Sometimes the best travel memories are the ones you never planned.
I thought I had signed up for a pleasant morning hike. A leisurely stroll. It was just one of countless hikes on Viator along with all the other tourist options in Seoul.
You know the type. A nice trail. A few scenic overlooks. Maybe some loose gravel. A couple of hours outdoors before lunch.
Instead, I accidentally spent all day climbing, scrambling over boulders, navigating slick rocks in the rain, and wondering more than once if I’d become “the lost American hiker” on the evening news.
It turned out to be one of my favorite travel days in Korea… and a life long top 10 day for me!
Never Assume You Know What “Hike” Means
I had a few extra days in Seoul after dropping my son off to do a homestay and learn Korean during a summer break from high school, so I booked a guided hike through Bukhansan National Park in Seoul.
The park itself is incredible.
It’s nearly 30 square miles of mountains, forests, granite peaks, temples, and hiking trails… all within the city of Seoul. Imagine having something that rivals many U.S. national parks just an hour from downtown.
I booked through Viator expecting to join a small group.
Instead, it was just me and my guide, Bergen.
That turned out to be one of the best parts of the day.
A Guide Can Change Everything
One lesson we’ve learned over the past few years is that private guides often transform a trip.
Instead of simply seeing a place, you begin to understand it.
During the ride on the public bus, Bergen told stories about growing up in Korea, working for Samsung, living in New Jersey for six years (which is where his American nickname came from), and how grateful many South Koreans remain for the United States’ role during the Korean War.
Those conversations became just as memorable as the mountain itself.
Reality Arrives… Quickly
About twenty minutes into the hike, I realized I’d made several poor life choices.
I wore running shoes.
I had done my normal morning gym workout.
I assumed “hike” meant walking.
Apparently, in Korea, “hike” can mean climbing endless stone staircases, scrambling over granite boulders, squeezing through trees, and occasionally wondering whether OSHA would shut the entire mountain down.
My iPhone later claimed I climbed 222 flights of stairs.
I’m convinced it was closer to 222 million.
The Best Views Usually Require Some Work
It took about two hours to reach the summit.
The clouds drifted across the mountains.
The city stretched out below.
Lunch never tasted so good.
It wasn’t a fancy meal.
It was a simple Korean lunch with fruit, an egg, a banana, and a few other snacks.
After sweating for two solid hours, it might as well have been a five-star restaurant.
Funny how effort changes your appreciation for simple things.
Then It Started Raining
Going uphill was hard.
Coming down was harder.
Rain made the granite slick.
My running shoes reminded me they were designed for sidewalks.
Bergen, wearing proper hiking boots and using trekking poles, looked like a mountain goat.
I looked like someone making increasingly poor decisions.
At one point he slipped slightly.
My first thought wasn’t about him.
It was, “If something happens to the guy who actually knows where we’re going… how exactly do I get off this mountain?”
Travel has a funny way of keeping your priorities very clear.
An Unexpected Temple
Eventually we reached a Buddhist temple tucked into the mountainside.
More than 1,000 years old, it felt peaceful after the physical challenge of the hike.
Watching a monk quietly pray while rain fell outside was one of those moments that slows everything down.
No crowds.
No tour buses.
Just silence.
Rice Wine Tastes Better After Five Hours
Five hours after we started hiking, we finally reached the bottom.
I thought we were finished.
Instead, Bergen suggested we celebrate with a drink.
The first restaurant was closed.
So we walked farther.
Eventually we found a tiny roadside place where a bottle of cold Korean rice wine appeared along with several small dishes.
I had been hoping for a beer.
At that point, I probably would’ve been happy drinking from a paper cup… or perhaps an old hiking boot.
Everything tastes better after earning it.
Why This Became One of My Favorite Travel Days
Looking back, I barely remember how many stairs there were.
I don’t remember exactly how sore my legs became.
What I remember is laughing.
Learning.
Having conversations I never expected to have.
Seeing parts of Seoul that many visitors never experience.
Travel isn’t always about checking famous landmarks off a list.
Sometimes it’s about saying yes to something slightly outside your comfort zone.
Sometimes those become the stories you tell for years.
If You Go
If you enjoy active travel, I highly recommend spending a day in Bukhansan National Park.
A few tips from someone who learned the hard way:
- Wear actual hiking shoes or trail runners.
- Bring more water than you think you’ll need.
- Don’t assume a “moderate hike” means the same thing in every country.
- Hire a local guide if you can. The conversations may become your favorite memory.
Sometimes the best souvenir from a trip isn’t something you buy.
It’s discovering you’re capable of a little more than you thought.
A Thought to Wander With
The trips we remember most rarely go exactly as planned. They challenge us, surprise us, and occasionally leave us wondering if we packed enough water. If every vacation goes perfectly according to schedule, you probably aren’t leaving enough room for adventure.
Top of Form
