Summer Escapes: Top 5 Glamping Sites in Korea

Summer is arguably one of the most hated seasons in Korea. The major contributing factor to this is perhaps Korea’s long rainy season (장마) which usually lasts for a whole month between mid-June and mid or late-July. While Korea’s rainy season over-delivers moisture in a very small amount of time, high humidity that comes with it makes you just want to stay at home. Another rocky patch awaits you once you survive the rainy season -- summer in Korea. Usually kicking off right after the end of the rainy season with much intensity and ferocity, summertime in Korea can get extremely hot, humid, and sweaty. These types of weather during the summer in Korea can make your trips on holidays less enjoyable. 

In order to escape from the sweaty summer nightmare, consider visiting one of these amazing places for glamping! Getting away from your busy urban life and immersing yourself in sublime nature helps you freshen up both physically and mentally. Today, Expat Guide Korea is going to introduce to you five prime glamping locations in Korea where you can enjoy the summer to the fullest without getting too sweaty. 

What is Glamping? 

The term ‘glamping’ derives its name from the mixing of the words ‘glamourous’ and ‘camping.’ In a sense, glamping appears similar to a conventional camping activity in that it is a way for you to relax and destress by immersing yourself in natural surroundings and experiencing the beauty of the earth. However, glamping is more than just a tent and campfire. While the definition of glamping remains elusive, recent years have seen this term to include various types of unique accommodation, including wooden houses, hidden cottages, and caravans to name a few. In other words, glamping offers a one-of-a-kind experience. You can freely choose your location (e.g. city, countryside, island), accommodation (e.g. tent, cottage, caravans), and backdrop (e.g. ocean, river, forest, mountain), and customize your holidays away from the hustle and bustle. Though Korea might be known more for its fine technology, distinguished tradition, or unique culture, exploring the abundance of sublime nature that the country offers is not going to disappoint you. Let’s look at some of the prime locations for glamping in Korea. 

1. Chaewoom Glamping (Pocheon)

Photo: Chaewoom Glamping

Location: Map

Website: Chaewoom Glamping

The magnificent city of Pocheon is located in the far northeastern region of Gyeonggi province in Korea. Pocheon is only an hour or two drive from the center of Seoul. Yet, once you arrive there, you will be overwhelmed by the differences between the two neighboring cities that are substantial enough to make you feel as if you were in a completely different country. Nature is the representative charm and beauty of the city of Pocheon. A series of mountains continuously pour crystal-clear water into Sanjeong Lake and generate a cooling breeze - it is just a perfect environment for your much-needed R & R. 

To help you make the most of Pocheon’s nature, Chaewoom Glamping provides a range of wonderful room options to maximize your glamping experience. VIP Glamping and VIP Family Glamping, which are the two most popular types of accommodation at Chaewoom Glamping, are capable of accommodating up to 4 and 7 people and allow you to organize both family gatherings and trips with your BFFs. If you would like to feel more at home while out for glamping, staying in caravans is the ideal option for you. The caravans come fully equipped with bunk beds, a built-in kitchen, and even an air conditioner, which are the perks of luxury glamping. 

The accommodations at Chaewoom Glamping are built in a circle, and in the middle, there is a large communal swimming pool where you can get to know your fellow glampers over a beer or two. Chat with friendly onsite staff if you want to hire facilities for basketball, badminton, or table tennis to spend a relaxing afternoon. Chaewoom Glamping also has a lovely garden where they grow fresh vegetables to add a healthy touch on your BBQ. 

2. Banu 

Photo: Banu

Location: Map 

Website: Banu

Summer holidays are coming up soon. You want to enjoy the thrill of outdoor camping, but don’t want the hassle of carrying 20 kg backpacks full of hiking gear and setting up your tents. Look no further! This amazing glamping site provides you with real yet comfortable outdoor experiences and helps make your summer dream come true. Nestled in the northeastern part of Korea, Banu is located in the Gwangwon province. The 2018 Winter Olympics, which might still be fresh in many people’s memories, were held in the country of Pyeongchang located in this beautiful region. The region is very mountainous and forested, making it a perfect location to spend adventurous holidays.

The accommodation offered at Banu lives up to the idea of ‘glamorous camping.’ Its award-winning colorful tent villas coexist well with the surrounding natural settings and continue to attract glampers not only from Korea but also from overseas. Ranging from Domus and Domus Cosy to Gemma Deluxe, each room available at Banu is designed to maximize your comfort. Fully furnished with comfortable beds and equipped with a kitchenette, Banu provides a luxury hotel-like experience throughout your stay. While all necessary kitchen appliances - rice cookers, stoves, pots, and frying pans - are available for you to cook inside the house, you won’t be able to resist having an outdoor BBQ party on a private wooden deck attached to each Banu accommodation. 

Once you are in Banu, you will not run out of fun things to do. Banu is situated at the food of Palbongsan (팔봉산) that has a number of different hiking routes you can walk up to see a magnificent view from the summit. It might also be a good idea to make a quick stop at Vivaldi Park located in the neighboring area where you can enjoy seasonal fireworks.  

3. Club Lespia (Gapyeong Branch)

Photo: Club Lespia (Gapyeong Branch)

Location: Map

Website: Club Lespia

Need little weekend escapes from the busy, crowded city of Seoul, but don’t feel like traveling on a long-distance bus for 5 hours? Then, Club Lespia in Gapyeong is definitely what you are looking for. Once you arrive, you can’t help but take a deep breath and enjoy the cool and clear air generated by surrounding lush green mountains and valleys that you barely get back in the city. Club Lespia is actually a franchise business which currently runs 12 glamping sites in Korea, including Paju, Taean, and Hongcheon. Please keep in mind when booking that Club Lespia has two different camping sites in Gapyeong. 

Loved by students and young people as a destination for their getaways, Club Lespia puts more emphasis on the camping. Accommodation offered at Club Lespia is authentic large tents, set up nicely on wooden decks to deal with quickly changing mountain weather conditions. At a glance, the tents, which are all in white and grey-ish colors, might initially appear bleak and a little too conservative for a fun summer trip - until you step inside. Colorful fabrics, interior, and dishes provide a contrast to the outside and accommodate your night away from home with a very warm and cozy feeling. To ensure your optimal comfort,  Club Lespia uses fluffy beds that are commonly used in quality hotels.

Throwing an outdoor BBQ party is a must, and all you need to bring is food as facilities and gears are available at Club Lespia. And even if you still feel a little hungry after dinner, there is a little onsite mart where you can buy some midnight snacks and instant noodles. During the summer, Club Lespia sets up portable swimming pools on their glamping sites, so it is a great destination for family trips too. And most importantly, air conditioners are equipped in all rooms, so have peace of mind when booking!

4. Jeju Starlight Glamping

Photo: Jeju Hotels Collection

Location: Map 

Website: Jeju Starlight Glamping

If you are lucky enough to get holidays longer than just a short weekend, making your way to everyone’s favorite Jeju Island might offer you an exciting yet different glamping experience. Jeju Starlight Glamping is attractively situated in the vicinity of Aweol district, which is just 15 km away from Jeju Airport.  Because of its easy accessibility and Jeju’s ever-mounting popularity among domestic and international travelers, Jeju Starlight Glamping can get quite busy especially during the summer, so please make sure you allow sufficient time to contact the company. 

There are two rooms types you can choose from: One Bedroom House or Caravan. Whichever you choose, your best Jeju experience is guaranteed by Jeju Starlight Glamping’s warm and lavish hospitality - housekeeping services are available while simple breakfast (toast, jam, egg, juice, milk, tea, and coffee) are provided for free to help kick off your day. If Club Lespia emphasizes on the camping, Jeju Starlight Glamping’s focus is more on the glam. The fully furnished rooms come with air conditioners, a dressing room, electric blankets, and even an LCD TV and free Wi-Fi. Jeju has so much to offer, so I would recommend traveling around it during the day and returning to your sweet home in the evening to spend a relaxing night on the breathtaking terrace that overlooks Jeju’s blue ocean.

Spending a day doing nothing but resting in your room is one option, but it would be a little pity to leave Jeju without being out in nature. Make the most of a variety of outdoor activities that are offered at Jeju Starlight Glamping and the nearby areas, including horse riding, windsurfing, diving, and canoeing.

5. Cheongpung World Nice Glamping 

Photo: Cheongpung World Nice Glamping

Location: Map 

Website: Cheongpung World Nice Glamping

Last but by no means least, Cheongpung World Nice Glamping adds another adventure to your glamping experience. Cheongpung World Nice Glamping is located in the city of Jecheon in the north of Chungcheong Province. If you are traveling from Seoul, it will be a nice 3-hour drive to get there. Though access might be a little harder as compared to other glamping sites presented in this article, you will have a blast throughout your stay at Cheongpung World Nice Glamping. 

Cheongpung World Nice Glamping welcomes guests with its wooden bungalows that are well embedded in the natural surroundings. And that’s right, you can have one of these twelve bungalows entirely to yourself! Onsite BBQ facilities are available between 5 pm -11 pm, and a midget portable swimming pool will be set up during the summer to help you cool off on scorching hot days. Four seasons are very visible in Cheongpung, and this signifies the charm of the region that attracts travelers to come back all year round. For instance, the green mountains and vegetation in the summer give you a sense of the supreme power of nature while winter powder snow decorates the villas in a more exquisite and romantic way.

Cheongpung World Nice Glamping is grounded on the principle of ‘healing glamping,’ that is, this entire site is designed to help you destress from work and studies while immersing yourself in the abundant nature that Jecheon offers. Guests are encouraged to take part in a wide range of outdoor and water-based activities, such as skiing and wakeboarding, at the nearby Cheongpung Marina. If you are a huge fan of thrilling activities that give you sinking-stomach feelings, don’t miss Cheongpung Land where you can have a go at bungee jumping.