Bikepacking Korea’s East Coast – Route, Tips and Certification

Alongside the subtropical Jeju Island, Korea’s East Coast (Donghae) is one of the most loved places to rest and enjoy the sea. Thanks to a nearby expressway, the winding coastal roads only carry local traffic, making them perfect for cycling.

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Follow this link for general information about bicycle travel and route certification in Korea

Are the East Coast Routes Connected?

Some sources, including the official bike tour certification maps, show two separate East Coast routes. These are the Gyeongbuk path from Sunrise Park to Uljin, and the Gangwon path from Imwon to the DMZ.

In reality, these paths are not only connected, but extend Southwards all the way to Ulsan Metropolitain City.

Our Cycling difficulty Rating
Traffic
Elevation
Navigation
Distance

2/5

4/5

2/5

certification: 330km

Elevation Profile

Expand for a List of Certification Centres

The Gyeongsang section involves regular steep ascents and descents, so it’s imperative to pack light. The route passes through plenty of villages with convenience stores, so there’s no need to carry two litres of water with you.

A winding mountain road in Gyeongbuk

The Gangwon section is flatter and passes through the cities of Samcheok, Donghae, Gangleung and Sokcho. It’s worth bringing your own inkpad through Gangwon as the certification centres there are not well maintained.

Transportation to the East Coast Cycle Route

Map of Bus Terminals

Intercity buses are the best way to transport a bicycle across Korea. The map below shows bus terminals along the East Coast route.

Expand for names and map links to bus terminals

our guide to Intercity Bus Travel

If you’re aiming for the bike tour certification, you might want to begin and end your route as close to the certification centres as possible. The trouble is that neither of the end points are in urban areas, so they are not well served by intercity buses.

Buses to Sunrise Park Certification Centre (southernmost stamp)

There are three options for bus terminals close to Sunrise park, the southernmost certification centre. These are Yeongdeok, Ganggu and Pohang.

Yeongdeok is a small town with buses arriving from Seoul Gyeongbu Terminal (about 3 per day) and East Seoul (about 7 per day). It is 11km inland from Sunrise park, and the road from Yeongdeok to the coast is steep and relatively busy.

Ganggu is a local terminal, directly on the coast, 11km south of Sunrise Park. However, there are no services from Seoul or Busan – you will have to transfer in a nearby city like Pohang.

For many, waiting for a second bus in Pohang isn’t worth it – like Ganggu, Pohang is directly on the coast, and only 50km from Sunrise Park. It is a major city with buses almost twice hourly from Seoul Gyeongbu.

Buses to Unification Observatory Certification Centre (northernmost stamp)

Daejin Terminal, 4km South of the final certification centre, has about 8 buses per day to and from East Seoul. The closest main terminal is Sokcho, which is very well connected.

Expand for an idea of bus times to and from Daejin

Sokcho Intercity (속초시외버스터미널) also has services to Chuncheon, which is connected to Seoul via the Bukhangang (North Han River) bike path.

Accommodation

The popularity of the East Coast means that accommodation is available along most of this route. However, it can be expensive (100-250,000won per night) in more rural areas where only pensions (seaview holiday properties) are available.

For budget friendly accommodation, you should stick to hotels and motels, which you are more likely to find in urban areas.

The map below shows urban areas where you may find accommodation. See below for daily itinerary suggestions.

Urban areas on the East Coast

Daily Itinerary Suggestions

Given the flexibility of end points and various ways you might be arriving on the East Coast, it’s difficult to make specific recommendations. However, we see four likely starting points:

South to North: wake up in Pohang / wake up in Yeongdeok / cycling from Yeongdeok Bus Terminal

North to South: bus from East Seoul to Daejin

links are to points in areas with accommodation but not to specific hotels or motels

Variant 1: Wake up in Pohang

Pohang is the closest major city to Sunrise Park Certification Centre, and it is directly on the coast.

Cross-country Cruise: 40-60km per day

Sightseeing Sprinter: 60-100km per day

Tour de Corée: 80-120km per day

Variant 2: Wake up in Yeongdeok

Yeongdeok is the closest terminal to Sunrise Park with regular services to Seoul.

It is closer to Sunrise Park than Pohang, but is not directly on the cycle-friendly coastal road and requires a climb on a relatively busy road to get out of the town.

Cross-country Cruise: 40-60km per day

Sightseeing Sprinter: 60-100km per day

Tour de Corée: 80-120km per day

Variant 3: Bus to Yeongdeok and begin cycling

Cross-country Cruise: 40-60km per day

Sightseeing Sprinter: 60-100km per day

Tour de Corée: 80-120km per day

Variant 4: Bus from East Seoul to Daejin

Daejin is the closest bus terminal to Unification Observatory Certification Centre and has services from East Seoul Bus Terminal. Click here to jump to the schedule.

Cross-country Cruise: 40-60km per day

Sightseeing Sprinter: 60-100km per day

Tour de Corée: 80-120km per day

click to see our overview of national cycling routes

Still need help?

Get in touch for personal advice and support here.

Still need help?

Get in touch for personal advice and support here.