10 Best Ski Resorts in South Korea for an all-rounded hassle-free skiing experience
Skiing has become one of the hottest (or should we say...coolest?) winter sports in recent years 😛 If you are traveling to South Korea during winter, and are looking for a place to try out this exhilarating winter activity, the ski slopes are definitely a must-go no matter if you are a skiing beginner or enthusiast!
Don’t worry if you're a first-timer itching to catch onto this skiing hype or a family wanting to spend some quality time together by doing something different. These ski resorts will cover your every need imaginable, all you have to do is pack and go!
✨South Korea Winter Necessities
🎿Skiing Essentials
+ transport to and from Seoul
🍓More winter activities
1. Vivaldi Park Ski World (비발디 파크 스키월드)
Known for being the filming destination for many famous Korean dramas (Legend of the Blue Sea, That Winter The Wind Blows, and more), this utterly picturesque destination is the perfect winter wonderland in South Korea!
Vivaldi Park has 12 slopes in total, and it has something different to offer for all levels of skiers (2 for beginners, 5 for intermediate, 4 for advanced, and 1 for the experts).
The best part about Vivaldi Park is its close proximity to Seoul. If you are planning a road trip, Vivaldi Park is only about a 1.5-hour drive away from the city, and is also located near the gorgeous Nami Island! If you prefer doing a day tour, check out these Vivaldi Park packages that come with 2D1N packages (shuttle bus transfers and accoms included!), private lesson packages, and more!
If Kids can enjoy sledding at Snowy Land, a theme park with 4 unique slopes for snow sleds and other winter attractions and rides where children can enjoy the fun of a snowy winter holiday.
Families or even groups of friends looking to spend a little more time hitting the slopes can also consider 2D1N Vivaldi Park ski/snowboard packages. This is great if you don't want to pack all that skiing into a single day, and want to enjoy learning the sport at your own pace. The package includes accommodation as well as all your ski/snowboard equipment rental, and round-trip transfers too.
Address: 262 Hanchigol-gil, Seo-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
2. Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort (엘리시안 강촌 스키장)
Enjoy a fun-filled day at Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort, another winter wonderland with activities for both the young and old. New-joiners to the sport can take the basic ski lesson which will teach you how to properly wear ski attire and the basics of skiing, while the pros can hit the slopes at their own pace.
There's also a sledding section here - so no worries for those who aren't ready to take on skiing just yet!
If you'd like to have a nice hot beverage after your ski activity, there's a Klook Exclusive Elysian Ski Resort Lounge package which includes:
- Admission to attractions
- Chinese / English / Korean / Cantonese-speaking guide
- Round-trip transfers to and from the meet-up location at Hongik University Station
- Starbucks Coffee & Hershey Hot Chocolate at the Klook Lounge, exclusive for those who booked the package 😉
Address: 688 Bukhangangbyeon-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
3. Oak Valley Ski Resort (오크밸리 스키장)
Image credit: South Korea Tourism
Oak Valley Snow Park is a premium ski resort that houses both beginner and advanced slope courses (they have a different theme for every course!). Oak Valley is only a 1.5-hour ride from Seoul, making it a convenient day trip out of the city.
At Oak Valley, you get to join small-group lessons taught by professional instructors (possibly if you're lucky, even an instructor who competed in the Olympics)! There's also a Golf Village, which offers a straight course (for those who are hankering for extra speed) along with a kids-exclusive course for the younger ones.
Oak Valley ski or snowboard packages include:
- 1 day lift ticket(s)
- Chinese / English / Korean / Cantonese-speaking guide
- Round-trip transfers to and from the meet-up location at Hongik Univ. Station or Myeongdong Station
- Ski / Ski boots / Ski jacket / Ski pants / 120-minute Ski lesson (or snowboarding gear + snowboard lesson if you opt for snowboarding)
Ski Season: December to February
Address: 58, Oak valley 2-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do
4. Yong Pyong Resort (용평 리조트)
Located around 3 hours away from Seoul and accessible by shuttle buses or public buses, Yong Pyong Resort is the largest ski resort in South Korea and is the official venue for the technical alpine skiing events of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Young Pyong Resort has 28 ski slopes of various levels. Beginners can familiarise themselves with the Mega Green route, while the pros can test themselves along the Rainbow Paradise course (5.6 km long), the 2nd longest skiing slope in South Korea.
For those who want to take a break from all the skiing, be sure to try out a gondola that can take you to the most scenic part of the resort – Dragon Peak as well!
At the peak, you can take in the amazing snowy landscape of the Greater Kaeku Mountain Range while relaxing in the coffee shop, Korean restaurant, or steakhouse located in a traditional Swiss-style building housing on the peak.
For avid fans of Korean dramas, you will be no stranger to the gondola ride and the Dragon Peak. This is the place where Shin (Gong Yoo) and Eun-Tak (Kim Go-Eun) in the drama “Goblin: The Lonely and Great God” hit off some of the most romantic scenes in the TV series.
Book your one-day ski tour here which includes:
Basic package:
- Chinese / English-speaking guide
- Round-trip transfers
- Toll fees
- Parking fees
- Ski poles, boots, and skis
- 30-minute beginner’s lesson
Full package:
- Chinese / English-speaking guide
- Round-trip transfers
- Toll fees
- Parking fees
- Ski poles, boots, skis, and a ski suit
- 2-hour skiing lesson
- Ski lift pass
Ski Season: Mid-November to Early April
Address: (232-950) 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea
5. Alpensia Ski Resort (알펜시아리조트 스키장)
How can you tell if a place is good for skiing? Maybe being the primary host venue for the Winter Olympics would be a good indicator! Alpensia is the main event site for the 2018 Winter Olympics and was built to help the Gangwon Province win the bid for the Winter Olympics, and just a short 5-minute ride away from Yong Pyong!
Being the main venue of the Winter Olympics already says a lot about the quality of the facilities and snow at Alpensia. The snow here is what many ski enthusiasts affectionally refer to as “snow powder”, which is the best form of snow to ski on.
Don’t worry if you are not a ski expert! The 6 ski routes available at Alpensia are now specially curated to cater to beginner to intermediate skiers. Alpensia also has a dedicated sledge field which is great fun for the whole family. If you are more into snowboarding or just want to spice things up a bit by trying out something other than skiing, the site also features an exclusive zone for snowboarders to practice their skills.
If you are planning to explore the surrounding area for a few more days, Alpensia is also a good place to stay since the resort offers a wide range of accommodations for visitors, including The Intercontinental Hotel, Holiday Inn Resort Hotel, and Holiday Inn & Suite.
Ski Season: November to March
Address: 325, Solbong-ro, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
6. High1 Resort (하이원리조트 스키장)
High1 Resort is one of the best skiing places for groups of friends or family with different skiing skills.
Surrounded by 3 adjacent peaks (Jijang Mountain Peak, Valley Top and Mountain Hub), the 20 routes available at High1 Resort are mostly interconnected. Some beginner slopes are even situated right next to the intermediate and advanced ones, so that you can happily ski along with your friends, no matter if you are a beginner or a pro! Also, most of the slopes are served by an inter-web of chairlifts, so that you can easily access or revisit any of the ski routes.
Source: High 1 Resort Official Website
For those who wish to challenge themselves, the three giant slopes that start from the top of Baekunsan Mountain (1,340 m) are the must-go places for you!
If you would like to enjoy the breathtaking view of Baekunsan Mountain, you can also take the gondola, which will take you to the peak where you can dine on the panoramic view of Naejangsan and Taebaeksan at the “Top of the Top” 360-degrees revolving restaurant.
Ski Season: early December to early April
Address: 500, High1-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
7. Jisan Forest Ski Resort (지산 포레스트 리조트 스키장)
If you are in Seoul and short on time but still want to squeeze in some skiing before you go, then Jisan Forest Ski Resort is just the place for you!
Located around 1 hour away from Seoul, Jisan is a popular spot for skiing for those living in the city, especially families going on a day trip. Apart from being beginner-friendly, Jisan is especially suitable for families with kids. While they have several slopes specially designed to cater to beginners and kids, they also have a dedicated snow sledging slope that guarantees some easy fun for both adults and kids alike.
The J. Plaza, right at the bottom of all the slopes, is a large cafeteria-styled restaurant where you can take a break, get yourself refreshed for another round of skiing, or just chill and enjoy the view of the ski resort.
The very popular Everland Theme Park (the largest theme park in South Korea) is located around 20 minutes away from Jisan. Since night skiing is also available at Jisan, you can choose to visit Everland in the early afternoon, enjoy their rides and zoo, and spend your night skiing at Jisan, or you can do it the other way around. The choice is yours, but this would definitely make for a very exciting one-day excursion from Seoul.
Ski season: Late November to Late March
Address: 267, Jisan-ro, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
8. Welli Hilli Ski Resort (웰리힐리파크 스노우파크)
Located around Sulibong Peak in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Welli Hilli Park is a resort complex that offers the perfect skiing environment thanks to its location which sees heavy snowfall. Did you know? The snow park is especially popular among snowboarders and was the first ski resort in Asia to host the World Snowboard Championships in 2009!
With 19 slopes, state-of-the-art facilities including gondolas that can transport 20,000 skiers per hour, and an automatic snow-management system - guests are assured of a fun and fuss-free experience for all, whether you want to ski or snowboard!
Snowboarders can use the large-scale half-pipe and fun park, while skiers enjoy the mogul course. Outside of the winter ski season, guests can enjoy golfing at the public greens.
Ski Season: Late November - Late March
Address: 451, Gowon-ro, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do
9. Busan Eden Valley Ski Resort (에덴밸리스키장 (에덴밸리리조트)
Enjoy skiing with a view and surrounded by snow-capped mountains at Busan Eden Valley Resort! Located high on Sinbulsan Mountain this ski resort is home to 7 ski slopes. While it is smaller than the other mega ski resorts, it is still a good option for those who are based in Busan and would like to have a day or two dedicated to skiing and snowboarding.
Ski Season: December - Late February
Address: 1206 Eosil-ro, Wondong-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
10. Konjiam Ski Resort (곤지암리조트 스키장)
Konjiam Ski Resort has large-scale ski slopes that are perfect for every skier - whether season or beginner, so you are sure to find a favorite slope while you're here! The best part about Konjiam Ski Resort is also its location and convenience. Since it's only 40 minutes away from Gangnam, you don't have to travel far to find some good powder snow slopes!
Besides the ski resort, Konjiam also boasts condominiums, a spa, a botanical garden, and other subsidiary facilities as a multi-complex premium resort - which means you also get to enjoy other types of entertainment or even stay here!
Ski Season: December - Late February
Address: 278, Docheogwit-ro, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Bonus: Cheongsong Ice Valley (청송 얼음골)
Ok, this isn't a ski resort - but we still want to include it in this list of cool things to do in Korea in winter! CheongSong Ice Valley is one of the most famous ice valleys in Korea, and it is located 3 hours away from Seoul.
Many come to marvel at the spectacular wonder, and of course, take cool #OOTDs here. Doesn't it kinda remind you of Elsa's Ice Palace?
Address: South Korea, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Cheongsong-gun, Pudong-myŏn
Pohang Spacewalk - a walkable roller coaster!
Hometown Cha-cha-cha Market
If you're interested in visiting Cheongsong Ice Valley, check out this tour that also includes a stop at Pohang Spacewalk and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha Market. Round-trip transfers from Busan Station are included!
Don't forget your winter in Korea essentials!
✨South Korea Winter Necessities
🎿Skiing Essentials
+ transport to and from Seoul
🍓More winter activities
