If you are looking for a various activities in winter, this place is for you. Pyeongchang – host of 2018 Winter Olympics. Here, you can see fluffy sheep leisurely grazing in vast pastures beneath a deep blue sky. In fall, the fields fill with the clean white color of buckwheat flowers, the backdrop of the Hyoseok Cultural Festival.
Pyeongchang offers wonderful outdoor activities year round, but the best time to visit is in winter. Visitors have a pick of the many ski resorts, some of the best in the nation, and winter festivals in the area. The city has so much to offer, it was selected as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2016” by American newspaper The New York Times.
Phoenix Snow Park, the famous filming site of K-drama “Autumn in My Heart (2000),” is one of Pyeongchang’s many ski resorts.
Phoenix Snow Park, the famous filming site of K-drama “Autumn in My Heart (2000),” is one of Pyeongchang’s many ski resorts. As the host venue for PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics’ snow board arena. Montblanc at 1,050m above sea level is easy and comfortable when you take the gondola up! Even if skiing or boarding down from the peak is a bit out of your capabilities, the view of the canyon is something not to be missed.
(If snow and ice isn’t really your thing, spend your time at Phoenix Park Blue Canyon. Blue Canyon is more than just a water park. With spa facilities in addition to water slides and swimming pools, this indoor water park, open year round, is fun for the entire family.)
- ☞ Address: 174, Taegi-ro, Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
- ☞ Directions: Take the free shuttle bus from the bus stop in front of Jangpyeong Makguksu restaurant, across the street from Jangpyeong Bus Terminal.
(Operating schedule 09:15 / 11:15 / 12:50 / 14:50 / 17:15 / 19:50) - ☞ Website: phoenixpark.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
The resort is divided into a winter sports area and a golf village and resort area. The resort’s main area features hotels and condominiums, as well as entertainment facilities such as Alpensia Ocean 700, a year-round indoor water park. In addition, the winter sports section consists of a variety of ski slopes and a Ski Jump Tower.
The ski jump tower was featured in the Korean movie “Take Off (2009),” and variety program “Infinity Challenge”, and will be used for the ski jumping competition of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
In addition, from now till the start of the Winter Olympics, the ski jump tower serves as an observatory and is temporary opened to the public for special admission. Visitors can take a monorail up to this great vantage point to view the beautiful scenery, and may also indirectly experience the thrill of ski jumping at the athletes’ regular practice zone.
- ☞ Address: 325, Solbong-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
- ☞ Directions: Take a taxi for approx. 7.5km from Hoenggye Bus Terminal.
- ☞ Ski Jump Tower (Observatory)
Operating hours: 09:25 (First monorail up)-17:55 (Last monorail down)
Admission: Regular – Adults 2,000 won / Teenagers 1,500 won / Children 1,000 won
Special – Adults 6,000 won / Teenagers 4,000 won / Children 3,000 won - ☞ Website:www.alpensiaresort.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Samyang Ranch
Asia’s largest green pasture, Samyang Ranch is located on a plateau with a magnificent landscape. The ranch has been featured in many popular Korean dramas and movies including “Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War (2004),” “Lovers’ Concerto (2002)” and “Autumn in My Heart (2000).”
In spring, the pasture blooms with wildflowers, and cool breezes blow away the summer heat. The mountains display their majesty with autumn foliage while white snow blankets the fields in winter. No matter the season, Samyang Ranch is always a sight to behold.
If you are looking for some light trekking session during spring or autumn seasons, this is a recommended place for you. From the entrance of Samyang Ranch to Daegwallyeong Observatory is a stretch of about 4.5km, which takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. When the skies are clear, visitors may view as far as the East Sea. As it is located on the highlands, the vast temperature difference makes it much colder at the peak, so preparing long-sleeved clothing is recommended, even during summer.
- Adress: 708-9, Kkotbadyangji-gil, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
- ☞ Directions: Take a taxi for approx. 6.5km from Hoenggye Bus Terminal.
- ☞ Operating hours (ticket booth): November-January 08:30-16:00 / February, October 08:30-16:30 / March-April, September 08:30-17:00 / May-August 08:30-17:30
- ☞ Admission: Adults 9,000 won / Teenagers & Children 7,000 won
- ☞ Website:www.samyangranch.co.kr (Korean only)
Pyeongchang Trout Festival (Representative Festival Pyeongchang)
Every winter, Pyeongchang Trout Festival opens with the theme of “Winter Story of Snow, Ice, and Trout.” The festival offers a variety of fun winter activities including the ever-popular ice fishing and sledding experiences. During the coldest days of winter, the frozen river is dotted with people sitting on small chairs and gazing down through holes in the ice, anxiously waiting for the first bite of the trout swimming just below their feet. All the supplies needed for fishing can be purchased on-site so all you need to prepare are warm clothes to keep the cold at bay. Get settled on the ice to catch your dinner! Cooks are standing by waiting to prepare your freshly caught trout in a variety of styles.
There is no need to go hungry if you don’t have any luck catching a fish. Plenty of Korean foods are available in the food center, including trout served fried, grilled, or as hoe (sliced raw fish). After an active day on the stream, re-energize your body by getting your fill of delicious food.
- ☞ Address: 3562, Gyeonggang-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
- ☞ Directions: From Hoenggye Bus Terminal, take a bus bound for Yongsan-Naechahang-Daegwallyeong and get off at Jinbu Terminal → Walk approx. 300m to the Pyeongchang Trout Festival ticket booth.
- ☞ Website:festival700.or.kr (Korean only)
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More Info
- ☞ Transportation (Seoul→Pyeongchang)
- * Jangpyeong Bus Terminal
Dong Seoul Bus Terminal → Jangpyeong Bus Terminal (Adult fare 11,600 won / Travel time approx. 2 hours) - * Hoenggye Bus Terminal
Dong Seoul Bus Terminal → Hoenggye Bus Terminal (Adult fare 14,500 won / Travel time approx. 2 hr 30 min)
Seoul Nambu Terminal → Hoenggye Bus Terminal (Adult fare 13,600 won / Travel time approx. 2 hr 30 min) - * Jinbu Bus Terminal
Dong Seoul Bus Terminal → Jinbu Bus Terminal (Adult fare 13,100 won / Travel time approx. 2 hr 15 min)
- * Jangpyeong Bus Terminal
- ☞ Website: Pyeongchang Tourism www.happy700.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, German, French)
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
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