BTS In The Soop Version: One Day Private VIP Tour

BTS fans get a full day outside Seoul. This private tour links Hyangho Beach in Gangneung with the actual In The Soop BTS Ver. Pyeongchang filming location, giving you both a scenic coastal stop and a close look at the peaceful setting seen on the show. I like the door-to-door hotel pickup and the fact that your group of up to seven has its own air-conditioned vehicle and guide.

I also like the small touches: each person receives official In The Soop merchandise, and the tour includes entrance to the filming site. The main drawback is the long day. You leave around 7:00 a.m., spend hours on the road, and return to Seoul around 7:30 p.m. Lunch and dinner are not included, and the non-refundable booking policy calls for careful planning.

Key points to know before booking

• Two BTS-related places in one day: Visit Hyangho Beach in Gangneung, then continue to the actual In The Soop BTS Ver. Pyeongchang filming location.
• Private service for up to seven: Your group travels together instead of joining a large shared coach.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off: The day begins in Seoul and ends with a transfer back to the city.
• Early arrival can help: One guest described being among the first at the filming site, making photo-card shots much easier before crowds arrived.
• Official gifts are included: Each person receives a fridge magnet and coaster set, plus an instant cup noodle through the review event.
• Plan for a demanding schedule: The tour lasts about 12 hours, includes substantial driving, and requires moderate physical fitness.

Why this tour works for dedicated BTS fans

This is not a general Seoul sightseeing trip with a small BTS reference added at the end. The whole day is built around places connected to the group, and that focus gives the experience a clear purpose.

Hyangho Beach offers the outdoor, scenic side of the day. The Pyeongchang stop then brings you to the real setting used for the reality show. That combination matters because you get more than a single indoor attraction or a quick photo stop. You see the calm coastal setting associated with BTS albums and then follow walking routes and photo points at the remote forest location.

I would consider this tour most suitable if the filming site is a major reason for your South Korea visit. If you are only mildly interested in BTS, twelve hours may feel like too much time for two locations. The long transfer from Seoul is part of the price and the experience, but it also takes up much of your day.

The private format helps. You do not have to coordinate with a large group or wait for unrelated sightseeing stops. For a family, a group of friends, or a small fan group, a private vehicle also lets you share the day at your own pace within the fixed schedule.

Leaving Seoul early for Gangneung

The stated start time is 7:00 a.m., with movement toward Hyangho Beach beginning around 7:20. That early departure is not a minor detail. It gives you time to reach the east coast, enjoy the beach, continue to Pyeongchang, and return to Seoul by about 7:30 p.m.

The tour description calls this the fastest way to reach the filming location, but you should still expect a full road day. Seoul, Gangneung, and Pyeongchang are not close together, so the vehicle is an important part of the experience. The air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup reduce the effort of arranging trains, local taxis, and separate transfers.

Your guide is also useful during these long stretches. The strongest praise goes to Sunny, who was described as caring, quick-thinking, and generous with practical tips. Food recommendations were singled out as especially helpful, and one group appreciated the way she handled an unexpected problem involving a forgotten item. Those details suggest that the guide can add real value beyond simply driving you between stops.

The tour is private, but the listing does not promise a completely flexible schedule. You should think of it as a carefully arranged private day rather than a custom tour where every stop can be changed.

Hyangho Beach and the BTS bus-stop atmosphere

The first main stop is Hyangho Beach, scheduled for about an hour to an hour and a half. The beach is presented as a scenic place to walk, take photos, and connect with the atmosphere seen in BTS-related album imagery.

This stop gives the day some breathing room after the early drive. You can stroll beside the water, take pictures, and enjoy the natural setting rather than rushing straight into an attraction. The appeal is emotional as much as visual. Fans can connect a familiar BTS mood with an actual coastal location.

The beach is also linked with the well-known BTS bus-stop photo setting in Gangneung. The supplied feedback describes a day that included both the BTS bus stop and the In The Soop site, so you should confirm the exact beach-side photo points with the operator when booking if that particular image matters to you.

Do not expect a long beach holiday. The schedule allows roughly one hour for the stop, and the wider day has several hours of driving ahead. You will have enough time for a walk and photographs, but not an open-ended afternoon by the sea.

That limited time is a fair trade for fans who want two distinct BTS locations in one outing. It would be less satisfying if you hoped to swim, relax for several hours, or explore more of Gangneung.

Lunch, Phoenix Blue Canyon, and the move toward Pyeongchang

After Hyangho Beach, the schedule sets aside time from about 11:30 to 12:30 for lunch and the move toward Pyeongchang. Lunch is not included, so you should budget for your own meal.

The itinerary also names Phoenix Blue Canyon in this section, but the detailed timing describes this period mainly as lunch and travel to Pyeongchang. It does not clearly promise a separate sightseeing visit or included activity at the water park. I would treat Phoenix Blue Canyon as a route or area reference unless the operator confirms that you will stop there.

This is a good point to ask about meal arrangements before departure. The guide’s food recommendations were praised, so Sunny may be able to help you choose, but the meal itself remains your responsibility. Dinner is also not included, likely during or after the return journey, so keep money and time available for that as well.

The gap between the beach and the filming site is a useful reminder that this tour is built around distance. You are not hopping between nearby Seoul attractions. You are paying for private transport across several parts of Gangwon Province, with the guide managing the route.

Entering the real Pyeongchang filming location

The central stop runs from approximately 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the In The Soop BTS Ver. Pyeongchang filming location. This is the part that gives the tour its strongest appeal.

You are visiting the actual place used for the popular reality show, not a themed display or a general BTS exhibition. The setting is described as a remote forest location where you can follow in the group’s footsteps, walk around the grounds, and take photos at designated photo spots.

The mood here is quieter than a city attraction. The value comes from seeing the terraces, paths, and surroundings connected with the show’s relaxed daily-life scenes. If you enjoyed the slower side of In The Soop, the setting should feel more meaningful than a short photo opportunity in Seoul.

The schedule allows two and a half hours, which is much better than a quick stop. You have time to walk, look for the photo points, and take pictures without treating every second as a race. The site also offers broad views over the Gangwon Province countryside.

You should have moderate physical fitness for this part of the day. The tour includes walking at an outdoor location, and the full schedule already includes substantial time in the vehicle. The supplied information does not give a detailed accessibility plan, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the operator about paths, surfaces, and access before paying.

Timing your photos and avoiding the biggest crowds

One useful piece of advice comes from the timing of a previous visit. A group arrived the day after a major FESTA-related rush, when about 300 people had reportedly visited the day before. They were first to arrive and had the site to themselves for a while, allowing photo-card pictures to go smoothly.

You cannot count on having the place empty, but this does show why arrival timing can shape the visit. Ask the guide about the day’s expected flow and try to keep your photo-card plans organized before reaching the site. The private vehicle and guide may help you move efficiently, but the tour does not promise exclusive access.

If taking pictures is a top priority, bring the photo cards, small props, or other items you want to use before the day begins. The grounds give you several photo opportunities, but the available time still has an endpoint because you must return to Seoul.

The guide’s quick thinking was praised in connection with crowd timing and other practical matters. That is one reason a private tour can be more useful than simply finding directions online. You have someone managing the day while you focus on the places themselves.

What the $955.88 group price really buys

The listed price is $955.88 per group of up to seven people. That can look high at first, but the correct comparison is not a single admission ticket. You are paying for a private 12-hour service with hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, entrance to the filming location, and transport between Seoul, Gangneung, and Pyeongchang.

For seven people, the average cost is about $137 per person before meals. For four people, it is about $239 per person. A couple would pay the full group price unless the operator offers another arrangement, so this tour makes the most financial sense for a full small group.

I like the value more for six or seven people than for one or two. Splitting the vehicle and guide across a larger party makes the private setup easier to justify. You also avoid arranging several separate transport legs, which can be stressful when the filming site is outside Seoul.

The entrance ticket and official gifts add value, but the gifts should not be the main reason to book. Each person receives a fridge magnet and coaster set, and an instant cup noodle is available through the review event. Those are fun extras, especially for collectors, but the real cost is the private transportation and time.

Lunch and dinner are extra. You should also remember that the price is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking for any reason. Since confirmation is subject to availability and normally arrives within 48 hours, check your dates carefully before committing.

The return to Seoul and the shape of the day

The transfer back to Seoul is scheduled to finish around 7:30 p.m. This gives you a full day, but it can also leave you tired. The vehicle makes the return easier than managing public transport after a long walk, yet the distance remains the distance.

I would not schedule an important evening reservation immediately after the tour. The supplied timing says about 7:30 p.m., but road conditions and the day’s pace can affect the exact arrival. Keep your evening open, especially if you have an early start the next morning.

This is also a day when practical preparation matters. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, carry money for meals, and have your camera or phone ready. The tour requires moderate fitness, and the beach and filming location both involve walking.

Weather matters too. The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection is helpful, but the general cancellation policy remains strict if you change your mind or request an amendment for another reason.

Who should book this BTS tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Fans who want the actual In The Soop BTS Ver. Pyeongchang site rather than a general BTS-themed attraction
• Small groups of friends or family who can share the price
• Visitors who value hotel pickup, private transport, and a dedicated guide
• People who want both the Gangneung coast and the Pyeongchang filming setting in one day
• Fans who plan to take photo-card pictures and want enough time at the filming location

I would hesitate if you are traveling alone, watching your budget closely, or dislike long drives. The $955.88 price is hard to justify for a solo booking unless the convenience has very high value for you.

I would also choose another plan if you want a slow beach day or a flexible schedule. This outing covers a lot of ground, and its strength is access and convenience, not free time.

Should you book the private VIP day?

Book this tour if the filming location is high on your South Korea wish list and you can fill most of the seven seats. The private vehicle, hotel pickup, guide support, included admission, and two BTS locations make the price more reasonable for a group than for a couple.

I especially like the combination of Hyangho Beach and the Pyeongchang site. Sunny’s practical care and quick thinking also add confidence to a complicated road day. Just accept the long hours, bring money for lunch and dinner, check the weather, and do not book it until your date is firm.

For serious BTS fans, this is a focused way to reach places that are awkward to arrange independently. For everyone else, the cost and travel time may outweigh the appeal.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The tour begins in Seoul and visits Hyangho Beach in Gangneung and the In The Soop BTS Ver. Pyeongchang filming location in Gangwon Province.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 12 hours, including travel time. The planned day begins around 7:00 a.m. and ends in Seoul around 7:30 p.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

How many people can join the private tour?

The listed price covers one private group of up to seven people.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a tour guide, entrance to the In The Soop BTS Ver. Pyeongchang filming location, hotel pickup and drop-off, and official merchandise for each person.

What merchandise is provided?

Each person receives an In The Soop fridge magnet and coaster set. An instant cup noodle is also provided through the review event.

Are meals included?

No. Lunch and dinner are not included in the tour price.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 7:00 a.m. The schedule shows movement toward Hyangho Beach at about 7:20 a.m.

Is the tour suitable for everyone physically?

The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness because it includes walking at the beach and filming location, as well as a long day with extended road travel.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The usual cancellation policy is otherwise non-refundable, and changes are not allowed for personal reasons.