Sokcho – 26-31 May 2024

Sokcho 5 nights

Sokcho (속초시), a coastal city in South Korea near the North Korean border, is known for its North Korean cuisine.

DAY 1:

• From Daejeon Terminal Complex (대전복합터미널) –> Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal (속초시외버스터미널) (by bus) 36,500 won/pax. Took 4hrs 35mins.
• Walking distance to James BLuE Hostel (제임스블루)
• Late lunch @ 동명항 오징어난전 in fishing port near our Airbnb. Steamed live whole squid (ojingeo-sundae) 30k won. Good but expensive. You can get it the same freshness for much cheaper in local markets. Mainly Korean customers though.
• Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market (속초관광수산시장) (walked around the food stalls, very crowded)
• Dinner @ 충주횟집1호점 in Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market. Sashimi squid + grilled flatfish + 2 rice. 42k won for fresh live seafood.

DAY 2:

• We spent the whole day walking:
  • Airbnb –> red Seolak Bridge (설악대교) –> blue Seolak Bridge –> Abai Village (아바이마을) –> Yeonggeumjeong Sunrise Pavilion (영금정 해돋이정자) –> Sokcho Lighthouse (속초등대) –> Yeonglangho (영랑호) (round the lake) –> Cheongchoho Lake Park (청초호유원지) (round the lake) –> Airbnb. Total distance: 26.4km
• Abai Village is an interesting place. Most residents and shop owners there are formerly from North Korea. We walked around the "village".
• Lunch @ Dancheon Restaurant (단천식당) – Squid sundae, abai sundae and cold noodle. Popular restaurant and the owner was friendly. Nice food. MUST TRY!
• Dinner @ 우리순대국 (sundae soup restaurant). Sundae soup and chicken soup 12k won each, cheap and good. All customers were local. Hot soup for cold weather.

DAY 3:

• Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원)
• Quick lunch @ 권금성식당 (Korean restaurant) near Seoraksan Cable Car (설악산 케이블카)
• Seoraksan Cable Car 15k won per pax (return) 12-4:30pm
• Dinner @ 만석닭강정 중앙시장분점 Mansuk Chicken (only for takeaway). Worst chicken EVER! Claimed to be best eating cold. Rubbish! Factory line production "manufactured" by foreign workers. Food was pre-packed and waited for customers to buy. Super popular even among Koreans but can't comprehend WHY!!

DAY 4:

• Lunch @ 감나무집 North Korean potato dough soup. What a popular restaurant! MUST TRY! 2k won/bowl.
• Seoraksan National Park again!
• 1.7km moderate walk to Yukdam Falls (육담폭포) –> 0.4km intermediate walk to Biryong Falls (비룡폭포) –> 0.4km advanced walk/climb to Towangseong Falls Observatory (토왕성폭포 전망대). Total: 2.5km (3 hours return??) 12pm to 5pm. Nice walk. Highly recommended!
• Dinner @ 마마스김밥카페 (tofu seafood soup + rice + kimbap and bibim noodle).

DAY 5:

• Daepohang Fish Market (대포항어촌계관광수산시장) is a famous seafood market. Many stalls are selling a variety of seafood and getting freshly prepared dishes for reasonable prices. MUST come here for fresh and cheap seafood. Highly recommended!
• Lunch @ 옥이네 활어센터 (seafood restaurant) in Daepohang Fish Market. Nice lunch and reasonable price. Ordered set lunch @ 60k won for 2 to share. (2 steam Korean red snow crabs, sashimi squid and fish, fish stew. MUST TRY!
  • Note: the minimum à la carte order for 1 person is 2 crabs, 10k won each.
• Walked from Daepohang Fish Market –> Oeongchi Bada Hyangiro Trail (외옹치 바다향기로) –> Sokcho Beach (속초해변) –> Airbnb
• Dinner @ 해든칼국수 (clams noodle soup). Good clams noodle soup. 8k won per person.

DAY 6:

• Early lunch @ 황소식당 before heading off to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal to take a bus to Seoul

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