DMZ Tour in Seoul Including North Korea's 3rd Tunnel and Majang Lake Crossing
by VIP TRAVEL
Choose from 4 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$98Overview
This full-day DMZ tour from Seoul lasts about eight hours and includes visits to key sites along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The tour begins with meeting points at Myeongdong Shopping Street, Seoul City Hall, or Hongdae subway stations where you board the bus and meet your guide. Once at the DMZ, you spend an hour at the DMZ Exhibition Hall and Theater learning about the Korean War and the division of the peninsula. After a short stop to collect entrance clearance, you visit Imjingak Resort, where you see the Bell Tower and the Locomotive of Peace, memorials to families separated by the war. You then cross the Bridge of Freedom, where thousands of prisoners of war returned to South Korea in 1953. The tour includes an optional visit to the JSA Museum, featuring replicas of negotiation rooms from the Korean War era. Other stops include the Mangbaedan Memorial Altar, Jangdan Station with its battle-scarred steam locomotive, and the Peace Bell at Imjingak Park. After passing a military checkpoint, the tour continues to the Third Tunnel, a secret infiltration tunnel dug by North Korea, where you can walk inside the 1,635-meter-long, 2-meter-high tunnel. Next, the Dora Observatory offers views of North Korea’s propaganda village and Kaesong city through binoculars. A stop at Tongilchon Jangdankong Maeul village allows time to try locally made soybean ice cream and shop for souvenirs. The tour can optionally include crossing the 262-meter-long Majang Reservoir Suspension Bridge, opened in 2020, which stands 25 meters above Majang Lake and provides views of surrounding forests and waters. The tour ends with drop-off at one of three central Seoul locations: Hongdae, City Hall, or Myeongdong. The tour includes an English or Chinese-speaking professional guide and hotel pickup within the main subway or downtown area. Optional activities such as Majang Lake Bridge crossing, strawberry picking, and Gamaksan Red Suspension Bridge can be selected at checkout.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Myeongdong Shopping Street
Meet the bus and tour guide at Myeongdong Subway Station Exit 9. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to ensure a timely start.
5 min
Seoul City Hall
Gather at Seoul City Hall Subway Station Exit 6 to meet the bus and tour guide. Please be punctual.
5 min
Hongdae
Final meeting point outside Hongdae Subway Station Exit 3. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to avoid delays.
5 min
DMZ
Begin the DMZ tour entering the 4 km-wide no-man’s-land established after the 1953 armistice. Visit the DMZ Exhibition Hall and Theater to learn about the Korean War from South Korea’s perspective. Walk near barbed wire fences and observe North Korea’s propaganda villages through binoculars while hearing stories of espionage and secret crossings.
60 min
Entry Clearance Collection
Brief pause for the guide to collect entrance clearance and tickets required to access civilian areas within the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
10 min
Imjingak Resort
Start at Imjingak Park, founded in 1972 to honor families separated by the Korean War. See the Bell Tower symbolizing reunification hopes and the bullet-ridden “Locomotive of Peace.” Notice ribbons tied with wishes and the distant North Korean ridges as you reflect on Korea’s division.
30 min
Bridge of Freedom
Cross the Bridge of Freedom, a wooden bridge built in 1953 replacing a damaged railroad bridge over the Imjin River. This is where 12,773 prisoners of war returned to South Korea. Observe the river and surrounding hills while considering the bridge’s historical significance.
20 min
JSA Museum Visit (Optional)
Optionally visit the JSA Museum, the only location outside the Joint Security Area providing detailed insight into Panmunjom’s history. Explore replicas of T2 and T3 conference rooms where key negotiations occurred. Access is exclusive to guided tour guests within the restricted DMZ.
30 min
Mangbaedan Memorial Altar
Visit the Mangbaedan Memorial Altar, built in 1987 near the DMZ, where families honor relatives in North Korea during traditional holidays. Smell incense, see prayer ribbons, and view North Korea’s peaks across the Imjin River, reflecting on the pain of separation and hopes for reunification.
10 min
Jangdan Station Iron Horse
See Jangdan Station’s Iron Horse, a bullet-ridden steam locomotive from the Gyeongui Line halted by the Korean War in 1950. Preserved since 1953, it stands as a wartime monument surrounded by rolling hills, offering a tangible connection to Korea’s past.
10 min
Pyeonghwauijong Peace Bell
Encounter the 21-ton bronze Peace Bell cast in 2002 at Imjingak Park, symbolizing Korea’s desire for unity. Hear its toll, touch its surface, and breathe in the pine-scented air while appreciating the bell’s significance on the DMZ tour.
10 min
Military Checkpoint Stop
Brief stop at a military checkpoint where soldiers inspect the bus and check identification. Have your passport, Military ID, or South Korea-issued ARC card ready for verification.
10 min
The Third Tunnel
Drive over the Imjin River, observing the wildlife and birds that have thrived since the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
Dora Observatory
Explore the Third Tunnel, discovered in 1978, located 52 km from Seoul and 12 km from Munsan. This 1,635-meter-long tunnel, 2 meters high and wide, was built to allow thousands of North Korean soldiers to infiltrate South Korea. North Korea’s denial was disproven by drill marks and coal dust. Visitors can walk through the tunnel or wait near the exit if confined spaces are uncomfortable.
60 min
Dora Observatory
Ascend to Dora Observatory, established in 1986 and renovated in 2018, for the closest South Korean viewpoint of North Korea. Use binoculars to see the Kijong-dong propaganda village, Kaesong City spires, and sometimes the Kim Il-sung statue. Experience the border winds and faint propaganda broadcasts here.
40 min
DMZ
Stop at Tongilchon Jangdankong Maeul, a peaceful village beyond the Civilian Control Line known for Jangdan soybeans. Sample soybean ice cream and browse local products like ginseng and soybean candies. This is the last restroom stop before returning to Seoul.
20 min
Majang Lake
Optionally cross the Majang Reservoir Suspension Bridge, a 262-meter-long bridge opened in 2020, standing 25 meters above Majang Lake. The bridge offers panoramic views of the lake and forested hills, formed by the Imjin River’s flow, providing a quiet conclusion to the DMZ tour.
60 min
Seoul
The tour ends with drop-offs at three central Seoul locations: Hongdae, City Hall, and Myeongdong. Guests may leave from whichever stop suits their onward plans.
10 min
Meeting point
City Hall Subway Station Exit 6
End point
City Hall Subway Station Exit 6
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
DMZ Tour in Seoul Including North Korea's 3rd Tunnel and Majang Lake Crossing
by VIP TRAVEL
Choose from 4 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$98Overview
This full-day DMZ tour from Seoul lasts about eight hours and includes visits to key sites along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The tour begins with meeting points at Myeongdong Shopping Street, Seoul City Hall, or Hongdae subway stations where you board the bus and meet your guide. Once at the DMZ, you spend an hour at the DMZ Exhibition Hall and Theater learning about the Korean War and the division of the peninsula. After a short stop to collect entrance clearance, you visit Imjingak Resort, where you see the Bell Tower and the Locomotive of Peace, memorials to families separated by the war. You then cross the Bridge of Freedom, where thousands of prisoners of war returned to South Korea in 1953. The tour includes an optional visit to the JSA Museum, featuring replicas of negotiation rooms from the Korean War era. Other stops include the Mangbaedan Memorial Altar, Jangdan Station with its battle-scarred steam locomotive, and the Peace Bell at Imjingak Park. After passing a military checkpoint, the tour continues to the Third Tunnel, a secret infiltration tunnel dug by North Korea, where you can walk inside the 1,635-meter-long, 2-meter-high tunnel. Next, the Dora Observatory offers views of North Korea’s propaganda village and Kaesong city through binoculars. A stop at Tongilchon Jangdankong Maeul village allows time to try locally made soybean ice cream and shop for souvenirs. The tour can optionally include crossing the 262-meter-long Majang Reservoir Suspension Bridge, opened in 2020, which stands 25 meters above Majang Lake and provides views of surrounding forests and waters. The tour ends with drop-off at one of three central Seoul locations: Hongdae, City Hall, or Myeongdong. The tour includes an English or Chinese-speaking professional guide and hotel pickup within the main subway or downtown area. Optional activities such as Majang Lake Bridge crossing, strawberry picking, and Gamaksan Red Suspension Bridge can be selected at checkout.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Myeongdong Shopping Street
Meet the bus and tour guide at Myeongdong Subway Station Exit 9. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to ensure a timely start.
5 min
Seoul City Hall
Gather at Seoul City Hall Subway Station Exit 6 to meet the bus and tour guide. Please be punctual.
5 min
Hongdae
Final meeting point outside Hongdae Subway Station Exit 3. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to avoid delays.
5 min
DMZ
Begin the DMZ tour entering the 4 km-wide no-man’s-land established after the 1953 armistice. Visit the DMZ Exhibition Hall and Theater to learn about the Korean War from South Korea’s perspective. Walk near barbed wire fences and observe North Korea’s propaganda villages through binoculars while hearing stories of espionage and secret crossings.
60 min
Entry Clearance Collection
Brief pause for the guide to collect entrance clearance and tickets required to access civilian areas within the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
10 min
Imjingak Resort
Start at Imjingak Park, founded in 1972 to honor families separated by the Korean War. See the Bell Tower symbolizing reunification hopes and the bullet-ridden “Locomotive of Peace.” Notice ribbons tied with wishes and the distant North Korean ridges as you reflect on Korea’s division.
30 min
Bridge of Freedom
Cross the Bridge of Freedom, a wooden bridge built in 1953 replacing a damaged railroad bridge over the Imjin River. This is where 12,773 prisoners of war returned to South Korea. Observe the river and surrounding hills while considering the bridge’s historical significance.
20 min
JSA Museum Visit (Optional)
Optionally visit the JSA Museum, the only location outside the Joint Security Area providing detailed insight into Panmunjom’s history. Explore replicas of T2 and T3 conference rooms where key negotiations occurred. Access is exclusive to guided tour guests within the restricted DMZ.
30 min
Mangbaedan Memorial Altar
Visit the Mangbaedan Memorial Altar, built in 1987 near the DMZ, where families honor relatives in North Korea during traditional holidays. Smell incense, see prayer ribbons, and view North Korea’s peaks across the Imjin River, reflecting on the pain of separation and hopes for reunification.
10 min
Jangdan Station Iron Horse
See Jangdan Station’s Iron Horse, a bullet-ridden steam locomotive from the Gyeongui Line halted by the Korean War in 1950. Preserved since 1953, it stands as a wartime monument surrounded by rolling hills, offering a tangible connection to Korea’s past.
10 min
Pyeonghwauijong Peace Bell
Encounter the 21-ton bronze Peace Bell cast in 2002 at Imjingak Park, symbolizing Korea’s desire for unity. Hear its toll, touch its surface, and breathe in the pine-scented air while appreciating the bell’s significance on the DMZ tour.
10 min
Military Checkpoint Stop
Brief stop at a military checkpoint where soldiers inspect the bus and check identification. Have your passport, Military ID, or South Korea-issued ARC card ready for verification.
10 min
The Third Tunnel
Drive over the Imjin River, observing the wildlife and birds that have thrived since the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
Dora Observatory
Explore the Third Tunnel, discovered in 1978, located 52 km from Seoul and 12 km from Munsan. This 1,635-meter-long tunnel, 2 meters high and wide, was built to allow thousands of North Korean soldiers to infiltrate South Korea. North Korea’s denial was disproven by drill marks and coal dust. Visitors can walk through the tunnel or wait near the exit if confined spaces are uncomfortable.
60 min
Dora Observatory
Ascend to Dora Observatory, established in 1986 and renovated in 2018, for the closest South Korean viewpoint of North Korea. Use binoculars to see the Kijong-dong propaganda village, Kaesong City spires, and sometimes the Kim Il-sung statue. Experience the border winds and faint propaganda broadcasts here.
40 min
DMZ
Stop at Tongilchon Jangdankong Maeul, a peaceful village beyond the Civilian Control Line known for Jangdan soybeans. Sample soybean ice cream and browse local products like ginseng and soybean candies. This is the last restroom stop before returning to Seoul.
20 min
Majang Lake
Optionally cross the Majang Reservoir Suspension Bridge, a 262-meter-long bridge opened in 2020, standing 25 meters above Majang Lake. The bridge offers panoramic views of the lake and forested hills, formed by the Imjin River’s flow, providing a quiet conclusion to the DMZ tour.
60 min
Seoul
The tour ends with drop-offs at three central Seoul locations: Hongdae, City Hall, and Myeongdong. Guests may leave from whichever stop suits their onward plans.
10 min
Meeting point
City Hall Subway Station Exit 6
End point
City Hall Subway Station Exit 6
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.