South Korea

Ulsan is just north of Busan on South Korea’s east coast. This lovely town on the banks of the grand Taehwa River is typically off the typical tourist radar, yet has so much to offer for outdoor enthusiasts!

From Seoul, a high-speed train criss-crossing the country to Busan in the southeast takes only 2.5 hours. Yes, it’s possible to build sandcastles and dip your toes in the East Sea by lunch time when traveling from Seoul! Read about the local beaches…

Namhae Island in Hallyeohaesang National Park sits among a sea of 76 other islands scattered off the southern coast of South Korea. See terraced rice paddies, village street art and turtle ships (the world’s first iron-clad war ships).

With dramatic seascapes, secret gardens, and pebble beaches, Geoje Island in Hallyeohaesang National Park is just 40 minutes west of Busan. Visit Oe Garden Park, Hakdong Pebble Beach and the cliffs at Heageumgang…

Just two hours south of Seoul by bus, the eight scenic views of Gyeryongsan National Park await your discovery. Gyeryong Mountain has been held sacred for over a thousand years and its claim to fame is…

There are many routes to the summit of Bukhansan’s highest peak, Baegundae. This route begins at the Bamgol entrance on the western side of the park. It is tough, wild, and extremely picturesque…

Section 8 is the most scenic stage of the Seoul Dulle Gil, with terrific views of South Korea’s tallest mountains, including Bukhansan and Dobongsan. You will also pass by the April 19th National Cemetery, a moving and expansive memorial, and traipse through Korea’s “Beverly Hills”.

On the Seoul Dulle Gil, the steepest part of Stage 7 is the climb to the watchtowers on Bongsan Mountain. The majority of the trail is flat, especially from Gayang Bridge through the World Cup Stadium park…

Section 6 of the Seoul Dulle Gil is pancake flat. The entire section takes you along Anyang-cheon (“cheon” means “stream”), which features an explosion of color throughout the year with seasonal wildflowers, cherry trees, tall grasses, and rape fields.

Section 5 of the Seoul Dulle Gil is one of my favorite sections. It’s chock full of cool stuff to see: Seoul National University, Samseongsan Catholic Sanctuary, the “Tiger” temple (Hoapsa), Gwaneumsa Temple, and Nakseongdae Shrine. Add on a day hike to Gwanaksan’s highest peak, Yeonjudae!

Section 4 of the Seoul Dulle Gil manages to wind through a lot of wooded area south of the Han River, known as the “Gangnam Greenway”. You can almost pretend you aren’t in the city anymore.

The second half of Seoul Dulle Gil Section 2 — through Yongmasan and Achasan — is very cool. Some of the very best views of the city found anywhere in Seoul are at the Achasan lookout.

Seoul Dulle Gil Section 1 is in the far north-east corner of Seoul. It circumvents the base of Suraksan and Buramsan. To make this section more interesting, add on a climb to Suraksan’s peak.

The Seoul Dulle Gil is divided into eight sections ideal for day hikes. Each section trailhead is near a subway stop for easy accessibility. Whether you are in Seoul for the weekend, the month, or the year, a hike is just a short metro ride away. We had a blast collecting the 28 stamps as we hiked the 157 kilometer (~97 miles) course.

Slip into this quiet tea house in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, for an afternoon respite…