Essential South Korea

9 Days | The world of K-pop culture, Buddhist temples, high-tech gadgetry and green mountains is calling

4.7 out of 5 based on 14 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
From
EUR 1.246 €
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This trip is for 18 to 35 year olds

Experience all the essential sights of South Korea on this nine-day journey through Seoul, Jeonju, Yeosu, Busan and more. From the thriving pop culture to the natural oasis of gleaming gardens, this place really does have it all. You’ll feast on Korean BBQ, noodles and street food, follow in the footsteps of popular K-pop group BTS at some scenic filming locations, take a few easy hikes through coastal beaches and rolling green mountain landscapes and hit the nightlife in your spare time (coin karaoke anyone?). Stay in a hanok (traditional Korean house), rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy loads of free time to choose your own adventure, whether that’s learning taekwondo or visiting the DMZ along the border of North Korea.

Trip overview

Map of Essential South Korea including Korea, Republic Of
Start
Seoul, South Korea
Finish
Seoul, South Korea
Theme
18 to 35s
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
Basix
Ages
Min 18 - Max 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
CJYK
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.
Bucket list destinations

Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences

Great value

Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time

Meaningful experiences

Connect to the places you go and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid experience


Why you'll love this trip
  • Stay in a hanok (a traditional Korean house) and experience what it’s like to live day to day in Jeonju. Then, rub shoulders with the locals at Nambu Market, which recently provided free rent to young entrepreneurs to keep the market alive.
  • Feast on delicious local cuisine, with two included dinners where you might be able to try some traditional Korean noodles, Korean BBQ or fried chicken, and plenty of time to wander around street food markets and restaurants.
  • Discover popular hubs Seoul and Busan and all they have to offer, with free time to hit karaoke (or; noraebang, in Korean), go bar hopping with your local leader or visit the DMZ after your tour (the demilitarised zone along the border of North Korea).
  • Take a couple of short hikes at Oryukdo Beach and Webonsansung and experience the natural beauty of South Korea from the coast to the hills. Then, continue to get your blood pumping at an optional taekwondo class.
  • Immerse yourself in pop culture with visits to the WithMuu store, HiKR Ground and various popular filming, music and tv locations.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about 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. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This tour includes accommodation in multi-share dormitories. This means travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single-gender dormitories used.
  • A traditional Korean bed is a futon-like mattress placed on the floor, which may be folded and placed in the cupboard in the morning. This trip includes one night with Korean-style floor bedding in a hanok (traditional house) in Jeonju. Floor bedding can be firm compared to standard western mattresses.
  • 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.
  • Although this trip starts and finishes in Seoul, we highly recommend you spend some extra time exploring this fascinating city and its neighbouring regions. Please consult your booking agent if you would like to book additional nights. If you are interested in visiting the DMZ following the tour, we recommend speaking to your leader in advance to ensure there is availability.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Map of Essential South Korea including Korea, Republic Of

Inclusions

Meals

2 dinners

Transport

Public Bus, Private Vehicle, Train, Metro

Accommodation

Hostel (Multi-share) (7 nights), Hanok (1 night)

Activities
  • Seoul - Hongdae Yeonam Orientation Walk
  • Seoul - HiKR Ground
  • Jeonju - Orientation Walk
  • Jeonju - Hanok Village Tour
  • Jeonju - Palbok Art Factory
  • Wanju - Ahwon Gotack
  • Wanju - Webongsansung Hike
  • Yeosu - Hyangilam Temple
  • Busan - Gamcheon Art Village
  • Busan - Oryukdo Coastal Walk
  • Busan - Urban Smart Farm Visit
Add on activities
  • Seoul - Painting Class - USD50
  • Seoul - Korean Class - USD30
  • Seoul - Gyungbokgung Palace - USD4
  • Seoul - Hanbok Hire - USD25
  • Jeonju - K-Pop Dance Class - USD50
  • Yeosu - Cable Car (Return) - USD18
  • Busan - Calligraphy Class - USD30
  • Busan - Baseball Game (Apr-Sep - prices from) - USD20
  • Busan - Spaland - USD20
  • Busan - Taekwondo Class (minimum 8 pax required) - USD50
  • Busan - Night cruise - USD40
  • Seoul - DMZ Tour - USD80

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is possible if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share dormitories. This means travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single-gender dormitories used.

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

4.7 out of 5 based on 14 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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Eimear · Traveled September 2024
This was a well organised fast paced trip that allowed me to see so much of South Korea in such a short time. I made some great friends along the way and some great memories. This trip was made all the better thanks to our amazing guide Peter. Peter was knowledgeable and organised, and ensured every individual was listened to and looked after.
Review submitted 12 Sep 2024

Tom · Traveled September 2024
This trip has a great itinerary and I was very satisfied with all I got to experience in the short time we had. One thing I found difficult was the amount of traveling for such a short trip. I would have preferred a few more days without travelling as most of the days involve traveling at some point.
Review submitted 13 Sep 2024

Allira · Traveled September 2024
Highly recommend booking this trip!
Review submitted 12 Sep 2024

Matthew · Traveled September 2024
Really great experience and insight into South Korean life, past and present. Activities were fun and engaging, lots of local cuisine too. Our tour guide, Peter, was fantastic.
Review submitted 12 Sep 2024

Zoe · Traveled August 2024
This trip is great for solo travellers, our guide Yongsu was excellent and gave great recommendations for food and extra activities. This trip gave a great experience of South Koreas culture.
Review submitted 22 Aug 2024
Essential South Korea
From
EUR 1.246 €