The Culture & Gastronomy of South Korea

Welcome to South Korea, where your adventure begins! Upon arrival at Seoul's Incheon International Airport, you will meet your guide and be transferred to the Bonum Hotel and Hanok Stay our accommodation for the next few days. This area of Seoul is extremely special and we've selected this hotel because of the area. This is the Buckchon-Ro part of Seoul which lies between the two palaces and is the oldest part of Seoul. We have reserved both traditional rooms at the hotel and Western rooms if you prefer. 

The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may want to explore the hotel, or take a stroll through the surrounding area, perhaps stopping by a local store or coffee shop.

In the evening, we'll come together for a mouth-watering welcome dinner of Korean Barbecue. Get ready to indulge in some delicious food and immerse yourself in the Korean culture!

After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we will start the day by exploring Seoul via private vehicle.

Our first stop is at Gyeongbokgung Palace, a stunning royal palace that was first built in the 14th century and then rebuilt in the 19th century. We'll take a tour of this "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" palace, which is one of the five palaces from the Choson (Joseon) Dynasty. We'll also visit the Folk Museum, which houses a collection illustrating traditional Korean life. 

Next up is a visit to Jogyesa Temple, one of the most important temples in the city and the heart of the Jogyejong Buddhist Order, where Zen meditation is practiced. Then we'll have lunch at a local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, we'll take a stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, an area known as the "North Village" that's home to around 900 traditional Korean houses. Here, you'll feel as if you've taken a step back in time. Our last stop of the day will be at Insadong Street, a vibrant and lively place where you'll discover various antique shops and art galleries displaying old, precious traditional goods and we'll get to meet with a shop owner or two. 

In the evening, we'll take to the streets of Seoul with a guide for a culinary exploration of the most popular Korean dishes. We'll taste a variety of specialties such as: rice crispy cakes with beans, nori rolls, Korean sausage, noodles, dumplings, fried chicken and Korean style tempura all washed down with a local beer.

After breakfast, we will embark on a fun-filled day dedicated to exploring Seoul and its pulsating food scene.

Our day begins with a Korean cooking class, where we will learn to make one of the hundreds of different types of Kimchi. Like salsa every family has their own recipe. 

Then we will stroll through the market to learn about traditional cuisine ending with a delicious Bibimbap lunch, the national dish of Korea.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to admire the collections of important Korean art and sculpture in the garden. Then we'll take a stroll down the Itaewon Antique Furniture Street before departing for an excursion to the Namsan Park (pictured). We will climb the stairs to the top through a shady forest to enjoy a beautiful view of the city skyline and return by cable car. 

After time to rest and freshen up we will venture out for dinner. Tonight’s destination will leave us salivating for more. Eatanic Garden is in an airy garden space that opens up onto a spectacular city view in the heart of Gangnam, one of Seoul’s most vibrant and upscale neighborhoods. This Michelin-star restaurant focuses on contemporary Korean cuisine and is one of the most sought-after places to dine in Seoul.

After breakfast, we'll head to Korea's National Museum to explore the country's history and art through their impressive collection. Then we will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before delving into a traditional art class in the afternoon. Choose from fan-making, macrame, mask-making, or Hanji paper crafts. 

In the early evening, we will experience the famous Nanta show. Nanta is a comedic show about four chefs who must prepare a wedding banquet in just one hour. The entire performance has no spoken dialogue. You’ll be entertained by traditional rhythms of samulnori, a traditional Korean percussion quartet, played with a unique set of instrumental tools.  

For dinner afterwards, we'll savor a street food tour at the Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's oldest and largest street food markets. With over 5,000 shops, you'll find a wide variety of items to sample.

After a delicious breakfast, we'll start our day with a visit to the Bongeunsa Temple, a stunningly peaceful Buddhist temple nestled in the heart of the bustling metropolis. This temple was once the largest in Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty, and its beauty and tranquility are sure to leave you awe-struck. 

Switching 180 degrees, next we'll explore the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), located in the exciting Dongdaemun shopping area. This spectacular building is dedicated to showcasing the latest design and fashion trends and features a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. 

For lunch, we'll indulge in some mouthwatering local cuisine at a nearby restaurant, and then we'll participate in a Makgeolli Class. Makgeolli is one of Korea's most beloved alcoholic beverages, and brewing your own batch of it will be a truly unique experience. 

As the day draws to a close, we'll enjoy a sumptuous gourmet dinner at one of the city's finest restaurants. It's the perfect way to cap off an unforgettable day in Seoul!

We’ll depart in the morning to Gwangju, located on the west side of the Korean peninsula to embark on a truly unforgettable experience - a two-day, one-night stay at the Baekyangsa Temple. En route to the temple we'll take a break to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

Founded in 632 C.E. during the reign of Baekjae King Mu by Ven. Yeohwan, Baekyangsa was initially named Baekamsa Temple. The name changed multiple times to Jeongtosa and back to Baekamsa until the 19th century when it was finally named Baekyangsa (White Sheep Temple). The temple earned its name because white sheep used to descend from the mountain to listen to the monks chanting before returning to their pastures. The temple is nestled in nature and offers breathtaking scenery year-round. 

We will enjoy a full board and overnight stay at the temple, immersing ourselves in the tranquility of this spiritual retreat. The reason we chose this particular temple is for the quality of their temple food. One of the nuns was featured on Chef's Table not long ago. We cannot promise that we'll meet her but we can promise some of the best vegetarian food you've ever had!

After a peaceful morning breakfast at the temple, bid farewell to Baekyangsa and return to Seoul in the afternoon if you’re not joining us for the extension.

If you flight schedule permits, enjoy some free time to explore the city or do some last-minute shopping. Then we'll organize your transfer to the airport for your departing flight.  

It’s always a little sad when such a magnificent adventure has concluded, but we’ll have memories for a lifetime.

Today we'll continue onwards for an exciting day of adventure after bidding farewell to the temple. 

We will satisfy our appetite with a delightful lunch at a local restaurant before we immerse ourselves in the vibrant artistic and democratic spirit of the city of Gwangju.  

Next, we'll explore the charming town of Damyang for a peaceful stroll through the beautiful Soswaewon Garden, surrounded by a serene bamboo forest.  

The evening brings a delectable dinner showcasing the city's renowned cuisine. Retreat to the comfortable Ramada Plaza by Wyndham for a well-deserved rest. We typically do not stay in named chain hotels, but this one is considered the best in town.

We’ll start our day with a beautiful drive through the picturesque green tea and cedar fields to reach the Daehan Dawon's tea plantation in Boseong. Here we will learn about the art of tea production and indulge in a tea tasting.  

Next, we’ll visit the historic Nagan's fortified village, known for its beautiful gardens, adobe houses, and stone roofs covered in reeds.   Then, we’ll enjoy a delicious local lunch before exploring Jogyesan Provincial Park and its magnificent Temple Songgwangsa, a renowned center for Zen meditation from the 9th century. 

We’ll end the day with dinner at a local restaurant and check-in to our hotel for a comfortable overnight stay in Suncheon at Hotel Raum.

We will depart after breakfast for an excursion to Hwaeomsa Temple, founded in 544 AD and located on Jiri Mount. This is a unique opportunity for us to participate in an authentic tea ceremony and experience a zen meditation led by a Buddhist monk.  

We will be served a delicious vegetarian lunch at the temple. After lunch its time to say our final goodbyes and promise to keep in touch. 

In the afternoon, we can choose to return to Seoul or continue on to another next destination. You will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight home.