Good girl go travel: Ice Fishing and Winter Festival in Seoul and Gangwon

Photo Credit to Korea Tourism Organization

There are a lot of activities you can do in Korea in January to February 2018.

most of the festival location is in Gangwon-do ( around 2-3 hours by bus).

1) Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival ( until 28 January 2018 )

They have ice fishing, bobsleigh, snow sledding. I have been there twice.

This was my post in 2015 Hwacheon-sancheoneo-festival-ice-fishing.html

You can buy a discounted day trip ( entrance fee + bus trip) from Klook:

Hwacheon-sancheoneo-trout-ice-festival-gangwon-do

If it is your first purchase from Klook you can download their app and key in
"mobile10" for further discount. If you have AirAsia Big Account, you will get 300points
upon sign up.
Include your AirAsia Big id and you will also entitle 4points for every 1USD
purchase from Klook.

Alternatively, you can also purchase a combination of activity Hwacheon and Ski Resort from Trazy : 2018 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival & Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort 1 Day Package (Jan 6~28)

2) PyeongChang Trout Festival until 25 February 2018.

If you missed out Hwacheon, don't worry PyeongChang Trout Festival is available

until the end of February.

I just watched the last episode of Master Key which one of the mission was ice fishing.

The trout is so big that it almost cant fit the ice hole!

Ice fishing fee: 13,000 won

Bus

From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Jinbu (진부).

(Intervals: approx. 30-40min)

Odaecheon Stream is a 7-min walk from the Jinbu Bus Terminal.

You can also purchase the bus package with an English speaking guide from Trazy:
Pyeongchang Trout Festival Bus

3) 2018 Jeongseon Icicle Festival ( until 25 February 2018 )

Photo credit to : GoGoGangwon.com

When I see Jeongseon, I can only be reminded of 3 Meals tv show lol.
How are you Taecyeon? Hope you are doing fine in your military camp.
Hottest will wait for you hehe. I think the 3 meals village is becoming shooting spot
when Master Key also doing their mission there.

This festival seems fun with a lot of snow. I don't have any further info but judging
from the photo available HERE it will be the same activity eg ice sledging, ice fishing.

4)Daegwallyeong Snow Festival ( until 22 February 2018)

Photo credit to Korea Tourism.

The activities include snow carving and snow sledding.

Reference and activity details: Visitkorea

5) Go Go Gangwon shuttle bus

You can take the Gangwon Shuttle bus specialized to the foreigner. It is limited and it is as early as 7.30 am. I miss the bus on my 2nd-time visit to Hwacheon as some family member woke up late and when we want to grab a taxi , the taxi driver does not know the shuttle bus location. ( even when I show him the Hangul address) . Afterwards, we took the local bus from bus Terminal which is way more expensive than the shuttle bus. ( Last time the shuttle bus is 10,000 won return).

You can also use Gangwon Shuttle Bus to go to the festivals ( no.1 until no. 4) by signing up at their website. Seats are limited ,first come first serve basis.

Gangwon shuttle bus : http://gogogangwon.com/en/

6) Ski Resort - Vivaldi
Well if you are a drama fan. This ski resort is featured in Legend of Blue Sea. This is the nearest resort from Seoul ( 1 hour travel)

Vivaldi-park-snowy-land-day-tour-seoul/ bus and entrance fee.

The resort also prepares a free shuttle bus for the foreigner :
Vivaldiskibus

P/s if you are Goblin drama fan- their drama location is Yongpyong Resort, Gangwon.
Yongpyong Ski Tour

7)Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

Photo credit to Korea Tourism

If you don't have enough time to travel to Gangwon, you can just go ice skating at Seoul Plaza.
It is only 1000 won per hour including skate rental fee. However, it is also popular with local. It might be overcrowded in the weekend.

Nearest subway:
City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 6.
Gwanghwamun Station (Subway Line 5), Exit 5.

Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 1 or 8

8) Ttukseom Hangang Park Sledding Hill -Seoul

Photo credit to Korea Tourism

You can experience snow sledding, snow park, rotating swing, air bounce, unique bike, 3D theater, folk game experience, bungee experience, making an arrow, smelt catching, magic show, themed exhibition

General admission: 6000 won ( below 3 years old free of charge)

Nearest subway :

Ttukseom Resort Station (Seoul Subway Line 7), Exit 2 or 3.

Tips :

Necessary item for winter travel

1. Heat Pack / Handwarmer

You can buy this at Daiso before you travel. Once in Seoul, you can purchase it at any convenience store ( GS25,7-Eleven). It also comes with a sticky type which you could stick it to your long john/ heat tech. I still remember Kwangsoo got so many heat pack stick on his shirt during one of Running Man episode.

It is useful for your handphone too.

Handphone will run out its battery faster in winter.

You can use the heat pack and place it in the same pocket with the mobile phone so it can perform normally. ( sticky type might leave some stain so I prefer the nonsticky type for the phone)

2. Appropriate shoes.

It is advisable to wear non-fabric shoes as if it snows the shoes will get wet.

I read you can also use waterproof spray but usually, this spray is flammable and over 100 ml which mean you cant check-in or hand carry it. Well, you can buy at the travel country and leave it there lol.

If you are going for ice fishing or place with heavy snow/ icy road ( like Hokkaido) you can buy the ice cleat/traction cleat.

Photo credit to 11street. http://m.11street.my

3) Appropriate hand gloves : Lazada http://www.lazada.com.my/

To avoid taking off your gloves to take a photo, please buy the one with touch screen sensitive ( available at Daiso). For Samsung user, you can also go to the setting-> control and enable increase touch sensitivity.

There is also a special design glove which allows you remove the finger cover only.