Exploring South Korea Tour

The accommodation used on the tour is a mix of simple stays in hostels, simple hotels and a temple stay. Each have their own unique South Korean charm, and at the same time are safe, clean, and hygienic and have either air-conditioning or fans. All have good showers, internet, and most have washing machines. The price is based on same-sex shared rooms in these hostels and accommodations, All bedding is provided - you do not need ot bring a sleeping bag. Luggage is tagged and stored securely while we are out exploring during the day.  The majority of other people staying in the hostels will be young people aged 18 to 35 and travelling on a budget. It's easy to make new friends and have fun meeting in the lounge areas. You can also upgrade to a private or twin room subject to availability at the time of booking. This may not extend to all the accommodation throughout the trip. Please contact us if you would like more information.  

WiFi is available in all the accommodation used on the tour. During the temple stay this will only extend to communal areas. 
Additional nights are available on request in the hostels used at the start and finish of the tour - please contact us for prices and to book. 

We use public transport as much as possible on this tour, to keep costs down and to give a better immersion into the country. The normal journey times we take are shown below...

• Seoul to Sokcho is from 8am – 10:30am (bus)
• Sokcho to Seoul is from 7pm – 9:30pm (bus)
• Seoul to Gyeongju is from 10am – 12:06pm (KTX train)
• Gyeongju to Busan is from 4pm – 6:50pm (bus)
• Busan to Jeju Island is from 7pm to 7am (overnight ferry

All the train tickets for the group will be purchased at the same time, so we normally end up sitting together. However, there is a chance may not be the case, and in these situations our tour leaders can normally arrange with other travellers to shuffle things around. 

Arrival into Seoul
We do not currently offer an airport arrival transfer service in Seoul airport, as the public transportation from the airport to the city centre is much more convenient and is easy to navigate. 

By Taxi: 
Taking a taxi from Incheon Airport will take an average time of 80 minutes given the usual local traffic conditions.
For non-Korean language speakers, we recommend using the International Taxi Service, which offers flat fares of around 60,000 to 80,000 won for destinations around Seoul. All drivers are English speakers, and there are no additional toll gate fees, midnight surcharges or fees for luggage.
To book a taxi, please exit the airport through Gates 4 to 8, located in Arrivals, first level, and cross the street in order to approach the taxi stands (4D to 8C).
For regular taxis, fares are around 60,000 and 100,000 won for a ride to several destinations around Seoul.
Please note that there is a late-night surcharge (+20% to the initial fare) between midnight and 04.00 am.

By Public Transport:
The 'All Stops' airport transfer trains depart every 5-10 minutes from the Incheon International Airport in to the central Seoul Station with regular stops at subway connections en-route. This takes around 55 minutes.
There is also a slightly faster Express train which goes direct to Seoul Station from where you can acces the subway system. 
When we send you your tour confirmation voucher a couple of weeks before departure we will confirm your first hotel accommodation and the nearest subway stop. 

Departure from Jeju:
At the end of the tour the tour ends at the hostel in Jeju at checkout time (normally 10.00am). Your tour leader will provide information and advice about how to get to the airport.
If you book a flight out of Jeju to Seoul with us then we will include the airport transfer in the price. Please contact us for details.
Note - there are two airports in Seoul and this flight arrives at the domestic airport. If you are looking to connect to an international flight, you may have to transit to the international airport. .

This tour is accompanied by English speaking tour leaders. These all have the knowledge and passion to help make sure you have a great time in all the places visited during the tour. We may sometimes use more than one leader for different sections of the tour but often the same person will accompany you throghout. Where they do not travel with you between locations, they will help you board and see you off, and you'll be met on your arrival at the next destination. 

Each tour leader is an expert in all things South Korea. However, they are not licensed tour guides. Often they are students wanting to do some work before heading back to university or before starting a job. This often gives them more passion and enthusiasm than long-term tourist guides. 

Specialist tour guides are available at many of the sites we visit along the way if you would like some more in depth information about particular sites. 

The minimum number of travellers required for the tour to run is 2, with a maximum group size of 20. 

This tour is operated in conjunction with one of our tour operator partners specialising in this region so you may join with travellers booking through different companies and from different countries. This can make for some really interesting groups and new people to meet.

Discovering the cuisine in South Korea is often a highlight of people's visit. Your tour leader will offer to take you for a group meal each evening, choosing a local restaurant they know is hygienic and has good, cheap and tasty food. There are also lots of options if you want a reminder of Western food during the trip. South Korea also has many delicious street food options to try, including Bibimbap and Theok-bokki, which are a good choice if you want to keep to a tighter budget. 

With so many choices, vegetarians and other special dietary needs can generally be well catered for in South Korea. Just discuss your requirements with the tour leader and they'll be happy to help and provide advice and suggestions. 

The currency in South Korea is the South Korean won, abbreviated to KRW (short for Korean Republic won), with the symbol ?. It is subdivited into 100 jeon, but these are no longer used in practice. 

You can withdraw money at ATM machines in all the main cities and tourist areas in South Korea. However, not all ATMs will accept foreign bank cards, so we recommend speaking to your tour leader for advice. We also recommend that you advise your bank that you will be travelling before you depart. Finally do make sure to check your bank's charges for foreign transactions and choose a card which is not going to be super expensive on this front. 

Taking cash in US Dollars, GB Pounds and Euros and changing it into local currency while you are there is also a good option. However, exchange rates and commissions can vary widely so check carefully before you commit to a conversion. 

On our Shoestring tours in South Korea we generally suggest htat budgetting on around GBP 10-15 (USD 13-20) per day for food and drink.

Tipping is not customary or necessary in South Korea, and you will often find staff poitely refusing tips. So, you will not cause offence by not tipping. You can offer taxi drivers or street vendors to keep the change, but formal tips are not expected. 

The same applies to your tour leader(s). You do not need to tip them, but if you wish to, please only do so based on your personal budget and your satisfaction with the service provided. 

You should ensure you are fully covered by your travel insurance for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination.  You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:

South Korea: No specific boosters or courses advised, but please read the link for more info. Malaria map. Malaria risk is low throughout the year throughout the country but precautions against mosquito bites should still be taken.  Yellow Fever vaccination certificates are not required.  

Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. 

Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary. Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.

We strongly recommend packing very light for our Shoestring tours in South Korea. You will have access to laundry services at your accommodation throughout the trip, so you won’t need to pack a new outfit for each day. Items can you can mix and match are your best bet, as you’ll be able to bring less clothing and thus, have lighter luggage. Ensure that you research the time of year you are travelling, so your clothing is appropriate for the climate.

For your luggage, a suitcase is OK, but a backpack/hold-all is much more convenient. Whether you’re travelling elsewhere in Asia or just flying to and from South Korea, remember to look into what the checked luggage weight limits are for your flights.

Packing suggestions:

• Flipflops / sandals
• Sensible walking shoes
• T-shirts
• Shorts/skirts
• Long pants
• Swimming costume
• Lightweight waterproof
• Warm sweater/jacket
• Towel
• Washbag
• Passport (see our Visa section for useful information)
• Cash, South Korean won or credit/debit card
• Student card if you have one, although it is not guaranteed to be accepted
• Travel insurance policy
• Photocopies of insurance policy, bank cards, passport photo page, visa
• Reusable water bottle
• Books and other entertainments for the night trains
• Mosquito repellent, sun-screen and after-sun
• Camera and charger – South Korea is a photographer’s dream!
• Small first aid kit with medicine for diarrhoea, paracetamol, disinfectant etc.
• A big bag and a small rucksack. We sometimes get separated from our big bags, so you’ll need to keep your valuables with you in a small bag.

Bring electronic products at your own risk. Some customers choose to travel with iPhone, tablets and laptops, but although theft is extremely rare on our tours, there is petty crime in some areas we visit.

Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport; your passport should have at least 1 blank page for every country you are visiting on your trip. Please bring two photocopies of your passport with you in case you need them, or lose your passport.

South Korea offers visa-free entry for up to 90 days for many nationalities, including British, European, American, Canadian and Australian. However, visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.

If you do not need a visa, you must still obtain a K-ETA. 
K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization for visa-free foreign visitors and it is tied directly to your passport. Please check K-ETA eligibility of your country of origin and apply through K-ETA.
Please note that you’ll be asked to enter postal code, road name address, detailed address and contact number when filling out the form. Please enter the the hotel’s address and phone number from your tour confirmation voucher when applying your K-ETA.

If your country of origin is not eligible for K-ETA, then you must apply for the visa at the nearest embassy.

Visa information is subject to change without notice. For the most current information, please visit your nearest embassy.

The use of Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not allowed while on our tours. If you are in possession of a drone when entering the country it is your responsibility to be informed of and follow all local laws. This may include registering your drone with authorities. If you violate this policy or operate a drone illegally you are subject to removal from the tour as per our terms & conditions.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event). More information...

You may arrange your own insurance, or you can take advantage of a comprehensive policy that we can arrange for you through Endsleigh Insurance which has been designed to be suitable for our tours. The policy is available to travellers of all nationalities and you do not need to live in the UK  to take out the policy. For full details of cover provided, prices and to apply for one of our policies, please complete travel insurance application form.
Note: Any country that borders the Mediterranean is considered as 'Europe' for the purposes of travel insurance (including Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Morocco). If you are doing a tour that visits one country in 'Europe' and one that is 'Worldwide' (for example, an Egypt and Jordan tour), then you need a 'Worldwide' policy. When completing the form you should enter your travel dates including any extra days involved in overnight flights or connecting travel between your home and the tour. Our policies are not able to cover any extra time or activities other than your tour and options booked with us and your travel to & from home.

Note - to comply with insurance sales regulations, our travel insurance policies are only available to customers booking directly with us. If you have booked through a travel agent you will need to arrange your own insurance.

If your tour includes car hire, ior if you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.

If you are taking expensive camera gear or other electronic equipment with you then please check the coverage and the fine print of your policy to ensure that you have sufficient cover.

IMPORTANT:  We must have your travel insurance details (policy number and type of insurance) before you depart or you may not be allowed to join the tour.  If you haven't told us already, please let us know the details when you can. You should take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you as you may be asked to show this at the start of the tour.

Covid-19
Before purchasing any travel insurance, please check the coverage provided for situations related to Covid-19, and for the rules about government travel advice. Your normal policy may not be suitable. Details about our own policies cover levels are given on our website. 

If you would like to book a place on this tour, please complete the online reservation form on our website (via the Dates & Prices tab on the tour page). You may make a deposit or full payment online, or just hold a reservation if you prefer (full payments are due 8 weeks before departure). We will then contact you with more details about how to complete your booking. Payments may be made by debit or credit card (subject to a card processing fee), or by making a bank transfer, or posting us a cheque/bank draft. Full details will be provided in your booking confirmation email. Please contact us if you would like any more information or have any questions before making a booking.

We are a UK registered company and are committed to providing our customers with financial protection to provide peace of mind and to allow you to book with confidence.
We have therefore partnered with Trust My Travel Ltd., which provides financial protection services to over 2000 partners around the world. Funds paid to us by our customers are protected via an Insurance policy held by Trust My Travel. Each traveller and the description of services sold is declared against Trust My Travel’s insurance policy directly against our financial failure. In the event of our insolvency, you will be refunded for any unfulfilled products and/or repatriation to the UK (where applicable). Please see our website or booking conditions for more information.

You can stay in touch with us online by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We post updates on relevant travel news in our destination countries, special offers and discounts and other interesting travel related news and information.
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It is impossible not to have an impact on the local environment, cultures and eco-systems when you travel. However, it is very possible to try and ensure that these impacts are as limited, or positive as possible. We are committed to ensuring that we try to leave our host countries in a better state than we found them and encourage and assist our travellers to help us with this.
The following are a few simple tips that require very little effort on your part but which will help ensure that any effect you have on the locations you visit is positive rather than negative.

• Don't prejudge: Things in different countries will almost certainly be different. That doesn't make them worse or inferior, just different.
• Communicate: Don't expect locals to speak your language. Take the trouble to learn a few words or phrases of the local language. Don't worry about sounding silly. Most locals are patient and accommodating and appreciate you making the effort to communicate in their language.
• Conserve energy: Be careful not to waste valuable resources. Use local resources sparingly. Switch off lights, air-conditioning and fans when you leave the hotel room and don't waste water. Remove superfluous packaging. Many countries have far less efficient waste disposal systems than ours. Remove packaging from newly acquired items before leaving home.
• Don't litter: No matter how untidy or dirty the country you're travelling in may look to you, avoid littering, as there is no need to add to the environment's stress. Many of the countries we visit have a tough challenge dealing with rubbish and waste. Please consider taking home as much plastic waste as you can (e.g. water bottles).
• Choose environmentally friendly products: By using environmentally friendly (bio degradable) sun creams, shampoos and detergents you can help reduce pollution.
• Respect local customs and traditions: As you are a guest in these countries, you should also comply with the local customs. If you are friendly and well mannered, the locals will reciprocate and it will only enhance your experience. It's important to follow dress and behaviour guidelines especially when visiting religious or sacred sites (your tour leader will advise you how best to do this).
• If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and Encounters Travel shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. No refund will be given for any unused services.

All porters are employed and equipped following guidelines set by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).

It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters.

General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not.

You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds.

Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.