Recommended Ski Resorts in Korea - Gangwon Province Edition

Once the autumn foliage season ends, the ski season naturally follows! Korea's ski season roughly runs from November to March, and the most popular ski destinations are in Gangwon Province and Gyeonggi Province. But with so many ski resorts in Korea, how do you choose? Let us help you pick the best ski destination for you!

Gangwon Province is located in the northeastern part of Korea, about a 2-hour drive from downtown Seoul and 3 hours from Incheon Airport. The easiest way to get to the ski resorts from Incheon Airport or Seoul is by taking the ski shuttle bus, with a round-trip fare of around 400 RMB. The boarding point is at the bus stop at Incheon Airport. Note that bus tickets need to be reserved in advance, otherwise you may not be able to board if the bus is full (the seats on the luxury coach are very comfortable).

Now, let us take you to check out the ski resorts in Gangwon Province, Korea~

TOP1 Daemyung Vivaldi Ski Resort & Snow Kingdom

Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski Resort is only a 1-hour 10-minute drive from Seoul, making it very suitable for day trips and late-night skiing. The resort has the largest accommodation facilities in Korea. From the apartment-style hotels, you can directly access the ski slopes. With convenient facilities and quality service, its reputation is nationwide. Vivaldi Park also offers a variety of amusement facilities. If you want to experience the charm of Gangwon ski resorts in one day, you might consider including Vivaldi Park in your itinerary.

Daemyung Vivaldi Ski Resort features various slopes of different levels and the latest equipment. The ski world has a total slope area of 1,322,021 square meters, a total slope length of 6,784m, and a total gondola length of 6,332m, making it a top-class leisure facility. Vivaldi Park Ski World operates Asia's first 8-person high-speed chairlift and 8-person high-speed cable car, with a total of 10 lifts and cable cars. Vivaldi Park was the first in Korea to open night skiing, and it enjoys great popularity among young people. The slopes are also relatively winding and challenging, providing a more thrilling experience. The resort's facilities also fully consider the safety and enjoyment of beginners, with slopes classified into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, allowing visitors to freely choose based on their skills and interests.

TOP2 Elysian Gangchon Resort Ski Area

It is the only ski resort in Korea that can be reached by subway, making transportation very convenient! Elysian Gangchon Resort is a popular ski destination among enthusiasts. To accommodate skiers of all levels, it has specially built beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes. Unlike other ski resorts, its unique valley-type slopes offer high safety, while on the ridge-type slopes, you can enjoy the thrill of skiing while appreciating the natural scenery. Gangchon Resort has 10 slopes, divided into valley-type and ridge-type. The valley-type slopes are gentler, suitable for beginners, while the ridge-type slopes provide an unparalleled thrilling experience for advanced skiers. ChannelPark is a popular amusement area in the resort, with over 10 facilities where both beginners and advanced enthusiasts can experience extreme games, meeting the needs of different levels.

TOP3 Pyeongchang Phoenix Resort Ski Area

Pyeongchang Phoenix Resort Ski Area is the filming location of 'Autumn in My Heart'. Designed using the natural terrain of Mount Taegi, the resort has 21 slopes, offering wide views of the snowy landscape from any direction. This ski resort also participated in hosting the ski events of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The slopes are divided into beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert levels. Many ski resorts only have one or two beginner slopes, but Phoenix Resort has quite a few beginner slopes with beautiful scenery. Beginners can consider coming here to experience it!

TOP4 Alpensia Ski Resort

Alpensia Resort is located at the foot of a mountain at an altitude of 700 meters, making it a newly emerging alpine resort in Korea. The resort features the Olympic Ski Park, a 27-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., an 18-hole public golf course, Ocean 700 Water Park, and various other sports and leisure facilities. The classic European-style villas offer spacious and bright rooms with excellent accommodation, along with the InterContinental Club, Day SPA, and various meeting facilities.

TOP5 Hoengseong Ski Resort

Another popular ski resort in Gangwon Province, with ample snowfall for a comfortable skiing experience! The famous 'Star Express' slope is a paradise for intermediate skiers, with a moderate difficulty level and long length! Skiers with some experience can definitely enjoy themselves here!

TOP6 High1 Ski Resort

High1 has three peaks: Jijang Peak (1,345m above sea level) at the foot of Mt. Baekun, flanked by Canyon Tower (1,376m) and Mountain Center (1,250m). It offers slopes of various difficulties, from beginner slopes to giant slalom standard slopes recognized by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The route from Canyon Center down to Canyon Condominium is a valley-crossing trail, with the longest slope being 4.2km, a standard slope (vertical drop 645m). The slope is mostly straight with a slight incline, ideal for beginners.

What equipment do beginners need for skiing?

The equipment needed for skiing includes: skis, bindings, accessory pads, ski boots, ski poles, ski suit, gloves, hat, sunglasses, and ski socks. (P.S. You can rent skis, bindings, accessory pads, ski boots, and ski poles on site.)

Ski suit: The openings of ski suits should mainly have large zippers for easy operation even while wearing gloves. There should be several large pockets that open easily for storing common ski items separately. Since you often need to adjust ski equipment and hold ski poles, ski gloves should be roomy and have five separate fingers.

Ski gloves: During skiing, you constantly adjust your ski equipment, so ski gloves should be roomy and have five separate fingers for easy operation. If the glove cuffs are long enough to cover the sleeves, you can skip wrist guards. If they have elastic closures, they can effectively prevent snow from entering. It's best if they are padded for protection and warmth.

Ski hat: The main function of a ski hat is to protect the head and ears. When choosing a ski hat, it's important to prioritize simplicity and not obstructing vision. Generally, a hat made of fine wool yarn with good elasticity will do.

Sunglasses: Due to strong sunlight reflection on the snow and the cold wind irritating the eyes while gliding, ski goggles are needed to protect the skier's eyes.

To apply for a single-entry tourist visa to Korea, you only need to prepare 5 documents. Once ready, submit them to the Korean embassy/visa center in China. The visa can be collected in 5–7 working days. The 5 documents are: 1. Visa application form 2. Original passport and copy (ensure passport validity is more than 6 months) 3. Original ID card and copy 4. Two 2-inch color photos with white background 5. Bank card transaction records showing monthly salary income for the last six months.

To apply for a group tourist visa to Korea, you only need to prepare 3 documents: 1. 2-inch color electronic photo with white background 2. Color scan of the passport information page 3. Contact information.