Seoraksan Day Trip from Seoul A: Sokcho Beach, Naksansa Temple & East Coast Scenery
Experience Korea’s most beloved national park and stunning East Coast on this Seoraksan day trip from Seoul combining mountain adventure with ocean beauty. Depart Seoul for the scenic drive to Sokcho, home of Seoraksan National Park – Korea’s most celebrated national park featuring UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation and dramatic landscapes that have inspired Korean art for centuries. Begin with the Seoraksan Cable Car ride (9 minutes, 743 meters elevation) to Gwongeumseong Fortress, an ancient mountain fortress with breathtaking panoramic views of granite peaks, deep valleys, and the East Sea stretching to the horizon.
Visit historic Sinheungsa Temple with its impressive 14.6-meter Unification Buddha statue cast from 108 tons of bronze – one of Asia’s largest seated Buddha sculptures. Continue to the dramatic seaside Naksansa Temple in Yangyang, founded in 671 AD by renowned monk Uisang-daesa. This clifftop temple complex offers stunning East Sea views and features Hongryeonam Hermitage, a spiritual retreat perched dramatically on ocean cliffs with incredible sunrise and sunset views.
Walk Sokcho’s beautiful beach, enjoy fresh seafood at Sokcho Fish Market, and experience why this coastal city is beloved by Korean travelers. This private day tour from Seoul with English-speaking guide and comfortable vehicle is perfect for nature lovers, hikers, and travelers seeking Korea’s most dramatic natural scenery in a single comprehensive day trip. Experience why Seoraksan has inspired centuries of Korean poetry and painting.