Food tour in South Korea
Highlights
Nambu Traditional Market | Majang Dong Beef Market | Korean Barbecue | Jeonju | Learn how to make kimchi | Sunchang Gochujang | Red chili paste demo | Gyeongju | Bulguksa Monastery overnight stay | Sunmodo martial arts display | Morning meditation session | Busan | Jalgalchi Market |Description of Food tour in South Korea
Korean cuisine has long been unfairly overshadowed by that of its regional neighbours, but the country is now starting to emerge as one of the world’s most exciting foodie destinations. This fun and informative gastro tour takes you from the capital, Seoul, to Jeonju, home of the country’s signature dish: bibimbap, via traditional markets, martial arts and meditation in a working monastery, and a classic South Korean barbecue. Pack your appetite, because you’re going to need it.Sample the local favourite: chi-maek or Korean Fried Chicken, washed down with a refreshing glass of Soju; learn how to whip up an iconic Korean side dish, kimchi, and tour the enormous seafood market at Busan before savouring a clam bake lunch overlooking the ocean. In Jeonju, which many consider foodie central in South Korea, you can snack on sushi rolls before heading to a restaurant famed for its bibimbap, the quintessential rice dish here, best accompanied by a locally brewed cloudy rice beer.
Another highlight is sure to be an overnight stay at the Bulguska Monastery in Gyeongju, renowned for its many temples, pagodas and palace ruins. You’ll enjoy a typical vegan meal with the monks, watch a fascinating display of sunmodo martial arts, and be invited to join an early morning meditation session.
Finally returning to Seoul, say goodbye to your group in the best way possible, with a mouthwatering Korean barbecue, as high-grade cuts of beef are sizzled on the table right next to you.
You want to know the best bit? We've only just scratched the surface with this description. By the end of this tour you’re certain to be a convert to South Korean cuisine.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
Check dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
As a global tour operator, we are committed to travelling responsibly and endeavour to practise sustainable tourism wherever we visit. We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when travelling – respecting and benefitting local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip we run. We take care to ensure that we use local transport throughout our tours, including the metro system and public buses. We always travel in small groups – this tour has a maximum of 12 passengers but our average sits at about 10. This enables us to stay in locally owned, small accommodation, encouraging unique connections with local people. On this tour, we stay in a traditional Hanok village house, similar to a Japanese ryokan, as well as overnighting in an ancient monastery among monks practicing traditional meditation and martial arts rituals. The experiences our travellers have here provide them with a unique insight into local life, encourage involvement in local activity and expose them to the traditions of Korean culture.
We also encourage travellers to take individual steps to help promote responsible travel and suggest bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
As a company, our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$6 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002. Tackling areas like health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travellers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our South Korea Food Adventure is operated by an English-speaking passionate local food expert and all services are provided by local Korean people, including drivers, hotel staff and kitchen assistants at cooking classes. We ensure that our traveller’s funds are focused directly to the community and in support of small, local businesses, transport and accommodation.
In Korea dress standards are conservative, particularly outside of the major cities. We recommend that our travellers (both male and female) wear loose, lightweight clothing so as not to offend, particularly when visiting religious sites, such as the temple stay. We encourage our travellers to purchase souvenirs locally to support local businesses, contributing to the destination and to aid the economies of smaller villages. We visit local village markets to see, taste and purchase local ingredients like kimchi, chilli paste, fresh tofu and an abundance of produce. Taking in both street food and traditional homestyle preparations, this tour aims to facilitate local interaction and to support small producers and innovators in Korea, such as those involved in the country’s emerging craft beer scene. Enjoy a craft brewery tour including a tasting where you can experience the nuances of the local wild yeasts used in the final product. In addition, the dinner at the temple stay is entirely vegan, providing an interesting a chance to eat a healthy, sustainable meal.
In Gyeongju, we visit a local farm and learn the history of regional agriculture, as well as some of the challenges facing farmers today. Home-made snacks prepared by the family are enjoyed directly from farm to table!
As a global tour operator, we are committed to travelling responsibly and endeavour to practise sustainable tourism wherever we visit. We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when travelling – respecting and benefitting local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip we run. We take care to ensure that we use local transport throughout our tours, including the metro system and public buses. We always travel in small groups – this tour has a maximum of 12 passengers but our average sits at about 10. This enables us to stay in locally owned, small accommodation, encouraging unique connections with local people. On this tour, we stay in a traditional Hanok village house, similar to a Japanese ryokan, as well as overnighting in an ancient monastery among monks practicing traditional meditation and martial arts rituals. The experiences our travellers have here provide them with a unique insight into local life, encourage involvement in local activity and expose them to the traditions of Korean culture.
We also encourage travellers to take individual steps to help promote responsible travel and suggest bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
As a company, our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$6 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002. Tackling areas like health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travellers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our South Korea Food Adventure is operated by an English-speaking passionate local food expert and all services are provided by local Korean people, including drivers, hotel staff and kitchen assistants at cooking classes. We ensure that our traveller’s funds are focused directly to the community and in support of small, local businesses, transport and accommodation.
In Korea dress standards are conservative, particularly outside of the major cities. We recommend that our travellers (both male and female) wear loose, lightweight clothing so as not to offend, particularly when visiting religious sites, such as the temple stay. We encourage our travellers to purchase souvenirs locally to support local businesses, contributing to the destination and to aid the economies of smaller villages. We visit local village markets to see, taste and purchase local ingredients like kimchi, chilli paste, fresh tofu and an abundance of produce. Taking in both street food and traditional homestyle preparations, this tour aims to facilitate local interaction and to support small producers and innovators in Korea, such as those involved in the country’s emerging craft beer scene. Enjoy a craft brewery tour including a tasting where you can experience the nuances of the local wild yeasts used in the final product. In addition, the dinner at the temple stay is entirely vegan, providing an interesting a chance to eat a healthy, sustainable meal.
In Gyeongju, we visit a local farm and learn the history of regional agriculture, as well as some of the challenges facing farmers today. Home-made snacks prepared by the family are enjoyed directly from farm to table!
2 Reviews of Food tour in South Korea
Reviewed on 13 Apr 2019 by Amy Cochran
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
April is beautiful time to see the cherry blossoms in South Korea. Also enjoyed experiencing the countryside outside of Seoul.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is great to go with a group on a foodie holiday as you get to try so many different dishes. My favorites were the seafood, Korean BBQ, and amazing Korean fried chicken. Korean food can be very spicy, but you always have the option to the red chili paste separately.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A lot of fun!
Reviewed on 16 Apr 2019 by Nigel Hunt
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Travelling around Seoul in my free time visiting the historic Palaces and Secret Garden.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Overall, I found the trip very disappointing. There was little else of interest apart from the different food. I would ensure that you spend time in Seoul before or after so add value. I would also question the value of it......given transport, food and hotels are included, but the hotels and transport were but 25% of the total trip costs if you'd have booked them yourself on line.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, in that it used local buses and trains in the main,
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Enjoyable in parts...but not enough good food experiences and other interests to justify the cost. Definitely not value for money in my eyes.
Thank you for writing your review of your trip to South Korea. I am sorry to hear that you were disappointed in your holiday. We really value your feedback and this is important information we can use for helping future travellers. We will be following this up directly with them as well.
As we work with so many different destination specialists, we would be happy to recommend some great holiday options for your next trip.
Best wishes, Tessa
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