Meals

5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Transport

If you are spending additional time before or after your tour, you will find that the transport in South Korea is reasonably priced, quick and efficient. Public buses don’t always have the signage in English so is is recommended that you write your destination in hangeul (Korean phonetic alphabet) letters on a piece of paper. Bus drivers don’t speak English. Local tourist centres usually have English-speaking staff and are the best places to find out about local buses. Private Vehicle , Train , Public Bus , Metro , Taxi

Others

Seoul - Korean Fried Chicken & beer Welcome Dinner Seoul - Supermarket stop Seoul - Gwangjang market and Ikseongdong village visit Jeonju - Kimchi Cooking demonstration Jeonju - Hanok Village Visit Sunchang - Gochujang (traditional chilli paste) Cooking Demonstration Sunchang - Mount Gangcheon Hike Gyeongju - Temple Day Visit program including meditation / & tea or martial arts Busan - Haeundae Beach Busan - Haedong Temple Busan - Lighthouse Visit Busan - Jagalchi Seafood Market Tour Busan - Seafood BBQ by the sea Busan - Home-cooked meal with a local family Seoul - Celebratory Korean BBQ Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel rooms: Many South Korean hotels have a limited supply of twin rooms. If you are a couple travelling, please advise at the time of booking if you would like double bedding. Please note that double bed size tends to be smaller in South Korea than the normal western standard, closer to a queen size bed. It’s possible to book twin share rooms where you may push the two beds together into a large bed, but this is not guaranteed. Air-conditioning & Heating: Air-conditioning is not usually turned on until the warmer season. The traditional housing has floor heating. Hanok Stay: Your mattress will be on the floor. If you find that the surface is too hard, you can stack the bedding or ask for an extra mattress. Temple Stay: Please note couples are not able to share a room during the Temple Stay (Day 4), as this is against Temple rules. You will share a twin share room with someone of the same gender for this evening. Hotel (6 nights), Hanok (1 night)

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Seoul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Seoul

Annyeonghaseyo! Welcome to Seoul, South Korea’s capital known for its high-tech gadgetry, towering skyscrapers and great food. Your adventure officially kicks off with a welcome meeting at 4 pm today, where you’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers. With the formalities out of the way, it’s time to dive into South Korea’s food scene! Get your bearings with a leader-led orientation walk, where you’ll stop at a local supermarket to get a broader view of the food habits of modern Koreans. Here, you’ll get an insight into the everyday life culture, and your leader will pick up some popular local snacks for the group to enjoy. Then, hop on the subway and make your way to dinner – Korean Fried Chicken and beer, a popular pairing known as ‘chimaek’. Then head to the Gwangjang Market for an introduction to the sights, smells and, of course, tastes of South Korean street food. Go deep into the market – which you might recognise from the Netflix series ‘Street Food’ – and follow your leader to the best vendors. If you’re still hungry, you can grab round two at Ikseodong. The streets are lined with cafes, so you’ll have no trouble finding something to satisfy your cravings.
Day 2 Day 2: Jeonju
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Jeonju

Take the metro to Seoul Station this morning and set off for Jeonju – a city that’s all about doing things slowly and doing them well, both in food and in life. You’ll arrive just in time for lunch at a renowned noodle restaurant that began as a humble food stall but has since become a city icon, thanks to its noodles. In the afternoon, spend some time exploring the historical Hanok Village, wandering cobblestone streets between hundreds of traditional homes and embracing the relaxed pace of the city. Later, learn the art of making kimchi – a signature dish of Korean slow food – during a cooking demonstration. You’ll also learn how to make a kimchi pancake. If you’re keen for more authentic food experiences, join your leader for locally brewed, cloudy rice beer called ’makgeolli’. Accompanied by a variety of inventive side dishes, this unique drink is traditionally enjoyed in a ritual manner, served in special brass bowls from the cherished makgeoli kettle.
Day 3 Day 3: Jeonju
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Jeonju

This morning, move from the hanok to a hotel for your second night in Jeonju. You’ll have free time to wander the village or visit the historical shrines and palaces – just chat to your leader if you’re unsure where to explore first. From here, travel by bus to Sunchang Gochujang – a village famous for producing gochujang (a traditional red chilli paste). You’ll get to discover how the paste gets made and sample some. Grab lunch at a nearby restaurant and try the banchan – side dishes are a staple on the Korean table. Later, stroll around the base of Mt Gangcheon and maybe work up your appetite by walking a little further to a nearby waterfall. For dinner tonight, you’ll visit the most famous bibimbap restaurant in Jeonju – so famous, in fact, that the bibimbap has been declared an intangible cultural asset!
Day 4 Day 4: Gyeongju To Busan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Gyeongju To Busan

This morning you’ll have the opportunity to start your day with kongnamul gukbap (a hot soup of soybean and sprouts) before heading to Gyeongju. When you arrive, tuck into soondubu for lunch (a famous spicy stew with soft tofu) before watching a martial arts demonstration. Life is all about the journey, not the destination, so on the way to the demonstration, stop off at a statue that’s been standing for over 1500 years among ancient temples. After the ground fighting display, learn about Buddhism and meditation routines as you sip tea with a monk at Gyeongju temple. Tucked away among the trees outside Gyeongju city, the temple is the perfect spot to recharge. Feeling at peace, you’ll be ready to drive to your new location for the next two days – bustling and beachy Busan.
Day 5 Day 5: Busan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Busan

Since Busan is famous for its beaches, start your day by visiting the most famous one – Haeundae Beach. Admire the contrast of the white sand with the distant skyscrapers before travelling on to Haedong Temple, built into the rocks by the sea. You’ll get a bit more hands on with your food today at a cooking class, where you’ll prepare dishes to enjoy for lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore – maybe go sightseeing from a yacht, unwind at a Jjimjilbang (South Korean sauna) or catch a baseball game at Sajik Baseball Stadium. Regroup at dinner for a feast of Korean-style lamb stewers. As well as the tasty marinade with a mix of Korean spices, these skewers have a self-rotation mechanism. A specialised grill allows the skewers to rotate automatically, ensuring the meat is perfectly cooked – yum!
Day 6 Day 6: Busan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Busan

Soak up some free time in Busan this morning, then later, visit Jagalchi Market – an enormous seafood market by the port. Head to a restaurant overlooking the ocean for a clam bake with a view. Did you know that Busan has more than 100 lighthouses? See one up close on an optional walk after dinner. Or you can walk around the colourful Gamcheon village, where you can pick up a postcard or a handmade souvenir. Maybe wrap up your day with noraebang – also known as karaoke. Luckily for those who lean more towards shy than showstopping, karaoke in Korea is often in private rooms with just your friends and family – so sing like no-one’s listening!
Day 7 Day 7: Seoul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Seoul

After breakfast at the hotel, travel by Korea Train Express back to Seoul where you’ll have a free afternoon to see new parts of the city. Perhaps wander around Gyeongbok Palace, see the views from Namsan Tower or check out Seoul’s most eclectic neighbourhoods – Sinsadong and Gangnam. For your final meal, make your way to the youthful district of Hongdae for an authentic Korean BBQ experience and celebrate your time together as a group.
Day 8 Day 8: Seoul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Seoul

Your South Korea food adventure comes to an end this morning. If you wish to extend your stay and explore more of Seoul, contact your booking agent ahead of time.

8 days tour

South Korea Real Food Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip South Korea Real Food Adventure

Day 1: Seoul

Day 2: Jeonju

Day 3: Jeonju

Day 4: Gyeongju To Busan

Day 5: Busan

Day 6: Busan

Day 7: Seoul

Day 8: Seoul

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania