Trip Highlights
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The Republic of Korea, is famed for perfectly blending the ancient and modern, seamlessly adopting the new without forgetting ancient ways. Known in Asia as the ‘Land of Morning Calm,’ South Korea's geography, vibrant culture & world class cuisine make it a treat to visit.
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The world's largest Cycle Lane network The Four Rivers, complete with biking passports makes it Asia’s hot spot for cycling.
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From skyscrapers, and trendy art districts in the backstreets of Seoul, to quiet countryside villages and Imperial tombs from centuries long dynasties.
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Our adventure begins at the Kensington Hotel in Seoul (ICN). Over 15 days and 14 nights our journey travels 400 miles, and climbs around 16,000ft, almost exclusively on the Four Rivers cycle lane network. Our Korean experience ends on the Island of Jeju (CJU). The international airport at Jeju offers many international options for return flights.
Ride Overview
Average Daily Distance: 42 mil/ 68 km
Average Daily Climb: 1604 ft / 489 m
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This ride is rated moderate. Covering approximately 408 mi / 658 kms, and +4,889 mi/16,040 ft over 10 full riding days, meaning daily distances are very achievable.
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Greenways are well graded and dedicated for cycle use only and a user friendly way to explore South Korea. .
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Throughout the ride, we will have air conditioned vehicle support. If you fancy a rest, you can ride in the van with your bike and take in the scenery until you are ready to get back in the saddle. (Seats in the vehicle are limited, so it can only carry some riders at any time)
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Following the bike path makes it easy to set your own pace. Turns and stops, however, will be marked in person or with chalk.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Welcome to Seoul, City of Ages.
Welcome to Seoul! Capital, and City for over 2,000 years, it is now home to 10 million lively residents, who truly embrace the ethos of work hard, play hard. Our team will meet us at the airport, and transfer you to our hotel in Yeo-ido, an island on the Han River which comprises the centre of Government and business. Seoul is listed in the top 5 metropolitan economies, behind New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo. Yoido, containing the National Assembly and bristling with fortune 500 skyrise buildings, makes the perfect jumping off point to explore the greater city, UNESCO sites, or the ultra modern. We meet for a welcome dinner and to introduce ourselves at Happy Hour in the Hotel at 6pm.
Ride: -
Meals: Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Kensington Hotel
Day 2: Seoul City to Yangpyeong
The morning is set aside to build our bikes, check out rental bikes and fit accessories. We will have a mechanic on site to assist. Once setup, we will take a trip to see some of the must see sights of the city. Seoul is home to no less than 5 UNESCO heritage sites, the grandest of which being Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once boasted over 7,700 rooms. Contrasting the ancient is Samcheongdong Street, where coffee is served in trendy cafes alongside art galleries dotted between traditional houses. As we ride out of the city, we will take lunch at Paldang Dam. From there we'll start to see mountains and rivers in the distance as we ride further from the city into the countryside of Yangpyeong. Dinner tonight is a traditional affair at Ori Bulgogi.
Ride: 75 km / 47 miles +346 / 1,135ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Cherevill Hot Spring Hotel in Yangpyeong
Day 3: Follow the Han River, to Chungju
Today's ride traces the Han River, on a special bike path. Easing ourselves into life in the saddle, we pedal on flat paths flanked by pine trees to our lunch spot, where we will be treated to a Hanjeongsik meal, a traditional menu style incorporating a wide selection of dishes.
We finish our ride at Angsung, a Hot Spring region of Chungju city. The city, seated in the shadow of Uamsan mountain, is famed for the annual martial arts festival, and being the homeplace of former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
There will be plenty of time to enjoy a Korean Hot Spring before happy hour and dinner tonight.
Ride: 65 km / 40 miles +502m / +1,647ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: UN Hotel in Chungju
Day 4: Chungju to Historic Mungyeong
We leave the pine forests of Chungju, and head towards the historic city of Mungyeong. Towards the end of ride today, we will tackle a couple of hills, Sojoryung (1,180 ft), with around 2.5 kms(1.6 miles) of climbing and Ihwaryung (1,798 ft), with a climb of around 5kms (3 miles). Ihwaryung serves as a natural boundary between Chungcheong Province and Gyeongsang Province, created in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Our destination is the capital of Gyeongsang Province, Mungyeong city. The city is steeped in history, and is known for its ancient buildings and scenic attractions. The city's name translates to "hearing good news." Dinner tonight is at a quaint local BBQ restaurant.
Ride: 73 km / 45 miles +796m / 2,611ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Mungyeong Hot Spring Hotel
Day 5: Mungyeong to Andong
The Nakdong river crosses Gyeongsang province, today we will pick up the Nakdong bike path, leading from Busan to the East Sea. We will take the direction towards the East Sea, and Angdong. Andong Hahoe village is a UNESCO world heritage site, and is a traditional village from the Joseon Dynasty era. Nestled between Cliffs to the north and Mt. Namsan to the South, It’s name means river return. Our accommodation for the next 2 days is a real treat, and we will dine tonight on the traditional dish of jjim, which originates in the region.
Ride: 72 km / 44 miles + 519m / +1,702ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: CM Park Hotel
Day 6: Andong Hahoe Village, rest day
Enjoy waking up on the island! Our boatman will arrive at 9am to take us to the mainland. Then we saddle up, and hit the beach roads again, through coconut palm lined roads and shrimp farms towards Saplee, a sleepy seaside village with resorts dotted along the white sand beach.
Our resort today is set a little way back from the beach. Tonight we break from local fare and eat woodfired pizza, while sipping cocktails, watching the sun set from a beach bar popular with the locals.
Ride: -
Meals: Breakfast,-,-,-
Accommodation: CM Park Hotel
Day 7: Andong to Cheongsong
A fairly cruising ride today, we will skirt Andong Lake, and spend some miles on normal roads, passing into the stunningly beautiful Taebak mountainous region. The temperatures here are noticeably cooler, and the area hosts annual ice climbing festivals. We may encounter some frozen areas as we approach Cheongsong. The region, which translates to Green Treasure, is home to a UNESCO Global Geopark, and boasts rare and interesting rock formations. Our hotel for the night is a hot springs lodge in a picturesque setting, and we can soothe our cycling muscles in the restorative waters before happy hour and dinner.
Ride: 69 km / 43 miles +783m / +2,568ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Mt. Juwang Spa Hotel
Day 8: Cheongsong to Yeongdeok
A challenging climb awaits us on our short ride today. Our day begins on quiet and flat roads, heading towards the East Sea. As we approach the ocean, we will tackle the Juwang Mountain climb. After crossing the pass at (2,365 ft) we will spy the blue waters, and descend to Yeongdeok town. Seafood lovers are in for a treat, as Yeongdeok is famed for Korean King Crab. Tonight we will recommend a number of options to enjoy this delicacy. Our accommodations today are full of character, and the hotel only has single/double rooms, so twins can enjoy each having a room to yourselves!
Ride: 54 km / 33 miles +736m / +2,414ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, -
Accommodation: Korean Motel
Day 9: Yeongdeok to Gyeongju
It’s the last riding day on the mainland, and we will have a push to reach Gyeongju almost 56 miles away. The coastal city of Gyeongju, has been a settlement for almost 2,000 years, and was once the 4th largest city in the world. The ancient city contains artifacts from Silla, one of Korea’s ancient Kingdoms from BC 15 – AC 800. Gyeongju is known as a living museum. We will visit it’s streets, packed with history and relics of ancient civilisation. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant, and our accommodations are in a sprawling traditional house, which comes straight from a Korean historical drama.
Ride: 82 km / 51 miles +447m / + 1,466ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Hanok Village
Day 10: Discover Gyeongju historic city
Today we visit the Museum without walls. Gyeongju is rich with UNESCO sites, such as Seokguram grotto, Bulguksa temple and Yangdong Folk Village. The former Eastern capital makes a wonderful place to rest and enjoy the culture and history of Korea. Tonight we will dine together, and get a briefing from our team on the upcoming trip to Jeju Island.
Ride: -
Meals: Breakfast, -, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Hanok Village
Day 11: Train to bustling Busan & Ferry to Jeju Island
After checking out from our Traditional House Hotel, we will board a train to Busan. Korea's trains are world famous, and it will offer us another way to see the countryside as we cross the region to the peninsular of Busan.
On arrival, we will explore Gamcheon Cultural village to discover Busan Color, the lively Jagalchi fish market and Nampodong Street to experience Busan’s dynamic atmosphere. After lunch, we will board the overnightferry to Jeju, a major highlight of our trip.
Ride: -
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Blue Spring
Day 12: Jeju city to Seogwipo
Welcome to Jeju, a land of scenic beaches flanking a volcanic landscape, around the dormant Hallasan Mountain in the Yellow Sea. The weather is noticeably warmer, and Jeju has long been the favorite holiday destination for South Koreans. The island boasts a fabulous bike track around the whole coastline. Our ride today begins along the beach road from Jeju through the most populous part of the island, stopping along the way to check out the breathtaking lava structures forming the coast. By the end of the day, we will have ridden around one third of the island's circumference, and can reflect on the contrasting experience of Jeju at happy hour tonight, and maybe sample a craft ale from Jeju Brewery.
Ride: 67km / 42 miles +420m / +1,377ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Ocean Palace
Day 13: Seogwipo to Seongsan
Seogwipo is a seaside town, but steeped in a long history. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s story is intrinsic through Japanese colonization, to the division of Korea. These days it is an idyllic place to walk around the streets, markets and citrus gardens, a key crop of the region. We begin today’s ride with a tour of some of the historic and modern features of Jeju’s second city. After lunch, we will head out onto the coastal bike path again, rounding the bottom of the Island to Seongsan. This part of the route has some of the most interesting volcanic geology.
Ride: 62km / 36 miles +190m / +623ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accomodation: Jeju Billie Log Pension
Day 14: Seongsan to Jeju city
As we begin our final riding day, we will see Sunrise Peak rising from the sea. An archetypal Tuff Cone formed over 5,000 years ago by hydrovolcanic eruptions. It’s walls hide a crater which has a unique ecosystem within. Riding northwards now, we will round the coast to the tiny Island of Udo, outlined with black sand beaches. As we reach the Northern side again, we will pass a number of volcanic hills, often containing sacred shrines, which have spilled upwards out of the ground from volcanic activity. Our ride today ends in Jeju City, with a farewell dinner and special happy hour.
Ride: 56km / 35 miles +150m / 492ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accomodation: Hotel Leo
Day 15: Jeju Departure Day
Our tour finishes after breakfast today. Airport transfers are available today, with multiple daily flights to Seoul, Japan and China, or extend your stay on Jeju Island.
Ride: -
Meals: Breakfast,-,-,-
Accomodation: -
Bikes
Bring Your Own
The ideal machine for this ride is a hybrid touring bike fitted with a minimum 30 mm tire width and 2 water bottle holders. Because the trip is point to point, we recommend using the rentals on offer. However, if bringing your own bike, please make sure that it is in excellent working order, and that you bring sufficient parts and supplies to complete the distance. Bike boxes can be transported in small numbers, but if there are too many, we may have to make alternative arrangements at additional cost. Tubes and compressed air cartridges can be requested in advance. Bike Fridays can be accommodated on this tour upon request.
Bike Rental
Limited bike rentals (Hybrid & eBike) are available from WeAdventure upon request. Saddles, clips and accessories can be fitted to rental bikes at the shakedown ride, day 2. Please mention these when booking a bike rental. Ebikes are extremely limited and require additional logistics, so please make sure to request these well in advance.
Local Bike Hire:
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Hybrid bike rental Giant Escape (USD 280 full trip)
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E-bike rental Giant Fast SR E+ (USD 480 full trip)
Inclusions
What's Included
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Arrival and departure drop off.
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14 nights accomodation with 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 13 dinners, 12 happy hours.
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Guiding and support services, airport transfers.
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Entry fees when mentioned.
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Snacks & drinks whilst riding.
What's Not Included
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International and domestic airfares.
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Bike rental.
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Optional tips for guides and crew
* Single rooms are available on request at a surcharge of 1,450USD per room.
Essential Info
Visa and Entry Conditions
At the time of writing, South Korea has reinstated visa on arrival policies, however, travel entry conditions are subject to change, and latest information should be regularly checked. In general the following requirements should be expected.
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Passport (valid for at least 6 months from date of entry)
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Visa if required
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Flight itinerary
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Hotel booking confirmation
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Vaccination record
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COVID-19 test result (if unvaccinated)
Consult the South Korean Embassy website for the latest entry requirements.
Health and Vaccines
It is advised to have the standard following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A.
In addition, you will have to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result.
Weather
April & May are among the best times to travel to the areas we will visit. It’s the start of spring, and daytime temperatures are rising, with mostly dry weather and the unusual spot of light rain. Around Seoul daily temperatures can drop into the 30’s occasionally, but in the South temperatures average 42F to 56F. Reasonable cold weather gear is advised for evenings. For riding, thermals and windproof layers to start rides in the morning, and peel off as needed is the best strategy. Support vehicles are always on hand to carry day bags which can be accessed easily.
Money and Expenses
It's a good idea to have some cash on you for incidentals, either in USD or better yet some local currency (The South Korean Won is the currency of South Korea). The won is a decimalized currency, divided into 100 jeon. The jeon is no longer used for ordinary, everyday transactions. ATMs, displaying the ‘Global’ sign which are abundant, accept foreign cards, and are the easiest ways to get Won. Most businesses in cities accept cards and foreign cards, but outside of cities this is less common. Having some US dollars in cash will enable you to convert some currency incase of card issues.
