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Train operator in South Korea:

Korean Railways: www.korail.go.kr.

High-speed train Seoul-Pusan: http://ktx.korail.go.kr/eng/

Ferry operators to Korea:

Japan-South Korea: www.jrbeetle.co.jp. 

China-South Korea: www.weidong.com

Time:

GMT+9 all year.

Currency:

£1 = approx 1,930 won  -   Currency converter

Tourist information:

http://english.tour2korea.com

Page last updated:

14 April 2008.

On this page:

UK to South Korea by Trans-Siberian Railway

Ferries from China to South Korea - Beijing to Seoul via Tianjin or Qingdao

Ferries from Japan to South Korea - The 'Beetle' ferry from Hakata to Seoul

Train travel within South Korea - including KTX high-speed trains between Seoul & Pusan (Busan)

Travel to North Korea - trains from Beijing & Moscow to Pyongyang

It's possible to travel from London to South Korea overland using the Trans-Siberian Railway, via either Vladivostok and Japan then a ferry from Hakata to Pusan in Korea, or via Beijing, train to Tianjin then a ferry from Tianjin to Incheon in Korea.  The journey will take a bout 14 days.  See the Trans-Siberian page for details of the London - Japan or London - China journey, then see the China-Korea or Japan-Korea sections below.

There are several ferry services from China to South Korea, including one from Tianjin to Incheon twice a week, and one from Qingdao.

Beijing - Seoul via Tianjin

• Air-conditioned trains link Beijing and Tianjin every hour or so.  The journey time 1 hour 15 minutes for the137km.

• Ships sail Tianjin to Incheon twice a week, taking 25 hours - for sailing dates and times, see www.chinahotel.co.kr/ct/ferry3_english.html.

• Trains link Incheon and Seoul frequently, 39km, journey time 58 minutes.

Beijing to Seoul via Qingdao

• An overnight train (number T25) leaves Beijing at 22:10 and arrives Qingdao at 07:57. The train has soft & hard class sleepers.

• The ship sails from Qingdao at 16:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Incheon at 10:00 next day. The one-way fare for the most basic berth is about 110,000 won or 750 RMB.  The operator is Weidong Ferry - see www.weidong.com for sailing dates and fares.

• Trains link Incheon and Seoul frequently, 39km, journey time 58 minutes.

Seoul to Beijing via Qingdao

• Trains link Seoul & Incheon frequently, 39km, journey time 58 minutes.

• The ship sails from Incheon at 17:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays arriving Qingdao at 09:00 next day.  The one-way fare for the most basic berth is about 110,000 won or 750 RMB.  The operator is Weidong Ferry, www.weidong.com for sailing dates and fares.

• An overnight train (number 2540) leaves Qingdao at 21:12 arriving Beijing at 10:21.

There are several ferry services between Japan and South Korea.  One of the best - and one of the few with a website in English - is Japan Kyushu Railway's 'Beetle' service.  The 'Beetle' is a fast jetfoil from Fukuoka (Hakata) to Pusan, taking just 2 hours 55 minutes and running 4-5 times a day.

• Take a train across Japan to Hakata-Fukuoka.  Hakata is the end of the high-speed 'shinkansen' line from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima - see www.hyperdia.com (English button upper left) for train times and fares within Japan.

• Take the 'Beetle' from Hakata-Fukuoka to Pusan.  4-5 sailings a day, journey time 2 hours 55 minutes.  The fare is about 13,000 Yen (£67) one way, from 24,000 Yen (£125) return.   To check ferry times and fares, see www.jrbeetle.co.jp.

• For train service between Pusan and Seoul, see http://ktx.korail.go.kr/eng/.

All major towns and cities in South Korea are linked by an efficient railway - for train times and fares visit www.korail.go.kr. In addition, Seoul and Pusan (also known as Busan) are linked by a new high-speed train service known as KTX.  The KTX runs on a new high-speed line built using French TGV technology.  Trains run frequently, taking just 2 hours 50 minutes.  The fare is 45,000 won (£21) one way 2nd class, 63,000 won (£30) 1st class.  For times, fares and online booking of KTX trains, see http://ktx.korail.go.kr/eng/. Right:  The new high-speed 'KTX' from Seoul to Pusan. Below left: KTX 1st class...    Below right: KTX 2nd class Photos courtesy of Shigeyuki Kaneko.

For train times & fares see www.korail.go.kr or http://ktx.korail.go.kr/eng/.

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Visiting North Korea...

Visas are not normally granted to foreign independent travellers to North Korea, only to visitors on an organised tour with a guide.  Several companies can arrange visits to North Korea.  Try Regent Holidays (in the UK) at www.regent-holidays.co.uk who can arrange group or individual tours to North Korea, including booking the Beijing-Pyongyang and Moscow-Pyongyang trains.  Also try Koryo Tours (in the UK) at www.koryogroup.com  or VNC Travel (in the Netherlands) www.vnc.nl.  Both companies can book the Beijing-Pyongyang sleeper train.  Although talks are progressing, there are no trains (nor any access) across the border between North and South Korea.

Moscow - North Korea

Moscow ▶ Pyongyang				Pyongyang ▶ Moscow
Moscow (Yaroslavski)	depart	23:53 Fridays		Pyongyang	depart	10:10 Saturdays
Pyongyang	arrive	19:30 next Friday		Moscow (Yaroslavski)	arrive	17:59 next Friday

The train has soft class sleepers.

Beijing - North Korea

Beijing ▶ Pyongyang				Pyongyang ▶ Beijing
Beijing	depart	17:25 Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat		Pyongyang	depart	10:10 Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat
Pyongyang	arrive	19:30 next day		Beijing	arrive	09:23 next day

The train has soft and hard class sleepers.

Traveller's report...

Traveller David Eerdmans visited North Korea using the Beijing-Pyongyang train: 

"...Using the train is very recommendable, because it gives a unique insight in the poor rural areas of North-Korea that are not otherwise shown to tourists (although the villages along the railway are probably still among the best there are in the country). You also pass the site of the large train explosion two years ago, which is still very visible.  The train usually consists of two through cars attached to respectively a Chinese and Korean train on both sides of the border (and on some days also a part from Moscow). The train is pretty comfortable and very comparable to the usual trains in China and Russia, although it's state was somewhat less. Track quality is horrible in North-Korea, with the train travelling very slowly.  Stations are in a very poor state of repair (and of course always spot a portrait of the Great or the Dear Leaders...sigh...). Delays are very frequent due to power outages.  There are, as you state, indeed two classes.  Both are pretty similar and consist of 4-person compartments.  From Pyongyang, western tourists are only allowed on the Soft Sleeper, which is only used by foreigners (mostly Chinese). From Beijing, you can also use the Hard Sleeper, which is also used by North-Koreans ...which creates about the only opportunity to speak with 'normal' North-Koreans without having a guide with you. On the way back from Pyongyang I also had an interesting conversation, because I shared the compartment with the Indian ambassador in North-Korea..!  The through cars are fenced off from the rest of the train (!), so you can't use the restaurant car.  In Korea, however, a meal can be brought to you by the car attendant [Note:  Regent Holidays report that meals in the restaurant car are included in the fare].  The quality of the food is pretty good considering the food shortages in the country.  Do expect dog meat however, which is actually quite tasty.  The border crossing is very slow, but not the pain I expected it to be.  The border officials are usually not too friendly, but not rude or intimidating.

Train, bus and ferry times for every country in Africa, Asia, America and Australasia are shown in the famous Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable, published every two months.  It's essential for every serious overland traveller, and an inspiration for armchair travellers..!

It costs around £13.50 from the bureau de change section of any branch of Thomas Cook, or you can order online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.

Get an online quote from both Direct Line & Columbus Direct...

Travel insurance is a boring subject, but it's a real necessity, so make sure you budget for it.  Make sure the cover is adequate - for example, at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover, from a reliable insurer.  Remember that an annual multi-trip policy is often cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just two or three trips a year.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy after clicking these links.

  If you're a UK resident, try Direct Line whom I've used myself on many occasions, or Columbus Direct.

      If you're resident in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct Australia.

  If you're resident in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

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