DaegeumValley, Mount Daegeum

Mount Daegeum (704 metres) in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is a popular mountain among Seoulites. There are two climbing courses but most climbers take the Dumilli course that is more accessible.

Daegeum Valley has a clear running stream, making it an ideal place to cool down. About 40 minutes from the valley entrance is the Daegum Waterfall, the water cascading down from more than 15 metres high.

There are two arboretums, Gapyeong Wild Garden and the Garden of Morning Calm, located near Mount Daegum. Gapyeong Wild Garden (www.gapyeongwildgarden.co.kr/ (031) 585-4875) on the foothill of Mount Daegum is a cozy arboretum featuring only indigenous flowers and trees. The arboretum has some 1,000 species of wildflowers native to the peninsula. Admission for adults is 5,000 won (C$6) and student admission tickets cost 3,000 won (C$3.5). At the end of the visit, visitors receive a potted wildflower as a souvenir.

The Garden of Morning Calm (www.morningcalm.co.kr/ (031) 584-6703), established in 1996, is situated on the 879-metre-high Mount Chukryeong. The arboretum has been landscaped to reflect the beauty of Korea.

About 3,200 plant species grow at the Garden of Morning Calm, including rare and endangered species. The Wildflower Garden and Hibiscus Garden, for example, feature about 1,000 species of wildflowers found throughout the peninsula.

The Iris Garden is a spectacular sight to behold in June, with more than 1,000 irises coming into full bloom.

Getting there

- Train: Cheongryangni Station has 15 departures daily to Cheongpyeong. The train ride takes about one hour. From Cheongpyeong to Daegeum Valley, take a direct bus to Hyeonri. From Hyeongri, take a bus to Daebori. It is a 3-kilometre walk from Daebori to Daegum Valley entrance.

A free shuttle bus service operates between Cheongpyeong Station and Gapyeong Wild Garden. Refer to the garden's website. A bus runs between Cheongpeyong Bus Terminal and the Garden of Morning Calm. Refer to the arboretum's website for details.

MountGeumsuand Yongdam Waterfall

Mount Geumsu in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, offers hikers picturesque views of Lake Cheongpung.

The course from Sanghak Village in Sangcheon-ri is a relatively short climb to the top. On the other hand, the course that starts from Baekun-dong in Sangcheon-ri offers a spectacular view of Lake Cheongpyung at every corner.

A sight not to be missed on Mount Geumsu is the Yongdam Waterfall. Approaching from Baekun-dong, it is about a 15-minute hike from the first signpost for the waterfall to Yongdam Waterfall. The waterfall tumbles down from 30 metres high and the stream in the valley is famous for its icy-cold water, even in the dead heat of summer.

If you continue climbing to the summit, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of Cheongpung Lake, Mount Worak and Mount Daemi. The roundtrip takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Getting there

- Train: Take a train to Jecheon Station ((043) 642-7788) from Cheongryangri Station.

From Jecheon Station, there are two buses daily, 12:20pm and 4:20pm, to Baekun-dong. The bus ride takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.