Premium South Korea

9 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
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 ...
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$6,959
From$5,155
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • 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.
    • Enjoy the vibrancy of Purple Island near Mokpo, where the colours of lilac and lavender fields have spread to the entire town.
    • 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 Intrepid 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. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

What's this trip about?

    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 iconic sites in Mokpo and then explore Purple Island at your own pace – 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!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySeoul
End CityJeju Island

Travel Themes

  • High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions

  • Jeju Island
  • Seongsan Ilchulbong
  • Seoul

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • 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
    • Shinan - Purple Island Visit
    • Mokpo - Dinner with a local family
    • 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

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Seoul

Eoseo oseyo! Welcome to Korea. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins in Seoul, where you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After meeting your fellow travellers and trip leader, you...

Day 2 Seoul

This morning you’ll visit Gyeongbokgung Palace – the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty which dates back to 1395 – and Bukchon (the North Village) – home to many restored traditional Korean houses known as hanoks. From here, head to the home of Daniel Gray – the ...

Day 3 Jeonju

Rising early, it’ll be a thought-provoking morning as you visit the South Korean side of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). After stopping for breakfast on the way, you’ll learn how this peninsula has been divided ever since the devastating Korean War. You’ll visit to poin...

Day 4 Jeonju

For breakfast this morning, you’ll enjoy a local delicacy – Jeonju beansprout rice soup. You’ll then hop in a private transfer and drive to Damyang where you’ll head out on a scenic bamboo forest walk. Try some of the popular bamboo ice cream and for lunch, try anothe...

Day 5 Hapcheon

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you’ll start the drive to Gayasan National Park on Mt Gaya to check out Haeinsa Temple – your incredible Exclusive Feature Stay for tonight! This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the Three Jewels Temples re...

Day 6 Mokpo

Bidding your farewells to Haeinsa Temple, you’ll head to the island archipelagos of Mokpo. When you arrive, you’ll have a homemade lunch at a local’s home and learn about life in South Korea’s southern regions. Finally, a tranquil drive will take you to the beautiful ...

Day 7 Jeju Island

This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive to Mokpo Harbor and take a ferry to Jeju Island. After checking in to your accommodation, your leader will take you on a tour of the island’s eastern coast. You will visit an orange farm for a citrus-themed refresh, then head...

Day 8 Jeju Island

This morning after breakfast, your exploration of Jeju Island will extend to the island’s west. You will visit Jeju Green Tea Farm – the tea culture in Jeju is strong, and you can take pictures in the rolling fields. Take in the impressive sight of Sanbansan Mountain ...

Day 9 Jeju Island

After breakfast, there are no activities planned for today and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in South Korea, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,155
Price per day$573
Last Updated: 12/20/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
02 Mar 2025
10 Mar 2025
$5,360
09 Mar 2025
17 Mar 2025
$5,925
23 Mar 2025
31 Mar 2025
$5,535
06 Apr 2025
14 Apr 2025
$6,700
13 Apr 2025
21 Apr 2025
$6,505
20 Apr 2025
28 Apr 2025
$6,505
07 May 2025
15 May 2025
$5,630
11 May 2025
19 May 2025
$5,425
25 May 2025
02 Jun 2025
$5,770
01 Jun 2025
09 Jun 2025
$5,155

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights),Feature Stay (1 Night)

Transportation & Flights

Public Transit,Private Vehicle,Ferry,

Transportation & flights

Public Transit,Private Vehicle,Ferry
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements SOUTH KOREA Temporary for 2023/24: 22 countries are exempted from K-ETA (Korea – Electronic Travel Authority) for travelling to South Korea between 1 Apr, 2023 and 31 Dec, 2024. The full list of 22 countries temporarily exempt from K-ETA are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, US (including Guam). Other nationalities are required to obtain a K-ETA prior to travel. The K-ETA costs KRW10,000, is valid for two years, and allows most nationalities to travel for up to 90 days. Please visit the official website for more information and to apply: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do When selecting the hotel address, please enter the post code 04146. Then select this address: 109 Baekbeom-ro Mapo-gu Seoul. Our local operator’s details are: 8 Birds Tours & Events Hyoungyoon Park(박형윤) and Daniel Lee Gray Seoul Jongrogu Donhwamunro 88-1, 3rd floor 42 Ho +82-10-9003-1918 Apply for a K-ETA no later than 72 hours before departing for South Korea. We recommend applying two weeks prior to travel. Real-time approvals are not available and arriving at your departing airport without a previously approved K-ETA will likely result in being denied boarding. If you are a male of Korean origin whose name appears on the Korean family register, you may be liable for military service even if you are travelling on your foreign passport. All travellers to South Korea must preregister their vaccination status through the government website linked below. After submitting your details you will be issued a QR code that you need to show upon entry. https://cov19ent.kdca.go.kr/cpassportal/biz/beffatstmnt/main.do;jsessionid =wZqvgXdbgspaA4y8O5TV-xIL8yIC62zkUxqCbkFL.prd-cpass was91?lang=en
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines Speeding, running red lights and other risky driver behaviour is reasonable common in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Please exercise caution when crossing roads and do not expect traffic to stop at pedestrian crossings. Taxis often do not have seatbelts, particularly in the back seats.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Jeju Island Lotte City Jeju
  • 83 Doryeong-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
  • Jeju Island
  • KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Trip ID
intrepid-CJPK

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