Learn about Korea’s divided history during this half-day visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Browse photographs and war artifacts at the DMZ exhibition hall, see the bridge where thousands of Korean POWs crossed back home, and use binoculars to get a peek at the North Korean village of Kijongdong from Dora Observatory. Air-conditioned coach transfers from Seoul are included.

A half-day guided tour of Korea’s DMZ from Seoul
Listen to an in-depth overview of contemporary Korean history from your guide
See artifacts from the Korean War and get a glimpse across the border
Travel comfortably by coach with hotel pickup included

What's Included

Expert guide
Transport by comfortable, air-conditioned coach
Hotel pickup

Gratuities
Tram
Hotel Drop Off

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

Hongik Univ. Station
Seoul, South Korea
Last Departure place : Hongik Univ. Subway Station exit no 3 Morning: 08:20am Afternoon : 11:40am

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

City Hall
Seoul, South Korea
(If you choose the Full Day Tour option, we will drop you off at the hotel back)

Pickup details

We only pick up all travelers from central Seoul area located hotels. Depending on your hotel location, meeting time is all different. So, you MUST confirm the exact meeting place and meeting time with local tour operator. If you stay in airbnb or local residential area, please let us know your accommodation name (with address). Then, we will arrange the meeting place for you. ** last departure place will be Hongik Univ. Subway Station exit no 3 (8:30am or 11:40 depending on your option; morning / afternoon) For the last minute booking (12 hours prior the tour start), please also meet up at Hongik Univ. Subway Station exit no 3 directly as we are not able to make hotel pick up arrangement for you.

What To Expect

Seoul (Pass By)

Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Dora Observatory

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Dora Observatory

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Dorasan Station

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

South Korea (Pass By)

City Hall (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
You MUST get the exact meeting place and time from the local tour operator prior to departure
A current valid passport is required the day of travel
You do not need to send a copy of your passport
Please follow the instructions of your tour guide about when and where you may take photos
If a part of the tour itinerary is cancelled by unexpected military conditions or local circumstances, there will be no refund

A moderate amount of walking through a steep and narrow tunnel involved - Comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended
A minimum of 2 adults is required to book the afternoon tour
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travellers can participate
If you miss the tour bus because of late or confusing tour date, there will be no refund.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveller Photos

Reviews

4.5

12 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-6 of 12 reviews

I had a great time, but...

Thomas_H, Nov 2022

I did my research on the DMZ but not tours, so some of my experience is hard to put in context. You can tell from the title "no forced shopping" that that's a problem with the industry, and proclaiming something in the title doesn't make it true. First off: it wasn't half day but whole day. I embarked before 9 and they dropped us off at 5pm. The itinerary was the DMZ Visitors center, the observatory, the third tunnel, and then the unification village in the DMZ. We didn't get to the Joint Security Area because it's still closed following tensions several weeks ago. Our first stop out of Seoul was the visitor center, where our guide grabbed everyone's passports and ran in to make reservations for the guarded bridge. Bridge crossings are timed, and we didn't get there super early so our bridge time was 1pm despite arriving at the visitors center at 10am. The visitors center itself and tour of the area was nice, but it did feel a little much time there. Lunch was good. Taking a gondola across a river and active minefield was certainly interesting. The remnants of the railroad bridge to the north are poignant. Next up, past the civilian control line - The DMZ itself is four miles wide, and past that are another two miles of heavily fortified land... But also land that's still actively lived in and worked. Farms are next to well marked minefields. The journey up the the observatory was relatively quick and painless, the the view from there is gorgeous. The third tunnel has ain interesting visitor's center... The mandatory propaganda video was okay, if a little cheesy. The exhibits are well done. The tunnel itself is an experience, definitely interesting and worth the trip but what a hike. The last stop was unification village, and by that I mean we drove through town to the grocery store that had a gift shop. I can't say this was my favorite part, but the final stop and bathroom break before heading back is hard to fault overly much, and seeing the middle of the small town and it's grocery store is actually pretty interesting and informative. Definitely not one of the tourist trapiest things I could have done, but if you've got a car you can just drive everywhere yourself; it's actually pretty doable and navigable. On the other hand, if you want to be guided and not have to do any of the planning and driving, this is it.

DMZ Tour

Kathleen_P, July 2022

The Tour Guide is very knowledgeable and created an informational journey, rich with history. She allowed us to understand the experiences of the Korean peoples, both past and present, through an historical framework. I highly recommend this tour.

Great tour, good organisation.

Brigitta_B, June 2022

It was a great tour, the organisation of the tour was fine, guide was helpful and provided lots of interesting information to us. I recommend this tour.

Fun

JulieAnne_C, Feb 2020

Yeonni our guide was awesome she had plenty of knowledge and was enthusiastic. The Dmz was closed but I was told in advance and was satisfied with the alternative tour. I could have skipped the ginseng museum though..

Educatinal and well organized

T_B, Sept 2019

The guide was very informative. Learnt facts about Korea and Korean war. Would recommend. Worth the money.

Quick tour for Brief History Lesson

Katie R, Aug 2019

Youn was an excellent tour guide - super energetic and willing to give our knowledge to anyone that would listen. I found this tour interesting from a historical standpoint because I did not know much about the history of Korea. What I say next goes for ANY half day tour you take visiting Imjingak, Dora Observatory, 3rd Tunnel as each half day tour visits the same locations as the only way to get into the DMZ is via a tour groups. You have very limited time at each stop if doing the half day tour - I would have preferred more time at Imjingak versus the other two locations since there was more to see/read and walk around versus the other locations. You hardly have enough time to see the sights at each stop and look for souvenirs. Unfortunately I was not able to do the JSA portion since I booked short notice but I think if you can do DMZ and JSA, the tour would be more beneficial!