Korea one of many countries that don’t readily spring to my mind for cycling trips abroad; perhaps because of what we hear about North Korea. It certainly discourages me from trying to go there; whether solo, or as part of a tandem team.

South Korea, on the other hand, has its possibilities. By the way, how did I start thinking about cycling trips there? Wouldn’t you know: hot dogs! A tikka masala variation using hoisin sauce.

The cycling infrastructure in South Korea is said to be great; the trails have a variety of difficulty; beautiful scenery; amazing food;

camping is easy to find; the people are wonderful.

The weather during the Winter months can be very harsh; if you aren’t a dedicated cold-weather cyclist, you might not want to plan a trip through Korea for that season. It also might not be easy to find speakers of English outside of the capital city. Leaving that aside, choose your route.

I love the pic shown of the Four Rivers Trail in Fall; those leaves are positively glowing. Even better, multiple lanes just for bicycles!

For novice bicycle tourists, the Han River Trail would be great for a one-day trip. Nice and flat; and all paved. But this route is busy, so stay alert to other riders.

The Jeju Bike Path is a good one for cyclists who would like to combine an easy ride with some beachcombing. This trail is mostly flat, and has some great scenic spots along the way.

The East Coast Cycling Route is moderately difficult, and you’re on the coast all the way. Sometimes you’ll have the ocean on one side, and mountains on the other. The path is sometimes flat, and sometimes there are long climbs; but paved all the way.

For the touring cyclist looking for a challenge, there’s the Chilbongsang Trail. This path is dirt and rocks; sounds like something better suited to a mountain bike than a road bike! It also is not intended for beginners. But make it to the top, and your reward is a panoramic view of the countryside.

Except for that fifth route, I think I’d like any of them. Should I save my pennies towards a trip to South Korea?