South Korea Family Holiday

South Korea Family Holiday

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8 Days From

$2935

South Korea Family Holiday

8 Days Starting and ending in Seoul

Visiting: Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Korea Republic Of

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

CJFK

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 16

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

5-99 years

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Cultural

From: $2935

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour 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.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Accommodation: Prima Hotel Jongno (or similar)

Meals Included: dinner

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

Day 2: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Accommodation: Prima Hotel Jongno (or similar)

Meals Included: breaksfast

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

Day 3: Gyeongju

Location: Gyeongju

Accommodation: Hwangridangil Hanok stay (or similar)

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

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

Day 4: Gyeongju

Location: Gyeongju

Accommodation: Hwangridangil Hanok stay (or similar)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

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

Day 5: Busan

Location: Busan

Accommodation: Felix Hotel by STX (or similar)

Meals Included: breaksfast

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

Day 6: Busan

Location: Busan

Accommodation: Felix Hotel by STX (or similar)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

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
-Haedong Yonggung Temple - Free

Day 7: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Accommodation: Prima Hotel Jongno (or similar)

Meals Included: breaksfast

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.

Day 8: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Meals Included: breaksfast

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.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (5 nights), Hanok (2 nights)

  • Korean BBQ - Welcome dinner

  • Naksan mountain walk

  • Visit Mangwon night market

  • DMZ visit

  • Gongulsa Temple Day Visit

  • Gyeongju - Silla Heritage site

  • Yangdong folk village visit

  • Family Motto Calligraphy activity

  • Gamcheon Culture Village

  • Korean family cooking class

show more

What's Not Included

  • Insurance

  • International Travel

Transport

  • Private Vehicle , KTX train

Accommodation

  • GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
  • Family of two: All family groupings of two will be accommodated in a twin room.
  • Family of three: Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that a triple room will often be a twin room with a rollaway bed or mattress on the floor. Where triple rooms aren’t available it will be at your discretion which of your family takes the single room.
  • Family of four or more: You will most likely be accommodated in two twin rooms. Where possible, we will accommodate your family in a quadruple room.
  • While we do our very best to ensure that family groups are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over the exact placement of rooms within a hotel. Please be understanding if we are unable to room your family in immediate proximity of one another.

Important Information

  • 1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
  • 2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
  • 3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
  • 4. A single supplement is bookable on this trip with exception of Day 4 & 5 (Hakone) and Days 6 & 7 (Hiroshima), subject to availability.
  • 5. The trip will start at 4pm on Day 1
  • 6. Although this trip starts and finishes in Seoul, we highly recommend you to spend some extra time exploring this fascinating city and its neighbouring regions. Please consult your booking agents if you would like to book additional nights.
  • 7. We know the idea of travelling overseas with picky eaters, particularly kids, can be daunting. However, most of our families find the diversity of Korean food surprising. Trying different foods is great fun and an opportunity to understand a little about Korean culture using all your senses. As well as a Korean BBQ and Korean Hot Pot, some of the other kid-friendly foods you can enjoy are Joomukbap (Korean rice balls), Pajeon (Korean pancakes), Mandu (Korean dumplings), Chikin (Korean fried chicken), Kimbap (similar to sushi), Bulgogi (usually beef with vegetables and rice) and there's plenty more including sweet treats like Korean rice cakes.
  • 8. Some of our families are surprised by the traditional Korean breakfast foods and the western variations that our accommodations provide. Soup with side dishes, kimchi and rice are the most common breakfast foods in Korean. A typical western breakfast available may include cereal, toast, eggs and fruit.

Mode of Transport

  • Private Vehicle , KTX train

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    A traditional Korean bed is a futon-like mattress placed on the floor, which may be folded up and placed in the cupboard in the morning. This trip includes two nights' accommodation in a Hanok (traditional house) with Korean-style floor bedding in Gyeongju. While floor bedding can be firm compared to standard western mattresses, the floors are heated, and you’ll be comfortable. You can also request extra mattresses for your comfort.

    The monastery day program provides a unique cultural experience, offering insight into Korean Buddhist way of life and the opportunity to participate in various traditional practices. Travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities, including dress codes. You will be given pants and a tunic during your visit, and socks must be worn in the temple.

    Many cities and villages are best discovered on foot, so it’s highly recommended that you wear comfortable shoes as there will be a decent amount of walking involved. You’ll also be expected to carry your own luggage between locations, so packing light is a good idea.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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