Mt Seorak & Naksansa Temple or Nami Island Day Trip from Seoul

Seoraksan National Park, Korea's most dramatic mountain

Seoraksan National Park covers the Seorak range in Gangwon Province, close to the port city of Sokcho. Protected since 1970 and named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1982, it is a landscape of sharp granite pinnacles, deep valleys, clear streams and old pine forest. Its highest summit, Daecheongbong, reaches 1,708 metres and is one of the tallest peaks in South Korea, while the lower trails around the Seorak-dong entrance are easy enough for most walkers.

On this Seoraksan day trip from Seoul you have about three hours in the park. Near the entrance stands the temple of Sinheungsa with its great seated bronze Buddha, and well-marked paths lead along the stream towards rock formations and viewpoints. Is Seoraksan worth visiting in one day? For many travellers it is the most beautiful mountain scenery within reach of the capital, and the best time to visit Seoraksan is mid-October, when the maples turn red and gold.

The Seorak cable car and Gwongeumseong

From the Sogongwon area at the park entrance, a cable car climbs in a few minutes to a rocky ridge near the remains of Gwongeumseong, an ancient mountain fortress site. From the upper station a short but steep rocky path leads to wide views over the granite peaks on one side and towards the East Sea and Sokcho on the other.

The cable car is not included in the tour and is paid in cash on the spot, so bring some Korean won if you want to ride it. Queues can be long on autumn weekends, and the cable car may stop in strong wind or during maintenance, so your guide will advise on the day whether it fits into the time available. If you skip it, the valley trails offer plenty to see.

Nami Island, the tree-lined river island

Nami Island, or Namiseom, is a small half-moon island in the Bukhan River near Chuncheon. It took its shape in 1944, when the Cheongpyeong Dam raised the water level, and it is named after General Nami, a 15th-century Joseon commander linked to a stone mound on the island. Today it is a car-free park of avenues lined with metasequoia, ginkgo and pine trees, lawns, small galleries and riverside paths, and it is famous as a filming spot for Korean television dramas.

You reach the island by a short ferry ride from Gapyeong wharf, and the entrance ticket that covers the crossing is included. Most visitors spend one to two hours walking, renting a bike or simply sitting by the water. The island changes completely with the seasons: golden leaves in autumn, snow-covered avenues in winter and cherry and spring blossoms in April, which makes a Nami Island day trip from Seoul popular all year.

Naksansa Temple above the East Sea

Naksansa is a Buddhist temple in Yangyang, on the coast south of Sokcho, founded in 671 and set on cliffs directly above the East Sea. Its most loved corners are Uisangdae, a small pavilion on a rocky outcrop named after the monk who founded the temple, and the Hongnyeonam hermitage, built over a sea cave. A tall white granite statue of the Bodhisattva of Compassion looks out over the water from the hilltop.

Much of the temple was damaged by a forest fire in 2005 and carefully rebuilt, and today it is one of the most atmospheric temples in Korea. On the Naksansa route, the temple entry is included and you have time to walk the grounds, listen to the waves below the cliffs and watch the light on the sea. Dress modestly and keep your voice low, as it is an active place of worship.

The road from Seoul into Gangwon

The drive from Seoul to Seoraksan takes a little under three hours each way by expressway, crossing the forested hills of Gangwon Province, a region of mountains, rivers and ski valleys. The coach stops for short breaks at motorway service areas, where you can buy Korean snacks and hot drinks.

Because the journey is long, the day starts early, between about 07:00 and 08:10 depending on your route and meeting point, and you return to Seoul in the evening. During the peak autumn foliage period from 12 to 31 October, the tour visits Mt Seorak only with no second stop, to give more time on the mountain and to allow for heavy traffic.