South Korea Real Food Adventure

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Seoul

  Annyeonghaseyo! Welcome to Seoul, South Korea’s vibrant capital of food and tech. Meet your group at 4 pm, then join a leader-led walk through a local supermarket to learn about modern Korean food culture and try popular snacks. In the evening, enjoy Korean fried chicken and beer (chimaek), then explore Gwangjang Market for iconic street food from the Netflix-famous stalls. If you’re still peckish, continue to Ikseodong for dessert or late-night bites.

• Day 2 • Jeonju

  Take the metro to Seoul Station and travel to Jeonju, a city known for its slow pace and great food. Enjoy lunch at a renowned noodle restaurant, then explore the Hanok Village and its traditional streets. Learn to make kimchi and kimchi pancakes in a cooking demo, and end the day with makgeolli (cloudy rice beer) and inventive side dishes shared in the traditional way.

• Day 3 • Jeonju

  This morning, move from the hanok to a hotel for your second night in Jeonju. Enjoy free time to explore the village or nearby shrines and palaces. Then travel by bus to Sunchang Gochujang Village to see how Korea’s famous red chilli paste is made and sample some. After a banchan-filled lunch, take a scenic stroll around Mt Gangcheon and a nearby waterfall. Tonight, dine at Jeonju’s most famous bibimbap restaurant, an official intangible cultural asset.

• Day 4 • Gyeongju

  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). Then carry on your journey to discover buddhism philosophy as you visit a 7th century temple and sip tea with the resident monk. Tucked away among the trees outside Gyeongju city, the temple is the perfect spot to recharge. After taking in some buddhist zen, head back to Gyeongju and visit Daeneungwon Ancient Tomb and Cheonsungdae Observatory. Enjoy a relaxed evening and maybe visit the thriving Hwanglidangil or take a walk to the beautiful Woljeong Hanok bridge.

• Day 5 • Busan

  Continue your journey to Busan. You'll first stop at Haedong Temple, a magnificent 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. Then carry onto Haeundae Beach and admire the contrast of the white sand with the distant skyscrapers. The rest of 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 skewers. 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!

• 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!

• 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.

• 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.