A 10 Day Korean Food Journey curated by Erica, @Thechefsmartypants from Sunday, Oct, 4, 2026 to Tuesday, Oct 13 2026 starting from $4500 USD per person.
Seoul, Jeonju, Sunchang, Busan, and Gyeongju
Perfect for all adults
9 Breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners and many tastings!
Led by Expert local Guides with your host Erica
Learn more about Erica here
Dive belly-first into Korea’s kitchens—from Seoul’s back-alley chicken joints to countryside kimchi caves and seaside clam bakes in Busan. You’ll cook with chefs, home cooks, and market vendors, sip cloudy rice wine from golden kettles, and sleep it off with cozy hanok homes and boutique hotels.
Arrive in Seoul and roll straight into flavor town. Your private transfer will
take you to the hotel, where golden, crackly Korean fried chicken and a cold
local beer (or fizzy soda) await at a welcome dinner that sets the tone for
what’s to come: indulgence with intention.
Start with a proper hotel breakfast, then dig into the past at the COEX Kimchi Museum. Head to Gwangmyeong for a city tour and market crawl before donning aprons at Daniel Gray’s house(yes, the one from Netflix and Chef’s Table). You’ll shop fresh, cook slow, and taste faster than you probably should.
Step into the world of Korean craftsmanship with a visit to a traditional blacksmith’s forge, where you’ll meet master knife makers who have preserved centuries-old techniques. Watch sparks fly as they shape steel into elegant, functional works of art. Then, dive into the deep flavors and stories behind Korea’s traditional alcohol with a tasting session led by a renowned soju master. It’s a unique blend of fire, flavor, and culture you won’t forget.
Hop a train to Jeonju, home of bibimbap and the slow food gospel. Eat legendary noodles for lunch, wander hanok alleys like you’re time traveling, then dive deep into the delicious rabbit hole that is kimchi. Top it off with makgeolli and its hundred sidekicks served brass-bowl style. Sleep it off in a cozy hanok: a Korean Traditional House.
Switch hanok for hotel and trek to Sunchang, Korea’s red pepper paste paradise. Join the red chili paste cooking class and visit an O’nggi kimchi pot ceramics center to learn about the iconic pot. We will then visit a modernized Korean market where traditional shops and young entrepreneurs work side by side. Sample, stir, then hike off the spice at Mt. Gangcheon. Dinner is at the bibimbap restaurant of legend, a spot so revered its chef is considered royalty. Optional craft brews to toast the night.
Delve into Korea’s culinary soul with a hands-on Banchan (side dish) cooking class, where you’ll learn to prepare the colorful and flavorful small plates that accompany every Korean meal. Guided by a local expert, you’ll chop, stir, and season your way through a spread of traditional recipes—from soy-marinated vegetables to spicy kimchi and sesame-infused greens.
Then, breathe in the serenity of the Jeonju Tea Farm, nestled in the gentle hills outside the city. Walk through rows of lush green tea bushes, learn about Korea’s tea cultivation practices, and savor a freshly brewed cup while overlooking the tranquil landscape. It’s a perfect pairing of taste and tradition in the heart of Jeolla province.
Eat like a local, literally. A Busan resident invites you home for lunch—expect japchae, banchan, and stories. Hit the supermarket for snacks you’ll end up hoarding. Then Jagalchi Seafood Market for all things wriggly, followed by a sunset seafood BBQ with ocean views. Busan nightlife calls. You can visit the beaches and sumptuous saunas, or take a night in – up to you and your new friends.
All aboard the KTX back to Seoul. Your afternoon is wide open: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, or maybe just café-hop and shop for skincare products and services like it’s a competitive sport. Dinner is a final food tour to first go to tteokbokki street where the iconic dish was born followed by 1++ Top grade Hanwoo Beef BBQ at Majangdong Beef Market.
Opt for a morning tour to the DMZ and peer into North Korea. Or sleep in. Tonight, it’s one last delicious embrace of Korean BBQ and then a proper unwind at a mega-spa—scrubs, saunas, snacks, the works. You’ve earned it.
Wave goodbye to Korea (and your food baby). Private airport transfer included. Take snacks for the road. You’ll miss them.
Most activities are light to moderate. Optional hikes are adjustable; vans are always available.
All breakfasts, most lunches and dinners, tastings, classes, guides, ground transport, and entrance fees. Flights are excluded.
Yes—please list allergies or preferences at booking. We work with chefs and hosts to prepare alternatives.
Small groups of 8–14 travelers to keep experiences intimate and flexible.
Offer good until May 12, 2026
Upon booking, you will need to pay a $500 deposit and the balance is due on August 15, 2026
You may cancel the booking by July 15, 2026 to receive your deposit back or it can be credited toward a future tour
Save an additional 2% by paying by bank transfer in USD to our Korean bank account
Balance can be paid via credit card via PayPal
If there are not enough passengers to run this tour in October, you will receive a full refund or a credit towards a future departure
