South Korea small group holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

We use a range of transport in this trip including the public bus, metro and public boat, all in an effort to reduce our transport- related carbon emissions. But the main way we do this is by exploring the country on foot! This trip includes many walking tours, and a couple of hikes; we believe this is not only the best way to see the country but means we don’t have to use a private buses, particularly in some of the already congested cities we visit.

We include many opportunities to eat local food, from markets to restaurants. In this way, we can support local businesses but also eat the way the locals do and support the growing movements in South Korea to reduce food imports and support local growers.

We can provide vegan and vegetarian food throughout this trip!

This trip is carbon labelled to give our travellers visibility over the impact of their chosen holiday and help us further reduce our carbon output over time. Our business has a seven-point commitment plan that supports our Climate Emergency declaration. We are the first global tour operator with verifiable science-based targets through the Science Based Targets initiative.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

We use locally owned accommodation, and cultivating a relationship with the people who run these businesses allows us to inform them on the expectations us and our customers have around reducing single use plastics, food waste, and developing their own carbon reduction strategies. We brief all our customers during the welcome meeting on how to travel responsibly in South Korea, and we have published an article for all customers on how travelling responsibly makes a difference.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

This trip supports the local community in many ways, one of which is through the joy of food! We include many street food and market tours, where customers can sample local produce and support many small businesses along the way. For example, our travellers get to enjoy a street food tour of the renowned Gwangjang markets in Seoul, indulge in an authentic all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, visit the famous Sokcho Market, which is known for its snacks, street food and fried chicken, and visit Daepo Fish Market, where you might like to try mulhwae. All of this supports the local community and provides an authentic insight into the lives of the South Korean people.

Our accommodation is locally owned wherever possible, and on this trip, we spend a night in a traditional Hanok house in the Andong Hahoe folk village, hosted by a local family. We visit traditional villages and communities such as Bukchon Hanok Village, and explore the antique and artsy streets of Insadong, where our travellers can support local artisans.

We take all travellers to visit a North Korean defector’s family and listen to their story of how history reshaped their life. Tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) can only be operated by UN-designated operators in South Korea. This trip will try to book the tours that are given by North Korean refugees who may be able to give you their first-hand experience. All local guides and tour leaders are also all local.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Our travellers have the unique opportunity to talk to a Haenyeo diver on day 7 of this tour. Haenyeo, literally meaning 'sea women', are the brave souls who dive into the sea to collect clams, sea urchins and oysters and are famous for being able to hold their breaths for a very long time! A dying profession, this has been a main source of income for the divers (predominantly female) to support their families through changing times. Visit the local Haenyeo community center and meet with an ex-diver and hear about her firsthand experience as a Haenyeo, the changes Busan has gone through from a sea port and about her life now.

Local leaders and experts, with their unparalleled knowledge and passion for their homeland, guide our travellers. Our tour leaders are always local, and when guides are used in addition, we strive to ensure they are local also. This not only ensures an authentic experience but also supports local employment.

Our dedication to sustainable and responsible travel is unwavering, and we continually strive to make a positive impact wherever we journey. Since 2018 we have been a certified B Corporation. B Corps that look after their staff, work toward a more inclusive supply chain, and take corporate social responsibility to the next level. For us, becoming a B Corp meant taking all the work we’ve already done – through our Foundation and our core operation – to the next level and conducting an extensive audit to ensure we meet the highest responsible business standards.