A five-day itinerary combining central Seoul, the east coast and Seoraksan National Park: Sokcho Beach, the Seoraksan Cable Car, Abai Village and the fishery market, where sea views, mountain scenery and local life come together.
Overview
A five-day itinerary that combines central Seoul, the east coast and Seoraksan National Park, visiting Sokcho Beach, the Seoraksan Cable Car, Abai Village and the fishery market, where sea views, mountain scenery and local life weave together. An ideal route for travellers who love nature and good food.
Highlights
Itinerary
On arrival you are driven into central Seoul to check in to your hotel and recharge for the days ahead. Seoul's streets glitter after dark, full of energy and culture, so you are free to explore the area around the hotel at your own pace and form your first impressions of a Korean city.
After breakfast head for Sokcho Beach, a celebrated spot on the east coast where a long, pale shoreline meets a sea and sky of one colour. Then ride the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel for a sweeping view over Seoraksan and the whole town. Stroll the Oeongchi Sea Scent Trail, admiring the natural rock formations and photo spots along the way. Taste local seolleongtang (ox-bone soup) for lunch and abalone hotpot for dinner, then settle into a sea-view hotel for a quiet night on the east coast.
Ride the Seoraksan Cable Car for distant views of Ulsanbawi Rock and the mountain's magnificent ridgelines. In the afternoon soak your feet in the hot-spring pools of Cheoksan Foot Spa Park and ease away the fatigue of travel. Then take the Abai Village hand-pulled ferry across the water to explore a village known as a K-drama filming location. Dinner is yours to choose at the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, where the seafood is as fresh as it comes. Back at the hotel in the evening, sink into the calm of a fishing town set between the mountains and the sea.
Set off back to Seoul and head for Seongsu-dong, a fashionable district that mixes cafes, design labels and arts spaces. In the afternoon stroll Seoullo 7017, an elevated garden walkway converted from an old overpass. For dinner savour the popular Manjok Ohyang Jokbal (five-spice pork trotters), a classic Korean dish to linger over, then spend the night at a hotel in the centre of Seoul with the city's conveniences on your doorstep.
After breakfast there is time to pack at leisure and tuck away your memories of mountains and sea in Sokcho and Seoul. Your private vehicle then takes you to Incheon International Airport for the flight home, bringing to a close five days in Korea filled with fresh sea breezes and the quiet of the forests, and leaving you with happy memories and pictures to treasure.
Inclusions
Quoted per trip. Tell us your dates and group size and a travel consultant will send a tailored quote within 24 hours.
Korea charter packages include 10 hours of vehicle use per day (between 08:00 at the earliest and 20:00 at the latest). Overtime is charged per hour according to vehicle type (Staria, Alphard, Solati, 25-seat and 45-seat coaches), with any part of an hour under 60 minutes counted as 60 minutes. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage or large bags, we recommend booking a suitably larger vehicle. The final plan and quote are confirmed by your travel consultant.
Stops
Open since 1976, Sokcho Beach is known for its clear water and gentle shoreline and is one of the signature summer retreats on Korea's east coast. Pine-wood paths and good facilities surround it, along with photo landmarks such as the sculpture of Sokcho's Korean initials, a giant compass, dolphin statues and the Stairway to Heaven.
A 65-metre Ferris wheel standing on Sokcho Beach, whose transparent acrylic cabins give a 360-degree view over Seoraksan and the whole city. Its rounded shape resembles a submarine, and at night the lighting makes it all the more romantic, a favourite spot for east-coast sunsets and night views.
A 1.74-kilometre trail linking Sokcho Beach with Oeongchi Port along a stretch of untouched natural coastline. A boardwalk runs alongside an earthen path, with the sound of the waves and unusual rock formations for company. The K-drama Encounter was filmed here, making it a superb place for photography and a stroll.
The cable car inside Seoraksan National Park takes only 10 minutes to reach Gwongeumseong Fortress at 700 metres above sea level. Through the panoramic windows you look down on Ulsanbawi Rock and the forested slopes on the way up. At the top you can visit historic sites such as Allakam Hermitage and the Muhaksong pine and take in the full grandeur of Seoraksan.
Natural hot-spring water rises in the park at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, rich in minerals that help soothe tired bodies. There is a round foot pool and a walking foot pool, both free to use. Legend has it that a white crane was healed of its wounds here, which has made the park a restful spot for body and mind.
A small, unpowered flat-bottomed boat linking Sokcho town centre with Abai Village, moved along by passengers hauling together on an iron cable. The crossing takes only 5 to 10 minutes and is a form of transport unique to Sokcho. Abai Village rose to fame through the K-drama Autumn in My Heart and draws many visitors.
Sokcho's must-visit market, selling seafood, sashimi, fruit and vegetables and everyday goods. The basement sashimi centre is known for being fresh and inexpensive, while the outdoor alleys are divided into themed sections such as the produce alley and the chilli alley. You can browse in comfort even on rainy days, and there is a convenient car park on site.
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