Experience Overview
From ancient Korean traditions to current K-pop culture, this eight-day trip will surely make the list of the best family holidays ever! You’ll explore South Korea’s capital Seoul, with a delicious feast of Korean BBQ, scenic views over Naksan Mountain and plenty of free time to choose your own adventure. Visit the fascinating and sobering DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) from the South Korean side and visit Mangwon night market for some tasty street food. Experience a day in the life of a monk at Golgulsa Temple and try your hand at archery, meditation and Sunmudo (traditional martial arts). Explore the Golden City of Gyeongju and create a family motto at a calligraphy class, over two days spent in traditional Hanok style accommodation. Head to Busan and check out the local cultural village, coastal scenery and awesome activities on offer before toasting to a great adventure back in Seoul – what a ride!
Highlights
- Witness the effects of the Korean War first-hand at the border between South and North Korea on an eye-opening tour of the DMZ – no textbooks are needed for this lesson, you’ll have a knowledgeable local guide.
- Take a tour around the colourful and ultra-Instagrammable Gamcheon Cultural Village then enjoy plenty of free time to relax on the sandy beaches of Busan.
- Discover some new favourites and delicious flavours with a Korean BBQ dinner and a visit to the street food night markets. You’ll even learn to make kimchi and kimbap in a family-friendly cooking class – now this is how you get the kids to try new things!
- Step back in time in Gyeongju – nicknamed the ‘museum without walls’ – and experience local culture with two nights in a Hanok (traditional Korean house). You can even snap a family pic dressed in Hanbok, the traditional Korean clothing.
- Experience an afternoon of fun activities with local monks in a beautiful temple setting. Try your hand at archery, Sunmudo – an ancient Korean Buddhist martial art – and an insightful meditation.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support 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.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1707
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private Vehicle,KTX train
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Family
Supplier Code: CJFK
Starts: Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
Finishes: Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (2), Dinner (2)Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights),Hanok (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 2816 (CAD 352 /day)
Itinerary
Hwan-yeong! Welcome to Seoul – South Korea's vibrant capital of high-tech gadgets, impressive skyscrapers and delicious eats. A modern Asian metropolis that blends bold futuristic intentions with strong links to the past, Seoul is one of Asia's great cities. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 4 pm this afternoon. After, join your leader and the other families for a short walk up Naksan Mountain for an awesome view of the city skyline. Then, you’ll feast on Korean BBQ at your welcome dinner and get to know your fellow families over sizzling meats, vegetables and refreshments.
Included Activities:
- Korean BBQ - Welcome dinner
- Naksan mountain walk
Accommodation:
- Prima Hotel Jongno (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast this morning, join a local guide for a tour of the fascinating Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). From the South Korean side of the Zone, you’ll learn how this peninsula has been divided since the devastating Korean War. You’ll visit the Third Tunnel of Aggression, the Unification Bridge, Imjingak Park and the Dora Observatory. In the afternoon, you’re free to explore Seoul’s many sights at your own pace (or simply relax at the accommodation or a nearby café). Maybe explore Hongdae – a popular area for urban art with the young locals. Here, you can see street musicians and artists, wander through the many shops and cafes or, if visiting in summer, you can cool off in one of the outdoor swimming pools along the Han River. Tonight, maybe join your leader and visit Mangwon night market for some tasty Korean street food.
Included Activities:
- Visit Mangwon night market
- DMZ visit
Accommodation:
- Prima Hotel Jongno (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast this morning, it’s time to say goodbye to Seoul and head east to the Golgulsa Temple for an unforgettable ‘day in the life of a monk’ experience. Take part in some traditional Korean archery (the kids will love this activity), try your hand and mind at some meditation and participate in a Sunmudo training session – a Korean Buddhist martial arts practiced at only a few places around the world. Tonight, enjoy a special, authentic Buddhist vegetarian dinner at the temple before returning to Gyeongju. You’ll spend the night a Hanok (traditional Korean house) tonight – a truly unique experience where you can fully immerse yourself in the culture and get to know the locals.
Included Activities:
- Gongulsa Temple Day Visit
Accommodation:
- Hwangridangil Hanok stay (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, enjoy a full day exploring Gyeongju – commonly known as the Golden City because of its 1000-year-old history and many important cultural sites. Join your leader this morning after breakfast for a walking tour to explore the area. Visit the Royal Tombs and then head to a traditional folk village to take part in a fun calligraphy activity. Get the kids’ help to create a family motto – a great keepsake that will always remind you of your time in Korea. Here, you’ll have the option to sit down for a steaming Korean hot pot lunch. After, maybe rent a few bikes and explore the area further in your free time or dress up in traditional Hanbok clothing for a family photo – another great souvenir option!
Included Activities:
- Gyeongju - Silla Heritage site
- Yangdong folk village visit
- Family Motto Calligraphy activity
Accommodation:
- Hwangridangil Hanok stay (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast it's off to visit South Korea's second-largest city, Busan. Wehn you arrive you'll have the opportunity to explore Gamcheon Culture Village – known for its layered streets, twisted labyrinth-like alleys, brightly painted houses and street art, before visiting a local's home for lunch. You'll learn about different Korean foods local kids love and even help out with making some of the dishes like kimbap and kimchi. Enjoy a free evening in the city tonight but make sure to ask your leader if there's any baseball games in town at the nearby stadium! Heading along to a Korean baseball game is a fun and unique experience you wont want to miss!
Included Activities:
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- Korean family cooking class
Accommodation:
- Felix Hotel by STX (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today is a free day for you to enjoy all the amazing things Busan has to offer. You may like to visit Haedong Yongungsa Temple – a picturesque scene that sits on the coastline, made even more beautiful during cherry blossom season, take in more of the coastal scenery on the retro Haeundae Sky capsule or Haeundae Beach Train - which happens to be the world's first battery-charged eco-friendly train. Perhaps take a walk on the Busan Green Railway – a 4.8 km coastal walking trail, take a ride on a cable car for sweeping views or visit the nearby amusement park to really get the adrenaline pumping! For a more relaxing day there's plenty of beaches nearby to enjoy a swim, Songjeong in particular is well-loved by families and surfers in the summer.
Optional Activities:
- Busan Green Railway coastal walk - Free
- Haeundae Sky capsule and beach train (29000 KRW)
- Haedong Yonggung Temple - Free
Accommodation:
- Felix Hotel by STX (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today after breakfast, make the speedy journey back to Seoul on a KTX fast train – watch the views fly past you! When you arrive, your final afternoon is free to enjoy the city however you like. You may want to take a taekwondo class and learn some more martial arts moves or visit one of the many museums on offer. K-pop fans would love a visit to the Hallyu K-star Road in Gangnam for a hit of local Hallyu culture. Come back together with your fellow families this evening to enjoy a final group dinner and celebrate a trip well-travelled.
Accommodation:
- Prima Hotel Jongno (or similar) (Number of Nights: 1)
Your adventure comes to an end today after breakfast. With no activities planned, you’re free to depart anytime after breakfast. If you’d like to stay in Seoul for longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Jay - Traveled, April 2024
Fantastic introduction to Korean food and culture. This trip had a great mix of walking, eating and chillin. If you’re an expert in Korean food, this may not be the best tour since it’s an intro with slightly more western tastes in mind, but we did try exotic things like murder hornet soju! Haha everything was good and the group was awesome. Everyone got along well, and the guide Michelle made the tour go very smoothly. Some days were >20k steps so def being comfortable walking shoes. One thing to remember is that the dmz visit is not a part of the tour, and in general the dmz is not available on Mondays… so if adding on, you’d have to stay until Tuesday or do it Sunday before tour starts.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/17/2024
Andrew - Traveled, September 2023
I have way to many positive things to mention about this trip. First of all Jacob our tour guide went beyond being an amazing leader. The first few days by myself in in Seoul were overwhelming but having Jacob who knew what he was doing in the city made it feel like our group was part of the city, and we felt safe and comfortable walking the streets Jacob's amount of knowledge about the food , history and hidden gems made the days fly by. All accommodations and restaurants were fantastic. I absolutely recommend this tour. The only problem with the tour was that it ended too early. Because of this tour I am absolutely coming back to South Korea and hope Jacob can be my tour guide. Thanks for an amazing trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/25/2023
Kornelia - Traveled, August 2023
Great itinerary allowing to see different parts of the country. Yong was fantastic in sharing his knowledge and insights about South Korea, its history and culture and made sure to provide plenty of options and opportunities to sample the local cuisine.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/05/2023
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why book with us?
Best Rate Guarantee
Mytours.Travel makes sure you always have the best available rate
Best Selection
The best operators from around the world
Trusted Payments
Secure payments with Stripe
Expert Advice
Our expert agents will assist you in booking the perfect experience