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Korean Mountain Cemetery Trek: An Exploration of Funeral Folklore and Culture
5.0
27 Ratings
Goyang-si
Embark on an exclusive hiking tour through a Korean mountain cemetery, uncovering the fascinating folklore and culture of funerals. Limited availability from September to November. Book now!
Embark on an exclusive hiking tour through a Korean mountain cemetery, uncovering the fascinating folklore and culture of funerals. Limited availability from September to November. Book now!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Goyang - Take a break from bustling Seoul and see how the real Korea lives
- Yongmi-ri Cemetery 1 - Your guide will give a respectful tour of the cemetery, sharing Korean folklore and traditions surrounding the dead.
- Goyang - Take a break from bustling Seoul and see how the real Korea lives
- Yongmi-ri Cemetery 1 - Your guide will give a respectful tour of the cemetery, sharing Korean folklore and traditions surrounding the dead.
What's Included
- Round-trip public bus transport to meeting point
- All applicable fees and taxes included
- Round-trip public bus transport to meeting point
- All applicable fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
- Private transportation
Additional Information
Few travellers get the chance to explore Korea’s folklore of funerals and tombs, but those who do often speak of its impressive beauty. For this exclusive hiking tour, we will journey through a vast mountain cemetery, unearthing sites and culture seldom seen by tourists. This is a seasonal tour that only runs September through November, so don’t miss…
Few travellers get the chance to explore Korea’s folklore of funerals and tombs, but those who do often speak of its impressive beauty. For this exclusive hiking tour, we will journey through a vast mountain cemetery, unearthing sites and culture seldom seen by tourists. This is a seasonal tour that only runs September through November, so don’t miss out – join us today!
The tour includes the following:
- Respectfully explore an old yet active mountain cemetery
- Hear legends and little-known folklore about Korean burial customs
- Learn local traditions of souls and the afterlife
- Engaging tour led by professional guide
- Personalized small group hiking tour and commentary
Note that the tour includes moderate hiking, so wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
✅ Single traveler-friendly
✅ Female traveler-friendly
✅ LGBTQ+ traveler-friendly
Location
Samsong Station Exit 8
Don't rely on the address. We use subway exits for locations in Seoul.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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F5179avkyles
Oct 17, 2024
Unique and fascinating tour - My wife and I went on this tour a few nights ago, and it was one of the most unique and wonderful tours we've ever been on. It was so cool to have a tour that taught us so much about Korean burial traditions and folklore while also satisfying our hiking itch! Shawn is so knowledgeable and does a great job of delivering information in a way that is both educational and very entertaining. He was super accommodating of everyone on our tour group, and was happy to answer all of our questions as we went. We'd recommend this tour to anyone and if we make it back to Korea in the future we will definitely be taking another tour with Shawn!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeannen732
Oct 16, 2024
Fantastic Tour - Shawn conducts this amazing tour in a respectful way - so don’t worry about that. I can highly recommend this tour for anyone who has an interest in ancestral rites, burial practices, folklore or simply a great hike outside of the city. It’s definitely a Moderate hike with some steep/slippery spots, but Shawn’s there to help out if needed. Just book it- you won’t regret it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jillbamps
Oct 10, 2024
Highly recommended! - I recently took the walk amongst the grave tour with Shawn, and it was fantastic. His storytelling was very interesting, and he made everyone feel comfortable throughout the experience. The stories he shared was fascinating, and the beautiful views added to the tour's charm. Highly recommend!
Thank you Shawn, for yet an other wonderful tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trip09055677823
May 2, 2024
The Most Unique Tour you can Take! - Thank You Shawn! - This was our last tour my girlfriend and I took on our trip to Korea and it was an absolutely incredible experience. Shawn gives incredible insights on burial traditions and commonalities between Korean culture and others throughout the world. The views from the cemetery are also top notch as you get to see the beautiful Korean countryside. Shawn was personable and friendly making us feel comfortable and answering any questions we had. I would easily book another tour with Shawn as he was the best tour guide we had on our trip. Thank you so much for an awesome tour Shawn!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adventure49510683083
Feb 25, 2024
This is the best tour ever!
You'r guide will take you to places out of every tourist scope.
Make sure your friends are good with - This tour is the best if you are intersted in korean traditions, a bit of history and in general whatever afterlife brings....
Do koreans know? Do western people people know?...and who is right? Hahah
You will get a glimpse into korean traditions, I guess most of koreans do not even now.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rodv246
Dec 4, 2023
Unique Korean folkloric experience! - This is really unique experience to go on. Although most travelers stay within the heart of Seoul, if you want to do something off the beaten path, I would strongly recommend this Cemetery tour. You won't find this information in any Korean guide travel books. It's a really unique tour which won't be replicated by any to the big time mainstream tour operators. You'll visit a cemetery you've never off, on the outskirts of the city, and really learn and get a better sense of Korean burial traditions and folklore surrounding it. Shawn has a wealth of knowledge on this and will point out details that I really think no one else could. Strongly recommended if you are looking for something unique to do, and/or are sick of visiting the palaces in Seoul. There is some uphill and downhill walking, but Shawn made sure I wasn't left behind on the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cameronwb1563gi
Dec 2, 2023
Outstanding! - It is a fantastic hiking tour about a topic that isn't often covered (if at all) in Korean media. I've lived in Korea for 10 years, but I still learned so much about Korea's traditions surrounding burial and how the dead are cared for.
The hike was moderate and well worth it for the views once you reach the top of the cemetery. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring extra water and a snack just in case.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bartve284nf
Nov 21, 2023
I didn’t know Korean cemeteries were that fascinating😮 - My wife and I loved this tour. This was hands down the most interesting tour we’ve done in Korea. Shawn brings you deep into the Goyang/Paju cemetery territory. He surprises you with unknown tidbits, information about burial history and traditions, ghost lore (yes, it can be spooky), breathtaking cemetery sceneries, and much more! The fun starts before the start of the tour, a hop on the local bus and a walk through the countryside, something one likely wouldn’t experience in Korea. Before the end of the tour, we walked through the dark forest with headlights, and it was the perfect end of a cemetery tour. Shawn is also very professional and cares about everyone’s safety.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hauntedsavannahp
Nov 14, 2023
Funeral Rituals, Folklore, Great Food. Loved it! - Shawn was our guide on this wonderful tour. Shawn brings you to the cemetery in his home village, so it's a trek to get there. Shawn picks you up at a subway station in Seoul (public transportation is the way to go there, I never take public transportation in my hometown) and then you bus out to his home village of Goyang. You walk to the cemetery from the bus stop, getting a tour along the way. Korean cemeteries are on hillsides, so be prepared to walk uphill. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, walking or hiking shoes, and bring a pack with snacks, water, and rain gear. This is a trek if you are a fat, middle aged (borderline old) guy, but totally worth it. I do tours of Victorian cemeteries in the US, Shawn's ability to engage guests and tell stories is amazing. He is passionate and knowledgeable, and truly wants to share his passion with you. When we hiked back down the mountain, Shawn took us to his favorite restaurant. This was not included in the price of the tour, but was a traditional Korean buffet (Korean grandma food, cooked by Korean grandmas) whose name basically translates to Korean Food Taxi Driver Food Buffet. If the cabbies eat there, you know it's great! I totally recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tsuki_moon_dal
Nov 10, 2023
Two thumbs UP! - The Walk Among The Grave Tour was fun! It was a great way to see Korea outside of the fancy Seoul city. I've learned so much during the tour, some similarities with our burial rites back home, and the reasons, which I didn't even know! The hike was a little tough and tiring at times, but that was also because I went for a hike the day before. Aside from that, it was manageable. Towards the end of the hike, we were hiking in the dark, Shawn, the guide, prepared head lamps, so we don't have to worry about that. I've never hike at night, so it was a great experience. Would recommend this tour if you like hiking and learning/seeing new things besides the glitz and glamour of Korea (K-everything).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
