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 63 reviews submitted.
Food
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EUR €2,325
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Immerse yourself in the choose-your-own adventure atmosphere of South Korean food, from bibimbap to immense street food markets that you could get lost in (if it weren’t for the local 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
  • Savour the flavours of South Korea’s slow food capital Jeonju, slurping kongnamul gukbap and soup noodles in local haunts and learning to craft kimchi and gochujang.
  • Immerse yourself in monastic life during a temple stay in Gyeongju, including a plant-based dinner and chanting meditation.
  • Spend a day diving deep into South Korean seafood in Busan, embracing the chaotic energy and of the port seafood market before munching clams in an oceanfront restaurant.
  • Visit a craft brewery in Jeonju for a taste of South Korea’s booming and inventive craft beer scene, which has exploded in popularity in recent years.
  • Follow your local leader to the best stalls in the labyrinthian Gwangjang Market in Seoul, which featured in the Netflix series ‘Street Food’.

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.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

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

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
  • Jeonju - Craft Brewery Tour
  • Gyeongju - Temple Stay program including meditation
  • Busan - Farm Visit
  • Gyeongju - Morning meditation and tea with a monk
  • Busan - Haeundae Beach
  • Busan - Haedong Temple
  • Gyeongju - Silla Heritage site
  • Busan - Lighthouse Visit
  • Busan - Jagalchi Seafood Market Tour
  • Busan - Seafood BBQ by the sea
  • 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.
5. The Jeonju Bibimbap Festival takes place in the third week of October, with games, exhibitions and foods related to this iconic dish. The Seoul Kimchi Festival takes place in the first 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.

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 63 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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AYANA · Traveled August 2023
An amazing adventure! We saw and experienced so many different sides of Korea, beyond all the dishes on the table. The best of each region was showcased, and in Ashley, our host, we had a gem! If you pack light and come hungry, you won't regret it!
Review submitted 18 Sep 2023

bert · Traveled August 2023
tour is excellent. Food experience was fantastic, exposed to local regional dishes on stops on the tour. Food options available for a wide range of tastes. Options were available for the adventurous to try at most stops.
Review submitted 03 Sep 2023

Helena · Traveled August 2023
This trip was amazing. Maybe lucked out with the group and our leader, Andrew but because it was catered to those that were into and curious about Korean food, everyone was on the same wavelength. Saw parts of Korea I never thought I would. Had a great time experiencing Korean culture and learning about the history. Learned about the cuisine and most importantly ate some amazing meals. Would highly recommend!
Review submitted 04 Sep 2023

Joshua · Traveled June 2023
This trip was an amazing insight into South Korea. The itinerary was brilliantly curated, our leader went above and beyond to ensure the best experience, and – of course – the food was unparalleled from the very first day. I learned a lot, and enjoyed every moment. I will definitely book a trip with Intrepid again.
Review submitted 21 Jun 2023

Gloria · Traveled June 2023
This tour has been an epic experience. Food is a great love language and there's no better way to discover a country through its cuisine. Our tour guides Boram and Andrew went above and beyond providing us additional activities such as Jjimjilbang to enrich our trip even more. I will definitely come back to this country taste its food once more!
Review submitted 21 Jun 2023
South Korea Real Food Adventure
From
EUR €2,325