Program Overview
South Korea is the undiscovered gem of the far east, with food, k-culture, and mountainous scenery that you will never forget! Organized by The Agnes Irwin School and TFT, our discovery trip of South Korea begins in rural beauty of Korea’s south Jeolla province. We’ll dive into authentic cultural experiences, visiting traditional villages and even spending the day living like a monk at a local village! Before leaving the region, we’ll be sure to stroll through local tea fields in Bonseong before saying hello to our next city destination: Busan
Once in Korea’s modern port city of Busan, we’ll visit the ancient capital city of Gyeongju before exploring this modern day city before heading to our final destination in Korea: Seoul!
Seoul, where we explore regal palaces, bustling downtown neighborhoods, and have fun at the theatre. We’ll k-party it up with some k-pop hologram shows and a meal at the N-Seoul Tower.
Finally, we wrap up our trip with a quick journey over to Japan, the Land of The Rising Sun. Japan is a country full of ancient cultures, strong traditions, and the technology of the future. Our time will be spent in Tokyo, where we’ll stroll through the bustling streets, dive into authentic traditions, and discover what makes this part of the world so special!
This program is perfect for any teen looking to gain a global perspective while discovering one of the world’s most fascinating cultures. Join us today!
During this program, you will…
- Dress up in traditional Korean clothes (hanbok) and take photos at the palace
- Learn the history of the DMZ and see the tunnels that North Korea tried to dig under it
- Experience a sensory overload in Shibuya and Harajuku, the fashion hub that’s famous for the busiest street crossing on the planet
- See martial arts performances by Buddhist monks and the sword art of Kumdo
- Stay overnight at a temple and learn temple etiquette so that you can eat with the monks
- Eat your kimchi and try a range of Korean foods from beef BBQ (Bulgogi) to mixed rice and vegetables (bibimbap)
- Visit the Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples
- Learn to make your own Korean cuisine at our private cooking class
- Drink in (literally!) the view of the green tea fields at Boseong with a fresh made cup of tea
- Explore temples, royal tombs, and summer gardens in the historic city of Gyeongju
- Experience a k-pop hologram show by some of Korea’s famous musicians
- Dance Gangnam Style at our awesome K-Pop dance class!
- Try some of the best of Japanese cuisine – ramen, sushi, and teppanyaki!
- Visit the Ghibli Museum, Miyazaki’s world famous anime museum
- Participate in a traditional tea ceremony
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM THE USA
Group flight departs for Seoul!
DAY 2: JEONJU
Upon your arrival in Seoul, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey.
After going through customs and passport control, we’ll hit the road and head to Jeonju, also known as the Perfect Region and home to some of the most beautiful and traditional villages. We’ll arrive and check into our hanok house, a local style of accommodation, and then go over the trip in our first day meeting.
DAYS 3-4: HWAEUMSA TEMPLE > CHERRY BLOSSOMS > BOSEONG TEA FIELDS
Then it’s off to start diving into local culture – we’re off to learn more about the history of Paper in Jeonju, try out wood printing, and head to a local Hanok village, where we will learn about traditional life! We’ll even have the opportunity to dress up in Hanbok to take memorable photos in front of the picturesque scenery.
We’ll head out to Hwaeumsa, with a pit stop at a stunning garden and pavilion at Gwanghallu, before arriving at our Hwaeumsa Temple, where we’ll live like a monk for the next 24 hours, a truly one of a kind experience.
At Hwaeumsa, you’ll learn about the Buddhist lifestyle. We’ll wake up at dawn to pray with the monks, and even have the chance to take part in a fascination breakfast ceremony before enjoying a tea ceremony with the head monk of the temple!
After our time at the temple, we’ll head out for some stunning nature landscapes. First stop – cherry blossoms! When you visit South Korea in the spring, no trip is complete without finding some of the most photo spots in the country.
Then we’re off to the Boseong Tea Fields, with rolling tea fields as our backdrop as we learn about Korean tea culture. We’ll continue along our way to Busan, not without a stop in Gwangyang for a local meal – bulgogi, anyone?
DAYS 5-6: BUSAN > GYEONGJU
Then it’s off to discover Busan, a vibrant port and home to the famous Busan International Film Festival. This is a coastal city blessed with some excellent beaches; it also has mountains, temples, and some of the tallest residential buildings in the world! You’ll discover the Gamcheon Cultural Village, which is where many South Koreans fled to during the Korean War. Then it’s back to downtown Busan to see the famous Jagalchi Fish Market…are you brave enough to try some of the seafood there? Those who want to can shop ‘til they drop at the Nampodong market, or you can try out one of Korea’s largest spas at Spa Land.
The next day, we’ll head to Gyeongiu, the capital of South Korea during the Silla Dynasty. There are many temples, summer gardens, and royal burial tombs to explore in this laidback town. We will arrive in the morning so that we can make the most of our time by taking a walk through Tumuli Park, which has many burial mounds of kings, followed by seeing royalty’s summer playground, the Anapji Ponds. After lunch, we’ll check out the Bulguksa and Seokguram grottos, visit the Gyeongju Museum, and grab dinner before boarding our KTX train to Seoul!
DAYS 7-9: SEOUL
Now it’s time for one last party, and Seoul won’t disappoint! You can take your pick from world-famous amusement parks, shopping, fine dining at Seoul Tower, and of course, a k-pop music show! We’ll also learn how to make kimchi and bibimbap at our very own cooking class. The land of the morning calm, you say? More like the land that never sleeps! Sleep is for the plane ride home, as you’ll want to squeeze every last drop of fun out of your stay in South Korea before you say farewell!
We’ll discover this world-class capital city, which offers you a trip to the past through its many palaces and also into its space-age future with culture from its k-pop stars to its spaceship-like Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Most people know about Korea as a result of its noisy north, and you can even step into North Korea during the trip to the DMZ, albeit by only a few feet. Furthermore, take part in a cooking class and learn to cook bibimbap and deonjeong chigae, two Korea classics.
Have the chance to dance Gangnam Style in a K-Pop dance class or take a Korean paper design class. We’ll even visit the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace, with its pavilion roofs and pagoda gardens.
DAYS 10-11: TOKYO
We’ll head to the airport and then it’s off to our next country: Japan! Welcome to Tokyo, one of the world’s favorite cities, where we’ll stroll amidst the bustling streets and sparkling lights! We’ll first head out to visit the Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples.
We’ll also have the opportunity the incredible cherry blossoms here in Tokyo with a half day trip out to the countryside. Upon our return, we’ll grab lunch and explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Shibuya and Harajuku, famous around the world for their funky fashion scene, as well as for having the world’s busiest crosswalk.
We’ll celebrate the end of an incredible trip with an upscale final dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Tokyo!
DAY 12: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE USA
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Informational Meeting Details
Informational Meeting Details
A TFT representative will give a short presentation and answer your questions.
When: Monday, October 3, 2022
Time: 6:00pm EDT
Travel with us and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.
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Trip Specific FAQs
Who is Travel For Teens?
Travel For Teens started in 2003 as a small, family-run business providing teens with an authentic experience in Paris.
Today, the TFT family has flourished and operates over 100 different programs in over 40 countries! Our values and mission remain the same no matter our growth – inspiring youth to ignite a passion for travel and discovering new cultures beyond the traditional tourist path.
How much is tuition & what does tuition include?
Tuition for the trip is $3,895 which INCLUDES all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, accommodations, transportation, premium trip insurance, entrance to museums/events, taxes, and tips for activities.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE airfare, meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, COVID testing before, during, or after the trip, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, tips, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Tuition for the trip is $3,895 which INCLUDES all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, accommodations, transportation, premium trip insurance, entrance to museums/events, taxes, and tips for activities.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE airfare, meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, COVID testing before, during, or after the trip, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, tips, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
If I cannot afford the payment schedule listed above, does Travel For Teens provide flexible payment plans?
Yes, Travel For Teens is willing to customize a payment plan for any participant who needs a little flexibility in the payment schedule. Please email help@travelforteens.com for details on payment plans.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to all 9-12th grade students at The Agnes Irwin School. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The trip is open to all 9-12th grade students at The Agnes Irwin School. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
After I register, what happens next?
Once you have completed your registration and paid your deposit, you will receive an email that contains your USERNAME and PASSWORD to MyTFT. All forms to be completed by parents and physician as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant.
Where do we stay?
We will be staying in a mix of local accommodations and three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $450 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
We will be staying in a mix of local accommodations and three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $450 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
Trip Emails & Photographs
PHOTOGRAPHS
We will take dozens, if not hundreds, of photos each day. The best photos will be posted as regularly as possible (ideally every day) to a private photo-sharing platform (Waldo Photos) where you can follow along with the trip. We will send you an email to alert you when we post new photos. Low-resolution photos can be viewed for free during and after the trip. All of your High-Resolution matched photos can be purchased and downloaded in real-time during the trip or after the trip for $50.
EMAILS
The Trip Director will be in regular email contact every 24-48 hours, internet willing, with our families. Emails will include fun detailed updates about the day’s activities and are a great way for families to follow along with the journey. Email will be the best way to communicate messages to the Trip Director.
What is the payment timeline?
Deadline to register: October 1, 2022
$750 deposit due within three business days of registration
Deadlines for airfare: November 1, 2022
Balance in three installments: December 15, 2022, January 15, and February 15, 2023
Deadline to register: October 1, 2022
$750 deposit due within three business days of registration
Deadlines for airfare: November 1, 2022
Balance in three installments: December 15, 2022, January 15, and February 15, 2023
Safety, Sickness & Communication
SAFETY AND SICKNESS
The safety of our participants is our #1 concern, which is why we have only experienced trip leaders running the show. We offer 24/7 communication throughout our programs and have detailed risk management and safety policies in place. Please review our policies here.
For information regarding our specific policies with Covid-19 please review our Covid-19 protocols page here.
What are the safety qualifications for our staff?
Our staff members undergo a rigorous hiring process. They receive the same background check as school educators, an extensive training process to go over all safety precautions and protocols, and are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. We exclusively hire responsible, multi-talented individuals who are safety-minded and are as passionate about teen travel as we are.
What is the food like on a TFT program? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
In a word – delicious! At TFT, we believe food should be an integral part of the travel experience and always make an effort to eat at authentic establishments when we can. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than by sampling the local delicacies, and we encourage students to do so whenever possible! Just as we stay away from Americanized hotel chains, we try to avoid restaurants with menus that cater only to tourists because every good traveler knows the best food is found wherever the locals are eating!
We also love to have picnics al fresco and do this whenever possible, which is a great way to taste some local food while sitting out in the fresh air taking in the sights and sounds of our surroundings.
As always, we are willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
Do I need to speak the language?
No, our skilled staff members will help you get around and even teach you a few fun phrases!
Are participants allowed to have their cell phones on the program?
We do allow participants to bring their phones, but we ask that they use it solely as a camera when we are out and about during the day. We want everyone to focus on living in the moment and fully experience each new destination we are visiting without being absorbed in their phones. We ask that participants look at their journey with us as a way to disconnect. When we have downtime at our hotels in the evenings it is okay for participants to use their devices to connect with friends and family back home.