A soulful course listening to the whispers of the forest and the murmurs of the sea!

It is a course including Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, and Goseong-gun, and visits an artificial island shaped like the Korean Peninsula, Paro Lake, a rainbow beach with rainbow-colored curbstones, and the East Sea.

Details

Hwacheon Ring Bridge & Arle Theme Arboretum Park

Arle Theme Arboretum Park is a place that was renamed from what was called the Georye-ri Love Tree. The arboretum park is quiet and good for healing, and since it is directly connected to the Bukhangang River bicycle path, it is popular among bicycle club members. Also, at the end of the arboretum park's walking trail there is a ring-shaped Ring Bridge, which is good for proposals and couple photos.

Korean Peninsula Island

Hanbando Island in Paro Lake is an artificial island shaped like the Korean Peninsula in the middle of the lake, created alongside the largest wetland in Korea, covering 1.63 million square meters, at the upper reaches of Paro Lake. A wooden deck path connects to the island, making it a pleasant walking trail where you can stroll in the lakeside breeze.
Stop by the Hanbando Island Observatory on the Dongsu-ri side, across the lake, to take in the island as a whole. A short climb up the stairs from the observatory brings Paro Lake and Hanbando Island into a single view. Opportunities to take in the sky, the lake, and lush forests are rare these days; here you can feel a refreshing openness that clears both your eyes and your mind.

National Central Observatory

The Gukto Jeongjungang Astronomical Observatory is located near the geographic center of Korea so that visitors can observe the sky from the country's heart. It houses an 80cm reflecting telescope as its main instrument, along with an exhibition hall offering the latest astronomical information and various hands-on learning experiences, and a planetarium where you can enjoy a digital virtual night sky.

Wondae-ri Birch Forest (Whispering Birch Forest)

The Wondae-ri Birch Forest, a nature and ecotourism site near Inje-eup, was created by planting 690,000 birch trees over 138 ha between 1974 and 1995; today, 25 ha of it is operated as a forest experience center for young children. Visitors can explore the birch forest on foot after registering at the entrance. The forest can only be reached by walking along the forest road that starts at the Birch Forest Information Center at the entrance. There are two forest roads: the Wonjeong Forest Road, which takes about 80 minutes on foot, and the Wondae Forest Road, which takes about 1 hour. Climbing along the hiking trail reveals a dense forest of birch trees more than 20 years old. With their white bark reaching toward the sky, the birches create an exotic atmosphere.
This space was created to discover and share the ecological, aesthetic, and educational values unique to the birch forest, and it has become a nature and ecotourism destination representing Inje-gun. Entry is restricted during the spring (February 1~May 15) and autumn (November 1~November 15) forest fire prevention closure periods, and the schedule may change depending on weather and on-site conditions.
Don't Miss
In winter, the forest blanketed in white snow and the pure white birches combine to make this a popular spot for photography. Families with children can also enjoy various nature-themed activities at the children's forest experience center, such as the forest classroom and the Indian house.

Baekdamsa Temple

Baekdamsa Temple is a representative temple in Inner Seorak, located above the Baekdam Valley where the clear waters flowing from the Gayadong Valley and Gugokdam meet, serving as a guide for those climbing Inner Seorak. It was founded by Master Jajang in the first year of Queen Jindeok, the 28th ruler of Silla (647), and was initially called Hangyesa, but later was named Baekdamsa because there were 100 pools from Daecheongbong Peak to the temple. It was destroyed about ten times and rebuilt in 1957 after the Korean War, making it a temple with many historical ups and downs. It houses relics such as Master Jajang's sarira stupa and a small seven-story jade pagoda bestowed to Master Seoljeong during the reign of King Injo, and its hermitages include Yeongsiam, Oseam, and Bongjeongam. In addition, Baekdamsa is famous as the place where Manhae Han Yong-un (1879–1944) shaved his head and practiced. While Manhae spent his time there writing to revive the national spirit through arduous suffering for the nation and its people, former President Chun Doo-hwan and his wife are said to have repented while living in exile here. On one side of the valley in front of Baekdamsa, there are countless stone pagodas, built by people who visited Baekdamsa over many years making wishes.

Ayajin Beach

This place, 6km north of Sokcho and about 500m in from National Route 7, has beautiful surrounding scenery, and the number of summer visitors increases every year. Large and small rocks, clear sea, and clean white sand beach combine to make it suitable as a family summer resort. The white sand beach is 600m long and 50m wide, and the water depth is 1.5~2m up to 30m from the beach. Here, you can buy fresh squid cheaply early in the morning, so more people are deliberately visiting this place.

Songjiho Beach

Songjiho Beach, about 14 km north of Sokcho, surrounds Songjiho Lagoon, which was designated a national tourist site in October 1977. The white sand beach is 2 km long and 100 m wide, with clear and shallow water, and nearby are Jukdo Island and Seoraksan Mountain, making it a place to enjoy in many ways. In front of the sea lies Jukdo Island, made of bamboo and bizarre rocks with beautiful scenery, making it a beach blessed by nature.