Private Tour

Private Hiking to Bukhansan & Korean Style Spa(Include Lunch)

Overview

Available languages

English

7 hours

Mobile ticket

Over view

Bukhansan Mountain is the national park located closest to Seoul and is considered the most frequently visited mountain in Korea. Key sights along the trek are Bugak Skyway Octagonal Pavilion Observatory, Seunggasa Temple and ‘Rock of North Korean Spies’. Classified as an easy course, Gugidong is suitable for beginners. Trekking time is between 2 – 4 hours subject to individual pace.

Highlights

• Half day trekking in Bukhansan National Park with an experienced mountain expert. Extended or shorten trekking possible

• Trek past the granite peaks of Mt Bukhan to a mountain stream and Seunggasa Temple

• Pass the notorious rock where North Korean spies were ambushed during the 1968, Jan 21st raid

• Delicious traditional Korean lunch

• Korean-style Sauna

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children(Over 8Years) must be accompanied by an adult

Comfortable Dress and Walking Shoes

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Bottled water

Driving Guide and Mountain Expert

Authentic Korean Lunch

Korean Style Spa

Air-conditioned vehicle

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

We are going to hike to Bukhansan Gugi-dong course, where Koreans hike the mountain most often, and hike two hours along a relatively easy trail. And We will visit Buddhist temple called Seunggasa which has 1,000 years history and only lady monks staying temple. Tourist can hear the story about Korean Buddhism and their long history. After the hiking, We are going to eat Korean authentic lunch at the downtown area near to the Bukhansan and will go to Korea style Sauna for refreshing..!!

Options

Private Hiking to Bukhansan & Korean Style Spa(Include Lunch)

Pickup included

Reviews

4.74

31 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

My Honest Review of the Bukhansan Hike — A Trip of Highs, Lows, and Lessons
Angela W,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00
I rarely write long reviews, but this Bukhansan hiking experience deserves a full and transparent account — both for future travellers and for the operator. 1. A Chaotic Start: Technical Issues & Miscommunication The problems began even before the hike started. Viator required an additional online form, and despite entering my correct pickup address, the form mysteriously populated an old address—possibly a technical glitch or cached data that wasn’t cleared. To make matters worse, there was no record of my earlier conversation with Kim where he had already confirmed the correct pickup location. So on the actual morning, everything unraveled. 2. Pickup Disaster & an Extremely Unpleasant Phone Call When the pickup went wrong — through no fault of ours — we received a harsh and unnecessary lecture from Kim over the phone. While we were scrambling to secure two taxis from Gangnam to the northern side of Seoul during peak hours, Kim insisted on repeatedly “fact checking” in a stern, accusatory tone. Despite multiple polite and gentle requests to resolve the misunderstanding in person when we arrived, he continued speaking sharply, which only added stress to an already hectic situation. Even after meeting in person, the issue was still not dropped. We ended up apologizing simply to keep the day moving, even though the mistake wasn’t ours and we never asked for any compensation for the extra taxi fares or the wasted time. This was an extremely disappointing start to what should have been a beautiful hiking experience. 3. The Silver Lining: Spectacular Hike & Kim’s Guiding Skills Once we finally began the hike, things improved dramatically. The Bukhansan fall scenery was breathtaking, and in fairness, Kim is undeniably knowledgeable. He commanded attention with his storytelling on: • Korean history & culture • Local biodiversity • Geomancy (feng shui influences in the mountains) On the trail, he was competent, alert, and safety-focused — always pointing out risky sections, choosing safer paths, and adjusting to our pace. Lunch was simple, local and delicious. From a mountain guiding perspective, Kim is very capable. 4. The Mood Breaker: Completely Inappropriate Topics Unfortunately, the experience dipped again due to some extremely inappropriate conversations. Kim openly discussed: • how Koreans dislike Communists, • how he personally “wants to shoot Putin,” • and how he appreciates Singapore because of the death penalty. These are not topics that belong in a leisure hike with a group of ladies trying to enjoy nature. The mood noticeably dipped among my fellow hikers. 5. My Sincere Advice for Improvement Kim absolutely has the potential to be a fantastic mountain guide, but hospitality requires more than skill — it requires attitude, sensitivity, and professionalism. My personal advice: • Please be a gentleman in communication. • Confirm pickup details clearly, and avoid assumptions. • Avoid discussing politics, violence or sensitive topics with guests. • Provide clearer itinerary descriptions, especially terrain details, because not all guests are seasoned hikers. Many guests may not have the same patience we had, and I genuinely hope this review helps you grow into an even better version of yourself. Final Thoughts This trip was a mix of stressful lows and unforgettable highs. The mountain itself was spectacular, the hike was rewarding, but the communication issues and inappropriate commentary did cloud the overall experience. I sincerely wish the operator success, and hope future travellers can enjoy the incredible beauty of Bukhansan with a more polished, considerate guiding approach.
Stunning hike, tasty lunch, and relaxing spa—perfect Seoul day!
Lesley R,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Incredible day! The Bukhansan hike was beautiful, the lunch was delicious and the spa was so relaxing. Couldn’t ask for a better mix of adventure and culture.
Great experience. Highly recommend.
204alisiag,
Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Bennie is the best. Gave great information on the history of Seoul. The hike was so great. Loved every minute up to the 108 step to the Carved Buddha on the mountain. Highly recommend this tour. Helps to be fit and familiar with hiking. The meal after was great.
Benny was a fantastic...
Jo C,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Benny was a fantastic guide - very welcoming and knowledgeable- and the tour was excellent. Great for solo traveller.
A wonderful experience!
648terrancel,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Kim was THE BEST!!! We had a great time hiking to the temple. The scenery was INCREDIBLE the entire trip and the views were breathtaking at the top. Kim was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed all the conversations! We brought our 16 year old daughter with us and Kim was good at including her in the conversation. She thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a snack at the temple made by the monks and then after, he took us to a local korean restaurant which was delicious. We had a wonderful full day and would definitely book with Kim again!
A great outdoor excursion and cultural learning experience! Highly recommend
Kelley I,
Jun 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Andy was great - as was the hike! We thoroughly enjoyed learning about Korean culture and history. It was a nice workout too! We told him what we wanted to eat and he found the perfect place for exactly what we asked for. A great day!
Once in a life time experience.
A5933SLjuliaj,
Jun 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had the best time with Kim. He took us on the most magical hike and the experience felt once in a lifetime. The meal we had after our beautiful hike was so delicious and home cooked and the spa we ended up going to wasn't pretentious at all. It felt like a neighborhood spot all the ladies close by go to...it was totally a glimpse into everyday life in Seoul. I highly recommend this tour...so worth the money! Thank you Kim!
This was truly a special...
Leanne G,
Apr 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was truly a special experience for our family! Mr. Kim guided us on our hike up Mt. Bukhansan. We learned so much about the history of Korea. Hiking to the temple was so amazing! Lunch was delicious and our jimjilbang (spa) experience was incredible!! It was a wonderful way to start our family vacation. We loved it.
Hiking in Korea
Whitney L,
Nov 8, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
The hiking experience was a great experience. The hike was about 3 miles. Pretty steep at some places. Lots of rocks to climb on way up and then roadway down. Kim was very knowledgeable and explained a lot about Seoul. The lunch was at a traditional Korean location and was so delicious! The spa experience definitely helped relax all the leg muscles from the hike. I recommend doing this tour!
Great day out
rachelwE4574TT,
Oct 24, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great experience! David was very patient with me on the hills and was a very knowledgeable guide. Views were gorgeous. Spa experience loosened up my muscles post-hike and my skin is glowing.