Your South Korea Booking Pack
Starting in Seoul
The Dragon Trip is the all-encompassing, flexible trip for adventurers seeking to discover the real South Korea, showing you the very best parts – including cultural, historical and adrenaline-inducing attractions, jaw dropping scenery, and incredibly tasty cuisine! Over the next few weeks, it’s our goal to show you a side of South Korea you’ll remember forever.
Joining your tour in Seoul
Day 1 Meeting Place:
Please meet your adventure leader in the afternoon at 14:00pm in the lobby of STEP INN Myeongdong 1, Seoul for a trip briefing. The lobby is located on the 15th floor. After the briefing, we will have a Taekwondo class before taking public transportation and the cable car to Namsan Mountain. If you are unable to meet at this time, please inform us at mytrip@thedragontrip.com.
Your Hostel’s Address:
STEP INN Myeongdong 1
Address (English): 15F, 55, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Myeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Address (Korean): 서울특별시 중구 명동길 55 태흥빌딩 15층
Phone: +82-(0)10-2684-1888
If you have any queries or issues with your trip, email our Ops team on mytrip@thedragontrip.com.
We can collect you from the airport
We can arrange an airport transfer to pick you up from Seoul airport and drop you off at your hotel for an additional cost. If you are planning on spending additional time in Seoul before your trip starts, we are also able to book pre-trip accommodation for you. To find out more, email info@thedragontrip.com.
How to get to your hostel:
By taxi: Taking a taxi from Incheon Airport will take an average time of 70 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 transportation: STEP INN Myeongdong 1 is located around 1hr30 minutes from Incheon Airport, and 50 minutes from Gimpo Airport. It is within 5 minutes walking distance (around 350m) from Exit No. 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga (Station Line 2 – Light Green Line).
You can also check the Seoul Arrival Information for more details.
Visas:
Temporary change to K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization):
From April 1st 2023 to December 31st 2024, visitors from 22 regions are exempt from applying for the K-ETA & paying the 10,000KRW/pp fee. These are: Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, UK, Austria, Italy, France, Finland, Poland, United States (including Guam), Canada, New Zealand, Australia. Travellers from outside of these regions will need to apply for the K-ETA as normal. The K-ETA site will notify eligible passengers if they are exempt at the application stage. However, if passengers do not want to fill out an arrival card, they can still choose to apply for the K-ETA.
Passengers entering South Korea must obtain a K-ETA (if eligible) or a visa.
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 for it here: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do
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.
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 above hotel’s address and phone number when applying for your K-ETA.
Finishing your tour in Jeju
The tour ends at the accommodation in Jeju on your last day. Travelers who have booked the flight from Jeju to Seoul with us will arrive at Seoul Gimpo airport, and it takes around 35 minutes to Incheon. You will arrive back at Gimpo Airport before 1pm, so any onwards flights from Incheon after 4pm should run smoothly. However, please let us know on info@thedragontrip.com if there are any issues with this.
South Korea Covid-19 Entry Regulations
- Q-Code:
Effective from July 15 2023, Q-code registration is no longer required to enter Korea, except for travellers entering from or passing through quarantine inspection required areas. According to new screening procedures, entrants to Korea undergo a simple temperature check upon arrival, unless coming from a designated quarantine inspection required area. You can find the full list of areas requiring quarantine inspection here: https://vr.visitkorea.or.kr/assets/pdf/enu/Quarantine_Inspection_Required_Areas.pdf
If you require a Q-code, fill out the form and upload the necessary documents on the Q-code website here: https://cov19ent.kdca.go.kr/cpassportal/
- Covid Tests:
There is no pre-departure COVID test requirement to enter South Korea. However, we strongly suggest that travellers get tested before leaving your home country, to make sure you’re COVID free.
As of October 1st 2022, all travellers into South Korea are not required to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours of arrival.
Note : South Korea COVID-19 Entry Regulations are subject to change. Please contact the nearest Korean embassy or your airline company for the most up-to-date information.
Insurance
Please don’t forget your insurance! It’s compulsory to have travel insurance on all Dragon Trips. Please bring details of your travel insurance along with you to the pre-departure briefing. In the event of an accident, we may need to contact your insurance company on your behalf, so we will need the insurance company’s name and phone number, as well as your policy number.
Please make sure your insurance offers ‘Bad Weather or Natural Disaster Coverage’.
Don’t forget your passport!
Have you sent us your passport details?
The Dragon Trip needs your passport copy to book accommodation and transport tickets in advance of your trip.
Please ensure that you passport is valid for six months of onward travel, with a spare page for every country you plan on visiting (all those stamps!). If you need a new passport, make sure you send us your new passport details as soon as possible, or you may experience some difficulties whilst on tour.
Please fill out our online emergency contact and insurance form: https://forms.office.com/r/xdbVEVAsNG
Do I need a visa?
Foreign nationals from many countries are now permitted visa-free entry to Korea for a limited period under certain conditions. To check whether you are able to enter Korea without a visa, please contact a Korean embassy or consular office in your country or visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.mofa.go.kr).
Visa information is subject to change without notice. For the most current information, please visit your nearest embassy.
Keep in touch!
We want to hear all about your amazing travels across South Korea.
Whether you’re on the tour or reliving your amazing experiences, be sure to use the hashtag #thedragontrip to join in with our amazing community of fellow Dragons.
In addition, if you tag our profile in your photo with the handle @thedragontrip, we might just feature it! We love to see all the fun you get up to on your adventures.
Lastly: if you don’t want to have your photos appear on our social platforms, please do email us to let us know.
Meet Your Fellow Dragons
As many of our Dragons travel solo, we want to take to make the process of meeting your fellow travellers as easy as possible. We create WhatsApp groups for every departure date in advance, meaning that you can get to know everyone on your tour before you hit the ground.
You can also like us on Facebook and join ‘The Dragon Trip: Adventure Advice‘ Facebook group – here, you’ll be in a community of past, present, and future Dragons who can all share tips and advice.
Our Ultimate Packing Check List
On all of our trips you will be required to carry your own bags, so pack light. South Korea has some local markets in case you forget something, and you can always borrow from others in your group – that’s what friends are for! We do advise that you take a backpack rather than luggage, as this will be useful when travelling between cities.
A couple of key points to remember:
- Not all of our hostels have elevators, so you may be required to carry your luggage up stairs. Make sure that your luggage is light enough that you can do this comfortably!
- The flight between Busan and Jeju Island is a domestic flight, and as such as the operator has luggage size restrictions in place. Please make sure that your checked buggage is under 15kg, and your hand luggage is under 10kg.
Documents:
- Passport – with a copy of photo page
- Insurance Info
Money:
- Credit/Debit Card (Many ATMs in Korea outside of public transportation stations and airports do not take foreign cards. Your Adventure Leader will help you find appropriate ATM machines.)
- Local Currency
- Money Belt
The Essentials:
- First Aid Kit (i.e. mild painkillers or personal medicines)
- Camera and charger
- Shirts/T-shirts
- Long pants (for hiking)
- Long trousers, sleeved shirts (when visiting temples)
- Swimming costume
- Sensible walking shoes/hiking boots
- Towel
- Washbag
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunscreen
- Hat & sunglasses
- Earplugs (for a better sleep in the dorms/night train)
- Locks for bags
- Waterproof backpack cover
- Antibacterial gel/wipes
FAQ’s
Do I need to bring power adaptors?
Yes! South Korean electrical outlets use the same sockets as central Europe, so if you use any other type of plug, you will need to bring an adaptor. South Korea uses 230 volts and the plug sockets are Type C, featuring two round pins.
Suitcase or backpack?
We advise that you’re considerate of your amount of luggage when travelling. Keep luggage to one check-in bag and to a size convenient for easily moving between locations, and for storage in hostel dormitory/shared rooms. We highly recommend a large backpack (50-70L) or a medium-sized suitcase at most. Laundry facilities are available throughout the trip to make packing lighter possible. For those taking domestics flights on their Korea trip (ie. the flight to Jeju Island), please be aware carriers operate a standard 15kg limit on checked-in luggage.
How do I get money in South Korea?
You will be able to withdraw money at ATMs in the major cities and tourist areas in South Korea, and your Adventure Leader will tell you when the next stop on the trip where you will be able to withdraw more cash is. Not all ATMs in South Korea will accept foreign bank cards, so we would recommend researching ATMs in advance.
How much should I budget for food and drink?
It really varies depending on your taste and budget. You can get a meal of Gimpap (Korean sushi) or noodles for 5,000-6,000₩ (£4-5). Generally, we take travellers to affordable restaurants, and recommend budgeting £10-15 a day for food and drink.
Your Welfare on Tour
Our adventure tours are a safe space where everyone is welcome. We kindly request that you show respect to your fellow adventurers, our Adventure Leader, as well as the local people and places we encounter throughout our journey. Any form of discrimination, bullying and violence is strictly prohibited, and we expect all travellers to adhere to the laws, customs, and regulations of each destination we visit. Behaviours that contradict these expectations or impede our staff’s ability to fulfil their duty of care or follow the planned itinerary, may result in the removal of the individuals involved from the trip. If you encounter any concerns during your travels, please promptly communicate with your Adventure Leader or local guide. Alternatively, you can discreetly contact the Adventure Leader via WhatsApp. They will be able to address the issue directly and help find the best solution.
Top Tips from The Dragon Trip
Try saying that tongue twister really fast.
On the weather:
- South Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are pleasant, but also short in duration. Summers are very short, hot, and humid. The end of June-July are typically the rainiest months of the year.
On how to travel sustainably:
- We cover the cost of up to 15kg in weight on our flights. This keeps fuel usage down, and reduces the impact of the flight on the environment.
- Packing as light as possible keeps your carbon footprint low. We recommend 10-15kg, especially as you are expected to carry your own luggage.
- Pack a reusable water bottle. Many of our hostels provide filtered water, which reduces your need for single use plastics on tour.
Stay connected:
- Your Adventure Leader will invite you to a WhatsApp group chat on Day 1 to keep in touch with you and the rest of your group.
- Maps.me: This is a great app to stop yourself from getting lost! You can download it to your phone for free. We recommend downloading many maps from different cities in South Korea before your trip, and using these maps later when you don’t have Wi-Fi.
- Naver Maps: For those with internet connection, we recommend downloading Naver Maps. This is more commonly used in Korea and offers English translation. Our Adventure Leaders will share locations using the app once the tour begins.
- Translation Apps: We also recommend downloading translation apps, such as Google Translate or Papago. Tip! Be sure to download your required languages within the app for offline use.
- Subway Apps: Kakao Metro is an easy and convenient option to help navigate Seoul and Busan’s subway systems and comes with an English language option.
- Bring electronic products at your own risk. Some customers choose to travel with iPhones, tablets and laptops, but although theft is rare on The Dragon Trip there is petty crime in some areas we visit.
Food & Drink:
- The legal age to drink alcohol is 19 in Korea. ID is needed to enter bars.
- There will be lots of great nights out on The Dragon Trip, but please remember to always drink within your limits. Never journey home by yourself at night and never leave another person in the group alone. Please don’t drink too much if you have an early morning journey/activity the next day, and always follow the legal drinking age limit.
- Drugs are illegal in South Korea. If our guides see you committing any crime while traveling with us, they are obliged to report it to both Head Office and the police, so please don’t put them in that position!
- The food is delicious throughout South Korea and you won’t be able to get enough of it. Try anything and everything possible. Your Adventure Leader will be able to recommend all of the best spots.
- Stay hydrated. If you’re travelling in the summer months, then it’s important that you drink enough water. You may want to pack re-hydration sachets with you just in case.
Pack patience:
- You may meet many people from lots of different backgrounds and cultures on this trip. You may have different opinions or ways of doing things. Treat everyone how you wish to be treated and remember to work together as a group.
- Always try to arrive a couple of minutes early to check outs or departure times. Being late may mean missing transport connections, and you don’t want to delay the whole group.
- Please bear in mind that South Korea has it’s own unique culture that at times can be very different to your home country. Some systems or ways of doing things which you may take for granted back home aren’t necessarily the same, so please be patient. Sometimes things don’t run like they may back home, despite our best efforts.
Navigating a new culture:
- Be respectful of local culture and dress appropriately at temples and religious sites. You may need to cover your shoulders, wear longer trousers and go barefoot.
- Respect towards elders is very important in Korea. Speak politely, bow, give up your seat, and generally go out of your way for them.
On safety & security:
- Exercise caution and common sense at all times during your stay in South Korea.
- Always carry a photocopy of your passport (photo page and visa page) with you.
- We recommend you to carry a small first aid kit, including any personal medicines you’re using, as they may not easily be obtained in some of the locations we visit.
- Drink at your own risk and always follow the legal drinking age – it is 19 in South Korea.
- Beware of ATM scams and pickpocketing on buses and trains, as well as in busy streets.
In case of Emergencies
No matter where you are or what you do, safety always comes first. We conduct our own health and safety checks, but sometimes things happen that are out of our control.
Emergency services numbers are listed below:
– Police Department: 112
– Fire & Emergency Department: 119
To contact our staff:
Email: mytrip@thedragontrip.com
24/7 emergency contact number: (TollFree only for use in Korea) 00308 491 0186
Contact Us
Any questions or feedback?
Contact our London Team: info@thedragontrip.com
(Please note that this email is only monitored from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 17:30 (Friday 17:00) UK time, if you have any urgent issues, such as flight delays or last minute cancellations, please contact our South Korea Team.)
Contact our South Korea team: mytrip@thedragontrip.com
To read our full terms & conditions, click here.