Korea's 2026 Autumn Leaves Map: What Group Agents Need

On 8 October 2026 the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Korea National Arboretum released the official 2026 Autumn Leaves Map. Our Korea team sets out the dates and the places in its briefing on timing group days. This note is for agents deciding how to put autumn colour into a group proposal.

What Does the 2026 Map Say?

• Thirty-six destinations. The map lists natural and cultural places across the country, grouped by region.
• A citizen-science forecast. Peak dates draw on the Arboretum's Plant Phenology Project, with field data from 829 citizen scientists.
• North first, south later. The Seoul area and Gangwon are forecast to peak in late October; Gyeongsang and Jeolla from early to mid-November.
• More than maples. Reports say the map also gives peak timing for oak and ginkgo trees.

How Should a Group Proposal Use It?

• Order the days, not the promise. A late-October group starts in the north; a November group follows the colour south.
• Quote the source and the date. "Peak expected, Autumn Leaves Map, 8 October 2026" is honest; "guaranteed colour" is not.
• Plan a second stop for every foliage day. A palace, temple or museum nearby keeps the day useful if heat, rain or wind moves the peak.
• Start early in peak weeks. The best-known spots are crowded, so coach timings and routes matter.

Which Groups Suit an Autumn Korea Programme?

• First-time Korea groups who want Seoul's palaces and a day in the hills.
• Incentive groups with fixed dates, who need a plan that works whether or not the colour is at its peak.
• Repeat Korea visitors who have seen Seoul and want a regional route, such as Gyeongsang or Jeolla in November.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2026 Autumn Leaves Map?

The official foliage map from the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Arboretum, released on 8 October 2026. It lists 36 destinations and forecasts peak dates by region.

When does the colour peak in 2026?

The forecast puts the Seoul area and Gangwon in late October, and Gyeongsang and Jeolla from early to mid-November. A forecast moves with the weather.

Can Explera guarantee peak colour for a group?

No one can. We write "peak expected" with the source and date, and keep a back-up stop close by on every foliage day.

What does Explera arrange for an autumn group in Korea?

The coach, guides, venue bookings and the order of the days, re-checked against the forecast a week before arrival.

Sources: The Korea Times, 8 October 2026 and The Herald Business, 8 October 2026.

Where Explera Fits

Our Korea team builds autumn programmes north to south, with the coach, guide and a back-up for each foliage day.

Write to b2b@explera.kr or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341); our KTO and KATA registrations are in application.