One of the things that I have loved about travelling in South Korea has been how easy it is to access hiking. 70% of the country is mountainous and in each place that we have stayed we have easily taken the local bus to trails. We’ve hiked almost every 2nd day, always with great signage, views, and attractions. I read an article that said that Korean people value fitness and time in nature and it shows, given all of the hiking opportunities and the number of locals on the trails. It is not unusual to see elderly Koreans kitted out in hiking gear, often passing people on the trails.
We stayed 3 nights in Sokcho and explored Seoraksan National Park. We ended up doing 2 hikes one day, both of which had more than 600 stairs to reach the summits. We were shattered after all of that stair climbing!
Since we were on the coast we decided we wanted seafood. Our guesthouse host suggested a place that specializes in seafood hotpot. When it arrived to our table the abalone were still moving! I was way out of my comfort zone, but the waiter pushed them under the boiling broth and told us they’d be ready in 5 minutes. Can’t get more fresh than that!
We made our way to Chuncheon and explored the Samaksan area. We were rewarded with great city and mountain views at the top. The way down we took a different route that required a lot of crab walking, using ropes, and careful manoeuvring to descend.
This city is known for its Dalgalbi, which is a chicken stir fry that happened right at our table. I ranked it as a close second to Korean BBQ. So good, especially after a long hike!
We made our way back to Seoul for our final couple of days before flying home. We caught the changing of the guard at the Gyeongbok Palace and wandered the vast grounds.
The Bukchon Hanok Village was a great spot to explore art shops, cafes, and do some people watching.
We had to have one final Korean BBQ and spa visit before heading to the airport. I’m on standby to fly home, so fingers crossed that I get there in time for closing night of RobO’s musical (9 to 5). What an incredible couple of months of exploring our world. Now I have some time to enjoy good weather at home before I return to work mid-July. Thanks for following along.
