A 30-minute flight east of Seoul takes visitors to the cities of Gangneung, Samcheok and Sokcho. Any one of the three cities could be used as a base to visit the excellent beaches in the area or to go mountain climbing or skiing, depending on the season.
Spectacular Seoraksan and Odaesan National Parks easily warrant several days for exploring their many hiking trails, which get crowded but are beautiful when the leaves change color in the fall. All along the coast are pavilions where ancient scholars once gathered to sip wine and observe the moon.
We suggest at least a two-night stay on the eastern coast.
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