South Korea Family Holiday

8 Days | Explore ancient Korean traditions and modern culture with the family

5 out of 5 based on 4 reviews submitted.
Family
From
EUR €2,430
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From ancient Korean traditions to current K-pop culture, this eight-day trip will surely make the list of the best family holidays ever! You’ll explore South Korea’s capital Seoul, with a delicious feast of Korean BBQ, scenic views over Naksan Mountain and plenty of free time to choose your own adventure. Visit the fascinating and sobering DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) from the South Korean side and visit Mangwon night market for some tasty street food. Experience a day in the life of a monk at Golgulsa Temple and try your hand at archery, meditation and Sunmudo (traditional martial arts). Explore the Golden City of Gyeongju and create a family motto at a calligraphy class, over two days spent in traditional Hanok style accommodation. Head to Busan and check out the local cultural village, coastal scenery and awesome activities on offer before toasting to a great adventure back in Seoul – what a ride!

Trip overview

Map of South Korea Family Holiday including Korea, Republic Of
Start
Seoul, South Korea
Finish
Seoul, South Korea
Theme
Family
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 5
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
CJFK
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
  • Witness the effects of the Korean War first-hand at the border between South and North Korea on an eye-opening tour of the DMZ – no textbooks are needed for this lesson, you’ll have a knowledgeable local guide.
  • Take a tour around the colourful and ultra-Instagrammable Gamcheon Cultural Village then enjoy plenty of free time to relax on the sandy beaches of Busan.
  • Discover some new favourites and delicious flavours with a Korean BBQ dinner and a visit to the street food night markets. You’ll even learn to make kimchi and kimbap in a family-friendly cooking class – now this is how you get the kids to try new things!
  • Step back in time in Gyeongju – nicknamed the ‘museum without walls’ – and experience local culture with two nights in a Hanok (traditional Korean house). You can even snap a family pic dressed in Hanbok, the traditional Korean clothing.
  • Experience an afternoon of fun activities with local monks in a beautiful temple setting. Try your hand at archery, Sunmudo – an ancient Korean Buddhist martial art – and an insightful meditation.
  • 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?
  • 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 in a Hanok (traditional house) with Korean-style floor bedding in Gyeongju. While floor bedding can be firm compared to standard western mattresses, the floors are heated, and you’ll be comfortable. You can also request extra mattresses for your comfort.
  • The monastery day program provides a unique cultural experience, offering insight into Korean Buddhist way of life and the opportunity to participate in various traditional practices. Travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities, including dress codes. You will be given pants and a tunic during your visit, and socks must be worn in the temple.
  • Many cities and villages are best discovered on foot, so it’s highly recommended that you wear comfortable shoes as there will be a decent amount of walking involved. You’ll also be expected to carry your own luggage between locations, so packing light is a good idea.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of South Korea Family Holiday including Korea, Republic Of

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle, KTX train

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Hanok (2 nights)

Activities
  • Korean BBQ - Welcome dinner
  • Naksan mountain walk
  • Visit Mangwon night market
  • DMZ visit
  • Gongulsa Temple Day Visit
  • Gyeongju - Silla Heritage site
  • Yangdong folk village visit
  • Family Motto Calligraphy activity
  • Gamcheon Culture Village
  • Korean family cooking class
Add on activities
  • Busan Green Railway coastal walk - Free
  • Haeundae Sky capsule and beach train - KRW29000
  • Haedong Yonggung Temple - Free

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
4. A single supplement is bookable on this trip with exception of Day 4 & 5 (Hakone) and Days 6 & 7 (Hiroshima), subject to availability.
5. The trip will start at 4pm on Day 1
6. Although this trip starts and finishes in Seoul, we highly recommend you to spend some extra time exploring this fascinating city and its neighbouring regions. Please consult your booking agents if you would like to book additional nights.
7. We know the idea of travelling overseas with picky eaters, particularly kids, can be daunting. However, most of our families find the diversity of Korean food surprising. Trying different foods is great fun and an opportunity to understand a little about Korean culture using all your senses. As well as a Korean BBQ and Korean Hot Pot, some of the other kid-friendly foods you can enjoy are Joomukbap (Korean rice balls), Pajeon (Korean pancakes), Mandu (Korean dumplings), Chikin (Korean fried chicken), Kimbap (similar to sushi), Bulgogi (usually beef with vegetables and rice) and there's plenty more including sweet treats like Korean rice cakes.  
8. Some of our families are surprised by the traditional Korean breakfast foods and the western variations that our accommodations provide. Soup with side dishes, kimchi and rice are the most common breakfast foods in Korean. A typical western breakfast available may include cereal, toast, eggs and fruit.

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

5 out of 5 based on 4 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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Nasseema · Traveled July 2024
Our trip with Intrepid was absolutely amazing, from the moment we stepped into our hotel and met our guide to the last day, we felt taken care of. The team’s flexibility and kindness was outstanding and I will no doubt travel with them again in the future.
Review submitted 12 Jul 2024

Taariq · Traveled July 2024
A fantastic trip with a well spoken tour guide. Intrepid was very considerate of what we wanted to do and was super flexible to fit our wants. I’d absolutely recommend them.
Review submitted 12 Jul 2024

Rayhan · Traveled July 2024
Intrepid was an amazing experience and was a great way to experience Korea. Thanks to our amazing tour guide, his efforts and his knowledge we were able to learn loads about Korea and its culture whilst also having fun. They are very accommodating to personal needs, including diets. 100% recommended.
Review submitted 12 Jul 2024

Elizabeth · Traveled June 2024
This was a great trip for the whole family! Our tour guide was awesome, we never felt like we were only visiting the touristy spots, and we learned so much!
Review submitted 05 Jul 2024
South Korea Family Holiday
From
EUR €2,430