It's been a while since I posted anything about my roadtrip to Sokcho. Winter has officially settled in Korea and I use this post to remind me of the beautiful hot summer I had this past September. 

As part of my road trip to Seokcho, I went to Seorak Mountain (설악산). I've been in Korea for little more than 2 years by now and I heard that Seorak Mountain is a must see place. Like many things in the world, I thought it might have been exaggerated and even overrated. I couldn't have been more wrong. 

Seorak-san(mountain) is the third highest mountain in South Korea, after Hallasan and Jirisan. It's located in the east, in the Taebeak Mountain Chain. If you would like to know more about this mountain and how to get there, visit the tourist website and also Wikipedia for more info.

When we arrived we wanted to take the cable car to the top of the mountain. We had to wait for about 2 hours, because of the amount of people who visited the mountain that day. While we waited, we walked up to the beautiful Buddhist temple and stopped at the big bronze Buddha Statue for a some photos. This is also where I met fellow South Africans who live and work in South Korea. We chatted for a bit, sharing quick stories and tips about our travels to follow. These chance encounters make trips feel worthwhile. We also enjoyed a cup of coffee while we waited. 

At the temple we enjoyed the beautiful misty mountain. Looking up at the mountain, one could easily get swayed to become a monk, with the serene mountain backdrop to reflect upon. This felt somewhat surreal, as if it was a scene from a movie. The view was truly spectacular as you can see from the photos below. 

Most locals and tourists alike, prefer to hike around the area. There are lots of routes and peaks to visit, but unfortunately we did not have enough time for those adventures. The trip to the top is quite beautiful and the cable car system is very efficient and takes about 50 people per ride up and down. Most people get off at the top and hike down or just walk around at the top before going down again. We just enjoyed the view and some Korean food at the top, before heading down again to make the trip back to Seoul. 

Seorak Mountain is one of the most beautiful places in South Korea and a must see, especially recommended in the fall, when the beautiful leaf colors are all over, but I've heard that this mountain is also quite nice covered in snow. This is one place that I felt was definitely not overrated. There were a lot of things to do and see and I  recommend that you get an early start to see most of it. 

Be sure to check out my other posts about this Sokcho and what we experienced while traveling around. 

I'm nearing the end of my stay in South Korea, but luckily I still have a lot to post about. I can't wait to share it with you. Keep reading and following me as I share my experiences with you on my new website, which will be up and running next year.

Until next time.