Premium
Premium South Korea
9 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
40 reviews
9 days
Start
Seoul, South Korea
Finish
Jeju Island, South Korea
Trip Code
CJPK
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
Public Transit, Private Vehicle, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Feature Stay (1 Night)
From £3,230(9 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Visit the home of Daniel Gray – a food expert and food tour pioneer who worked on Netflix’s Street Food Asia Seoul – for a fascinating lecture on local cuisine, food history and a homemade meal.
Immerse yourself in the local way of life for Korean monks at your Premium Feature Stay in Hainesa Temple on Mt Gaya – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Three Jewels Temples representing Dharma.
Visit Jeju Island, where you’ll visit Seongsan Ilchulbong or Jeju Seongsan Sunrise Mountain/Castle – a volcanic peak nicknamed Sunrise Peak with sweeping panoramic views that earned Korea its first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meet a local Haenyno – one of the local women divers who go diving for shellfish 10 m under the sea on Jeju Island. Learn about the local fishing culture and why these women, some in their 80s, still practice diving.
By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Tuuur 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. Tuuur will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Tuuur Foundation.
Is this trip right for you?
Part of travelling with Tuuur means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. You will visit the Hainesa Temple and the DMZ on this trip, and this requires a level of modesty. Be sure to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees.
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.
Itinerary
Dive into the history, culture and cuisine of South Korea
On this nine-day Premium adventure, you’ll explore the culture and cuisine of South Korea from unique perspectives with a local leader who has all the insights. Start in Seoul with a bowl of steaming hot pot and meet with a North Korean defector to learn their fascinating story. Wander through Gyeongbukgung Palace before heading to a local home for a private food lecture. Enjoy a bibimbap in Jeonju and learn about the town’s rich art culture. Walk through bamboo forests before heading for Mt Gaya’s Hainesa Temple, where you’ll stay overnight, meditate like the monks, and chat with a local monk over tea. Visit Mokpo before ending it all on Jeju Island – where you’ll chat with a local Haenyno woman and visit UNESCO’s Seongsan Ilchulbong for the most scenic views in Korea!
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
Public Transit, Private Vehicle, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Feature Stay (1 Night)
Included activities
Seoul - Orientation Walk
Seoul - Gyeongbukgung Palace
Seoul - Korean Food Lecture and Homemade Lunch
Seoul - Bukchon Hanok Village
Seoul - North Korean Defector meeting
Seoul - DMZ Tour and Imjingak Peace Park
Damyang - Bamboo Forest Walk
Jeonju - Hanok Village
Jeonju - Brassware Workshop
Haeinsa - Tea with a monk
Haeinsa - Temple Tour and Dinner
Haeinsa - Evening Meditation
Mokpo - Mount Yudal Cable Car
Mokpo - Manho Village and Fish Market Visit
Mokpo - Local home visit
Mokpo - Ferry to Jeju
Jeju - Orange Farm
Jeju - Jeju Folk Village
Jeju - Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) Visit
Jeju - Osulloc Teahouse
Jeju - Sanbang-san Mountain
Jeju - Haenyno Meeting
Jeju - Farewell Dinner
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
















Important notes
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. Breakfast culture is quite different in South Korea. Hotel breakfasts are often either not available or quite disappointing. Because of this, hotel breakfasts are not included on this tour. Instead, you will receive a daily $10 cafe voucher to use at local cafes and coffee shops. You may choose to use one voucher per day or save them up and use multiple at once. Your trip leader can assist you with choosing cafes and using vouchers.
3. The trip ends on Jeju Island which is served by an international airport. For your onward journey, direct flights are available to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Osaka and Singapore, as well as Seoul.
4. Luggage porterage on this trip is limited to your travelling between accommodation. Porterage is not found in South Korean hotels, so it is not available within your accommodation
Reviews (43)
5 stars
38
4 stars
5
Annette
Jun 13, 2025
The Korea trip with our amazing tour guide „Yong“ was outstanding. I could continue raving endlessly about the great accommodation, delicious food , diverse cultural experiences and fun we have had as a small group on this whirlwind tour through magnificent Korea. The 9 day tour is just a taster and it makes you long for more. Nothing to complain or criticize- from beginning to the end it was well planned through and organized. I only wish to return again one day to deepen my understanding of Korean culture and history. Until then, I thank everyone from Intrepid and especially our guide and tour leader Yong for the great experience. Sincerely, Annette M.
Eliska
Jun 10, 2025
What a fantastic place to visit ! Korea is a great mix of both modern and traditional style experiences and the Intrepid Premium tour brought it all together nicely. The itinerary was fabulous and included some magical highlights such as the DMZ, Seoul street food markets, an overnight stay in a monastery, a bamboo forest, a tea plantation, a river cruise and many local village tours. The food was a constant source of surprise and delight. Great restaurants with generous portions which were tasty and interesting. Transport also included a bullet train and ferry ride which was marvellous. The small group size was excellent and allowed for so much more interaction and engagement. The special guests we met were wide ranging and very interesting. These included a talk with a North Korean defector (highly emotional) and women divers on Jeju island who fish for seafood without oxygen (average age was around 70). We also met Daniel Gray (Netflix - Street Food Asia) and had lunch in his apartment ! The accommodation was superb and way better than expected. The small group bus was very comfortable also. Our guide (Yong) was just brilliant. His English was excellent and he coordinated everything beautifully. His ability to capitalise on impromptu situations and bring the locals into our sphere was sensational. A very professional, funny and genuinely caring guy who provided great advice and insight. Overall, Korea was a clean and safe place that had heaps of highlights. Intrepid did a great job and we highly recommend them.
Lorretta
Jun 10, 2025
This was my first Intrepid Tour and I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with the planning, the destinations, the accommodation, the transport. The local encounters with Bronze, Onggi, the Temple Stay and the home hosted meal which was a wonderful experience. I was very impressed with the apartment housing blocks and what is available for the residents. The whole memorable experience was brought to life by our wonderful guide Yong, his ability to engage with us all and his knowledge of the history made the trip so much more enjoyable. I also think the western world could learn a lot about recycling from Korea it is the cleanest country I have ever visited. I also felt very safe as a woman travelling alone, the people are very friendly and helpful. I wish Korea well on their plans towards reunification and hope that it becomes a reality,
Beata
Jun 03, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed travelling around Korea with Yong. Great trip, amazing tour leader made for an unforgettable experience. If you want to learn and experience Korea, do this trip.
Margarita
May 23, 2025
If you feel awkward during a guest stay, choose this Temple Stay trip. The program has something for everyone, from the wonders of nature to food feasts. Your luggage is taken care of, so you won’t have to drag it farther than the distance from the bus to your room. Highly recommended!
Mardi
May 01, 2025
This South Korea trip was outstanding—rich in culture, history, and unforgettable experiences. Every day was thoughtfully planned, offering a perfect balance of learning, fun, and connection. The group dynamic was wonderful, and our exceptional guide made everything seamless. I return home inspired, enriched, and deeply grateful for this incredible journey.
David
Apr 27, 2025
Excellent trip would definitely recommend. The itinerary is fantastic, informative and you see so much in such a short space of time. Our tour guide Ryan was fantastic and assisted with all our needs. A great way to start your trip before exploring South Korea further on your on.
CHERYL
Apr 22, 2025
I always look at what Intrepid tours are doing while selecting my forthcoming holiday. I have been to Vietnam, Cambodia,China, Hong Kong and South Korea with intrepid.
Jennifer
Apr 22, 2025
Not your average tourist trip to Korea. Meet the keepers of Korea's oldest traditions and experience luxurious accommodations and the personal touch that only a small premium tour can provide.
William
Apr 20, 2025
Third Intrepid trip, and third trip knocked out of the park! Intrepid definitely knows how to look after every detail and ensure a wonderful experience. I truly love South Korea.
Friends and Family Travel is an agent of Intrepid Travel. All Trip content and associated images are copyright of Intrepid Travel.
You are protected
Contact Information
Call us at
0208 058 4003
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
Contact our customer support
contact@friendsandfamily.travel
We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

© 2024 Friends and Family Travel | All rights reserved.