We leave for South Korea from our chosen departure airports to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) arriving the following day.

• Meals: Dinner

Welcome to South Korea! Flights from the UK/Europe tend to arrive late afternoon and so after transferring from the airport (1hr approx.) and following hotel check-in, there will be a group meeting, where you’ll meet your tour leader. During this we can go over all the formalities of the trip and answer any questions that you may have. After the group meeting, we’ll head out for our first deliciously tasty evening meal.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast and the bike fit we set off on our amazing journey through South Korea. Centrally located, our hotel has easy access to the newly developed Cheonggyecheon Stream Bike Path that cuts through the heart of the city and ensures we’ve no need for vehicle transfers out of Seoul. After around 6kms we’ll reach the Han River Park where we continue along the Han River Bikeway which we’ll be using for much of our initial cycling days.

Although a fairly chunky distance today it’s thankfully lacking in any major hills which will certainly aid our progress. On exiting the city limits our ‘weekend warrior’ city bike companions ebb away and we are soon away from Seoul’s hustle and bustle. It’s not long before the views begin to open up with Paldang scheduled in for lunch mid-point of the ride.

Suitably replenished we continue our way along the traffic-free cycle-route all the way to Yangpyeong. The evening meal is taken close to the accommodation at a small restaurant whose speciality is ginseng chicken soup.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Back on the bikes we depart directly from the hotel and are soon enjoying the South Han River Bike Path. As with yesterday it is pretty much traffic-free and as we are that bit further away from Seoul our biking buddies are few and far between from here on in. The scenery alters too with the area less open and pine trees more prevalent. As yesterday it’s a similarly flat day, with a few less kms as we head to the county of Angsung.

The whole area is famous for its hot springs that bubble to the surface from around 700 metres below the ground. Renowned for its healing properties, it is effective for treating back pain, stiff shoulders, fatigue and a whole gamut of other ailments. So, what better way to relax after a day on the bike than by seeing what all the fuss is about.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

A few more undulations along the way today as we head to the time-honoured hot springs town of Suanbo in North Chungcheong. Set in a lovely location it’s a compact little place whose healing waters have been shooting water to the surface for over 30,000 years.

It has been part of Korean culture for centuries and was officially mentioned in 1018, during the ninth year of King Hyeongjong’s reign. Taking a hot bath here is certainly part of the attraction. That said, with the nearby hills and mountains being a hikers paradise it’s now firmly on the map with those looking to combine some exercise and bathing.

It’s even got a hot foot bath in the centre of the town if your feet need a fix. Suanbo is famed for its pheasant dishes and we’ll visit our favourite restaurant tonight to sample this local fayre.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Suitably re-fuelled and refreshed it’s time to tackle a few hills. The scenery will have been slowly changing yesterday, and today it continues to change, with the riverside meanderings replaced by densely covered mountains and steep-sided valleys. We’ll be heading upwards, straight from the get-go on leaving Suanbo as we take on Sojoryung (362m). Steep at times it’s a tough 2.5km climb to tackle first thing in the morning. That said the views that it affords are well worth the effort and there are plenty of places to take a little rest should you need to.

As well as the mountain scenery you are now in an area famous for its chillies and you’ll see every nook and cranny filled with these hot little devils as you cycle along. Our second climb is that of Ihwaryung (548m) which comes after a great downhill section. Ihwaryung has formed the boundary between Chungcheong Province and Gyeongsang Province since the Josun Dynasty (1392-1910) and it’s easy to see why.

It’ll be a great sense of achievement to reach the top and kick back for a while at the café whilst you catch your breath. As the old adage goes: what goes up must come down and you’re in for a treat! From the top there is a great winding descent down to the Munkyeong Valley below and the exertions of the climbs will soon be forgotten. Once in the valley we’ll enjoy a few rolling kms to the edge of Mungyeong Saejae (Mungyeong Pass). The pass played an important role as the gateway in and out of Gyeongsang province with scholars, traders and government officials from Gyeongsang all required to go through the pass on the way to Seoul and Busan. Our accommodation is situated at the valley end within Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park.

It can be a busy place during the day for visitors but come late afternoon (when we plan to arrive) it’s transformed into a much quieter place and is a great place to take a wander especially during the colours of Autumn. Our evening meal is taken a short stroll away from our accommodation and offers the chance to taste some local delicacies.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Heading out from the park we’ve a big ride ahead. Thankfully the hills of yesterday won’t be around and after a few initial undulations it’s pretty flat throughout.

This is a day of wonderful rural riding that starts amongst the apple orchards of Mungyeong Saejae and ends close to the cultural heritage village of Andong Hahoe. It’s a day that sees us cycling a beautiful route that weaves its way beside streams and rivers, criss-crosses farmland and cuts its way through huge swathes of paddy fields, whose vivid greens contrasts with the nearby darker mountain scenery.

It’s a ride where cover/shade is limited and so there will be plenty of stops scheduled along the way. Today’s distance whilst scheduled for 82kms may well be reduced depending on the weather conditions (predominantly heat) and the progress of the group on the day. With accommodation limited in this immediate location our accommodation tonight is situated in downtown Andong City.

Whilst the location is a contrast from the rural tranquillity of today’s ride the hotel is modern and well appointed. With lots of tasty food options from traditional Korean to mainstream Western to choose from in the evening you’ll not go hungry whilst absorbing this slice of local Korean nightlife. What’s more we’ll be here for two evenings and so there’s no need to re-pack your luggage in the morning.

Please note that as we will be transferring at the end of today’s ride the distance cycled will be flexible depending on the group’s progress. Transfer time 30-45 minutes approx.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After 5 days of cycling it’s time to take a break from the bikes. After a more relaxed start to the day, we head to Andong Hahoe Cultural Village. Situated around 20kms from Andong City we’ll utilise our support vehicle(s) for the short journey here. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010 it is a traditional village from the Joseon Dynasty and a valuable part of Korean culture. The village maintains old architectural styles that have been lost due to rapid modernisation and development in South Korea with its values focussing on retaining the tradition of clan-based villages. With its aristocratic tile roofed residences and thatched roof servants’ homes you’ll really be able to see what life would have once been like in days gone by.

With plenty to see here it’s a matter of choosing your own pace and having a wander to see what you’ll discover. Culturally enriched after lunch we’ll transfer back from Hahoe to our accommodation. After a spot of down-time we head out in the evening. Time once again to explore downtown Andong and eat in one of our favourite restaurants.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Refreshed after a day off the bikes we head off from our hotel to Cheongsong. We are heading up into the mountains today and whilst not as hilly as some earlier days there are a few climbs to test the legs, as we leave the relative flat close to Andong.

Our first point of interest is Andong Lake. This is one of the largest artificial lakes in South Korea and makes for a great place to take a break and take on some snacks. After this we slowly edge our way back into the hills with the route for once not on a designated cycle way. Our final destination today is Cheongsong. Its name is derived from “Cheongbo” and ‘Songsang’ meaning ‘green treasure’ and ‘pine tree ecology’. It’s easy to see why with the Autumn colours here particularly splendid. Situated amidst the Taebaek mountain range this is a very scenic area with temperatures usually cooler than the previous days’ rides.

Once more we are in the land of hot springs with the hotel’s onsen facilities surely in need of a visit.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Perhaps our most challenging day of riding as we set our sights on the peaceful coastal town of Yeongdeok situated on the East Sea of South Korea. From Cheongsong we’ll be continuing our route through the mountains and be close-by Korea’s smallest National Park Juwangsan. Our climbing focus for the day is Juwang. Topping out at 721 metres it’s a steady scenic climb that is similar to those you’ll have experienced near Suanbo, just some more pedal strokes longer! As always the support vehicle is at hand should you wish to take it easy and hop aboard.

With our destination tonight at sea-level the focus from the top of Juwang as expected follows a downward trajectory for the remainder of the ride to the coast. We are heading to the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do and Yeongdoek. This typical fishing village blessed with the natural beauty of the mountains and East Sea of Korea boasts over a hundred snow crab restaurants in its Gangguhang Port and has been the centre of the Snow Crab ‘scene’ since the times of the Goryeo Dynasty. There’s no guessing what might be on the menu tonight, the difficulty is which restaurant to choose and needless to say if crab just isn’t your thing, there will be other options available.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hopefully you’ll have not eaten so much Snow Crab that you’ll start to cycle sideways during today’s ride. It’s a shorter distance today as we switch the mountains for the coast and head south to Pohang – a distance of 45 kms. Today’s ride is pretty much flat and is a nice contrast to the couple of days from Andong and sees us heading southwards along the east coast of Korea. A coastal path and quieter roads on the ride help to keep us away from busier traffic sections. The scenery is nice throughout with our companion the vivid blue waters of the East Sea.

The ride ends in Pohang (South Korea’s main steel making area) and although an industrial area it has a good coastal bike path. Our accommodation (modern hotel) is situated at the northern tip of Yeongildae Beach. A beautiful sandy beach with some great places to eat this evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Heading away from Pohang and the coast our final day of riding sees us taking a coastal route before heading inland and taking the Pohang/Gyeongju bike path that leads us to Gyeongju. It’s a short day with some undulating sections which means we should arrive to Gyeongju around lunchtime.

In the late afternoon / early evening it is planned to have a relaxed walk to check out some of the historic sights of this amazing location.To compliment our time here we stay in a traditional Korean house that is based around a Donggyeonggwan (a guesthouse for foreign distinguished guests or central officials during the Goryeo and Joseon eras).

Whilst maintaining traditional values it is now a comfortable place to stay and perfectly placed to explore see the highlights of the area, especially Cheomseongdae, Daereungwon and Anapji.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

The ancient sights of Gyeongju certainly deserve more time and so we’ve scheduled in most of the day to discover this ‘live city museum’ or ‘museum without walls’ as it is sometimes referred to. Gyeongju has more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist icons and palatial ruins than any other place in South Korea.

It is simply bursting with historic places, cultural properties such as the Bulguksa Temple, the Seokguram Cave which are certainly not-to-be-missed sites and feature on our hit-list. Cultural highlights ticked off we take the speedy 30 minute KTX bullet train from Shin-Gyeongju train station to bustling Busan.

Once checked into our centrally located hotel we head out for our final Korean meal with the local guides and support team.

• Meals: Breakfast

Sadly our cycling journey through Korea is at an end. For those ending their time in Korea it’s time for onward connections.

Whether you are heading back to Seoul by train or plane, spending extra time in Busan or plan to fly to beautiful Jeju Island, there’s plenty to enjoy and fill a few extra days if you wish to extend.