Naejang-san National Park

Mt. Naejangsan is famous for having some of the most spectacular scenery in Korea. At any time of year, this densely forested mountain area is worth a visit. The more northern of the park's two sections is ringed by a horseshoe-shaped ridge, with the most dramatic rock outcrops in the area. In the valleys beneath this ridge lie the temple Naejang-sa, several hermitages, two waterfalls, a grotto cave, and a cable car leading to a lookout on the hillside, making Naejang-san a perfect place to 'commune with nature' at this or at any time of the year.

The temple of Naejang-sa ("Inner Sanctum Temple") was established in 636, but was destroyed in the Korean War and has since been rebuilt. The walkway from the village to the temple is flanked by towering trees, and at the end of this tunnel of trees is the first gate, which has one peculiarity: its supporting tree-trunk pillars have not been artificially rounded, but have only had their bark stripped off. Between here and the courtyard are 16 egg-shaped sari budo, a second gate, a fish pond, and a bell pavilion. Naejang-sa sits at the confluence of two secondary valleys, beneath rugged peaks and slopes. Above the temple is a viewpoint reached by cable car, which rises from the valley floor to an octagonal pavilion, from where the entire valley lies at your feet. From this lookout point, a trail leads down the hill to Naejang-sa, and passes through a large stand of gulgori trees, seldom seen on the peninsula, but found on the islands of Jeju-do and Ullung-do. The trails are not particularly strenuous. From the temple, you can take a path through nutmeg trees to Wonjok-am, a tiny hermitage with an impressive gold statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Another easy trail leads from the temple up the southern valley to the grotto of Yonggul, Geumson Waterfall, and the Shinson-mun natural rock bridge. To save time and energy, we will take the cable car up to the top, and then take a 30 minute walk downhill to the temple. For those who would prefer a more extended hike, there is a beautiful 1 1/.2 hour trail that can be hiked on arriving at Naejangsa.

Cost of the tour is W62,000 for members and W74,400 for non-members and includes transportation and the cost for cable car. The bus will leave from Yongsan Post Office at 8:00 a.m sharp and return to Seoul at about 8:00 p.m. DON'T FORGET TO BRING A PACKED LUNCH! If not, you can buy something to eat at a rest stop along the way

To make a reservation, please send payment via bank transfer

AND email the following information to royalasiatickorea@gmail.com by Monday, July 16, 2012.

TO: R.A.S.

PLEASE RESERVE SPACE ON THE OLD GUNSAN EXCURSION ON JULY 21, 2012 FOR THE FOLLOWING:

NAME: _________________________________ MEMBER _____ NON-MEMBER _____

NAME: _________________________________ MEMBER _____ NON-MEMBER _____

PHONE NO. (Mobile) ________________ (Home/Office) ______________________

Please make payment to the following account: Shinhan Bank Account #1OO-026-383501 (RAS-KB)