December in Korea means icy-cold winters, a white Christmas, and of course, the chance to ski at one of the many resorts in the country.
As soon as winter hit, I headed to Oak Valley Ski Resort (오크밸리 리조트) to test out their slopes. I did this day trip from Seoul, and it turned out to be one of the best things I did while living in Korea.
I’m now sharing everything in this guide to skiing at Oak Valley, including how to plan your trip, the best tours from Seoul, and more.
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Oak Valley Snow Park: Overview
Distance from Seoul | Less than 2 hour drive (100 km)
Pros | Great for beginners
Cons | Limited slope variety for those with more experience
Best ski tour | Oak Valley ski day trip from Seoul
About Oak Valley Ski Resort
Oak Valley Resort is one of the closest ski resorts to Seoul, lying only 100km from the capital city.
The short 90-minute drive means it’s easily accessible, and hence it’s a popular day tour from Seoul.
In comparison to Vivaldi Ski Park, I was pleased to find that Oak Valley Ski Resort is a far less commercial ski park.
It has a relaxed atmosphere, with many families visiting the park to enjoy a day on the slopes.
The resort is foreigner-friendly, with all signage in both Korean and English.
Oak Valley Snow Park
Oak Valley Resort prides itself on being a premium ski park for the whole family.
It features wide slopes with gentle inclines, which attracts many beginners learning to ski.
The ski park has 3 ski lifts leading to 2 beginner, 5 intermediate, and 2 advanced courses, with the longest slope being 1.6km.
You can check Oak Valley ski prices here.
The Ski Slopes
Unfortunately, you won’t find many long ski slopes in Korea when compared to the likes of Europe or Japan.
This is something I’ve come to realize after visiting some of the best ski resorts near Seoul.
But, whilst they may not be as impressive as you’d hoped for, they still make for an awesome day out!
The beginner slope at Oak Valley Ski Resort is wide and long, offering more space for beginners to practice. You can also book a ski lesson which I recommend for first-timers.
There was often a queue for the beginner ski lift, but it was no longer than a 5-minute wait.
The intermediate slopes appear scary at first, but they’re less crowded and offer a nice, long ride.
The queues for the intermediate/advanced ski lifts were very short, and I didn’t have to wait to grab a spot on one of them.
The snow was icy in some areas but fluffy and soft in others.
Ski Equipment, Gear And Facilities
Oak Valley Ski Resort lives up to the high standards of Korean ski parks, with top-class facilities, ski courses, and many restaurants around the resort.
As with all Korean ski parks, don’t expect a nice cozy bar with a fire going in the corner.
The restaurants are simple and offer a quick stop to carbo-load before hitting the slopes again.
READ MORE: THE BEST SOUTH KOREA ITINERARY
There are many ski shops en route to the ski park, which offer equipment and clothing for rental at a reduced rate compared to renting these at the resort.
There is also a ski shop at Oak Valley where you can purchase gloves, goggles, beanies, and everything you need to ensure you stay warm and comfortable on the slopes.
Lockers are available and will cost you 1 000 won for the day rental.
How to Get to Oak Valley From Seoul
Oak Valley Ski Resort is a 90-minute drive east of Seoul and is accessible via a free shuttle service operated by the resort.
However, considering I don’t speak Korean, I found it so much easier to book this ski day tour from Seoul. The tour operator arranged everything – all transportation, ski passes, gear, and lift tickets.
I highly recommend booking a tour, as time on the slopes is valuable, and you want to get there early before the crowds arrive.
Oak Valley Ski Tours
For tourists, the easiest way to go skiing in Korea is to book a ski package through a tour company like Klook
or Trazy.
This is by far the cheapest and most convenient way to plan your trip.
Both tour operators offer massive discounts for foreigners, and it saves you the hassle of trying to find your way around an unfamiliar resort.
The buses leave from Myeongdong Station in Seoul at 07:30, and you will arrive back by 18:30.
You can compare prices with Klook here or Trazy here.
Booking without a tour group
When booking directly with Oak Valley Ski Resort, a full-day lift pass will cost you 76 000 won ($70).
After purchasing this, you will need to hire clothing, 24 000 won ($20), and ski/snowboard gear, 34 000 won ($30).
This works out to a total of 134 000 won ($125) for a day at Oak Valley Snow Park – far more expensive than this tour!
My Oak Valley Ski Resort Review
Overall, I preferred Oak Valley Ski Resort to Vivaldi Ski Park.
But Vivaldi is unique and great for kids. I suggest reading this post if you’re thinking of visiting Vivaldi Park.
I may have been lucky as I visited Oak Valley Resort on a Sunday, which was probably the reason for the uncrowded slopes.
As with other ski resorts in Korea, the ski park at Oak Valley isn’t as exciting as those in the US or Europe, but it’s close to Seoul and makes for a great day out!
Have you been skiing at Oak Valley Ski Resort? Or do you have any questions? Drop me a message in the comments section below.
Looking for more Korea travel information? Check out my other posts!
- A Day At Bears Town Ski Resort in Korea
- All You Need To Know About High1 Ski Resort
- The Ultimate 7 Day Seoul Itinerary
- 17 Things I Love About South Korea
- Strange Things About Korea
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Thanks for all the help ,
Enjoy !!
hi, thank you so much for this, super helpful. just curious, do you think a first timer would be able to use the lift? i mean after one lesson, can we already do the beginner slope from the lift? and on our own too haha
Hi Dani, the lift moves very slowly and there are staff who will assist you if you’re struggling. I find it harder to get off with a snowboard (instead of skis). You can also remove your skis and hold them until you gain confidence. Have fun!