Seoul Mountain Hike With A Folklorist: Temples & Korean Meal

I booked directly with ZenKimchi having found rave reviews for this hike on another forum. The mountains surrounding Seoul are such a key visual feature and I wanted a curated introduction for my short visit. I learned so much about the obvious beauty of the peaks we saw but even more about their cultural significance over the long history of this area. Shawn is a kind and deeply knowledgeable guide. Turned out I was the only member of our “group” and I think Shawn has all the experience and dedication to sharing this place and these stories, to make any configuration of people a memorable and magical outing for all.

Hiking with Shawn was one of the best experiences of our trip to Korea. His knowledge of the folk tales combined with love for hiking makes the trail easier (psychologically at least). 10/10 meal after the hike even for vegetarians

This hike will be one of the experiences we'll most remember from our trip to South Korea for sure! After a week in Seoul, a day in nature was just what we needed, and the trail was challenging enough to be fun but still easy enough to be highly enjoyable even for inexperienced hikers. Apart from being a great storyteller with deep knowledge of Korean folklore, Shawn was a great guide who really took care to keep the right pace and make sure everyone in the group was safe and comfortable. We would never have found this trail away from the crowds ourselves, and even if we did, it would have been less fun and we would have missed out on so much context to understand it better! Finishing with a delicious dinner completed the experience.

We had a memorable time hiking Bukhansan with Shawn. The route was just challenging enough for a non-hiker while still being very doable. Heed the advice and wear good shoes since the trail is rugged! The views are worth it though, and the people you pass by on the trail are so kind. Shawn is great company and very knowledgeable. Overall it was a day well-spent and it made me want to try more hikes in the future!

Well curated hiking trip with a very knowledgable guide (shawn). Loved it and highly recommend it to everyone who visits Seoul for dome days.

Genuinely had so much fun! By chance it ended up just being me on the hike this day and Shawn tailored both the difficulty and sites we stopped at to my interests with an emphasis on art, temples, and my beginner hiking abilities. Was such a blast and his storytelling was a highlight of the hike, he was always willing to elaborate on my questions which really helped with my understanding both of the sites we were visiting and the history and stories behind them. Felt super safe as well and the restaurant at the end was the perfect cherry on top. Would recommend this to everyone of all ability types!

Amazing tour! Bukhansan was so beautiful, especially with the autumn foliage. Shawn was an incredible guide- so knowledgable and had lots of interesting info to share. His knowledge of folklore was very educational. The dinner afterwards was delicious and really special! Everything was great.

Amazing hiking experience. Our guide Shawn was so knowledgeable about the history and places along the trail. We visited the following places. Guknyeong-sa (temple), Yongchul-bong (“Dragon Ascending Peak”) , Muryeong-sa Seonbong-sa (2nd temple) this was all in the bukhansan National Park. A dinner was also included and visited a family owned restaurant. They made an amazing homemade noodles with vegetables and hot broth plus some Korean pancake. Highly recommend this tour if your interested in doing a hike in Seoul 😀

Took a few extra days for sightseeing after a work trip in Seoul. Shawn did an excellent job pacing the hike and telling us the history and folklore as we went. Great views throughout! Lots of pictures. Bring water if it’s hot (as Shawn will remind you) but well worth it. The food and drinks at the end were a great way to finish. Highly recommend it!

Absolutely amazing trek, filled with Korea and Seoul trivia. Shawn is a knowledgeable guide with an in-depth understanding of cultures. Highly recommend!

Scenic, beautiful, and informative hike through the mountains. I felt more connected to the land after learning about the local mythology and stories regarding the mountains and monuments. Hike provided great views of multiple prominent mountains in the Bukhansan area and we stopped at various manmade sites like the old seoul wall and Gungyeongsa temple.

Our family had a great time with Shawn as our guide during our Seoul mountain hike. Despite extremely hot temperatures we were able to enjoy everything as there were plenty of breaks and much of the trail was shaded. He is able to modify the hike depending on experience level of the group which was great. Shawn was very knowledgeable about Koreas history, folklore and was a great guide and everyone enjoyed the hike!

Great walk and experience provided by Shawn. He was entertaining, supportive to the whole group and generous with his time. The meal and drink at the end was very enjoyable. The trek was through a very scenic area and made more entertaining with his insights and stories. I would fully recommend it and would go on another trip with him in a heart beat. He also does night walks around the city if you are not into hiking.

We really enjoyed our mountain hike with Shawn. The hike with the overlay of legends and history from Shawn was mesmerizing. We came away impressed by the beauty of the mountain and the temples that are sprinkled all over the mountain. Shawn is a great guide and a kind helpful person, who not only guided us safely through the mountain but also gave us great pointers for thr rest of our time in Seoul

The best tour we’ve had in Seoul! It’s great to mix up an urban vacation with an engaging and refreshing nature tour. The story telling, cultural insights, history and nature immersion was just the break we needed. Thank you, Shawn!

Of the excursions I've done so far during my Seoul visit, this has been my favorite. Shawn is a treasure trove of knowledge not only about hiking and folklore, the primary focuses of the tour, but also has a strong grasp of both Western and Korean/East Asian culture and the ability to navigate both environments with comfort and ease. This made communication seamless and getting getting questions answered a breeze, particularly on more nuanced or complex topics. The small group format was perfect, and I would highly recommend this experience.

Shawn is just amazing! He is so knowledgeable, very kind and patient! He answered all our questions and told us a ghost story on top of all the folklore stories about the hike path! Unforgettable hike and amazing dinner at the end!

Must do! If you're looking for an outdoor activity that includes history & folklore of Korean culture and the mountains you're exploring, book this. Shawn is super knowledgeable and answered all the questions we had - even taught us how to read Korean! He also has a ghost tour (Dark Side of Seoul) which was fun too! The hidden temples throughout the mountains were beautiful. The hike itself can be strenuous [you gain decent amount of elevation], but we're a #thicc couple and made it! Shawn is good at stopping when you need and adjusting to your pace. The meal after was delicious! Such a cool Korean tradition.

Really enjoyed this little hike with Shawn. The day was a perfect clear end-of-winter one, with small patches of snow melting on the peaks. Really enjoyed hearing folkloric stories about the peaks as we climbed. I loved visiting the two Buddhist temples along the way. Was also glad that I was hungry for the very hearty and healthy meal at the bottom of the walk. Really recommend this for anyone who doesn't have mobility issues. Hearing the history and the folklore in which the country along the way is steeped also made the walk far more meaningful than it would have been had I walked it alone.

We had a great time on this trip with Shawn. The views were fabulous and the meal at the end of the hike was delicious. Would highly recommend!

We loved it, start to finish. It was easy to get to the station, Shawn met us there and got us to the trail head. The views on the hike were spectacular, and the temples, shrines, just fabulous. Shawn is exceptional and the lore and heritage he shared exceeded all expectations. The meal at the end again exceeded all expectations. I cannot wait to go back for the Ghost Tour, it's on our bucket list.

Beautiful route with great guidance and info from Shawn! Seoul is now contextualised geographically and spiritually - wonderful to get a break into nature for some fresh air in an otherwise city-centric holiday!

Nice Hike. Good views over Seoul. Did this when it was very hot but was not to bad as a lot of the trail was shaded. My guide Shawn was very accomdating and informed, sharing the myths, legends, and symbolism of the various sites and stops along the way. Enjoyed the very prevelant hiking culture in Korea. It was fun to see the change up in the commuters from week days to hiking gear on the weekends. Also great to experience the park and it's surroundings in North Seoul which is an outdoor escape but easily accessible. Restaurant was great also!

We easily found our guide, Shawn Morrissey, at a subway station on the outskirts of Seoul. We had booked a day hike into the mountains northeast of the city and hopped on a short bus ride with him to where the hike would begin. He was very personable and enquired about our hiking experience and level of fitness as we walked from the bus stop to the trailhead in a national park. Our experience and fitness was moderate and the mountain pass that he indicated would be the highest point of our trek seemed both high and far off. He assured us we would be fine (spoiler: we were fine!). As the day was pretty hot in the sun, we appreciated that he anticipated that and had selected a path that was primarily shaded all day. We were thankful for his thoughtful planning! He has been studying Korean culture and folklore for many years and entertained us all day with his many fascinating stories. They tied culture, religion, and history into the local mountain geography. He was also a font of knowledge about temples and their architectural and decorative details, which are direct reflections of Korean culture, history and folklore! We had visited temples across the country, but we had not known what we were seeing. We visited several temples along our path. The views ran from lovely to spectacular, as well. His stories not only entertained us, but helped us better understand what we had seen elsewhere. He was so funny and entertaining that we did not notice (much!) the distance we were traveling. Sensitive to our energy levels, he made sure that we took all the rest breaks that we needed and passed the time with more folk tales. We never felt rushed or pressured; it was like hiking with a supremely interesting friend! He took plenty of time with us and the fact that the day ended up longer than planned (due to our own leisurely pace) did not bother him in the least. At the end of the day, we ended up not far from another bus stop, where he took us back to the subway stop so we could head back to our hotel. However, before getting us back to the subway, he took us to a local restaurant in the small village at the foot of the mountain and fed us a variety of delicious dishes, downed with some local beer (all in the daily fee that we had arranged). We have take guided hikes all over the wold and Shawn was, without a doubt, the best guide on a hike that we ever had! Do not miss this if you have the chance to do it!

Having done the hike, the trails are well marked and you can certainly hike in Seoul on your own. The trails were not a walk in the park but they were not especially difficult either. But I would book this again in a heartbeat for all of the things you cannot get on your own. For starters, the history and folklore of the area make for a much more interesting hike than just walking through interesting scenery. In addition, we saw several things that were off the beaten path that you would never see if you did this on your own, including a modern day performance of an ancient traditional ritual. The dinner at the end was quite good as well, as was the company.

My wife and I loved this hike with Shaun. In the end was a 6km hike over 5 hours that had us winded a bunch - even as experienced hikers. Don’t underestimate good shoes and water. We learned so much about the history of Korea through its religious origins that I felt I took a college course on history. Finishing the hike with a tasty meal, Maekgoli and talk about horror movies and as an added bonus.

We would strongly recommend the hike. Shawn is very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and keen on health and safety. Beautiful views and yummy food at the end!

Our mountain hike with Shawn was great! Had we done the hike on our own, we would have walked right by remnants of important Korean history. The pace, the scenery, and the stories up the mountain were already amazing, but once we were coming back down and got to see the temples, it got even better. I am a big fan of folklore and storytelling, while my partner's more into the outdoors and sights, so we both got an awesome experience. I got stories, and she got her photos. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip. I'm not a hiker and I got through it okay, just bring comfortable shoes that won't slide on rock (that is sometimes wet!), and layers so you can add or take away as you start warming up. I brought along a short-sleeve exercise t-shirt, hiking/travel pants, and trail shoes. I had my rain jacket tied around my waist the whole time, but a small daypack would've been more comfortable for me. Shawn did a great job at keeping the pace and heart rate up, with breaks at just the right times. Thank you!

This hike with Shawn was one of the top highlights of my trip to Busan. His knowledge of Korean folklore, the Busan area and his expertise as a guide made this a terrific experience that I would fully recommend.

Shawn is a brilliant story teller. My partner and I enjoyed listening to him share folklores of the mountain we hiked on as well as his experience living in Seoul. We were sad that we didn't have enough time to take other tours with Shawn. We highly recommend that you hike with Sean whenever you visit Seoul.

This is an incredible tour! Shawn is an incredible guide whose story and knowledge paired with the breathtaking views make for a really good respite from the city of Seoul. The food and drink are included in the price so this is a great value as well because you get to go to a local restaurant outside the city with different dishes you will not see in Seoul. Can't recommend this tour enough. Also, Shawn and his business partner have an amazing podcast called "Darkside of Seoul" if you want to learn more about the spookier parts of Korean history and folklore be sure to give it a listen.

Shawn is the best tour guide I've met and shows he is passionate about what he does. He was responsive before the trip so we had no problem meeting up with him. This hike route is for semi-beginner hikers. You will be hiking up for the first half so bring good shoes, a bottle of water and light snack. We had dinner at a local restaurant after the hike but you may want to have a couple of chocolate bars on the way. The route was not super crowded with people. We saw a cave with shamanic rituals inside, a fantastic buddhist temple and tons of other great sights. It's all stuck in my mind because of the stories Shawn told us about the place. It makes a difference when you know about history of a place rather than just walking it.

Shawn is ab amazing tour guide who is very experienced on this trail. Taking this tour you can expect a fun climb, spectacular views, interesting heritage sites and absolutely amazing stories told in a great way by Shawn.

Shawn was an absolutely amazing tour guide who has a lot of experience hiking these trails. The views were outstanding and the folk lore stories told by Shawn made this an unforgettable experience!

Our guide Shawn was knowledgeable and very helpful on the hike as most of us girls have limited hiking experience. We came for the fall colours and were rewarded with the stunning colours! Great way to get out of the city and experience a different part of Korea. I would highly recommend this trip with Shawn as it was the highlight of our trip!

Hiking with Shawn is a great experience, he not only dispenses good advice but also tells us interesting folklore stories relating to the sites that we passed by. He is also very knowledgeable about the mountains in Seoul and helps us when we need support to go uphill and downhill. Most of all, he is very safety conscious. I will surely want to go hiking with Shawn again. The autumn colours in the mountains are amazingly beautiful. This is certainly one experience that I will remember forever.

First of all we wld like to Thank shawn for a memorable experience. It was our first time hiking a mountain and he made it very interesting and fun for us. Shawn was always near to give us a helping hand which was very helpful! He gave us tips on how to hike safe too. The mountains are very beautiful and full of interesting folklores which Shawn narrates very well. Contact Shawn directly and he will respond very quickly, Definately recommended and worth the money!

1. The buses to the starting point of the trail were all packed, and we ended up walking all the way to the starting point. It was a pleasant and easy walk. 2. I'm not an experienced hiker and because we walked a while before reaching the starting point, Shawn adjusted the order of the hike. 3. The pace of the hike was just right. 4. Shawn guided me on how to descend the trail properly to avoid injuries. 5. Along the hike, we visited temples, and Shawn will share interesting folklore. 6. The mountain is beautiful during autumn🍂. 7. The food and ice-cream at the end of the tour were the perfect end to a wonderful experience.

Fun, informative, enjoyable, majestic all wrapped into one great day of outdoor experience! Our guide Shawn made everything so delightful. Even before we met him on-site, he was highly communicative to help us find how to get from where we were to where we would meet him. He was early to the site and helped us get some extra water and food and didn't try to rush us or move us along in anyway. Rather he was kind, courteous and basically wanted us to have a great experience from beginning to end from the start. He got us on the bus, to the mountain and began sharing history that he clearly knew well. He was also willing to entertain our questions about nearly anything Korean and even his own personal live so that we could get a deeper feel for life in Korea. Shawn catered the hike to our skill and speed without making us feel like we were going to slow or not adventurous enough. As an example there was a spot to see a shaman cave but due to recent rains water made the rocks slippery. He asked if we wanted to traverse it anyway but allowed us to make the decision. One final note from someone who likes to best understand the local culture. Tipping is very appreciated by guides like Shawn. Most of Korea, tipping is NOT acceptable and even seen as disrespectful. Many of you probably know this but I didn't and was very unsure whether to tip or not...in my case with Shawn I tipped because he was just that great!! Thanks again to Shawn for making our hiking experience so just amazing!! We will be back!

This is easily the best hike ever. I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone interested in hiking, Korean history, or folklore. Shawn was a fantastic guide, who is extremely well versed in the mountain’s stories as well as trails. The food at the en was amazing as well. This tour will be the highlight of your visit to South Korea.

100% recommend the hiking tour to get some time away from the bustling cities! Shawn, the tour guide, is incredibly knowledgable about folklore and was happy to entertain my many other inquiries about South Korea in general. The entire day is a memorable experience that I will cherish forever!

I had a really great time, I was pretty out of shape and inexperienced but Shawn was very kind and accomodating. He is very knowledgeable about Korean history and Buddhism and local history so it was very engaging to listen to the legends and learn from him. It was great conversation in general and the hike was fun, the temples are beautiful, the wind is mesmerizing, highly recommend!

The hiking tour was amazing! The tour guide, Shawn, is very experienced and knowledgeable about the folklore linked to the mountains. He would share stories and legends of the area as we hike the mountain. The route was not difficult to hike and he took us to a few temples and shrines along the way. Through the tour, we were able to see a different side of Seoul and understand the beliefs of the people (Korean Buddhism and Shamanism). We also went at our own pace and took breaks whenever needed. After the hike, Shawn brought us to a restaurant and the food was amazing! I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who loves a great adventure, amazing food, and seeing a different side of Seoul.

Giant mountains, giant Buddhas and secretive shamanic caves. A spectacular hike on less busy trails of the park. I learned a great deal about Korean folklore and religion

I enjoyed the entire hike. Shawn is knowledgeable about the folklore and legends connected to the area. He is an experienced tour guide that puts safety first. Shawn knows the less crowded trails, which made for a peaceful, quiet hike. I appreciate that he could tailor a hike to my interests; Shawn runs a tour that offers something for everyone. I highly recommend this tour to anyone in Korea that loves hiking and Korean history and folklore.

The tour guide, Shawn, is amazing and the mountains are spectacular. Shawn takes you off the beaten path and tells you about mountain folklore that you don’t get to hear about anywhere else. He is both knowledgeable and very helpful if you struggle at any point during the hike. On this tour, I learned about Korean Buddhism and Korean Shamanism. I even got to look inside a cave that Shaman still worship in! (For video game lovers: it felt a lot like Skyrim) If you’re interested in history, need to get outside and want a truly unique experience, this is the tour for you. The post-hike meal that was included at the end of the hike was another highlight. We went to a family owned restaurant and ate a traditional chicken soup served with fresh, organic vegetables straight from the family garden. Absolutely perfection! it couldn’t get more authentic than that. The hike itself can be challenging at a few points, but is manageable. I’m a bit out of shape, but I never felt worn out. Shawn was readily available to provide support and a helping hand when needed. Plus, he never walked too fast and always made safety a priority.

It was a cold winter day and yet the perfect weather for this adventure. I’m not an experienced hiker, but my tour guide, Shawn Morrissey, has years of wilderness experience and instructed the group thought various different terrain from rocky, icy, steep and wet trails. We visited numerous Shaman shrines and Buddhist temples. Each one has a unique history. Shawn is a wealth of knowledge and an awesome storyteller. You’ll encounter breathtaking views of the city, forgotten burial grounds, mountain gods and spirts projected in the landscapes, and so much more! The after hike dinner was also fantastic! You can taste the love from the locals in the recipes that have been handed down from previous generations. I recommend everyone visiting South Korea to take a break from the city and venture into nature. -CARGOJane

You have to do this. Shawn, the guide, brings Korea to life using the medium that, for centuries, has always been a good reason for people to get together: storytelling! His stories of lore and history paint a beautiful, imagination-sparking landscape of skyward dragons, drunken monks, and magical shaman! If you enjoy hearing the tales from a distant past while challenging yourself with a moderately difficult hike (don't let that scare you!) which brings you to a breath-taking peak with an equally breath-taking view of Seoul, this is a must! Do it now! =)

This was my first tour with Shawn. He was an amazing and encouraging guide. He really helped me power through when I started to lose energy and confidence. He shared so much amazing information about the mountain. He takes you on the less popular trail, but you see such amazing things. Its not an easy hike, but watching the sunset over South Korea was amazing. I would definetly do this tour again and I look forward to booking my next adventure with them.