Gangwon Holidays — Skiing, Seoraksan National Park & Korea's Adventure Province
Gangwon
Holidays
Korea's adventure playground — 2018 Winter Olympics ski resorts, the spectacular Seoraksan mountains, Nami Island's K-drama avenues and the wild East Sea coast
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Flight Time
11–12h from London (fly to Seoul; then 1–2h by KTX or bus to Gangwon)
Best Time
October–November (autumn foliage); December–March (skiing); April–May (spring)
Country
South Korea
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Gangwon Holiday Guide
Gangwon Province, in the northeast of South Korea, is the country's adventure and nature playground — a vast province of soaring mountains, dramatic coastline, pristine national parks and world-class ski resorts that stretches from the DMZ in the north to the East Sea coast in the east. It is the most scenically spectacular province in South Korea and one of the most rewarding destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.
Pyeongchang, in the heart of Gangwon, hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics — the ski resorts of Alpensia, Yongpyong and High1 are among the finest in Asia, with excellent slopes for all levels and extraordinary mountain scenery. Seoraksan National Park, on the eastern edge of the province, is the most beautiful mountain scenery in South Korea — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of granite peaks, Buddhist temples, waterfalls and forests that turns spectacular shades of red, orange and gold in autumn (October–November). Nami Island, on the Han River in the west of the province, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in South Korea — a half-moon shaped river island of extraordinary tree-lined avenues made famous by the K-drama 'Winter Sonata' (2002).
Gangwon is 1–2 hours from Seoul by KTX or express bus — an excellent day trip or weekend destination.
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Average Temperatures
Jan
-4°C
Feb
-2°C
Mar
5°C
Apr
12°C
May
18°C
Jun
22°C
Jul
26°C
Aug
27°C
Sep
21°C
Oct
14°C
Nov
6°C
Dec
-1°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Gangwon
The Olympic ski slopes, spectacular mountain national park, K-drama island, wild East Sea coast and extraordinary autumn foliage that make Gangwon Korea's finest nature destination.
Pyeongchang — 2018 Winter Olympics Ski Resorts
Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics — the ski resorts of Alpensia (the main Olympic venue, with 6 slopes and a biathlon course), Yongpyong (the largest ski resort in Korea, with 31 slopes and the gondola used in the K-drama 'Winter Sonata') and High1 (in the Jeongseon area, with 17 slopes and extraordinary mountain views) are among the finest in Asia. The ski season runs from December to March. The Alpensia resort is also excellent in summer — the Olympic venues are open for tours, and the surrounding mountains offer excellent hiking.
Seoraksan National Park — Korea's Most Beautiful Mountains
Seoraksan National Park, on the eastern edge of Gangwon near Sokcho, is the most beautiful mountain scenery in South Korea — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of dramatic granite peaks (Daecheongbong, 1,708m, the third-highest peak in South Korea), deep gorges, Buddhist temples (Sinheungsa Temple, founded in 652 AD, at the base of the mountains), waterfalls (Biryong Falls, Yukdam Falls) and forests of maple, birch and pine. The park is extraordinary in autumn (mid-October to early November) when the entire mountain turns red, orange and gold — the finest autumn foliage in Korea.
Nami Island — The K-Drama Island
Nami Island (Namiseom), on the North Han River in the western part of Gangwon, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in South Korea — a half-moon shaped river island of extraordinary tree-lined avenues (metasequoia, ginkgo, birch and pine) made famous as the filming location for the K-drama 'Winter Sonata' (2002), which sparked the first Korean Wave (Hallyu) across Asia. The island is reached by a 5-minute ferry from Gapyeong. It is most beautiful in spring (cherry blossoms), summer (green canopy) and autumn (golden ginkgo and red maple). The island has no cars — only bicycles and walking.
Sokcho — East Sea Coast & Abai Village
Sokcho, on the East Sea coast at the northern edge of Gangwon, is the gateway to Seoraksan National Park and one of the most atmospheric coastal towns in Korea — a fishing port with a beautiful lagoon (Cheongchoho Lake), a traditional fishing village (Abai Village, accessible by a hand-pulled cable ferry across the lagoon), excellent seafood (ojingeo — squid, daege — snow crab, ganjang gejang — soy-marinated raw crab) and extraordinary views of the Seoraksan mountains rising behind the town. The Sokcho Beach and the Expo Tower viewpoint are both excellent.
Gangneung — Coffee Street & Gyeongpo Beach
Gangneung, on the East Sea coast in the south of Gangwon, is the most sophisticated coastal city in the province — famous for its extraordinary coffee culture (the Anmok Coffee Street has over 100 independent coffee shops in a 1km stretch, making it the most concentrated coffee district in Korea), its beautiful Gyeongpo Beach (a long sandy beach with a lagoon behind it), the Ojukheon House (the birthplace of the Joseon dynasty scholar and philosopher Yulgok Yi I, whose portrait appears on the 5,000 won note) and the Gangneung Danoje Festival (a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage festival held in May–June).
Cheongpyeong Lake — Scenic Reservoir & Adventure
Cheongpyeong Lake (Cheongpyeongho), on the North Han River between Seoul and Nami Island, is one of the most beautiful scenic reservoirs in Korea — a long, narrow lake of extraordinary blue-green water surrounded by forested mountains, with a zip-line (one of the longest in Korea, 940m) across the lake, kayaking, boat tours and excellent restaurants along the shore. The Cheongpyeong Dam and the Cheongpyeong Temple (a large Buddhist temple complex on the hillside above the lake) are both worth visiting. The lake is most beautiful in autumn when the surrounding forests turn red and gold.
DMZ — The World's Most Fortified Border
The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) runs along the northern edge of Gangwon Province — the 4km-wide buffer zone separating North and South Korea that has been one of the most heavily militarised borders in the world since 1953. The Cheorwon area of Gangwon has some of the most accessible and atmospheric DMZ sites — the Second Infiltration Tunnel (one of four tunnels dug by North Korea under the DMZ), the Cheorwon Peace Observatory (with views into North Korea), the Woljeong-ri Station (a ruined railway station, the last stop on the Gyeongwon Line before the border) and the extraordinary Iron Triangle battlefield sites from the Korean War.
Gangwon Food — Makguksu, Dakgalbi & Squid
Gangwon has one of the most distinctive regional food cultures in Korea. Makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in a spicy broth, a specialty of Chuncheon and the mountain areas) is the signature dish of the province. Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken with rice cakes, vegetables and gochujang, cooked at the table on a large iron griddle) was invented in Chuncheon and is the most famous dish in the province. Sokcho and Gangneung are famous for their East Sea seafood — ojingeo (squid, dried and grilled), daege (snow crab) and ganjang gejang (soy-marinated raw crab). Gangneung is also famous for its coffee and its sundubu (soft tofu stew).
Explore Gangwon on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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