Kimbap and Kimchi with Erica Wides - Detailed Itinerary | The Chef Smartypants

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Kimbap and Kimchi with Erica Wides

🍜 Kimbap & Kimchi Adventure

Join Erica Wides for an unforgettable 10-day journey through Korea's culinary and cultural wonders!

Authentic Cooking Classes 🏛️ Cultural Experiences 🍽️ All Meals Included
Korean traditional palace
$4,500
Book Now

Kimbap and Kimchi with Erica Wides

$4,500
Book Now
📅

10 Days

A Complete Korean food journey curated by Erica Chef Smarty Pants

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6 Cities

Seoul, Jeonju, Sunchang, Busan, and Gyeongju

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Age 18+

Perfect for all adults

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Meals Included

9 Breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners and many tastings!

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Expert Guides

Meet your expert guide Erica Wides AKA Chefsmartypants

Erica Wides

Erica Wides

Learn more about Erica here

Overview

Expert local guides with trips hosted by Erica Wides.

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, monks, and market vendors, sip cloudy rice wine from golden kettles, and sleep it off with hanok beds.

This 10-day feast of a tour is spicy, soulful, and slow-food heaven with a side of high-speed KTX. Come hungry. Leave fermented.

All included activities:

  • Step into Andong's centuries-old distillery and watch how Korea's most traditional soju is crafted — then raise a glass to taste this smooth, time-honored spirit straight from the source.
  • Wander through the emerald slopes of Boseong's tea plantations and join a serene tea-tasting session where the scent of freshly brewed green tea fills the air.
  • Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on Korean cooking class — master the art of making banchan (Korean side dishes) and learn how every small plate tells a big flavor story.
  • Meet Master Shin, Korea's legendary bladesmith and cultural treasure, as he forges his signature knives by hand — a living connection to 170 years of craftsmanship and artistry.
  • Uncover the secrets of Korea's most beloved dish at the Kimchi Museum, where you'll explore its spicy history, regional varieties, and maybe even create your own batch!
  • Discover the ancient pottery tradition behind Korea's iconic O'nggi jars — watch artisans shape, glaze, and fire these beautiful vessels that have stored Korean flavors for generations.
  • Soothe your body and soul at a jjimjilbang, a Korean-style sauna where locals unwind in mineral-rich baths, herbal steam rooms, and relaxation lounges — the ultimate healing escape.

Approved by Erica, Thechefsmartypants

Tour Package

$ 4,500 per person
$5,600 Save $800!
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Group Airport Pickup and Dropoff. A mix of private and public transport to travel like a local expert throughout trip.
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Meals Included: 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners, 3 cooking classes, 3 food tours
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4 Star Hotels and boutique accommodations
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Meet Food celebrities, chefs, food purveyors, farmers and Korean Food Superstars.
$500 Refundable Deposit
Starting from $4,500 per person
$500 Deposit Only
Free Cancellation
ATOL Protected

Detailed Itinerary

1

Fried Chicken Welcome

Seoul
Fried chicken welcome

Arrive in Seoul and roll straight into flavor town. Your private transfer whisks 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.

🍗 Korean Fried Chicken Welcome Dinner
🏨 Hotel Check-in
2

Museum Bites & Market Nights

Seoul → Gwangmyeong
Kimchi museum and markets

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.

🏛️ COEX Kimchi Museum
🛒 Gwangmyeong Market Tour
👨‍🍳 Cooking Class with Daniel Gray
3

Meet Professional Knife makers and learn about the Korean alcohol

Seoul and Andong
Artisan experiences

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.

👨‍🍳 Meet the artisans of soju and knives
4

Noodles & Nostalgia in Jeonju

Jeonju
Jeonju food and alleys

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.

🍜 Legendary Noodle Lunch
🏘️ Hanok Village Exploration
🥬 Kimchi Masterclass
🍶 Makgeolli Tasting
5

Gochujang Heat & Bibimbap Royalty

Sunchang
Gochujang and markets

Switch hanok for hotel and trek to Sunchang, Korea’s red pepper paste paradise. Join the red chili cooking class/kimchi cooking class and visit O'nggi kimchi pot ceramics center and 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 basically edible royalty. Optional craft brews to toast the night.

🌶️ Gochujang Factory Tour
🥾 Mt. Gangcheon Hike
👑 Legendary Bibimbap Dinner
6

Banchan cooking and Boseong Tea fields

Boseong, Jeonju
Banchan and tea fields

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.

🍲 Banchan Cooking
🌲 Visit the Boseong Tea field
7

Home Cooking & Clams by the Sea

Busan
Home cooking and seafood

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. Or don't answer. Up to you.

8

Back to Seoul

Busan → Seoul
KTX back to Seoul

All aboard the KTX back to Seoul. Your afternoon is wide open: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, or maybe just café-hop like it's a competitive sport. Dinner is a final hurrah—think Korean BBQ in lively Hongdae, all sizzle and soju.

9

The DMZ (Optional) & Spa Finale

Seoul
DMZ and spa

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.

10

Departure

Seoul
Departure

Wave goodbye to Korea (and your food baby). Private airport transfer included. Take snacks for the road. You'll miss them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fitness level is required?

Most activities are light to moderate. Optional cycling and hikes are adjustable; vans are always available.

What's included in the price?

All breakfasts, most lunches and dinners, tastings, classes, guides, ground transport, and entrance fees. Flights are excluded.

Can you accommodate dietary needs?

Yes—please list allergies or preferences at booking. We work with chefs and hosts to prepare alternatives.

What is the group size?

Small groups of 8–12 travelers to keep experiences intimate and flexible.

Terms and Conditions

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Offer Validity

Offer good until May 12, 2026

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Payment Schedule

Upon booking, you will need to pay a $500 deposit and the balance is due on August 15, 2026

Cancellation Policy

You may cancel the booking by July 15, 2026 to receive your deposit back or it can be credited toward a future tour

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Additional Discounts

Save an additional 2% by paying by bank transfer in USD to our Korean bank account

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Payment Methods

Balance can be paid via credit card via PayPal

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Tour Minimum

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