Muju Deogyusan ski resort (무주덕유산리조트)
Winter is around the corner. The weather is getting colder. Winter means snow and snow means winter sports Yay! So if you are into winter sports and are currently in Korea, there is some fun to be had. There are thirteen ski resorts in Korea. Each resort offers exciting skiing and snowboarding experience for their guests. One of the popular destination to enjoy winter sports is Muju.
Muju Deogyusan ski resort (무주덕유산리조트)
Muju is a county in North Jeolla province, South Korea. Muju is known for winter sports and is famous among ski lovers. Muju Resort or Deogyusan Resort is located in Mt. Deogyusan. It blends in beautifully with the scenery of Mt. Deogyusan National Park, and is the perfect place to enjoy winter sports. Muju Deogyusan Resort is the largest of the resorts in the central region of Korea.
Every year, the Muju Resort hosts the Fun Ski & Snow Festival in partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization. The resort is especially famous for its ski courses, and many enthusiasts visit Muju during the winter. At Manseonbong Peak (1,215m) skiing grounds, there is a lift that can handle 13,000 people at once, and there are a variety of courses from beginners’ to professional levels. The resort mountain has been designed in 2 main sections, the Manseon Base with 12 slopes and the Seolcheon base with 10 slopes, which include the 6.1km long Silk Road trail run and the Raiders Course with arguably the steepest runs in Korea.
The base of peak 1 has the ski house, which has the ski school, equipment rental, Western and Korean eateries and amenities. The ski school provides ski and snowboarding lessons for people who don’t know how or for those who want to brush up on their skills. Don’t worry if you can’t speak Korean they have Ski and snowboarding lessons in English as well. The resort offers individual lessons as well as group lessons and the prices vary respectively.
You can rent your ski-equipment at both Mansun House and Seolcheon House. There are no rentals available for ski gloves and goggles. The resort also offers lift and Gondola services. You can visit http://www.mdysresort.com to find out the rates and more detailed information about the services offered.
Ski is not my thing!
No need to fret! if you don’t enjoy winter sports. There are lots of other activities to do. The top of Peak 2 has a small rest stop complete with a cafeteria. It is a perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee to keep the chill away and enjoy the beautiful view.
The resort also has an outdoor hot spring. Located on first floor of the Family Hotel, this open-air hot springs is situated next to Seoyeokgihaeng Slope. The outdoor hot spring offers a refreshing soak in a warm pool that maintains year-round temperatures of 41 to 43 degrees.
A dip in the outside hot spring under a snowy sky is a memorable experience.
Accommodations
The resort has three hotels. The 5-star Hotel Tirol, is the most expensive but it’s right on the slope and has an amazing view.
The Family Hotel condominiums are actually a collection of about eleven hotels with 13 buildings equipped with 974 guestrooms. The rooms are medium-range price-wise.
The cheap way is the Kookmin Hotel. It has 418 guestrooms. It’s a hostel style accommodation with a shared kitchen.
Other amenities
Other resort facilities are located around the village and include supermarkets, convenience stores, a pub / bar, various restaurants, karaoke and billiards room, games arcade, the Muju Wine Gallery, souvenir shop, sporting goods shop etc.
If you are planning to visit Muju resort this winter, it is a good idea to get on top of the reservations now, especially if you do not want to end up without accommodations. Visit the website or look for travel agencies offering special ski packages.
Give it a try! It’s a great way to enjoy the snow and be adventurous.
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