Learn how to make everybody’s favourite pickled dish – kimchi, of course – at a cooking demonstration 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.
Experience Busan’s vibrant food scene with a hands-on cooking class, where you'll prepare your own lunch. In the evening, indulge in a Korean-style lamb skewer dinner, featuring a self-rotating grill that ensures perfectly cooked meat.
Rub shoulders with the locals in a hanok (traditional home) in Jeonju, then learn about the everyday life of monks during a unique temple experience in Gyeongju.
Feast on all the iconic foods of South Korea, including Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, japchae, kimbap, a seafood barbeque and of course, Korean BBQ.
Immerse yourself in the choose-your-own-adventure atmosphere of South Korean food on this eight-day adventure from bibimbap to bustling street markets, where your local leader will guide you to the best stalls. The food scene here is relaxed and welcoming, encouraging you to explore and discover your own favourite flavours. Enjoy dishes loaded with toppings, crispy Korean fried chicken paired with craft beer, silky glass noodles with fresh salads and some delicious variations of kimchi. As you move around the country, you’ll also uncover the rich heritage that makes South Korea’s culinary scene so special.
Highlights
Learn how to make everybody’s favourite pickled dish – kimchi, of course – at a cooking demonstration 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.
Experience Busan’s vibrant food scene with a hands-on cooking class, where you'll prepare your own lunch. In the evening, indulge in a Korean-style lamb skewer dinner, featuring a self-rotating grill that ensures perfectly cooked meat.
Rub shoulders with the locals in a hanok (traditional home) in Jeonju, then learn about the everyday life of monks during a unique temple experience in Gyeongju.
Feast on all the iconic foods of South Korea, including Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, japchae, kimbap, a seafood barbeque and of course, Korean BBQ.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Seoul Annyeonghaseyo! Welcome to Seoul, South Korea’s capital known for its high-tech gadgetry, towering skyscrapers and great food. Your adventure officially kicks off with a welcome meeting at 4 pm today, 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! Get your bearings with a leader-led orientation walk, where you’ll stop at a local supermarket to get a broader view of the food habits of modern Koreans. Here, you’ll get an insight into the everyday life culture, and your leader will pick up some popular local snacks for the group to enjoy. Then, hop on the subway and make your way to dinner – Korean Fried Chicken and beer, a popular pairing known as ‘chimaek’. Then head to the Gwangjang Market for an introduction to the sights, smells and, of course, tastes of South Korean street food. Go deep into the market – which you might recognise from the Netflix series ‘Street Food’ – and follow your leader to the best vendors. If you’re still hungry, you can grab round two at Ikseodong. The streets are lined with cafes, so you’ll have no trouble finding something to satisfy your cravings. Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Included Activities:
Seoul - Korean Fried Chicken & beer Welcome Dinner
Seoul - Supermarket stop
Seoul - Gwangjang market and Ikseongdong village visit
Day 2: Jeonju Take the metro to Seoul Station this morning and 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 noodle restaurant that began as a humble food stall but has since become a city icon, thanks to its noodles. In the afternoon, spend some time exploring the historical Hanok Village, wandering cobblestone streets between hundreds of traditional homes and embracing the relaxed pace of the city. Later, learn the art of making kimchi – a signature dish of Korean slow food – during a cooking demonstration. You’ll also learn how to make a kimchi pancake. If you’re keen for more authentic food experiences, join your leader for locally brewed, cloudy rice beer called ’makgeolli’. Accompanied by a variety of inventive side dishes, this unique drink is traditionally enjoyed in a ritual manner, served in special brass bowls from the cherished makgeoli kettle. Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: 1 x Hanok
Included Activities:
Jeonju - Kimchi Cooking demonstration
Jeonju - Hanok Village Visit
Day 3: Jeonju This morning, move from the hanok to a hotel for your second night in Jeonju. You’ll have free time to wander the village or visit the historical shrines and palaces – just chat to your leader if you’re unsure where to explore first. From here, travel by bus to Sunchang Gochujang – a village famous for producing gochujang (a traditional red chilli paste). You’ll get to discover how the paste gets made and sample some. Grab lunch at a nearby restaurant and try the banchan – side dishes are a staple on the Korean table. Later, stroll around the base of Mt Gangcheon and maybe work up your appetite by walking a little further to a nearby waterfall. For dinner tonight, you’ll visit the most famous bibimbap restaurant in Jeonju – so famous, in fact, that the bibimbap has been declared an intangible cultural asset! Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 4: Gyeongju to Busan This morning you’ll have the opportunity to start your day with kongnamul gukbap (a hot soup of soybean and sprouts) before heading to Gyeongju. When you arrive, tuck into soondubu for lunch (a famous spicy stew with soft tofu) before watching a martial arts demonstration. Life is all about the journey, not the destination, so on the way to the demonstration, stop off at a statue that’s been standing for over 1500 years among ancient temples. After the ground fighting display, learn about Buddhism and meditation routines as you sip tea with a monk at Gyeongju temple. Tucked away among the trees outside Gyeongju city, the temple is the perfect spot to recharge. Feeling at peace, you’ll be ready to drive to your new location for the next two days – bustling and beachy Busan. Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Day 5: Busan Since Busan is famous for its beaches, start your day by visiting the most famous one – Haeundae Beach. Admire the contrast of the white sand with the distant skyscrapers before travelling on to Haedong Temple, built into the rocks by the sea. You’ll get a bit more hands on with your food today at a cooking class, where you’ll prepare dishes to enjoy for lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore – maybe go sightseeing from a yacht, unwind at a Jjimjilbang (South Korean sauna) or catch a baseball game at Sajik Baseball Stadium. Regroup at dinner for a feast of Korean-style lamb stewers. As well as the tasty marinade with a mix of Korean spices, these skewers have a self-rotation mechanism. A specialised grill allows the skewers to rotate automatically, ensuring the meat is perfectly cooked – yum! Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Included Activities:
Busan - Haeundae Beach
Busan - Haedong Temple
Optional Activities:
Busan - Jjimjilbang (traditional Korean sauna) in Spa land Centum City - from 20,000 to 25,000 KRW - 20000KRW
Day 6: Busan Soak up some free time in Busan this morning, then later, visit Jagalchi Market – an enormous seafood market by the port. Head to a restaurant overlooking the ocean for a clam bake with a view. Did you know that Busan has more than 100 lighthouses? See one up close on an optional walk after dinner. Or you can walk around the colourful Gamcheon village, where you can pick up a postcard or a handmade souvenir. Maybe wrap up your day with noraebang – also known as karaoke. Luckily for those who lean more towards shy than showstopping, karaoke in Korea is often in private rooms with just your friends and family – so sing like no-one’s listening! Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Included Activities:
Busan - Lighthouse Visit
Busan - Jagalchi Seafood Market Tour
Busan - Seafood BBQ by the sea
Busan - Home-cooked meal with a local family
Optional Activities:
Busan - Visit to Gamcheon Village - free ( bus to get there 1,300 to 1,500 KRW for a single trip) - 1300KRW
Day 7: Seoul After breakfast at the hotel, travel by Korea Train Express back to Seoul where you’ll have a free afternoon to see new parts of the city. Perhaps wander around Gyeongbok Palace, see the views from Namsan Tower or check out Seoul’s most eclectic neighbourhoods – Sinsadong and Gangnam. For your final meal, make your way to the youthful district of Hongdae for an authentic Korean BBQ experience and celebrate your time together as a group. Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Accommodation: 1 x Hotel
Optional Activities:
Seoul - Nanta Live cooking show - 50000KRW
Day 8: 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 ahead of time.
Included Activities
Seoul - Korean Fried Chicken & beer Welcome Dinner
Seoul - Supermarket stop
Seoul - Gwangjang market and Ikseongdong village visit
Gyeongju - Temple Day Visit program including meditation / & tea or martial arts
Busan - Haeundae Beach
Busan - Haedong Temple
Busan - Lighthouse Visit
Busan - Jagalchi Seafood Market Tour
Busan - Seafood BBQ by the sea
Busan - Home-cooked meal with a local family
Seoul - Celebratory Korean BBQ Dinner
Important information
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. 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. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at time of booking.
