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Authentic Korea by Bicycle

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Price from
US$ 3,500
Duration
9 Days / 8 Nights
Distance
293 km
Difficulty
Tour Code
KOR-AKO
Next departure
30-Mar-2024
Number of Cycling Days5
Average Distance Per Day: 59
0
150 Km
Average Climbing Per Day: 482
0
2,250 m
Accommodation
Basic
5 Star
Total Cycling Distance293 kilometres
AccommodationIncluded
Bike HireHybrid: US$ 295
Single SupplementUS$ 560
Client Rating (based on 4 reviews)

About this Cycle Tour

South Korea seamlessly blends age-old traditions with state-of-the-art modernity. Dubbed the "Land of the Morning Calm," the peninsular nation evokes images of misty mountains, serene rivers, and ancient heritage. Yet, alongside this tranquility, throbs an electrifying pulse in the metropolitanism of its bustling cities and the technological dynamism in all things from commerce to transport.

This tour has been designed to give you a taste of authentic Korea as we ride leisurely along the country’s world-class cycling paths to discover both the old and the new. Starting in Seoul, we hit the ground running with a ramble through its historic core before spending five days cycling beside wide rivers that meander through rolling hills, vast farmlands, and thriving towns. We reserve a day for an off-saddle exploration of Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 600 years, and the tour ends back in Seoul. Most nights are spent in small cities hardly visited by foreign tourists, and during mealtimes we let loose on the diverse and delectable world of Korean cuisine!

Join us on this delightful Korean cycling journey, showcasing some of the country’s finest inland cycling routes and scenery. As the tour starts and ends in Seoul, the adventure is perfect for those who want to add an active and off-the-beaten path element to a longer Korean holiday or those with more limited time looking to make the most out of 9 days in the country.

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Itinerary

Day 1

We meet at our tour hotel and dive right into Korea’s history with a guided visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace. In the evening we enjoy our first of many Korean feasts on this tour.

Day 2

Our first day of riding offers a striking visual shift. We skirt along bike lanes that follow the paths of a greenified city canal and two meandering rivers, cycling from the heart of metropolitan Seoul into the serene rural hinterland of Gyeonggi Province.

Day 3

We continue our journey along the banks of the Bukhan River, riding north to the city of Chuncheon. Surrounded by hills on all sides, we enjoy natural vistas and scenes of rural life.

Day 4

We trade the Bukhsan for the Namhan River, cycling south along its bank towards Yeoju, the ‘City of Porcelain".

Day 5

We get a taste of ancient Korea at a tranquil Buddhist temple dating to the 6h-century AD and cycle further south along the river to Chungju. Here, we hop in the van and transfer to the small city of Sangju where we spend the night.

Day 6

Our last day of riding has us meandering east along the Nakdong River. Some of Korea’s most scenic rural scenery abounds and we spend the night in Andong, the gateway to one of the country’s best preserved cultural villages.

Day 7

Today is off-saddle as we explore the historic Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 600 years. Then, we hike up to Buyongdae Cliff for a bird's-eye view of the Nakdong River and the countryside beyond.

Day 8

We leave Andong and head back to Seoul via our support vehicle. Before taking off from Andong you can visit a nearby Korean hot spring sauna. In Seoul, we convene for a farewell dinner.

Day 9

Head to the airport for your onward flight or continue your travels in South Korea.

Elevation Profiles

Day 2 - Seoul – Namyangju Ride 60km. +500m / -500m.
Day 2 - Seoul – Namyangju Ride 60km. +500m / -500m.

Reviews

Excellent guide, great biking trails, and amazing food. This is the way to see Korea.

Tamir GoldsteinAugust 2019

Great family friendly ride, full of interest and adventure.

John McgillivrayApril 2019

The South Korea bike tour was excellent. The bike paths used and infrastructure were superb. The guide was one of the most competent and personable that I have experienced in over 50 guided bike trips.

Herbert KavetMay 2017

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Tours in: South Korea

Authentic Korea by Bicycle
Tour CodeKOR-AKO
9Days
8Nights
DestinationsSouth Korea
Tour MeetsSeoul
Tour EndsSeoul
Fly in toIncheon International Airport (ICN)
Fly out ofIncheon International Airport (ICN)
Group Size4-16 riders
Minimum Age18 (on scheduled departures)

Activity Profile

5Cycling days
293kmTotal cycling distance
59kmAvg distance / day
482mAvg climbing / day

Pricing

PriceUS$ 3,500
Bike Hire (Hybrid)US$ 295
Single SupplementUS$ 560

What's Included

  • SpiceRoads jersey
  • Water bottle
  • Support vehicle
  • Guide(s)
  • Meals (as indicated)
  • Accommodation
  • Snacks and drinks

What's Excluded

  • International flights
  • Domestic flights
  • Airport pick up
  • Airport drop off
  • Visa fees
  • Alcohol
  • Tips

Departures

30 March - 07 April 2024
11 May - 19 May 2024
31 August - 08 September 2024

Trip Profile

On this tour, we cycle 293 km in five cycling days, predominantly on the country’s world-class cycling paths. For the most part, these paths follow the rivers though at times, they divert more inland. Some portions will be on rural roads where mild vehicle traffic may be expected . At the beginning of the cycling route in Seoul we’ll be riding in bike lanes. On some days we’ll be using the support van to get to the cycling start point or get from the end point to the day’s hotel. Your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This trip is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and some experience spending several hours in the saddle. This trip is not too arduous; however, daily distances are between 50 - 70 km and there are gradual climbs of up to 500 m. Riders with less experience are more than welcome, but the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy it.

Biking Conditions: This trip is primarily on dedicated bicycle paths in very good condition. The terrain is mostly flat though there are some undulating sections.

Day 1 Arrive in Seoul

We meet at our tour hotel in Seoul at 13:00 hrs. (01:00 PM) and waste no time diving into Korea’s enigmatic history. Using Seoul’s excellent public transportation system, we’ll head to the city’s historic core and visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. This massive walled complex houses beautifully adorned royal halls, traditional architecture, and serene courtyards, harking back to the early days of the Josean Dynasty who ruled the Korean Peninsula for a whopping five centuries! We’ll also stroll through the nearby neighborhood of Insa-Dong which – crammed with boutiques, craft shops, cafes, and eateries – showcases that seamless blend of old and new so characteristic of Seoul. In the evening we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner - our first of many Korean feasts on this tour!

New Seoul Hotel
Dinner

Day 2 Seoul – Namyangju

Our first day of riding involves a striking visual shift from mega city to countryside. Starting from the heart of metropolitan Seoul we ride on designated bike lanes, avoiding congestion while still feeling the high-octane energy of the capital city all around us. For the first 8 km we follow the path of the Cheonggyecheon Stream, a greenified urban waterway which cuts right through the city. We will then loop onto the Han River Bike Path, riding around 40 km along waterfront roads, parks, and promenades. Along the way we’ll see many local cycling enthusiasts enjoying rides of their own - Seoul is truly one of the most cycling friendly cities in the world! The further we press forward, however, the crowds thin out and Seoul’s skylane and urban sprawl begins to fade in the distance. Approaching the confluence of the Han and Bukhan River, it will be as if we have been transported to a different world. The final 20 km of the ride are north along a bike path following the course of the Bukhan River, surrounded by lush countryside and rolling hills. We spend the night near the city of Namyangju in Gyeonggi Province.

Namyangju Story Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 60km
+500m
-500m

Day 3 Namyangju – Chuncheon

We continue our journey along the banks of the Bukhan River, riding north to the city of Chuncheon. While, for the most part, the riding is relatively flat with no big climbs, we are pretty much surrounded by a topography of rolling hills at all times – 70% of South Korea is covered by hills and mountain ranges after all! The initial 10 km of the ride are along the river before cutting through a cultivated valley floor, cycling past a mix of open fields, farmlands, and communities buzzing with life. At 30 km we rejoin the Bukhan River and we’ll be skirting along its course all the way to Chuncheon. Along the way we’ll be crossing multiple bridges and enjoy long stretches of quiet, backcountry riding along forested hillsides. Tonight we stay in Chuncheon which , besides being well known for “dakgalbi” (Korean style chicken and vegetable stir-fry), is perhaps most famous for being the setting for the enormously popular K-drama series, Winter Sonata.

Chuncheon Sejong Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 61km
+502m
-473m

Day 4 Chuncheon – Yeoju

We take a short transfer in the support van to get us back to the vicinity of Namyangju. Here we saddle up and follow the Bukhsan River south to a convergence with the Namhan River, another of South Korea’s major waterways. We follow its course southwards to the city of Yeoju. This is another fantastic day of cycling along a dedicated cycling path hugging the river, offering an endless photoreal of scenes of life in central Korea. At times rural and at times more urban, the visuals are ever changing, though always accompanied by the river and rolling hills! We end the ride in the city of Yeoju, renowned for its centuries-old heritage of ceramic craftsmanship, particularly its exquisite Korean porcelain, which has earned it the title of "City of Porcelain."

Sun Valley Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 72km
+573m
-564m

Day 5 Yeoju – Sangju

We begin our day with a short ride to Silleuksa Temple. Here we get a taste of ancient Korea as we explore this splendid Buhddhist temple complex situated by the river and dating back to the 6th-century AD. We’ll learn about the early days of Buddhism in Korea and appreciate the well-preserved architecture, such as the main hall adorned with exquisite ceramic roof tiles, each intricately designed with floral motifs. Back on our bikes, we continue south along the Namhan River bike path, cutting through serene rural landscapes covered with rice paddies and villages. Our cycling end point is Chungju where we’ll hop in the support van and transfer to the small city of Sangju where we spend the night.

Sangju Hanok
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 50km
+436m
-410m

Day 6 Sangju – Andong

On our last riding day we switch rivers one final time as we cycle east from Sangju along the Nakdong River. This is a particularly scenic rural area, with the river – and our cycling route – braiding its way through rice paddies, vegetable farms, quaint villages, and dense woodlands. While we stick to the valley floor, panoramas of the lush hillscape surrounding us are ever present. We end the ride near Andong Hahoe Village and then hop in the van to get to our hotel in nearby Andong city. Hahoe Village deserves a couple of hours on its own so we will return again the following day to give it our full attention!

Andong Goryeo Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 50km
+399m
-340m

Day 7 Andong Hahoe Village

Today is set aside for an off-saddle exploration of Andong Hahoe Village, a treasure trove of Korean history and traditions dating back 600 years. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village displays the pre-modern, clan-based lifeways of rural Korea at the time of the Joseon Dynasty. We will wander the winding streets and peek into the well-preserved tile-roofed houses known as hanok. The village is also renowned for its expressive and colorful wooden masks which are used in performances of Korean folklore. After our ground-level exploration of the village, we'll hike up to the nearby Buyongdae Cliff, affording us a bird's-eye view of the picturesque Nakdong River and the sprawling countryside that stretches beyond.

Andong Goryeo Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Andong – Seoul

This morning, there is an option to visit a nearby Korean hot spring sauna (known as jjimjilbang) and soothe your muscles before we head back to Seoul. The transfer time is around 3 hours and after checking into the hotel we’ll reconvene for a farewell dinner. A shot or two of soju may be in order to celebrate our cycling achievements!

Kensington Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Departure from Seoul

After breakfast, depart for your onward journey. For those looking to extend their stay in South Korea, we suggest flying to Jeju Island to discover its volcanic landscapes or taking the train to Busan to explore the country’s second biggest city, located on the East Sea coast.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are Scott Sportster X40 hybrid bikes with lightweight alloy frames, light gears, disc brakes, and Shimano components. You're free to bring own pedals, (rail type) seat, and handlebar extensions.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Passports and Visas

Passport holders up to 101 countries do not require a visa to visit South Korea from 30 – 90 days. A complete list of visa-exempt countries is here.

Update on K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization): The South Korean government has announced that it will temporarily exempt travelers from 22 countries from the K-ETA requirement. Beginning April 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, travelers from 22 countries will no longer need to apply for K-ETA before entering the country. See here for more details and the list of exempt countries. The U.S, U.K. and Australia are on the exempt list. If you are on the exempt list then there is no need to apply. However, if your passport is not on the exempt list then make sure to get your K-ETA approved before departure via this website.

For more information on the Korean entry process, please see this website

Health

No vaccinations are needed.

Weather

Korea has four very distinct seasons: spring from mid-March to the end of May; summer from June to August can be very hot and sticky; September through end of November is fall; and winter from December to mid-March. The best time of year to visit is autumn, when skies are blue, the weather is usually sunny and warm and the forested mountainsides are ablaze with astonishing fall colours. Spring, from April to June, is another beautiful season, with generally mild temperatures and cherry blossoms spreading north across the country in April. Winters in the north are colder than in the more southerly Busan or Jeju Island.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Korean cuisine is largely based upon rice, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes. Kimchi (traditional fermented vegetables) is served often, sometimes at every meal. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Korea, but is NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$30 a day for incidentals. Tipping is not customary in Korea. Guides have received and accepted tips on a voluntary basis.

Money

The currency in South Korea is the won (W) ATMs with a ‘Global’ sign often accept foreign cards. Most Global ATMs have basic instructions in English and mostly have a W700,000 limit. Motels, hotels, shops and restaurants in cities and tourist areas accept foreign credit cards, but there are still plenty of restaurants and small businesses that don’t. Be prepared to carry around some cash, especially when we are touring outside the main cities.

General booking info

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

Booking a SpiceRoads cycling adventure is easy and we try to do everything possible to make sure you have full flexibility and peace of mind. We do not require a deposit to hold your place on a tour and once full payment has been made your money is protected in our client account and you have the flexibility to cancel or change your booking if needed.

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us, we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for a loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

Newsletter

Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from SpiceRoads, be sure to subscribe.

The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary

Contact Us

45 (Sub Soi Pannee) Soi Pridi Banomyong 26
Sukhumvit Soi 71 Klongtan Nua, Wattana
Bangkok, Thailand 10110
Tel: +66 (0) 2 026 3295
Email: info@spiceroads.com
Website: www.spiceroads.com