Marvel of Nature: Hiking in Bukhansan Mountain National Park
Another charm of Seoul is it is surrounded by beautiful mountains, providing excellent accessibility for hiking. Among them, Bukhansan mountain is one of the most favorite destination for Seoulites seeking hiking and trekking adventures. Additionally, visitors have the opportunity to experience Buddhist temples along the trail. Lastly, enjoying pajeon(green onion pancake) and makgeolli(Rice wine) as a post-hiking tradition among Koreans helps alleviate the fatigue from the mountain excursion.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or any designated place (in Seoul)
Bukhansan Mountain National Park
Bukhansan National Park is a rare urban nature park globally and is the 15th national park in South Korea. It boasts 36 imposing peaks, making it the largest mountain in Seoul, and it was once referred to as Samgaksan(three peaks mountain) in the past because the three highest peaks are clustered together. The current name Bukhansan originates from its location north of Hanyang, the old name for Seoul. The tallest among the three peaks is Baegundae (835.6m), and a round-trip hike from the starting point to the summit takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.
From the summit of Baegundae, hikers can marvel at the beautiful and majestic scenery of Bukhansan, as well as the cityscape of Seoul and the northeastern part of Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, during the ascent to Baegundae, you can explore Buddhist hermitage and some historical sites such as the ancient Bukhansanseong fortress, built during the Joseon Dynasty.
While taking a brief rest at the top of Baegundae, you can enjoy a simple mountain snack, such as Gimbap, a favorite among Korean hikers. On the descent route, you can visit Dosonsa, one of the representative Buddhist temples in Seoul. Finally, as a traditional way for Korean hiking enthusiasts to conclude the hike, you can also finish your journey by savoring pajeon (green onion pancakes) and makgeolli (rice wine).
End of the tour
Ending point is arrangeable.
Ending Point
At your hotel or any designated place (in Seoul)
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guiding fee
Free transportation (11 seater KIA Carnival), Fuel, Toll, Parking
Hotel (or any designated place) Pick-up and Drop-off
One bottle of water and snack(Gimbap) per person
Any ensternace fees, if any.
The cost of foods, including lunch or pajeon and makgeolli, will be covered by the customer.
Traveler's Insurance
Tour Important Information
1. This tour is not recommended for individuals with heart conditions or acrophobia.
2. Comfortable clothing and footwear are recommended: especially, hiking or trekking shoes.
3. Other recommended preparations are lightweight backpack, water, snacks and sunscreen, etc.
4. The hiking trail follows the same path back, so if anyone finds the hike challenging, they can take a break and wait at a designated spot along the way.
5. The entire itinerary is inherently flexible and can be altered according to customer needs.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Kevin L.
I received a license in 2016 from the Korea Tourism Organization as a qualified professional tour guide. I have guided a variety of tours for people and tourists from all over the world and have been doing so for over 9 years.
Before being a tour guide I spent most of my career working in the banking industry for almost 30 years, starting with Korea First Bank which later became a US based Newbridge Capital and UK based Standard Chartered Bank until I retired in 2016.
My experience in the banking industry was very much customer-first and dealing with the public which laid the cornerstone and passion to becoming a tour guide.
After retiring from the bank, I worked as a lecturer for a volunteering organization run by the local public office and taught students about the environment and disabilities.
With various experiences and personal management skills, these challenges have provided a real life, hands on cultural nuances which will promote friendship and expand life experiences between different cultures.
I'm based in Seoul but will be happily arrange the tours to Busan, Gyeongju, Sokcho, Jeonju etc. as a customized tour. Feel free to drop me a request message.
Reviews
Gavin B.
“Fantastic day, fantastic guide.”
Kevin was great. He helpfully communicated with me about the arrangements to visit the DMZ and from the moment Kevin picked us up, his knowledge and experience shone through. He explained the day planned, and the requirements for entering the DMZ. On route to the DMZ, Kevin explained Korea's history and the history of the North and the South. We also visited the suspension bridge which provided a welcome and gentle way to finishe the day. Could not have been happier with Kevin's services and would try to book him again on the next South Korean trip. Five stars.
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Kevin L.
Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback. I’m truly glad to hear that you enjoyed the DMZ tour and found it informative and well-organized. It means a lot to know that the historical context and overall experience met your expectations. It was a pleasure spending the day with you, and I’m happy the day ended on a pleasant note as well. I sincerely appreciate your kind words and would be delighted to see you again on your next trip to Korea. Many thanks, Kind regards, Kevin Lee
Ashlyn M.
“DMZ tour and suspension bridge”
We enjoyed our tour with Kevin. We liked having a small group of just our group of 6 and Kevin rather than a large bus tour. Kevin was informative and easy to talk to.
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Kevin L.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, and it was a pleasure spending time with your group. Many thanks, Kind regards, Kevin Lee
Carlos A.
“Interesting tour!”
We were very well attended by Kevin, he was very precise and informative. We could learn many aspects not only of the tour but also of South Korea. Real pleased to have chosen him. As a thought, the Gamaksam bridge visit a must or very impressive, unless you have enough time. You can be back to Seoul 1.5-2 hrs earlier if you skip it Regards
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Kevin L.
Thank you very much for your kind review. I’m really glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it both informative and meaningful, not only about the sites we visited but also about South Korea in general. It was a pleasure spending time with you, and I truly appreciate that you chose my tour. Wishing you all the best for the rest of your travels! Kind regards, Kevin Lee
$330/ per group
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