One of the best things about winter’s arrival is the chance to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Ski resorts in Korea offer slopes for a variety of skill levels, from absolute beginners to experts. The resorts also come equipped with modern facilities for visitors’ convenience. Most people visit ski resorts in Gangwon-do, the region that receives the most annual snowfall.
As all ski resorts differ in prices and operating periods, it is strongly recommended to check for details before visiting, especially under the unpredictable situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the best 8 Ski Resorts in Gangwon-do that you should try.
1. Pyeongchang – Phoenix Pyeongchang Snow Park
Phoenix Pyeongchang Snow Park is known for its many valley-style slopes and high-quality snow. The resort features ski courses for beginner, intermediate, and expert skiers, as well as an Extreme Park for snowboarders, complete with half-pipe, tabletop, round quarter, and rails that follow the Olympic standards. Moreover, Phoenix Pyeongchang hosted various competitions, such as the parallel giant slalom and slopestyle, for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
- Address: 174, Taegi-ro, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 평창군 봉평면 태기로 174)
- Website: www.phoenixhnr.co.kr (Korean, English)
2. Pyeongchang - Yongpyong Ski Resort
Yongpyong Ski Resort was the first ski resort to open in Korea. The resort’s accommodations are located nearest to the ski slopes, which makes it a popular venue amongst skiers. The resort has a diversity of slopes as well as a 7.4-kilometer-long round-trip gondola. With the resort’s high amount of annual snowfall, visitors can enjoy both an exciting ski trip and a beautiful winter getaway. Yongpyong Ski Resort hosted the alpine competitions for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
- Address: 715, Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 평창군 대관령면 올림픽로 715)
- Website: www.yongpyong.co.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
3. Hongcheon - Vivaldi Park Ski World
Vivaldi Park Ski World, located in Hongcheon, has become a favorite among young skiers in their teens and twenties; even the slope names like Hip-Hop, Techno, and Funky are geared towards young adults. Some of the more advanced slopes are uniquely designed with unexpected twists and turns for maximum thrills.
For those who are new to winter sports, Vivaldi Park Ski World provides the perfect setting to safely enjoy skiing and snowboarding. There are a variety of slopes with different inclines and distances to give new snow sports enthusiasts the perfect chance to gradually work their way up from the bunny slopes to the more advanced courses. Overall, the park offers 12 different slopes and ten lifts. The resort also includes Vivaldi Park Ocean World where you can relax at the spa after a long day of hitting the slopes.
- Address: 262, Hanchigol-gil, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 홍천군 서면 한치골길 262)
- Website: www.daemyungresort.com (Korean only)
4. Hoengseong - Welli Hilli Park Snow Park
Recognized for its size and safety by the International Ski Federation (FIS), Welli Hilli Park Snow Park is equipped with an international-sized boardwalk superpipe. Its FIS certification and variety of facilities have made it a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders alike. The snow park offers 20 slopes ranging from bunny slopes to black diamond courses and a mogul course to maximize fun and thrills. The Fun Park is the largest terrain park of its kind in Korea and offers facilities such as C-box, X-box, and wall box for snowboarders to practice their tricks.
- Address: 451, Gowon-ro, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 횡성군 둔내면 고원로 451)
- Website: www.wellihillipark.com (Korean only)
5. Pyeongchang - Alpensia Ski Resort
Alpensia Ski Resort is tucked away in the mountains at about 700 meters above sea level and is known for its excellent snow. The resort offers six slopes with various courses for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers and can accommodate up to 3,000 people at the same time. Snowboarding slopes and a long-distance sledding slope are specially designed for snowboarders and visitors with family respectively.
As the main venue for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, Alpensia Resort hosted many competition events, including but not limited to ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and bobsled. In addition to the exciting winter sports, visitors can enjoy many top-notch accommodation facilities within the Alpensia Resort complex, such as Holiday Inn and Suites Alpensia Pyeongchang and Intercontinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort, as well as Alpensia Ocean 700, equipped with outstanding spa facilities.
- Address: 325, Solbong-ro, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 평창군 대관령면 솔봉로 325)
- Website: www.alpensiaresort.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
6. Chuncheon - Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort
Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort is a deluxe leisure complex that is only one hour away from Seoul by subway and is situated near Baegyang-ri Station on the Gyeongchun Line. The ski resort has ten slopes to suit different skill levels and six lifts. In particular, beginner and intermediate skiers can enjoy a variety of slopes since eight of the ten slopes are designed for beginners and intermediate skiers. The slopes are designed to have a canyon-type formation, allowing skiers to glide down smoothly while enjoying the panoramic view of the beautiful scenery. For beginners who need a little extra help before heading out on their own, ski and snowboard lessons are also available through the ski school program.
- Address: 688, Bukhangangbyeon-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 춘천시 남산면 북한강변길 688)
- Website: www.elysian.co.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
7. Jeongseon - High1 Ski Resort
Located in one of the most pristine regions of Gangwon-do, High1 Ski Resort offers 18 fantastic slopes, each beginning at one of the park's three peaks. One of the peaks provides a 4.2 kilometer-long gently-sloping course for beginners. High1 Resort also has two slopes that have been used for Ski World Cup competitions. The resort is known for its convenient facilities for people with disabilities and special needs to enjoy skiing.
High1 Resort offers state-of-the-art lifts including an automatic reading system for lift passes and a hands-free detection system. Nearby attractions include Kangwon Land Casino, trekking routes, a sledding site and a golf course, making it a family-friendly ski resort.
- Address: 500, High1-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 정선군 고한읍 하이원길 500)
- Website: www.high1.com (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
8. Wonju - Oak Valley Snow Park
Named for a nearby oak tree forest, Oak Valley Snow Park is smaller than most ski resorts in Korea. As a result, it offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with seven slopes: one for beginners, four for intermediate, and two for advanced skiers. Oak Valley Snow Park is one of the best parks for snowboarders because there are no crowds and plenty of space to try new maneuvers! The resort operates a ski and snowboard school for beginners as well as a sledding hill.
- Address: 58, Oak Valley 2-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 원주시 지정면 오크밸리2길 58)
- Website: www.oakvalley.co.kr (Korean only)
Source: Imagine your Korea (http://english.visitkorea.or.kr)
