South Korea Real Food Adventure

8 Days | Slurp, crunch and spoon your way into the belly of South Korea

4.9 out of 5 based on 95 reviews submitted.
Food
From
CAD $3,875
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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. 

Trip overview

Map of South Korea Real Food Adventure including Korea, Republic Of
Start
Seoul, South Korea
Finish
Seoul, South Korea
Theme
Food
Destinations
South Korea
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
CJZK
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Enjoy a home-cooked meal of seasonal dishes in a local’s home in Busan, gaining an insight into everyday life and chatting with your friendly host about the big city over a cup of tea.
  • Learn how to make everybody’s favourite pickled dish – kimchi, of course – at a cooking class in Jeonju, then try the city’s iconic bibimbap (declared an intangible cultural asset, it’s just that good).
  • Meet the local stall holders in the Gwangang market of Netflix fame and try the best street food that Seoul has to offer. Then, wander the Jagalchi market – a huge seafood wonderland by the Busan port.
  • Rub shoulders with the locals in a hanok (traditional home) in Jeonju, then learn about the everyday life of monks during a unique temple stay experience in Gyeongju, where you’ll eat plant-based meals and rise with the sun for morning meditation.
  • Feast on all the iconic foods of South Korea, including Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, japchae, kimbap, a seafood BBQ and of course, Korean BBQ.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

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.

Itinerary

Map of South Korea Real Food Adventure including Korea, Republic Of

Inclusions

Meals

5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle, Train, Public Bus, Metro, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Temple stay (1 night), Hanok (1 night)

Activities
  • Seoul - Korean Fried Chicken Welcome Dinner
  • Jeonju - Kimchi Cooking Class
  • Jeonju - Hanok Village Visit
  • Sunchang - Gochujang (traditional chilli paste) Cooking Demonstration
  • Sunchang - Mount Gangcheon Hike
  • Gyeongju - Temple Stay program including meditation
  • Gyeongju - Morning meditation and tea with a monk
  • Busan - Haeundae Beach
  • Busan - Haedong Temple
  • Gyeongju - Silla Heritage site
  • Busan - Farm Visit
  • Busan - Jagalchi Seafood Market Tour
  • Busan - Seafood BBQ by the sea
  • Busan - Supermarket stop
  • Busan - Home-cooked meal
  • Seoul - Celebratory Korean BBQ Dinner

Dates and availability

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Important notes

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.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 95 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Lisa · Traveled February 2024
Explored and ate our way through beautiful Korea. The activities and scenery is endless!
Review submitted 26 Feb 2024

Kathryn · Traveled December 2023
Lives up to the name! It was such an adventure exploring South Korea through food. Great guide and well organised. Highly recommend!
Review submitted 03 Jan 2024

Juliet · Traveled December 2023
A well planned tour with many delicious meals, cooking classes, a fun and very comfortable stay in a beautiful hanok, and a good variety of cities. Bring good walking shoes as you'll want to walk off your hearty lunch before the even heartier dinner!
Review submitted 14 Dec 2023

Marissa · Traveled December 2023
Highly recommend this fantastic foodie tour for a first trip and introduction to South Korea! Our leader Yong was knowledgeable, entertaining and enthusiastic when it came to showing us Korean food, culture and history. The itinerary includes a great mix of traditional and modern experiences within restaurants, night markets, cooking classes, big city life and small village life. So many highlights - from the unique stays sleeping on heated floors at a hanok and a Buddhist temple, to hiking barefoot in the mountains, to learning how to make kimchi and gochujang from the masters...and of course the variety of delicious Korean dishes we tried in each region! You'll never go hungry because there is always so much food to share, and you get to walk it all off before and after each meal. A memorable trip!
Review submitted 24 Jan 2024

Phillip · Traveled November 2023
This tour is both perfect as a deep introduction to Korean food or for anyone who already has a passion for it, and dives into regional specialities and some of the best versions of Korean staples. It's amazing to learn how to make kimchi or gochujang from recognised masters of the craft. Yong was an excellent leader for this trip with a boundless passion for the food and culture of Korea. He's very keen to explain everything and went out of his way to accommodate the different needs and tastes of the group.
Review submitted 04 Dec 2023
South Korea Real Food Adventure
From
CAD $3,875