South Korea Family Holiday

Trip Code: CJFK

Why we love it

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., Discover delicious flavours and some new favourite foods for the kids with a walk through a night market in Seoul then later learn to make kimchi and kimbap in a family-friendly cooking class in Busan., Step back in time in Yongin with a visit to the Korean Folk Village then stay overnight in a Hanok (traditional Korean house) in Gyeongju., Chat to a monk and hear tales of Korean folk stories (the inspiration behind K-pop groups and films like K-pop Demon Hunters!) before making your very own Buddhist rosary. , Visit the colourful and ultra-Instagrammable Gamcheon Cultural Village, ride the coastal beach train and enjoy plenty of free time to relax on the sandy beaches of Busan.

Is this trip right for me?

This trip includes one night accommodation in a Hanok (traditional house) with Korean-style floor bedding in Gyeongju. You will sleep on a futon-like mattress placed on the floor and while floor bedding can be firm compared to standard western mattresses, the floors are heated and comfortable blankets and pillows are included. , The Korean temple visit 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 so be sure to have clothing that covers your shoulders and knees on this day. 

Important information

1. FAMILY TRIPS: 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. CHILD AGE: The minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old. Most children travelling on Intrepid Family trips are between 10 and 14 years old.
3. DISCOUNT: A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
4. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A single supplement is available for adults wishing to have a private room to themselves. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
6. ADDITIONAL NIGHTS: Although this trip starts and finishes in Seoul, you may like to spend some extra time exploring this fascinating city and its neighbouring regions. Please consult your booking agent prior to travel if you would like to book additional nights.

What to bring/pack

Remember - the lighter you travel the better! A soft-sided duffel or sausage bag is the ideal form of luggage. It is recommended that you keep your luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg. A small or medium-sized backpack (45-50 litres) is another good option, but preferably one without a frame.

When you pack your clothing, consider the climate at the time of year you are travelling and any specific requirements for your trip as at certain times of the year some of the items suggested in the list that follow may not be necessary. Keep in mind that the weather will vary significantly from place to place. Laundry facilities are available in some destinations.

Below is a list of equipment and documentation that we suggest you take with you. Please use this checklist as a guide when packing for your holiday.

- Travel documents: passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, air tickets or e-ticket receipts, final itinerary and this document
- Photocopy of main passport pages, visa (if required), travel insurance and air tickets
- Money: cash/credit card/EFTPOS card
- Money belt and small padlocks
- Small first-aid kit
- Daypack
- Watch/alarm clock and torch/flashlight (and spare batteries)
- Electrical adapter plug (view www.kropla.com)
- Toiletries/roll of toilet paper/travel wipes/ tissues
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen, lip balm, sunhat and sunglasses
- Earplugs and eye mask (for light sleepers)
- Extra pair of prescription glasses (if required)
- 2 strong plastic garbage bags (for laundry and in case of rain) and dry bags
- Refillable water bottle
- Phrase book
- Warm clothes - when travelling in cooler climates
- Wind and waterproof rain jacket
- Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes with good walking socks
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Swimwear (dependent on itinerary), TECHNOLOGY
With the modern world you may want to bring along tablets of smartphones for the children to document their adventure - there are a wide variety of apps out there which we suggest downloading before you depart. There will be opportunities to charge ( just make sure you bring the correct adapter) and there will be wi-fi available on your trip, although it will probably not be at the speeds you are used to at home and it won't be available everywhere.

Physical rating

 
2

These trips are setup to involve and include all the family so no real physical preparation is necessary. The trips all have some degree of physical activity but nothing that is too strenuous. Please check the physical rating on the trip notes and if you need further explanation please contact one of our sales consultants who will provide you with more detailed information.

Joining your group

Prima Hotel Jongno, 46 Ujeongguk-ro, Gyeonji-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF, Phone: +82 261059114

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

Finishing your trip

Prima Hotel Jongno, 46 Ujeongguk-ro, Gyeonji-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF, Phone: +82 261059114

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 7

Lunches included: 2

Dinners included: 2

While travelling with us you and your family will experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you and your family more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though. If you or a member of your family have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure., DIETARY NEEDS:
Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may wish to supplement inclusions with their own supplies from markets or supermarkets. Please note that some dietary requirements, such as Gluten Free, will be uncommon in South Korea and you may need to explain to your leader what you can and can't eat as well as research common dishes before you travel.

ALLERGIES:
For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic and research suitable local foods before travelling.

VEGETARIANS & VEGANS:
Being Vegan or Vegetarian can be difficult in Korea since there is fish sauce or shrimp paste used as fermentation agents. However, there are always plenty of meat free options on menus including vegetable, tofu and egg dishes that come out with rice as a meal. However, keep in mind that we share dishes and dishes may be cooked served along with meat dishes. Your leader can advise on some local favourites or help you order and delivery them. Dairy is uncommon in local cooking. Vegans should also have few problems finding tasty meals in most locations. Nearly all cities will have vegetarian restaurants, often near to temples or monasteries that specialize in Buddhist cuisine., 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 and enjoyable. 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.

Some of our families are surprised by the traditional Korean breakfast foods and the simple options that tourists hotels usually offer. Soup with side dishes of kimchi and rice are the most common breakfast foods in Korean. A typical western breakfast available may include cereal, toast, eggs and fruit. If your family usually like to eat a big breakfast it might be a good idea to have some extra items and snacks on hand for the mornings.

Climate & seasonal information

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time., For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us, In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

, Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +821 067067769/ +821 090031918

Accommodations

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.

Transportation