As my friend Yani once told me; "I want to see snow in Christmas!". She had it lucky because surprisingly it snowed on Christmas 2009. White Christmas!! She was amazed and imitated Choi Ji Woo in Winter Sonata, opening her palm waiting for the first snow.
If you want to experience winter in Korea, I bet that it won't be perfect without skiing or snowboarding at any one of these famous resorts. There are two famous provinces to visit during winter in South Korea: Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do. Most of the ski resorts are located here.
For now, this post will explain about Ski resorts in Gangwon-do only. Another post will cover Gyeonggi-do's.
Yongpyong Ski Resort
This is one of the filming locations for Winter Sonata. Yu-jin's company, Polaris, and Min-hyeong's (Kang Jun Sang) company sign a contract to work on the same design project at the Dragon Valley Ski Resort. The resort offers a tour for Winter Sonata fan. You can check the details here.
Click the link below for:
Official site
Rental price
Lift price
Lesson price
Resort guide map
Accommodation Reservation : Hotel
How to go:
By Shuttle Bus
Daewon Express Bus(=Purple ski bus),Tel. 82-2-575-7710, 82-2-2201-7710 (ENGLISH)
0900 - at Lotte Mart, Gate#4 of Jamsil Station (Subway Line 2)
1300 - Gate#2 of Sports Complexs Station(Subway Line 2) - Sunday Only
One Way ￦ 15,000(Adult) / ￦ 12,000(Child)
Round Trip ￦ 28,000(Adult) / ￦ 22,000(Child)
By Public Express Bus from Seoul
Take a bus from Gangbyeon Station (Line 2) to Hwenggye
Donghae Express Bus - Eastern Seoul Terminal (02-458-4854~7) http://ti21.co.kr/
One way ￦ 15,000(Adult)
From Hwenggye Bus Terminal, take free shuttle bus to Yongpyong Resort (12 times a day / 10 min ride)
* 4:40am, 5:40am, 6:30am, 7:30am, 8:10am, 10:30am, 12:00am, 2:00pm, 4:20pm, 5:30pm, 11:30pm
Phoenix Ski Resort
The resort offers a total of seventeen slopes, four of which are approved by the FIS (International Ski Federation), and has superb snow quality. Particularly popular is the ‘Panorama Slope’, which is an impressive 2.2km long and has an average width of 46meters. Eight ski lifts, state-of-the-art gondolas, and six conveyer belts transport visitors around the park quickly and efficiently.
Click the link below for:
Official site
Accommodation : Youth Hostel , Condo, Hotel
Express, Public Bus
Dong Seoul - Jangpyeong 6:20AM-6:55PM (departs every 30min)
Nearby Tourism Attractions
Odaesan (Woljeongsa Temple) - I visited this temple when I Wwoofed in Santisuk, Jinbu. Check out my post here.
Gangwon Folk Museum, Jeongdongjin Beach, Gyeongpodae Beach, etc.
Tips:
1- I recommend renting a motel/guesthouse near Yongpyong area. You could rent a 50,000 won motel per night and accommodate 5 to 6 people inside. Depends on your comfortability level. For me, it's all about enjoying snowboarding/skiing that matters most. Sleep comes second. ^^
2- There are lots of ski/snowboard rental shops around Yongpyong area and they offer cheaper rental rate than the resort.
3- Normally the ski/snowboard rental shops offer free shuttle van to the resort if you rent equipments with them. Just ask the counter for the free lift.
4- Don't forget to bring a few chocolate bars with you. When you slide down the slopes you will be hungry in no time especially in cold weather.
5- If you have a Korean friend, they could get the lift/admission and rental price cheaper using their Korean credit cards up to 40-50% off.
Adhoc Budget : A group tour budget (5-6 people)
*assuming that you don't need ski/snowboard lesson ~50,000 won
Bus Seoul (Return) to Yeongpyong - 24,000 won
A night stay in motel/guesthouse - 20,000 won
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner - 30,000 won
Rental (Day + Night) - 35,000 won
Lift (whole day) - 90,000 won
Estimated Total : ~199,000 won per person
Buy snowboarding equipments from Gmarket.
AsiaNews about Snowboarding in Korea
Check out reviews from snowboarders who had visited the resorts: Andrewaka22
14 Comments
Thanks for the comment but I seriously don't understand what it means though. ^^
Thanks for dropping by..
It all depends on the ski resort
Some open as early as middle of November, but that means they have artificial snow instead ^^
Try to check the website on their opening date for ski.
We are going to korea and will be staying in itaewon area. we have abt 7 days here. i would like you to suggest us the place to visit and the nearest place to the ski. i have kids which i think quite difficult to have long travel. thanks in advance.
Check out my 7 days itinerary post here
http://budgettravel2korea.blogspot.com/2010/07/7-days-itinerary-in-korea.html
and for nearer to Seoul's ski resort
check the link
http://budgettravel2korea.blogspot.com/2010/10/ski-resorts-in-south-korea-gyeonggi-do.html
and I recommend Bears Town, your kids might like it because they have family slope
i like to read ur blog and it has a lot of info. I will travel this january. I need ur advise on renting a motel/guesthouse near Yongpyong area. Its hard for me to search these motel/guesthouse. Hope this can help me cut down the cost. FYI, i already booked a hotel at Yongpyong Resort and it cost me abt 180k won. If i can search any motel/guesthouse cheaper, i will cancel the reservation. TQ
Thanks for dropping by..
Yongpyong ski resort is near to Santisuk; where I wwoofed before.
If you like it, you can stay there for 50,000 won per night.
Check out the link here..
http://budgettravel2korea.blogspot.com/2009/12/santisuk-contact-no.html
For reservation, you can email Nandida at nandida1001@hanmail.net
Dyna
I'm not sure if any train stops at Hoenggye, but you can go there by bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon subway station, Line 2).
It's about 2.5 hours ride.
I would just like to know if anybody knows about the snowboard rentals...if it is the clip on type or normal strap on???