Alpensia Resort

Alpensia Resort, Pyeongchang

Alpensia is located in the province of Gangwon-do, next to the much larger Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang County (all it would take to connect the two ski areas would be a single short chairlift & piste). Alpensia was originally conceived of specifically to enable a Korean Winter Olympics bid by the Gangwon provincial government, including various key pieces of Games infrastructure like the ski jump tower and bobsleigh track. This plan finally came to fruition with Alpensia serving as the focal point of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games, with the resort hosting the ski jumping, bobsleigh, and Nordic events, while neighbouring Yongpyong hosted the slalom & giant slalom (the other downhill events were held at the purpose-built Jeongseon Alpine Centre, with the freestyle events at Phoenix Park)

Alpensia Resort

Mountain stats for Alpensia
Highest lifted point: 960m
Lowest skiable point: 800m
Vertical drop: 160m
Lifts: 3
Runs: 6
Longest run: 900m (‘Bravo’)
Terrain park: no

Homepage (English), homepage (Korean) and piste map

Ski slopes at Alpensia

Alpensia’s a tiny ski hill with just 3 chairlifts and 6 runs down 160m of vert. To be honest, if you’re looking for Gangwon-do’s best skiing, it isn’t at Alpensia… it is a good choice for beginners though, as the gentle terrain and small size make it suitable for learning. It’s also a much newer resort than Yongpyong, with modern accommodation and better base facilities. So, if you’re looking for a family holiday in the snow and want to try some skiing lessons while youre there, Alpensia is a good choice. Serious skiers should head to Yongpyong, High1, or Phoenix Park instead.

View of Yongpyong from Alpensia

View of neighbouring Yongpyong from the top of Alpensia

Seems to me that Alpensia would almost certainly fail as a business if it were only about the ski slopes on offer – there’s no way it can match its larger neighbour. It’s more of an upmarket year-round leisure resort which offers skiing in winter and golf in summer.

Now that it’s served its intended purpose as the centrepiece of the Pyeongchang Olympics, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Alpensia going forwards – it was already rumoured to be in financial difficulty prior to the successful Olympics bid, and with the provincial and national governments at loggerheads over who should pay for the maintenance (or demolition) of the probably-seldom-used Olympic facilities one suspects Alpensia may frequently have the term ‘white elephant’ applied to it over the next few years.

The Olympic ski jump tower at Alpensia

Alpensia Lift Tickets

Alpensia lift tickets follow the usual basic pattern, with time slots of morning, afternoon, and night, as shown here (it closes earlier than most Korean resorts, at 10pm). Alpensia lift tickets are slightly cheaper than Yongpyong lift tickets, so if you’re just looking for somewhere to take lessons Alpensia is therefore the better choice. For those who can already ride, Yongpyong is far better value.

If you’re going to Alpensia and need equipment & wear rental, lessons etc, the best value is to book a package including everything, see here (or here for the 2D1N version)

Alpensia Accommodation

Alpensia has a couple of massive hotel complexes (click to view or book): the Intercontinental Alpensia, and Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Suites. If you need to rent equipment & wear it’s usually best to book a package, see here

Alternatively there are a few hotels in the nearby town of Daegwallyeong and a number of independent pension-style options in the surrounding area which you can search & book here

If you’re planning to stay in Seoul and hit Alpensia from there, search Agoda for hotel deals in Seoul

Airbnb is also a good option in Korea – they have listings near Yongpyong/Alpensia (search for Daegwalnyeong-myeon, the local town) in addition to those in Seoul. If you haven’t used Airbnb before, you can get a 35-dollar discount off your first rental by signing up through Snow Guide Korea; simply click on this link and register!

How to get to Alpensia

If you need rentals, lift ticket, lessons etc, then the easiest way is to book a package including all that plus transportation, see here (or here with accommodation).

To travel there independently, the most convenient way is to use the direct shuttle buses from Seoul (including the airports); these are privately operated and require advance reservation, take 2.5 hours, and cost around 20,000 won. See here for schedules & booking; they can also arrange direct private transfers from the airport.

Alternatively, you can take public buses from Seoul’s Nambu Terminal or Dong Seoul Terminal to Hoenggye Bus Terminal (in Daegwallyeong), and a local bus or taxi from there (3 hours plus, all in); for the local bus schedule see this page on Yongpyong’s site (scroll down), this bus does an infrequent loop from town to Yongpyong to Alpensia and back to town. You can pay for the bus using a T-Money card if you have one.

The private shuttles are way more convenient, and well-worth the extra 5 dollars or so.

The Gangneung KTX bullet train started service in late 2017 and calls at Jinbu Station, about 90 minutes journey time from Seoul Station for 22,000 won. There’s a free shuttle bus from Jinbu to Yongpyong which stops at Alpensia (see here); it’s only for guests of Yongpyong & Alpensia and you’re supposed to show a reservation receipt or Yongpyong Resort card to board, however when I rode it from Alpensia to Jinbu Station after skiing at Alpensia I could just board without showing anything. I was dressed in snowboard gear so had obviously been riding that day, and the Yongpyong front desk also said the shuttle was available to skiing-only guests as well as actual accommodation guests, so its not 100% clear really; I’m not sure how strictly they check reservations when going the other way from Jinbu to the resorts. If you can’t board the bus or don’t want to wait for it you can expect to pay about 20,000 won by taxi.

This bus stop right in front of the holiday Inn welcome center is used by both the local Hoenggye bus and the Jinbu-Yongpyong shuttle bus:

Alpensia Resort shuttle bus stop

Train tickets: you can easily buy train tickets on the day from the ticket machines or manned ticket counters at railway stations, but trains do sell out (especially during peak hours & on holidays) so if you want to be sure of a seat on a specific train it’s better to book in advance. You can either do this in person by visiting a station, or book online on 12go Asia

Any questions about Alpensia? Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.

For more Gangwon-do resorts, see here; for full reviews of every Korean ski resort, see here

Also check out the best Korean ski resorts according to various criteria, and this size comparison of Korea’s ski resorts using satellite imagery.


87 comments on “Alpensia Resort
  1. Karen says:

    Hi, was wondering if the ski resort would be filled with actual snow in early December? Or would they just be man made snow? Thanks

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Karen,

      It depends on the weather, but probably mostly man-made. It still looks the same, it’s not quite as nice for skiing on but it still feels the same when you touch it. Korea doesn’t get a lot of natural snow, so the resorts always have to make a lot and the snow you see there will be a mix

  2. Grace says:

    Hi how can I book for skiing lessons? We have 4 adults and 1 child seeking to learn to ski (3) and snowboard (2). We are staying at Intercontinental hotel.

    Secondly is it advisable to drive from Seoul to Pyeongchang? We are from Singapore.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Grace,

      Yes you could drive it, or you could also take the KTX bullet train (see here) to Jinbu Station (90 minutes) and the shuttle bus from there (20 minutes, free for resort guests).

      To book ski lessons you just need to go to the ski school counter at the resort.

  3. Ema says:

    Hi..we’re travelling to Korea on 3-11 Feb. When do you suggest is the best time to go skiing there? And since there are no more hotels, is it ok to get Airbnb instead outside tye resort? Will there be shuttles to go to the resort? Thank you!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Ema,

      Yeah those dates will be busy due to Seollal (Lunar New Year), an Airbnb would be fine if you can get one but you’ll probably need to budget for taxi fares to go skiing. You’d also be able to go to Yongpyong, which is a bigger mountain with better ski slopes. There is a local bus, but it’s not very frequent and it may not stop near your Airbnb; the schedule’s at the bottom of this page

  4. Joshua says:

    When would be the end of the ski season? I am planning to go in early March.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Joshua, Alpensia usually closes around that time. Would be better to plan for Yongpyong, it’s very close to Alpensia but is much higher so can stay open longer.

  5. Yao says:

    I have planed to go to Alpensia Ski resort between Feb 14-18. Can I ski at that time?
    Our group are the beginner ski players so we need to take lesson. Do we need to book
    ski lesson in advance?

  6. Yao says:

    Can I take ski lessons at Alpensia Ski resort during Feb 14-18? Which website that I can book ski lesson in advance?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Yao, yes you can ski then, and you don’t need to book lessons in advance – just go the ski school counter when you get there. Enjoy!

  7. Rachel says:

    Hi. I plan to go to Alpensia Ski Resort on 13th February.

    1)if I book a stay in Intercontinental Hotel, do I still need to buy the administrative ticket and lift pass to ski?

    2) what time till what time is the Afternoon Pass?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Rachel,

      Not sure what you mean by administrative ticket? If you mean like a general entry ticket, there isn’t anything like that. But yes you’ll still need to buy a lift pass to use the chairlifts, and afternoon tickets are 12:30 to 16:30.

  8. Lim says:

    Hello,

    May I ask is there any entrance fee to Alpensia Ski Resort?

    Thanks in advanced

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Lim, if you want to use the chairlifts you just need to buy a lift pass. There isn’t a separate entry fee

  9. Sook Peng says:

    Hello,
    I am visiting Alpensia, staying at intercontinental hotel on Feb 5 with two young kids. May I know if snowsledging is available at Alpensia ?

  10. Traci says:

    Hi Simon,
    My partner and I are looking at Alpensia from 28th Feb – 4th Mar …. reading above, it looks like it will close around this time. We looked at this resort area as we are both Novices on the snow …. Yongpyong you have said is close, are there transfers available from the Intercontinental in Alpensia to Yongpyong or would you recommend staying in YP instead?
    Cheers

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Traci,

      There is a shuttle bus doing Yongpyong-Alpensia-Jinbu KTX station, but it only runs every couple of hours (timed for the KTX trains) and it stops on Feb 28th. There’s also a local bus, but if you check the schedule here (bottom of page) you can see it’s not much use!

      Usually 28th Feb – March 4th should be fine at Alpensia, but yes there’s a chance they could close which would mean you’d need to take taxis to Yongpyong. You could risk it, or just book Yongpyong instead – your call! Alpensia’s newer and the Intercontinental’s nicer than the accommodation at Yongpyong; both hills are fine for learning on (Yongpyong’s pretty big, but has good beginner areas too). Give me a shout if you have any more questions. Cheers!

  11. Nani says:

    Hi,

    Am going to Alpensia this 12 Feb with my 23 months baby. Just wondering if he can play the sledding slope?

  12. JS says:

    Hi Simon,
    Just wonder if I bring my 4-year old boy there from March 14th to 16th, will the sledding slope still open? If so, will there be areas that he can have fun with snow? Also, how much will taxi cost from Jinbu KTX?

    Cheers

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi JS,

      A taxi would be around 20 dollars and takes 15 minutes. However I think it’s unlikely that Alpensia will still be open by March 14th. There’s a better chance of Yongpyong being open then, but to be honest this season hasn’t been good and I think the resorts may all be closed before the 14th unfortunately. If you check again in a couple of weeks we might know the closing dates by then.

  13. Ahmad says:

    Hi sir, u think yongpyong sledding area still open on the 20th march? Planning to go there. Thanks for your help. What else can we do at yongpyong if sled area is close? U think snow still there to see?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Ahmad, I’m afraid it’s unlikely it’ll still be open, but if you get a sightseeing ticket to go up the gondola you should still be able to see some snow at the top.

  14. Trecia says:

    Hi
    Planning a trip to the resort for some snow play and sledging for the kids in end Nov (24th weekend), will the sledging area be opened by then? Thanks

  15. Chesca says:

    Hi! Is skiing still available on March 27 2019? We plan on going there on that day thank you

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Chesca, sorry they closed on the 10th. The last resorts to close this season are Yongpyong and High1, on the 24th

  16. Djoanna palacio says:

    Hi! Just asking if there’s still snow on march 27 -28? We’ll not ski, we’ll just take pictures if ever. Tnx

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Djoanna, if you visit Yongpyong you should still be able to see snow at the top of the gondola then

  17. Scott Sim says:

    hi… just wondering if I were to travel during the 2nd or 3rd week of Dec 19 to Alpensia with my wife and 7YO boy for some snow activites, will there be snow and what are the things to take note of?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Scott, yes they’ll have the slopes open by then. If you’re lucky there might be some natural snow, but at the very least they’ll have the ski runs open with man-made snow.

    • Scott Sim says:

      Thanks so much for your advice..
      Possible to further advice me on some of my below question:

      1) I am thinking of going there and maybe spending 3 night there and then travel to jeju for another 3 nights. Is it possible? will it be too rush?
      2) I will be flying in from Singapore, which airport will be the nearest to fly into?
      3) How to go to the resort from the Airport?

      Tried looking for information on their website but cannot really fine anything. Was hoping for free and easy rather than following a tour.

      • Simon Norton says:

        1. sure, you could do 3 days skiing then go to Jeju. For this it would be easier to fly to Jeju from Gimpo airport rather than Incheon airport

        2. again, Gimpo is closer than Incheon.

        3. go by direct bus if your flight lands early enough (last one from Gimpo is at 3.30pm), or if you land later take the bullet train from Seoul Station to Jinbu Station then the free resort shuttle from there (see the transportation section on this page for the details)

        • Scott Sim says:

          Hi Simon

          Thank you so much for your reply.

          It seems that Incheon airport is easier for us flying in from Singapore. If we were to fly in and land in Incheon, then how long from Incheon to the resort? from Incheon Airport, how to get to the resort? got free resort shuttle?

          We might change to visit seoul instead of jeju.

          so if we go from the resort to seoul, is it hard to get to seoul?

          • Simon Norton says:

            Hi Scott,

            Sorry for the slow response, busy week. There’s no free shuttle from the airport to the resort. The free shuttle runs from the closest train station, Jinbu Station, which you can reach by bullet train from Seoul Station. Basically for both Incheon and Gimpo airports you can either take a paid direct bus (which is the easiest option if the departure times match your landing time), or you can take the subway to Seoul Station then proceed by bullet train from there. Either way, landing at Incheon means your journey to Alpensia will be around 30 mins longer than if you land at Gimpo. It is also possible to travel to Alpensia by public highway bus to the local bus station, but I don’t recommend this unless you’re looking for the cheapest option. Please see the transportation section above for the details on these options.

            As for visiting Seoul after Alpensia, yes it’s super easy to get there basically by doing the reverse journey either by bullet train to Seoul Station or by direct bus.

            • Scott Sim says:

              Hi Simon

              Thank you so much for your help in offering me with all this advice.

              Just wondering if you offer any service in helping to arrange for trip if I can keen to go there?

              • Simon Norton says:

                Sorry, I don’t arrange bespoke trips as such. If you use the links on my site to make accommodation or transportation bookings, I get commission from them (at no additional cost to you), and that’s the business model for this website. Of course you don’t have to do so, I leave that up to you! But if you can tell me what time you’ll be landing at Incheon, I can advise you which specific transportation to book and give you the link for it.

                • Scott says:

                  Hi Simon

                  Noted on your advice.

                  I am planning to arrive at incheon on 19/12(0825) and going directly to alpensia(Planning to stay at holiday inn) from 19-21(3d2n) then will want to travel to Seoul from 21-27(departing from incheon)

                  • Simon Norton says:

                    Ok, so if you land at 8:25 you can take the direct shuttle bus departing 10:30 from Terminal 2 or 11:00 from Terminal 1. You can book that here, though bookings won’t be open for another couple of months. Immigration etc is nice & efficient at Incheon so you should be through with plenty of time to find the bus terminal and sit down for a coffee. You can also use the same service for the bus from Alpensia to Seoul, one of the drop off points is Myeongdong which is a major hotel area.

  18. Danny says:

    Hi,

    Is Alpensia open from 3 – 13 Jan 2020? Also what is the most direct way to get from Busan to Alpensia Ski resort?

    Thanks in advance for your advice!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Danny, yes they’ll be open then for sure. From Busan you can ride the KTX to Seoul Station (2.5 hours) then proceed from there by KTX to Jinbu Station as described above (and then the shuttle bus to the resort). You may also be able to take a highway bus from Busan to Daegwallyeong (the small town near Alpensia), but this would take longer (especially given the edge-of-town locations of the long-distance bus stations in Busan) and be harder to work out.

  19. Stephanie says:

    Hi

    Our family of 11pax will be staying one nite at Holiday Inn Resort on 9/12. Then on 10/12, we would like to join the 2hrs ski lesson privately. My question is should I book early or should I book on that day itself at the ski counter?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Stephanie, normally it’s fine to just book once you’ve arrived at the resort. However, due to your large group size it might be a good idea to book in advance to make sure there are enough English-speaking instructors available. If you want to do so you can use Trazy, see here, max group size is 4 so you can book 2x 4-person lessons at 52900 KRW per person and 1x 3-person lesson at 62700 KRW pp (that’s the price for last season, not sure if the discount will still be applied next season or not – they’ll open it for bookings some time around October)

  20. Low Hwee Hiang says:

    Hi,
    Will the resort be opened in Early Dec by then? We are thinking of going to the resort, directly from Gimpo airport. May I know if there is direct shuttle bus from Gimpo to Alpensia? How long will the journey take and how much is it?
    Thanks in advance

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hello, yes they usually open in late November. There are direct buses leaving Gimpo at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, and 15:30 which you can book here. It takes around 3 hours and the price is 35000 won (around 30 US dollars)

  21. kevin says:

    Hi,
    We are planning to stay 3 nights at alpensia. any attraction that is recommended around that area?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Kevin, the main attraction is the skiing at Alpensia and at neighbouring Yongpyong Resort. If you go there outside ski season you can visit Odaesan National Park nearby for hiking, and the Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm is a popular local attraction (I’ve never been)

  22. Lawrence says:

    Great info here. May I check what options are available to travel from alpensia directly to busan instead of going to seoul then train to busan? Thanks in advance.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Lawrence, to be honest I would do this journey by KTX bullet train, from Jinbu Station to Busan Station via Seoul Station, taking around 4.5 hours.

      To do it by bus I think you have to take one bus from Daegwallyeong to Gangneung, then another from Gangneung down to Busan; although this is more direct on the map, it’s a slower journey and you still have to deal with a transfer anyway… it’d be about 6 hours to Busan, plus a 45 min subway ride into the city as Busan’s bus stations are all out on the edge of town.

      Actually, you could also rent a car and drive down yourself – that should take around 5 hours if the traffic’s ok.

  23. Mira says:

    Hi Simon, thank you so much for your super informative guide on skiing at Alpensia and Yongpyong. This will be my first time skiing in Korea and I would really like your advice on how long of a trip would be just nice to ski at Alpensia / Yongpyong.

    The usual length is 5 to 7 days, but I’ve noticed that the offered packages tend to be very short i.e. 1 or 2 nights. And people only plan to go for one or two days of skiing. Would 5 days of skiing be too much for these slopes? 5 days was always just nice in Europe.

    Thanks!!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Mira,

      If you’re used to the big European resorts then Yongpyong & Alpensia will feel very small, especially Alpensia! You definitely don’t want to stay for 5 days at Alpensia, but Yongpyong would be ok for that length of time. For example, if you stay at Yongpyong for 4 nights you’ll have 3 full days, so you could spend 2 days skiing there at Yongpyong and maybe go over to check Alpensia out on the other day for a change of scenery. Would also be possible to do some skiing on your arrival or departure day, depending on times. Remember you can also stay in Daegwallyeong town, there are regular shuttle buses to reach the two ski hills.

      Hope this helps, give me a shout if you have any more questions

      • Mira says:

        Thanks so much Simon. Yongpyang is all booked out for the dates I’m looking at, unless I stay in the nearby town and take the shuttle bus as you have suggested.

        Will hold off on skiing in Korea for now and focus on exploring Seoul and Jeju Island 🙂

        Thanks again!!

  24. Mich says:

    We have booked 4 days 3 nights at Holiday Inn Suite Alpensia during Christmas. We have 4 adults and 3 kids and plan to cook in the room. Do you know if any supermarket and convenient stores nearby ? Thanks in advance.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Mich, yes there are a couple of GS25 convenience stores at Alpensia, and if you go into Daegwallyeong town (shuttle bus or taxi from the resort) you can find several supermarkets and more convenience stores.

  25. marsha says:

    hi Simon,

    I would like to bring my kids to Alpensia on 30th November. Are the sledding area open during that time? At klook they offered package return transport + sledding on 30th november. please advise.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Marsha,

      The sledding doesn’t usually start until mid-December. I’m not sure how klook decide what dates to offer – but I’m sure they’d have to refund it if you book sledding and it isn’t open yet.

  26. Djalma says:

    Awesome website, Simon! Especially your attention to all the comments. Kudos!
    I should get my visa next week to work as a SB instructor. If you’re around during winter, give us a shout.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Cheers Djalma! That’s awesome – are you going to be working at Alpensia?

      Just been checking your site out too – I can’t speak Spanish unfortunately, but looks awesome! I’ve always wanted to go ride in Chile, will have to get down there some day.

  27. Lawrence says:

    Hi Simon

    Wife (Korean born) and I (both Australian residents) were told by Alpensia last year that if she had a SK credit card she could obtain 50% discount on ski lift pass and ski equipment.
    Can you please advise which SK credit cards would be suitable for this discount at Alpensia as we will be returning in 2020.

    Many thanks in advance

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Lawrence,

      Sorry mate, can’t give good advice on this as I’m not actually in the Korean banking system at all and I have no knowledge of the credit cards available. I think the Alpensia discount is for any SK credit card though, so if your wife researches the best card to get generally speaking, it should also be fine for the discount.

  28. lawrence says:

    Thank you so much Simon your help very much appreciated.

    If you are in Pyeonchang in Jan 20 come visit at Ramada 25 Jan to 3rd Feb …it will be my pleasure
    to say thanks in person!:)

  29. Cheryl says:

    Hi. My family of 13 will arrive at Alpensia resort on 28 nov. a family friend told us that the ski slope will usually open only on 1 Dec based on past year experience. Is that so? If so, are there any other ski resorts that we can explore for families with kids between 2 to 14?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Cheryl,

      If you look here you can see the opening dates for last winter. As you can see, Alpensia opened on December 1st last year. It’s possible they could open sooner if the conditions are cold enough in November, but it’s still too early to know. If they’re not open yet, you can go to Yongpyong which is only 10 minutes away by taxi and usually opens in mid-November.

  30. Jet says:

    Hi Simon,
    First of all, great site you have and your timely response to questions as well.

    My wife and I will be visiting Korea 2-13Dec. I’m thinking of spending time in Seoul first and then in Alpensia for the last 3 days of the trip. But I worry about the trip from Alpensia to Incheon airport as our flight is at 1435 on the 13th. Do you think this is a good idea? Or is it best to do the opposite (Alpensia first then Seoul)? Or Alpensia some time in the middle of the trip (but hate the hotel transfers)?
    Thanks in advance.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Jet,

      Cheers, always good to hear it’s been useful.

      Right, so to make it to the airport for a 14.35 flight you’d need to go by KTX bullet train. The first direct bus is at 9.10, which is cutting it too fine. There’s a KTX from Jinbu Station (15 mins from Alpensia by taxi) at 8.50 reaching Seoul Station at 10.26, from where you can ride the Arex out to the airport – this assumes no timetable changes by then, bookings are open from 30 days in advance so would advise checking the time & booking at that point (you can do that easily here).

      However, personally I think that sounds a bit hectic! So if it were me I’d probably prefer to switch the order and go direct from the airport to Alpensia by bus (see here), then at the end of the trip it’s nice & easy to get to the airport from the hotel in Seoul.

      Hope this helps, and let me know if you have any further questions

  31. T C Teng says:

    Hi Simon,

    I will go Alpensia Resort for 3 days 6 Dec to 8 Dec 2019, was wondering the snow start already, can start skiing?

    Please advise.

    Thanks.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi TC,

      The weather is crazy warm at the moment compared to usual at this time of year, so the resorts are going to be late opening. Last year Alpensia opened on December 1st, which was later than usual, and I think this year is going to be even later. Hopefully they’ll be open by December 6th though, but we don’t know yet. Keep checking my post here for opening updates

  32. Shiela says:

    Hi, i am planning to go skiing with my 10yr old, we have some basics but maybe need additional lessons for intermediate. Will be coming on 22feb2020, resorts are still open? Am thinking of Alpensia or Vivaldi as we have only been to Jisan the year before. More importantly for us is the easier access resort from ICN airport. So which is an easier transfer option for us?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Sheila, yes they’ll still be open then. From the airport it’s easier to go to Alpensia, you can take a direct bus (see here)

  33. Jazz says:

    My family of 4 arriving in Seoul airport and wish to take a taxi to Alpensia resort. What’s the cost for a taxi trip?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Jazz,

      Assuming you mean Incheon Airport, a taxi would be around 350000 KRW (around 350 USD) using the meter. You might be able to negotiate a fixed rate with the driver instead of using the meter, for a slightly lower price. Alternatively, if you check the above link (in the ‘how to get to Alpensia’ section) for private airport transfers, you can hire a van for 320000 KRW

  34. Stephan says:

    Hi, I’m thinking of staying in alpensia around Christmas for a few nights with my wife 2 year old son. Do you know if the bottom part of the slopes are accessible for free so that my son can experience the snow? Or do you need a lift pass to access this area? Many thanks in advance!

  35. Carol says:

    Hi Simon, we are planning to a trip to Alpensia ski resort from 13-16 Dec 2022.
    Do you know if i would need to pre-book ski lessons for the kids prior to those dates? I’ve checked online ski lessons start from the 16 Dec. Does it mean before the 16th Dec there will be no ski instructors available?
    I have 3 kids 7,9 & 9yo.
    thanks!

  36. Liza Mo says:

    Hi Simon,
    We are staying at alpensia Holiday Inn hotel this December.
    Is Alpensia ski resort and Yongpyong ski resort connected with piste and cable car?
    Is it possible to ski from alpensia to Yongpyong ?
    Or do we need to take a taxi?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Liza,

      No the two ski areas aren’t connected by piste or cable car. From the top of Alpensia you can clearly see Yongpyong nearby, but you can’t ski down to it.

      So yes you have to go round by road, either by taxi or bus. There should be a free shuttle bus roughly every hour, ask the Alpensia staff for the exact details & schedule.

  37. KK says:

    May I know is there any shuttle bus in between Yong Pyong Resort and Alpensia? It seems quite close, but i can’t find any information on the internet regarding the shuttle if someone wants to visit Yong Pyong from Alpensia.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi KK, yes there are buses running a circuit between the local town and the two resorts, I’ve used them several times. I don’t know the routes & schedules for this season, you can ask the front desk staff at the hotels. You may find that there’s a direct bus from Yongpyong to Alpensia, but to go from Alpensia to Yongpyong you might have to go into town first then ride the bus back out to Yongpyong. You can also ask the hotels to call you a taxi, it isn’t far.

  38. Trevor says:

    HI Simon,

    I have been researching my family trip to South Korea and came across your guide. You have answered many of my questions here.

    I am heading to South Korea, this January 2024 with my family 2 adults and 2 kids aged 9 and 11. The kids have never seen snow and the adults have not skied in 11 years.. I was looking at spending 5 night in Alpensia and spending some days skiing at Yongpyong or doing non-skiing activities with the kids – such as the water parks (are they open in winter). I am hoping the shuttle bus will run often enough or I can get a taxi between locations.

    I am also hoping there is enough to keep us entertained for this length of time.

    It looks pretty straight forward to book direct with the hotels. Would you recommend booking ahead for transport, ski school and lift passes?

    Cheers,

    Trevor

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Trevor, there are shuttle buses but if you want to ski at Yongpyong it might be better to stay at Yongpyong. That said, Alpensia is a more modern resort so if nicer accommodation is your priority and you don’t mind spending time on shuttle buses, yes stick with Alpensia. And yes, should be straightforward to book direct. Might be a good idea to book airport transfer in advance (or bus from Seoul if you’re also staying there)

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Hi I’m Simon, British snowboard addict & travel blogger presently based in NE Asia. I run this site to help international visitors plan their trips to Korean ski resorts; you might also be interested in my travel blog, especially the Korea sightseeing and Japan snowboarding content

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