Jirisan Foothills: The Sanmani Trail — 10 Days
Walk village-to-village around Korea's first national park, following paths shaped by mountain foragers and rural communities
The Sanmani Trail traces the foothills of Jirisan, South Korea's first national park, along routes once walked by the Sanmani—traditional mountain foragers who harvested wild ginseng and medicinal herbs between villages and valleys. Rather than climbing to the summit, this ten-day journey follows the paths of everyday mountain life: farmland, forest edges, stone-walled villages, and the markets where those paths met the wider world. Jirisan itself carries deep cultural weight in Korea—a place of refuge during the Japanese invasions of the 16th century and again during the Korean War, when civilians fled into its valleys to survive. Walking these foothills reveals how life has long continued along the mountain's living edge, where nature and human settlement are inseparable. The trail moves between named villages—Unbong to Namwon, Jucheon, Banggwang, Omi, Songjeong, and Hwagae Market—each day offering a different aspect of countryside walking and rural heritage. The journey begins in Seoul with an orientation walk along the Hanyangdoseong (Seoul City Wall), then travels south by KTX to Namwon to begin the trail proper. This is not a sightseeing tour or a summit conquest, but a guided trek that asks walkers to move slowly through lived-in landscapes.
Highlights
- Seoul City Wall orientation walk: Hanyangdoseong from Gwanghwamun through Inwangsan and Bugaksan (13 km, 727 m elevation gain)
- KTX bullet train journey from Seoul to Namwon
- Unbong to Jucheon village section: open plains, rice fields, and gentle forest edges with northern views of Jirisan (16 km, 349 m)
- Gurijae Pass crossing: transition between watersheds from Jucheon to Banggwang (14 km, 526 m)
- Omi village: cultural heartland with traditional timber houses and historic residences
- Hwagae Market: historic southern Korean marketplace where mountain paths meet trade and daily life
- Wonbuchun village approach: terraced tea fields and fern-lined forest trails
- Nine-day village-to-village walking circuit around Jirisan's foothills (8–20 km per day)
Day by day
1Seoul City Wall: Hanyangdoseong Orientation Walk & Welcome Dinnerhotel · Gwanghwamun · Inwangsan and Bugaksan · Dongdaemun
The journey begins in Seoul, where the Hanyangdoseong (Seoul City Wall) serves as both a physical and symbolic introduction to walking in Korea. After meeting at the hotel, luggage is stored and the group heads out for a gentle acclimatization walk. Starting near Gwanghwamun, the path climbs gradually through Inwangsan and Bugaksan, passing through the city's hills while remaining unhurried and accessible. The route offers sweeping views over modern Seoul before concluding near Dongdaemun, where the historic wall meets contemporary urban rhythm. In the evening, the group gathers for a welcome dinner where the guide team is introduced and a detailed briefing is given on the Sanmani Trail, its historical significance, and the walking days ahead. After dinner, check-in at the hotel concludes the day. Walking distance: 13 km. Elevation gain: 727 m.
2KTX to Namwon & Unbong Village: First Steps on the Sanmani TrailNamwon · Unbong · Seoul
A morning KTX departure carries the group south from Seoul toward Namwon in two and a half hours, leaving the capital and its intensity behind. Upon arrival, a relaxed lunch in Namwon precedes a vehicle transfer to Unbong, the starting point of the first walk on the Sanmani Trail. The afternoon walk introduces the rhythm of the trail itself—a gentle journey back toward Namwon along foothill paths that pass through farmland, open landscapes, and quiet villages. The terrain is approachable and unrushed, allowing the group to settle into the village-to-village pace that defines the journey ahead. By late afternoon, return to Namwon and check in to the hotel for rest and recovery. The evening is free, preparing the body and mind for the deeper immersion into Jirisan's foothills in the days ahead. Travel time by KTX from Seoul to Namwon. Walking distance: 8 km. Elevation gain: 127 m.
3Namwon to Jucheon: Open Plains and Rice Fields Along Village PathsNamwon to Jucheon · Jucheon village
Today follows one of the most representative sections of the Jirisan Dulle-gil—old paths that once connected farming communities and local markets. The route leads through open plains, rice fields, and gentle forest edges, offering wide views toward the northern slopes of Jirisan across quiet hamlets shaped by generations of movement rather than steep ascents. The walking pace is relaxed and rhythmic, allowing the group to settle fully into the flow of village-to-village travel. The walk ends in Jucheon village for the evening. Walking distance: 16 km. Elevation gain: 349 m.
4Jucheon to Banggwang: Gurijae Pass and Forest TransitionsJucheon to Banggwang · Gurijae Pass · Banggwang village
The walk from Jucheon to Banggwang crosses a gentle mountain pass, moving deeper into Jirisan's interior through forest paths and old mountain roads once used by villagers and travelers moving between valleys. The ascent to Gurijae Pass—the highest point of the day—is steady but unhurried, rewarding walkers with fresh mountain air and a sense of transition as elevation shifts the perspective from one watershed to another. From the pass, the path descends gently through wooded slopes and quiet rural scenery, where stone walls and small fields signal the approach to Banggwang village. This stage captures the essence of long-distance walking in Korea: moving slowly through lived-in landscapes where mountains, villages, and daily life blend together. Walking distance: 14 km. Elevation gain: 526 m.
5Banggwang to Omi: Farmland and Historic Village ResidencesOmi village · Banggwang to Omi village
The walk leads from Banggwang toward Omi village along gentle foothills, where mountains gradually give way to open farmland and long-settled villages. The trail unfolds through quiet countryside—small fields, low stone walls, and village roads shaped by generations of daily life. Forest sections provide shade and calm, while open stretches reveal a softer, more human-scaled landscape than earlier mountain days. As the group approaches Omi village, traditional timber-beam houses and historic residences begin to appear, signaling arrival in one of the cultural heartlands of the Jirisan region. The pace naturally slows here, inviting observation of old craftsmanship: timber framing, tiled roofs, and the rhythm of rural life continuing much as it has for centuries. This stage highlights a different aspect of long-distance walking in Korea—less about crossing mountains, more about walking through history where nature and culture are woven into the landscape. Walking distance: 10 km. Elevation gain: 343 m.
6Omi to Songjeong: Village Lanes, Woodland Rhythms, and Rural ImmersionOmi village · Songjeong village · woodland segments between Omi and Songjeong
From Omi village, the trail moves gently along village lanes and pastoral roads toward Songjeong village, tracing paths where daily life and mountain foothills intersect. Fields and farm tracks give way to quieter woodland segments and shaded bends, inviting walkers to feel the rhythm of rural Jirisan life. The path follows old routes once used by villagers carrying goods and news between settlements. Small streams and shaded groves offer welcome stops, and the cadence of walking aligns with changing morning light. As Songjeong village approaches, familiar village sights reappear—stone walls, traditional homes, and the peaceful hum of daily routines. The finish brings a calm sense of transition where long-distance walking meets the welcoming simplicity of village life. This segment highlights quiet landscapes and cultural continuity, showing how countryside paths carry both memory and motion in equal measure. Note: This is the most physically demanding day of the journey, rewarded with deep immersion into the Jirisan foothills. Walking distance: 17 km. Elevation gain: 1,030 m.
7Songjeong to Hwagae Market: Traditional Marketplace and Countryside ConvergenceHwagae Market · Songjeong village · Gatan
The walk carries the group from Songjeong village toward Gatan with a significant detour to the historic Hwagae Market, one of southern Korea's most vital traditional marketplaces. Leaving village roads behind, the trail opens onto rolling countryside and riverside paths that guide walkers toward the market—a lively hub where farmers, traders, and travelers once gathered amidst the confluence of Jirisan's streams and the broader Honam–Yeongnam region. At Hwagae Market, walkers step into a continually active space offering local produce, traditional snacks, and a vivid sense of everyday Korean culture set against mountain scenery. After time at the market, the group continues onward toward Gatan, where today's walk concludes with a sense of connection between the ancient rhythms of rural life and the enduring tradition of long-distance walking. This segment celebrates both cultural immersion and countryside exploration, blending natural paths with the spirit of Korea's living heritage. Walking distance: 15 km. Elevation gain: 636 m.
8Hwagae Market to Wonbuchun: Forest Climbs and Tea Field ViewsHwagae Market · terraced tea fields · Wonbuchun village · forest paths and fern-lined trails
The day begins at the lively Hwagae Market, where local life pulses amidst colorful stalls and village chatter. Leaving the market behind, the trail gradually climbs away from the river flats into a quieter mountain-foothill landscape, where forest paths and shaded lanes guide upward through changing terrain. As elevation increases, distant views of terraced tea fields and wooded slopes unfold, reminding walkers that this section bridges cultural meeting places with the deeper, more rugged world of the Jirisan foothills. The climb is steady, asking for focused steps, yet the rhythm of the path offers moments of calm reflection with each turn through fern-lined trails and cool shade. Approaching Wonbuchun village, the forest opens back into a patchwork of farm tracks and rural lanes. The village sits comfortably among fields and gentle hills—a quiet counterpoint to the morning's market bustle. The walk ends with the feeling of having traversed both the communal heart of local life and the natural courses that rise from it, a true blend of culture, countryside, and mountain spirit. Walking distance: 10 km. Elevation gain: 100 m.
9Wonbuchun to Hadong County: Final Foothills Walk and Regional ConvergenceWonbuchun · Daechuk village · Hadong-eup · Hadong to Gwangyang city
The final walking day begins in Wonbuchun, where gentle rural lanes and wooded trails lead toward Daechuk village, setting the tone for this last section of the Sanmani Trail. Leaving the quiet village behind, the path gradually rises and dips over rolling terrain hinting at Jirisan's foothills, inviting walkers to savor the soft rhythm of countryside walking. At Daechuk village, the landscape opens to broad views of agricultural fields and distant hills, offering a moment to reflect on the distance the trail has carried the group. From here, the path continues toward Hadong-eup, where the character shifts—moving from quiet farm tracks to the welcoming streets of town. Approaching Hadong-eup, walkers feel the blending of rural heritage and town life, the kind that has shaped this region for generations. Today's walk brings the group to the end of this long journey around Jirisan's outer slopes, where nature, tradition, and local living converge in the rolling fields and shaded paths that have guided the journey home. Following the walk, a vehicle transfers the group from Hadong to Gwangyang city (30 minutes). Walking distance: 20 km. Elevation gain: 925 m.
10Gwangyang to Yeosu: KTX Return to SeoulGwangyang to Yeosu · Yeosu
A vehicle transfer carries the group from Gwangyang to Yeosu (30 minutes), where the KTX awaits for the final return to Seoul. The three-hour train journey north concludes the ten-day journey, providing time for reflection as the group departs as new friends carrying memories of the Sanmani Trail and the foothills of Jirisan. Travel time by vehicle: 30 minutes. Travel time by KTX: 3 hours.
Where you go
- 1Namwon
- 2Seoul
- 3Yeosu
Included
- What's included
- English speaking cultural & walking tour guide
- Luggage transfer hotel to hotel
- Private chartered vehicle during the tour. 9-15 passenger van based on the size of the group
- Accommodation (9 N 10 D)
- Meals (B 10, L 9, D 2)
- KTX tickets (Yeosu-Seoul)
- All entrance fee for tourist attractions in itinerary
Not included
- NOT included
- Traveler's insurance
- Dinner on Day 7 at Hwagae Local Market city
- Personal meals and drinks like alcohol, soft drinks, soda, coffee, tea and etc