even when we went over our alloted time. Also included in the tour is getting a taste of NK cuisine. This was also a delight also made memorable with our personable tour guide. The view of fall foliage from Bugak Pavillion and was amazing. I recommend this tour for history enthusiasts (the war museum gave us a better understanding of the UN's involvement in the Korean War), foodies, and for anyone who wants to talk to a NK defector.

I booked this tour for myself, my husband, and a friend that was traveling with us. I had originally booked a different tour that would take us to the JSA Freedom House, but due to the African Swine Fever, we were unable to do that tour. Not going to lie, we were super bummed, but this tour was suggested instead. We decided to go ahead and proceed with this tour and boy, we were NOT disappointed. This tour turned out to be one of the best tours we have ever taken on our travels. Our guide, Alfonso, was amazingly knowledgeable from start to finish and SOOOOO personable. We had great fun with him all day. The tour took us from a morning hike with great views of Seoul to the DMZ for some great shots of North Korea. Then, on to a traditional Korean bbq lunch which was fantastic!!! We finished the day off at The War Memorial where the day ended with us meeting with a North Korean defector. It was so wonderful speaking with him and he was quite humorous and personable even though we didn't speak the same language. I 1,000% suggest this tour and suggest requesting Alfonso as your guide. You will NOT regret it!!!

If you hate educational and informative content delivered in a thoughtful and meaningful way by a great human who cares about your experience and well-being then you won't like this tour.

Alfonso is the man, legit legend I'd go again in a second. If you are thinking about going don't think just book

Due to a swine flu outbreak we were unable to go to the JSA but this was a suitable substitute. Alfonso was a great host, very knowledgeable and friendly. Having a personal guided tour was the best way to explore and learn about this aspect of South Korean history, and meeting and talking with a North Korean defector was an honour. A highlight of the tour was our lunch, which we never would have been able to do on our own. We dined on grilled duck with the locals near the Odusan Reunification Centre and it was delicious. This is a must-do for any trip to Seoul.

Alfonso was informative, friendly and knowledgeable. Even though we did not get to visit the DMZ this was a perfect supplement. The morning hike followed by Peace Park was the perfect start to an eventful day. We then had a delicious lunch at an authentic Korean restaurant, dining in a traditional way. The tour ended with us going to the Korean War Memorial and meeting the defector who gave us an amazing insight into life in N Korea and the route they use to escape. This was definitely an eye opening experience that I would recommend to everyone.

Our DMZ day with Jimmy had to change because of the African Swine Flu outbreak. Jimmy’s alternate plan worked out great. We still got to the edge of the DMZ and heard and saw the historic displays. We had more time for the Seoul war museum and meeting the North Korean defector who was really interesting to speak with. We got a better understanding of this part of Korea’s history, current circumstances and a view on how things could play out over the coming decade. The duck BBQ exceeded my expectations and Jimmy kept us relaxed and informed.

Today’s tour combined natural beauty with both past and present history. Paul, our tour guide, picked us up from the hotel and we enjoyed hiking along the route North Korean spies took in the 1980’s to try to assassinate the South Korean President. The trail was lovely and the scenery was nice. The trail leads to two old bunkers and the place where the spies were caught. It was fun, and I’m told is a good place to view the night lights of Seoul. After the hike we met, Seo Jae Pyoung 서 재 평, and heard his story of how he defected from North Korea and started life in South Korea. We joined another group for this at a cafe and enjoyed drinks and our guides did a great job translating the story and our questions. We then ate Pyongyang namyeon (yummy beef broth cold noodles)! It’s my new favorite dish! We finished the day at the War Memorial and National Museum of Korea which had many artifacts from the Korean War. The statue of brothers reuniting was very moving and the inside was beautiful! We truly enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend!