Fall in ♥ with Seoraksan National Park

This is meant to be one of the most beautiful places on earth for me, a very peaceful sanctuary with breathtaking views especially during the Fall / Autumn season.

Seoraksan National Park is one of South Korea's most famous national parks , Seoraksan exhibits the highest level of splendor and sensation by displaying various forms and colors that nature can offer during the four seasons. 

General info: There are many activities to do here such as hiking, camping, volunteering to clean up the hiking traits, cable car and of course enjoying the nature itself. The following hiking trails are recommended: the Sinheungsa Temple area, the Cheonbuldong Valley area past Biseondae, and the Jujeongol area trail that begins at the Osaek Mineral Waters. If you take the cable car, you can enjoy the beauty of the crimson foliage unfolding under your feet as you travel up to the Gwongeumseong Castle, and once there you can take an easy hike.

How to get there: Daily buses run from Gangnam Express Bus Terminal or Dongseoul Bus Terminal in East Seoul to Sokcho City. The journey takes around 3 - 4 hours, there is a 20 minutes rest stop after 2 hours. The fare is about 17, 300 - 2o, 700  KRW  (fares might change). You can then get a taxi easily to the park which will cost around 12,000+ KRW. 

Time & Admissions:  the gate opens at 6.30 am and it's best to during the spring and autumn season. The entrance fee is 3,500 KRW but there are also additional fees if you are interested in join other activities. Visit their official website HERE for more info. 

My experience: This was a 1 day trip for me and my family. As soon as we arrived , we bought the return tickets as recommended by our guesthouse owner that tickets are sold out quickly during peak hours.

It's also better if you had your breakfast or lunch when you arrive at Sokcho city as the food prices are more reasonable there than inside the park. There are many good restaurants beside the bus terminal. The restaurant we went to was just  5 minutes away from the terminal, walk behind the terminal and it's just opposite the bus stop. 

Make sure to try their various fish dishes and side dishes which Sokcho is proudly famous for. It took a while for the owner to prepare all those dishes for us as she was cooking everything by herself but really worth waiting because everything was very delicious and a tasted different than the dishes in Seoul. 

We didn't get to hike long distances as we only had 6 hours there, the tourist information center at the park recommended to hike to the "Biryong Falls" as it would take about 2 hours to walk there and back. Well, it would take more than that when you start taking pictures and rest during your walk. Wear hiking shoes if possible as some areas might be slippery while walking and also don't forget to check the weather forecast in advance.There are also many facilities inside the park and as you are hiking as toilets, restaurants and small stalls.

You can also visit some of Sokcho's attractions before or after your hiking such as the local markets or Seokbong Ceramics & Pottery Museum. 

I had this wonderful opportunity to finally see the beautiful fall leaves that I was always dreaming of. The magnificent views and  natural treasures in this park are just priceless and I am always looking forward to visit this place again one day soon!

*Disclaimer: All pictures are taken by me, please do not use without asking my permission, thank you. 
Credits: Wikipedia, english.visitkorea.or.kr, www.frommers.com, thesouthkoreatravelguide