South Korea Real Food Adventure
South Korea Real Food Adventure
South Korea Real Food Adventure
8 Days Starting and ending in Seoul
Visiting: Seoul, Jeonju, Temple Stay, Busan, Korea Republic Of
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CJZK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Immerse yourself in the choose-your-own adventure atmosphere of South Korean food, from bibimbap to street food markets you could get lost in (if it weren’t for your leader guiding you to the best stalls). South Korea’s food scene is often delightfully informal and meals in South Korea are all about finding your flavours. Chow down on meals served with dozens of toppings, light and crispy Korean fried chicken washed down with a small-batch craft beer, silky glass noodles stirred with colourful salad and the various delightful iterations of kimchi. Discover the flavourful diversity and heritage of this rich culinary scene.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Seoul
Location: Seoul
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to Seoul, South Korea's vibrant capital of high-tech gadgetry, glittering skyscrapers and scrumptious eats. Your adventure officially kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your accommodation, 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! First, you'll enjoy a welcome dinner of Korean Fried Chicken and beer for a 'chimaek' experience. Then, head to the Gwangjang Market for an immersive introduction to the sights, smells and, of course, tastes of South Korean street food. Go deep into the gargantuan market featured in the Netflix series ‘Street Food’, following your leader to the best vendors for dinner and cultural experience like no other.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Jeonju
Location: Jeonju
Accommodation: Hanok
Meals Included: lunch
This morning take the metro to Seoul Station. 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 local noodle restaurant which started as a food stall, but it’s tantalising noodles have made it a hallmark of the city. In the afternoon, spend some time exploring the historical Hanok Village, wandering cobblestone streets between hundreds of traditional homes and further embracing the relaxed pace of the city. Later, learn the art of making kimchi – a Korean slow food poster dish – during a cooking class. You’ll also learn how to make a delicious kimchi pancake. If you're keen for one more 'real food' experience you can opt to join your leader for locally brewed, cloudy rice beer called 'makgeolli'. Accompanied by a parade of inventive side dishes, this singular drink is enjoyed in ritual fashion, served in special brass bowls from the coveted makgeoli kettle.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Jeonju
Location: Jeonju
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning you'll move from the hanok to a hotel for your second night in Jeonju. You'll have free time to explore the village or visit the historical shrines and palaces. Chat to your leader about which works for you. From here, travel by bus to Sunchang Gochujang, a village famous for the production of gochujang (a traditional red chilli paste), for a tasting and demo on how it gets made. Grab lunch at a restaurant that specialises in fermented bean soup. Later, take a stroll around the base of Mt Gangcheon, and choose whether to work up your appetite by walking a little further to a nearby waterfall. For dinner tonight, we will visit the most famous bibimbap restaurant in Jeonju. The bibimbap here is so good it’s been declared an intangible cultural asset because of its iconic chef. Seriously. Scoff down some of the classic rice dish topped with, well, lots of great stuff. Afterwards, opt to wash it down with a couple of beers or non-alcoholic tipples at a craft brewery. South Korea’s craft beer scene is exploding all across the country after a rise to popularity in Seoul, and tonight your belly will reap the benefits.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Temple Stay
Location: Temple Stay
Accommodation: Temple Stay
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning you'll have the opportunity to start your day with a breakfast of kongnamul gukbap – a hot soup of soybean and sprouts. Today, you'll be traveling from the west coast to the east coast for your temple stay. The east coast is an area rich with temples, tombs and palace ruins (many of which are World Heritage sites). Stop on the way to sample some of Korea's favourite driving snacks, including hotteok (red bean walnut bread), kimbap and jjajangmyeon. At the temple you'll be introduced to the life and meditation routines of a monk. Dinner will be plant-based, in line with monastic custom. In the evening, relax with a chanting and meditation service, then choose to be guided through a monastic training session or simply settle in for an early night's sleep.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Busan
Location: Busan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Your life as a monk continues today with a 4 am wake-up for a memorable morning meditation (you can opt out of it if early mornings are not your thing, but we highly recommend you partake in this unique experience). Following breakfast, learn about the spiritual values and beliefs of Korean Buddhism over tea with a resident monk. Leaving the tranquil life behind, stop at the Royal Tombs of Silla, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Discover the story of the ancient Silla dynasty and view their tombs from inside and out. Visit a nearby apple farm and chat with the farmer about his life, sampling a slice or two of his best produce. Enjoy a Korean favourite for lunch - Eonyang-style bulgogi beef. Crisp, smoky and juicy, it's popular all over the country for good reason! Travel onwards to Busan to visit the beautiful Haedong Temple, built into the rocks by the sea. After checking into your hotel in downtown Busan for the next two nights, enjoy free time to explore this seaside city. You might like to join an optional dinner of Korean lamb skewers with eggplant, dumplings and other side dishes.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Busan
Location: Busan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today you'll be welcomed into the apartment home of a local resident to learn about their life and food culture. Enjoy Korean favourites like kimbap, japchae and banchan (the exact menu will vary with the seasons). Sip fragrant tea and chat with your host about Busan and what it's like to live there. Stop at a local supermarket and get a broader view of the contemporary food habits of modern Koreans. Here, you’ll get an everyday-life insight into the culture, and your leader will pick up some local popular snacks for the group to enjoy. Visit Jagalchi Market, an enormous seafood market situated by Busan port. Wrap up your day at a restaurant overlooking the ocean for a clam bake with a view. Return to central Busan to relax or hit the town and take in the local nightlife in the Seomyeon Entertainment District.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Seoul
Location: Seoul
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, travel by Korea Train Express back to Seoul where you'll have a free afternoon to explore. Perhaps wander around Gyeongbok Palace, marvel at the views from Namsan Tower or check out Seoul’s most eclectic neighbourhoods of Sinsadong and Gangnam. For your final meal, youll head to the youthful district of Hongdae for the most traditional Korean BBQ experience to celebrate your time together.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Seoul
Location: 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 for further information.
What's Included
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Seoul - Celebratory Korean BBQ Dinner
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Jeonju - Kimchi Cooking Class
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Seoul - Korean Fried Chicken Welcome Dinner
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Jeonju - Hanok Village Visit
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Sunchang - Gochujang (traditional chilli paste) Cooking Demonstration
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Jeonju - Craft Brewery Tour
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Gyeongju - Farm Visit
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Golgulsa Temple - Temple Stay Program with Sunmudo (Martial Arts) Training and Meditation
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Gyeongju - Korean Street Food Tour at a Traditional Market
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Busan - Lighthouse Visit
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Seoul - Korean Fried Chicken Welcome Dinner
- Jeonju - Kimchi Cooking Class
- Jeonju - Hanok Village Visit
- Sunchang - Gochujang (traditional chilli paste) Cooking Demonstration
- Jeonju - Craft Brewery Tour
- Golgulsa Temple - Temple Stay Program with Sunmudo (Martial Arts) Training and Meditation
- Gyeongju - Korean Street Food Tour at a Traditional Market
- Gyeongju - Farm Visit
- Golgulsa Temple - Morning Meditation and tea time with a Monk
- Busan - Lighthouse Visit
- Busan - Jalgachi Seafood Market Tour
- Busan - Seafood BBQ Lunch by the sea
- Busan - Haeundae Beach Visit
- Seoul - Celebratory Korean BBQ Dinner
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.
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.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 4 (Temple Stay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
- 3. On Day 4 you will stay overnight at a Buddhist temple. Accommodation here is multi-share and you may be required to share with up to three other travellers of the same gender. Couples of opposite genders are unable to share a room, as this is against the rules of the temple.
- 4. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at time of booking.
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Is this trip right for you
The cuisine of South Korea includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip.
South Korea is best explored on foot. In fact, most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering! Make sure your shoes are comfy and you are fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.
We suggest packing smart for this trip, as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and to hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs in crowded areas. Elevators are available in most stations, but the lighter you pack the easier it will be.
A traditional Korean bed is a futon-like mattress placed on the floor, which may be folded up and placed in the cupboard in the morning. This trip includes two nights' accommodation with Korean-style floor bedding – one night in a hanok (traditional house) in Jeonju, and one night at a monastery in Gyeongju. While floor bedding can be firm compared to standard western mattresses, the floors are heated and you will be comfortable. You can also request extra mattresses for your comfort.
The monastery stay provides both unique accommodation and an inimitable cultural experience, offering insight into monastic cuisine and rituals. Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities, including dress codes. You will be given pants and a tunic to wear during your stay, and socks must be worn in the temple. Rooms at the monastery are multi-share, which means you may have to share a room with up to three people of the same gender. Couples of opposite genders are not able to share a room on this night as it is against monastery rules. Smoking and alcohol consumption are prohibited at the monastery.
The Jeonju Bibimbap Festival takes place around the third week of October, with games, exhibitions and foods related to this iconic dish. The Seoul Kimchi Festival takes place in the first or second week of November, and you may have an opportunity to make kimchi with thousands of locals. If you’d like to attend one of these festivals, please check our departure dates to ensure your selected date aligns with your preferred festival. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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