Korea Flights:
Flights to Korea
Korea is situated in eastern Asia, located on the Korean Peninsula, and is divided into the two countries of North Korea and South Korea. Whilst South Korea has blossomed, North Korea has become more and more reclusive.
The available airlines and flights to Korea from South Africa depend on whether you want to visit North or South Korea in the main. North Korea is closed to international flights, the only exception being Beijing in neighbouring China. Therefore from South Africa you will need to look for flights to Beijing, then you must join a tour group in order to cross into North Korea. Independent travellers are not permitted to enter. One or two stop flights from South Africa are available to Beijing with a number of airlines, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and KLM, or two stop flights with South African Airways.
To get a flight to South Korea is a different and far easier story! South Korea is very welcoming to visitors from South Africa and around the world. There are seven international airports in South Korea though most visitors will land at the capital city, Seoul. Seoul Incheon International Airport (airport code: ICN) welcomes flights from South Africa with Emirates, Cathay pacific, Malaysia Airlines and KLM, all with one stop en-route, or South Africa Airways offers two stop flights.
Book a Flight To Korea:
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The Tourist Attractions of Korea:
Because Korea is split into two completely separate countries we will cover them as two different destinations.
North Korea
As mentioned above, all visitors to North Korea must come as part of an organised tour. This is because your movement within North Korea is very restricted and if you’re part of a tour group it is much easier for the tour guide to only show you what the North Korean’s are happy for you to see. Although this may be an inconvenience to some tourists, you should not let it put you off. In fact, if you’re keen on visiting North Korea it’s best that you do this sooner rather than later as entry into the country is becoming more and more difficult.
Pyongyang is North Korea’s capital and largest city. It is likely your tour guide will start you off with a visit to the large statue of Kim II-Sung, followed by a visit to the Juche Tower from which you can get excellent views of the city. Also the Arch of Triumph is likely to be on your list of stops. This was modelled on Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, which was the largest triumphal arch in the world until this one in North Korea was built!
Other places you may visit in North Korea include the ancient capital of the Koryo Dynasty, Kaesong, which has many ancient tombs and temples to see.
South Korea
Your movement as a leisure tourist around South Korea should not be restricted at all, giving you the freedom to choose where you want to go. Highlights include the following:
Seoul, the capital and largest city has both modern and historical architecture and places of interest. Numerous palaces such as the UNESCO World Heritage listed Changdeok-gung, which has been beautifully restored, and others include Changgyeong-gung which dates from the 12th century and Gyeongbok-gung which also holds the Joseon Palace Museum and the Korean Folk Museum.
Other cities worth visiting in South Korea include the small city of Chuncheon which is surrounded by mountains and rivers and is very picturesque, whilst the larger city of Jeonju has many ancient Buddhist temples and historical monuments.
Natural attractions in South Korea include the Seoraksan National Park with beautiful mountains popular with hikers, and South Korea’s islands are very popular too – Jeju Island in particular with its waterfalls, caves and beaches.
When Should You Visit?:
Spring is a good time to visit either North or South Korea as the temperatures are pleasant and the weather is dry. By summer, South Korea gets very hot and humid, whilst North Korea has heavy rains.