Gayasan itineraries

Valley up, temple down

Climb Sangwangbong by the Yonggi-gol stream in the morning, eat a mountain-greens lunch, then finish at the temple that holds the Tripitaka Koreana. Both faces of Gayasan in one day.

Sleep at the temple gate

Come by bus, sleep right at the temple gate, then walk up the stream behind the temple to Sangwangbong the next morning. No driving, and you start the climb earlier than anyone else.

Both doors in three days

Two of the three days go to the mountain: Sangwangbong from the Haeinsa side, then Manmulsang from Baegundong, with temples and the stream in between.

Festivals & seasons

• 1 — Winter snow hiking
• 2 — Spring fire-prevention trail closures
• 4 — Summer entry cut-off hours begin
• 5 — Fresh-leaf hiking
• 5 — Seongju Melon and Life Festival
• 5 — Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival
• 7 — Pine lily season
• 10 — Autumn colors begin
• 10 — Haeinsa Tripitaka carving ceremony
• 10 — Tripitaka Koreana Record Culture Festival
• 11 — Hongnyudong foliage
• 11 — Autumn fire-prevention period and winter cut-off

Souvenirs

• Seongju oriental melon
• Takeout mountain greens and deodeok
• House-made dongdongju
• Fish cake snacks and temple keepsakes