Tour overview

This 8-day small-group trip explores South Korea through its food, from street stalls and markets to home-style cooking and regional specialities, travelling by metro, bus and high-speed train. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout. You stay seven nights in hotels and one in a traditional hanok, a wooden house with heated floors, in Jeonju. Five breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners are included, from a Korean fried chicken and beer welcome dinner in Seoul to a hands-on cooking class in Busan.

Your adventure begins in Seoul, South Korea's dynamic capital, with a welcome dinner of fried chicken and beer, the classic Korean pairing known as chimaek. The next morning you take the train to Jeonju, the birthplace of bibimbap and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, to spend a night in the hanok village among tiled roofs and narrow lanes, with tastings of local street food and makgeolli rice wine.

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After a second night in Jeonju, you travel to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla kingdom, often called a museum without walls for its royal tombs, temples and pagodas, with the chance to start the day with kongnamul gukbap, a restorative bean-sprout soup. On the way to Busan you stop at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, set dramatically on the rocks above the sea.

In Busan, Korea's great port city, you join a hands-on cooking class to learn the secrets of Korean dishes, enjoy free time on the beaches or in the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village, and visit Jagalchi Market, the country's largest fish market, to sample fresh seafood. A KTX bullet train carries you back to Seoul for a farewell dinner before the trip ends.

The physical rating is medium, with plenty of walking and public transport. This trip suits food lovers and curious travellers who want to taste their way across South Korea in a small, sociable group. Departures run year-round, with spring and autumn especially beautiful. Pack comfortable shoes, as much of the trip is spent walking between markets, temples and neighbourhoods. Bring an appetite, as you will try dozens of dishes along the way.

Trip highlights

  • Fried chicken and beer in Seoul (Day 1)
  • A night in a Jeonju hanok (Day 2)
  • Bibimbap in its birthplace (Day 3)
  • Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital (Day 4)
  • A cooking class in Busan (Day 5)
  • Jagalchi fish market (Day 6)

Your route

6 stops from Seoul to Seoul

8-day route: Seoul – Jeonju – Gyeongju – Busan – Seoul
  1. Seoul Day 1
  2. Jeonju Days 2–3
  3. Sunchang Gochujang Village Day 3
  4. Gyeongju Day 4
  5. Busan Days 5–6
  6. Seoul Days 7–8

Why choose this tour

South Korea's regional food in one week, with 15 meals included. A night in a traditional hanok and a KTX bullet train.

Best suited to

  • Food lovers
  • First-time visitors to South Korea
  • Solo travellers looking for a small group
  • Travellers short on time
A street food market in Seoul

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Seoul, South Korea to Seoul, South Korea

  1. Day 1 · Seoul Arrive in Seoul

    A fried chicken and beer welcome.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Jeonju Hanok Village Jeonju

    A train to the city of bibimbap.

    Hotel
    Traditional hanok
    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Jeonju Jeonju

    More of Jeonju's food culture.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Gyeongju Gyeongju

    The ancient Silla capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Haedong Yonggungsa, Busan Busan

    A seaside temple and a cooking class.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Jagalchi Market Busan

    Free time and the fish market.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Seoul Seoul

    A KTX train back to Seoul.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Seoul Trip ends

    The trip ends this morning.

Jagalchi fish market in Busan

Where you stay

  • Seoul (1 night) Hotel
  • Jeonju (1 night) Traditional hanok
  • Jeonju (1 night) Hotel
  • Gyeongju (1 night) Hotel
  • Busan (2 nights) Hotel
  • Seoul (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 6 nights in hotels and 1 in a hanok
  • Meals 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Metro, buses and a KTX bullet train
  • Fried chicken and beer welcome dinner
  • Jeonju hanok village and food tastings
  • Gyeongju and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
  • Busan cooking class and Jagalchi Market
  • Leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The stone staircases of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, South Korea

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You have very restricted diets — meals are central
  • You want large rooms — Korean rooms can be compact
  • You want luxury
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 3–7 · Lunch: Days 2–6 · Dinner: Days 1–3, 5 and 7
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for South Korea
A bowl of bibimbap

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,083 per person, twin share, tour only. 80 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Can dietary needs be catered for?

Most needs can be accommodated with notice, but very restricted diets may find options limited.

What is a hanok?

A traditional Korean house with heated floors and simple bedding.

Are rooms large?

Rooms can be compact, and double beds are closer to queen size.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors can usually visit South Korea visa-free for a holiday. Check before you travel.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 15.

How many people travel together?

Up to 12 travellers, with a leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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