When you consider climbing, a lot of locations come to thoughts – from the Alps to the Himalayas of Nepal. However have you ever ever thought of South Korea? Mountaineering in Seoul is a singular expertise, full with gorgeous views, simple accessibility, and all method of terrains. Nicole, our Journey Excursions Gross sales Advisor, gave us the lowdown on the most effective spots and prime suggestions for climbing in Seoul.
I had absolutely the pleasure of dwelling in Seoul for 2 and a half years, and certainly one of my absolute favorite actions to do on the weekend was to climb one of many many gorgeous mountains which are positioned inside and round Seoul. In case you are planning on spending time within the metropolis and are up for a hike, preserve studying for some nice suggestions!
Enjoyable truth: Mountains cowl 70% of South Korea’s territory!
The place to Hike:
Seoul has quite a few mountains in and round itself, so there are tons to select from. They provide a collection of trails for all talents, so whether or not you’re a newbie in search of an excellent stroll, or a climbing professional in search of a problem, there can be a mountain for you!
Namsan
Altitude: 270m
In case you’re new to climbing, that is the place you’ll want to begin. Namsan provides a nice hike as much as the enduring Namsan Tower. You may observe the principle path up and attain the summit inside an hour – there’s additionally a cable automotive and buses, which you’ll take up and down the mountain if you’re trying to relaxation your legs! Namsan is positioned centrally in Seoul, with Myeongdong being the closest subway station. It’s a tough one so that you can miss, as Namsan Tower stands tall at its peak. It’s the proper introduction to the spectacular views that climbing in Seoul can give you!
Achasan
Altitude: 295.7m
Followers of BTS could recognise this mountain from when RM and V misplaced a problem on RUN BTS. Nonetheless, even if you happen to’re not a Okay-Pop fan, this mountain nonetheless makes for an awesome climb and provides implausible panoramic views of Seoul. It is a comparatively simple and low-altitude climb. Solely 40 minutes from Achasan Station, right here you may also discover Goguryeojeong Pavillion and nice views of town. This implies you don’t even must go to the height of the mountain to get the views! You may then resolve if you wish to proceed the path or flip again and head again down. Achasan is positioned within the east aspect of Seoul, not too removed from Seoul Forest or Seoul Youngsters’s Grand Park Zoo.
After your hike, if you happen to fancy going someplace lively, you may wish to head to Konkuk College Station, the place you’ll find infinite bars, eating places, cafes and outlets. You’ll have undoubtedly earned an excellent meal and a refreshing drink after your hike!
Yongmasan
Altitude: 348m
Linked to Achasan by the Seoul path, you’ll discover Yongmasan. A better mountain with fantastic views (and plenty of stairs alongside the way in which) assure you may be working these legs! There’s an choice to start out a path from Yongmasan Waterfall Park, the place you may benefit from the views of the waterfall and watch folks try the climbing partitions that are additionally positioned there.
On the way in which down, we ended up on a route that was fairly difficult and steep, so it’s value doing a little further analysis on the most effective trails down earlier than heading up the mountain! After getting made it again down the mountain, chances are you’ll fancy leaping on the subway to Seoul Forest and Seongsu Cafe Road, the place you’ll discover some a lot wanted refreshments.
Gwanaksan
Altitude: 632m
There are numerous trails to observe up this mountain, with some being simpler than others – so it’s undoubtedly one to analysis beforehand!
Positioned in southern Seoul, we adopted the route from Sadang Station, passing temples, sculptures and even some navy bunkers en route. Our objective was to achieve the remainder space, as we knew after this level it was going to be barely too difficult for our capability. In case you’re a pro-hiker, this may very well be the one for you! Comply with the numerous wood and steel staircases and take within the view of town. It’s instances like this while you realise simply how large Seoul is – and the way superb the panorama appears to be like, the place the buildings and the mountains meet.
Bukhansan
Altitude: 836m
This was the hardest hike I did in Seoul, however one which was undoubtedly definitely worth the sweat. The views while you stand on the peak are spectacular, the surroundings alongside the way in which is gorgeous, and also you’ll uncover hidden gems inside Bukhansan Nationwide Park. In case you’re following the Baegundae Peak path, be warned that the ultimate half is just not for the faint-hearted, as you’ll observe many stairs, holding on to the fastened rope for assist, as you climb the steepest a part of the mountain. On the prime of the mountain, you’ll discover a big rock face to sit, admire the view, and revel in a properly deserved snack.
Bukhansan is positioned north-west of Seoul and is definitely a hike you’ll want an entire day for!
Seoraksan
Altitude: 1,708m
Positioned exterior of Seoul (however a part of certainly one of our South Korea tour itineraries), Seoraksan Nationwide Park is residence to some of the spectacular mountains within the nation. Right here, you’ll discover Buddhist Temples, all method of natural world, and a cable automotive that may take you as much as one of many peaks of Seoraksan if you happen to don’t fancy a hike. There may be an entry charge to the park – however if you’re participating in our 12-day tour, that is included in your journey!
There are numerous size hikes to select from, relying on how a lot time you must spend within the park, your climbing capability, and what you want to see when you stroll.
- Choice 1: You may take the cable automotive, earlier than a 20 minute, light hike to the height.
- Choice 2: Hike by means of Bisundae and Keumganggul Cave, on a pleasant stroll that takes round 3 hours.
- Choice 3: Hike by means of the Park’s gorgeous waterfalls (Yukdam, Biryong and Towangsung Falls) on a trek that takes round 2 hours.
- Choice 4: Hike to Ulsanbawi Rock, on a testing 4 hour hike that can reward you with actually spectacular views.
After your hike, you may head into Sokcho City to search out recent seafood and soju, and toast to a profitable hike!
Honourable Mentions:
Daemosan
Altitude: 293m
A small mountain positioned south of the river, I had the pleasure of dwelling 5 minutes from Daemonsan, so I managed to do that hike a couple of instances. With views of Gangnam, Lotte Tower and extra, it’s an exquisite mountain to hike when you’ve got a free afternoon.
Inwangsan
Altitude: 338m
It is a hike to do if you’re trying to see a number of the finest sights of Seoul alongside the way in which. Following the Seoul Fortress Wall, you may even see glimpses of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower and the President’s Blue Home.
Enjoyable truth: Did you discover that each one the names of the mountains finish with ‘san’? Effectively ‘Mountain’ in Korean is ‘San’ ( 산 ).
The best way to get there:
When town is filled with mountains, it isn’t too difficult to search out them, and for a lot of of those hikes in Seoul, some trails could be discovered solely 5-10 minutes from a subway exit.For navigating round Seoul, I might advocate downloading the app Naver Map or Kakao Map. Each have English and make discovering your means across the metropolis a lot simpler! (I might additionally advocate downloading Kakao Metro to assist navigate the metro system.)
What to pack:
It’s vital to be ready when climbing in Seoul, particularly if you’re trying to courageous a mountain like Bukhansan. Make sure to bear in mind the next:
- Backpack or a cross-body bag: A small bag that’s comfy to hold.
- Comfy footwear and appropriate clothes: These hikes don’t require full climbing boots, nevertheless, do make sure that your footwear are comfy and supportive – with good grip. Dressing for the event is at all times vital, because the climate in Korea can change relying on while you go to.
- Water: There’s nothing worse than working out of water midway up the mountain! Make sure to carry an excellent sized bottle (or two) and preserve hydrated as you stroll.
- Snacks: Once you’ve labored up a sweat, caught your breath, and admired the view, you may discover that you’re prepared for a snack! You might discover some folks promoting ramen or ice cream on the mountain, however if you wish to be ready with your individual, head to the comfort retailer earlier than you begin the hike, and choose up some scrumptious snacks like gimbap, candy potato, or potato chips.
So there you could have it! Mountaineering in Seoul is an incredible technique to get to know town and its superb environment – and with all these mountains to select from, you’ll make sure you discover a path for you. In case you’d wish to be taught extra concerning the time we spend in Seoul and Seoraksan, head to our tour itinerary right here.
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