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.
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)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
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
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.
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 6 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.
Kenneth H.
“Seoul is jam packed with beauty and fun”
We enjoyed Kevin's services that we used him for our second day as well. We got a bigger vehicle that could hold all our luggage and us (family of 7) which he arranged in less than 24hrs. Seoul....I really wish we had more time to explore as that city is just wonderful from the grand palace, down to local markets. The grand palace, with the changing of the guard was quite a blessing to watch. We saw people dressed up everywhere in traditional wardrobe. The palace was grand, exquisite, and unique. We then saw a the north village where descendants still live in original traditional housing. Insadong showcased all the central theme of Seoul and the markets, well....that is a day just itself. There were so many shopping opportunities, just not enough time. The weather was awful but that didn't stop Kevin from ensuring we got to see all the sites. He was just wonderful both days. Ending the day, they dropped us off at the airport for our journey home. Thank you to South Korea and especially Kevin. Would highly recommend the tour.
Kevin L.
Dear Kenneth, Thank you once again for your incredibly kind and thoughtful feedback. It truly meant a lot to be able to guide you and your group for a second day in Seoul. I’m so happy to hear that everything went smoothly and left a memorable impression. Your appreciation and warm words really encourage me, and I’m grateful I could help make your time in Seoul as fulfilling as possible. It was an absolute pleasure spending those two days with your wonderful family. Thank you again for your trust, kindness, and recommendation of the tour. I truly hope to welcome you back to Korea someday for even more discoveries. Wishing you and your family continued happiness and good health! Warm regards, Kevin Lee
Kenneth H.
“Great tour, awesome guide!”
What's there to say, Kevin was a wonderful guide. He picked us up and drove to the dmz describing everything along the way. He was detailed in all aspects while guiding us through the different sites in the DMZ. We got to experience Korean "army stew". It was a long day but Kevin just kept going as long as we could. He even took us out of the way on the way back to do a little shopping. Then, even when the tour was done and my kids wanted to go back out, he offered to drive them to the place they wanted to go. He was an awesome person guide, and person. We were blessed to have him. Id recommend this tour and especially Kevin
Kevin L.
Dear Kenneth, Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt feedback. It was truly an honor to guide you and your group during the DMZ tour. I’m so glad you enjoyed the experience — from the historical sites to the Korean army stew. It was a pleasure spending the day with such wonderful people. I’m also deeply grateful for your recommendation of the tour, and I sincerely hope to have the chance to welcome you back to Korea in the future. Wishing you and your family all the very best! Many thanks, Kevin Lee
Chen L.
“Great tour!”
Enjoyed spending the day on this tour. Kevin was both informative and flexible. Also good driver.
Kevin L.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. It was a real pleasure spending the day with you, and I truly appreciate having had the opportunity to guide you on this tour. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the experience. Wishing you all the best. Warm regards, Kevin Lee
$330/ per group