The journey
Master bibimbap in a Busan cooking studio, ride a pedicab through Seoul's hanok alleys, and work through nine days of regional specialties, from Myeongdong street food to Andong's dedicated Jjimdak Street, on a journey built entirely around Korea's distinct regional flavours.
Korea's Table: A Culinary Journey is a nine-day exploration of the country's regional cuisines, from Seoul's street food and Busan's fresh seafood to Gyeongju's royal-era dishes and Andong's hearty, traditional fare. Begin in Seoul with the Namsan cable car and N Seoul Tower, then sample tteokbokki and hotteok in Myeongdong before a Michelin-starred bowl of naengmyeon and a Korean barbecue dinner in the city's largest meat market. Ride the KTX to Busan for a hands-on bibimbap cooking class, a glass-bottomed coastal walkway, and the Sky Capsule's scenic ride along the Blue Line Park, followed by Jagalchi Market's seafood stalls and the colourful lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village. In Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom, walk among royal burial mounds and a 1,300-year-old observatory over a dinner of Korean fried chicken and beer, before Andong, the spiritual heart of traditional Korean culture, for a UNESCO-listed hanok village, a cliffside hike, and a dedicated street of the city's own braised chicken dish. The journey closes back in Seoul with a hanok village, a royal palace, a pedicab ride through the old town, and a final evening in Gwangjang Market's maze of street food stalls.
Highlights
- Take a hands-on bibimbap cooking class in Busan, from balance and presentation to your own bowl and a recipe card to take home
- Ride a pedicab through Seoul's hidden alleys, then wander Insadong's tea houses and Gwangjang Market's century-old street food stalls
- Walk Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO-listed 16th-century hanok village, then hike Buyongdae Cliff for a panoramic view over it
- Work through Korea's regional specialties day by day, from Myeongdong street food and Korean BBQ to Gyeongju's royal-era dishes and Andong's own Jjimdak Street
- Explore Gyeongju's Silla-era royal tombs, a 1,300-year-old astronomical observatory, and the UNESCO sites of Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto
- Ride Busan's Sky Capsule along the dramatic Blue Line Park coastline and cross the sea by cable car for sweeping ocean views
Included
Accommodation
8 nights across Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju and Andong
Activities
Seoul guided tour by public transportation (Namsan cable car, N Seoul Tower, Myeongdong, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Dongmyo Market, Majang-dong meat market) · KTX to Busan · Busan bibimbap cooking class, Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, Sky Capsule ride, Haeundae Beach · Busan city tour (Arte Museum Busan, Yeongdo Haenyeo Village, Jagalchi Market, BIFF Square, Gamcheon Culture Village, sea cable car) · Gyeongju touring (Daereungwon/Tumuli Park, Hwangridan-gil, Cheomseongdae, Woljeonggyo) · Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple · Andong touring (Dosan Seowon, Wolyeonggyo, Jjimdak Street) · Andong Hahoe Village and Buyongdae Cliff hike · KTX to Seoul · Seoul guided tour (Bukchon Hanok Village, Changdeokgung Palace and Secret Garden, pedicab tour, Insadong, Jogyesa Temple, Gwangjang Market)
Also included
Private airport transfers on Days 1 and 9 · English-speaking guides on Days 2 to 8 · private air-conditioned vehicle transfers as mentioned in the itinerary · KTX train tickets on Days 3 and 7 · T-Money card for public transportation on Days 2 and 8 · entrance fees for mentioned visits · breakfast daily from Day 2 (8 total), plus lunch on Days 2 to 8 (7 total) and dinner on Days 2 to 6 and Day 8 (6 total)
The route
Nine days across South Korea
5 stops · Seoul to Andong and back
Seoul
Busan
Gyeongju
Andong
Stop 1 of 5
Journey's end
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Stop 1 of 5
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Arrival in Seoul
Arrive at Incheon International Airport, where a driver will be waiting for the private transfer into Seoul. Check in depending on flight time, with the rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 2
Seoul by Public Transportation
Meet the guide to explore Namsan Mountain by public transportation, beginning with a ride on the Namsan cable car and a stroll through Namsan Park to the observation deck of N-Seoul Tower, 480 metres above sea level, before descending by cable car once more. Continue to Myeongdong, one of Seoul's most popular shopping and street food districts, sampling snacks like tteokbokki, hotteok and the neighbourhood's famous fried chicken, before a Michelin-starred lunch of naengmyeon, thin chewy noodles in a cold, refreshing broth. Walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, then visit Dongmyo Market, known for its eclectic weekend flea market, before finishing the day in Majang-dong, home to Seoul's largest meat market, grilling premium cuts of Korean beef over charcoal. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 3
Seoul to Busan
After breakfast, transfer to Seoul Station and board the KTX for the journey to Busan, around two hours and forty-five minutes. A private vehicle meets the train at Busan Station for the transfer onward. Head to a local cooking studio for a hands-on bibimbap class, learning about balance, colour and nutrition before preparing, assembling and presenting your own bowl. Meet the guide afterward for the Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, a glass-bottomed walkway over the ocean, then board the Sky Capsule for a scenic ride along the Blue Line Park from Cheongsapo to Mipo. From Mipo Station, walk to Haeundae Beach, one of Korea's most famous seaside destinations, before an evening meal of grilled beef small intestine, known as gopchang. Overnight in Busan.
Day 4
Busan
Meet the guide in the hotel lobby to begin the day at the Arte Museum Busan, a contemporary art museum showcasing the city's vibrant arts scene. Continue to Yeongdo Haenyeo Village, tasting fresh sea urchin, sea cucumber and conch caught by the village's traditional female divers, known as haenyeo, then lunch on mulhaeo, a spicy, tangy raw seafood dish. Explore Jagalchi Market, Korea's largest seafood market, and the nearby BIFF Square, before Gamcheon Culture Village's colourful houses and street art. In the evening, cross the sea by cable car for sweeping coastal views, then dine on gukbap, a Busan specialty of hearty rice soup. Overnight in Busan.
Day 5
Busan to Gyeongju
Check out and travel by private vehicle to Gyeongju, once the capital of the 8th-century Silla Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called an open-air museum of palaces, temples and tombs. Lunch on a sundubu jjigae set menu, made with local soybeans and traditional tofu-making methods. Visit Daereungwon, or Tumuli Park, home to around 23 grass-covered Silla-era burial mounds, then stroll Hwangridan-gil, a street blending traditional architecture with contemporary shops. Continue to Cheomseongdae, one of the oldest astronomical observatories in East Asia, and Woljeonggyo, a historic covered bridge, before an evening of Korean fried chicken and beer, known as chimaek. Overnight in Gyeongju.
Day 6
Gyeongju to Andong
Meet the guide to visit Seokguram Grotto, renowned for its stone-carved Buddha, and Bulguksa Temple, a national treasure of Buddhist architecture, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Lunch on a tteokgalbi set menu, seasoned grilled beef patties served with rice and banchan. Transfer to Andong, often regarded as the spiritual and cultural heart of South Korea, and visit Dosan Seowon, one of the country's best-preserved Confucian academies, honouring the scholar Yi Hwang. Continue to Wolyeonggyo, a scenic bridge spanning the Nakdong River, then dine on Andong's own Jjimdak, braised chicken with vegetables and noodles in a soy-based sauce, on the city's dedicated Jjimdak Street. Overnight in Andong.
Day 7
Andong to Seoul
Meet the guide to visit Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO-listed 16th-century hanok village home to the Ryu clan of Pungsan for generations, then hike up Buyongdae Cliff for a panoramic view over the village and surrounding landscape. Before leaving Andong, sample the local specialty of salted mackerel, prepared using a traditional preservation method. Say goodbye to the guide and transfer to Andong Station to board the KTX to Seoul, arriving to a local driver for the transfer into the city. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 8
Seoul by Public Transportation
Meet the guide to explore Bukchon Hanok Village, dating to the Joseon period and home to traditional hanok houses still inhabited today, then continue to Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its Secret Garden. Lunch on samgyetang, a ginseng chicken soup considered to have numerous health benefits. After lunch, take a pedicab ride through Seoul's popular streets and hidden alleys, then continue to Insadong, a district of traditional tea houses, art galleries and craft shops, and Jogyesa Temple, lantern-lit at night. Finish at Gwangjang Market, a century-old marketplace of street food, sampling bindaetteok, tteokbokki, gimbap and mandu as the guide shares the history of Korean street food. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 9
Departure from Seoul
Breakfast at the hotel, then a leisurely morning at leisure before a private vehicle transfer to Incheon International Airport for the onward departure flight.
Moments
Along the way
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