Cheongyang Ice Festival & Nami & Eobi Ice Valley & Strawberry Tour

Cheongyang’s ice festival is the headline, but the appeal of this day trip is its mix of winter scenery and hands-on stops: you might walk among ice sculptures, pick strawberries, then finish among Nami Island’s tree-lined paths. Several package choices cover different parts of the region, so check the exact stops before you book.

I like the variety: the options pair outdoor sights with activities such as strawberry picking or a rail bike ride. I also like that transport from Seoul and admission to attractions are included, which saves you from arranging several rural connections on your own.

The trade-off is a long day with a lot of road time, and winter conditions can change the plan. Ice may melt, sledding may close, and a farm visit or garden stop may be replaced, so flexibility matters.

Key points before you choose

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• Cheongyang and Cheonjangho: Packages A1 and A2 combine Alps Village’s festival area with the suspension bridge. A2 includes winter activities.
• Strawberries and ice scenery: Packages B1 and B2 add strawberry picking to the Cheongyang visit, while C and F options pair picking with Eobi Ice Valley.
• Nami Island comes in selected packages: C1, D, E and F include it, alongside different add-ons.
• Add-ons change the day: Choose among snow sledding, a rail bike, Garden of Morning Calm or Petite France, depending on package.
• The guide can make logistics easier: Guides including Jessie, Lena, Mario and Edward have helped with directions, photos and restaurant arrangements. Your guide is assigned for the day.
• Weather and traffic matter: Ice conditions and road delays can affect what you see and when you return.

👉 See our pick of the 3 Best Tours In Gangwon

Choose the route that matches your winter mood

This is not one fixed tour with every attraction on the menu. It is a family of day-trip packages, and the right choice depends on whether you want the festival, Nami Island, strawberry picking or an activity such as sledding.

Packages A1 and A2 focus on Cheongyang Ice Festival and the Cheonjangho suspension bridge. A1 is the sightseeing option; A2 adds winter activities. B1 and B2 add strawberry picking to the Cheongyang route, with B2 also including winter activities. These are the packages to consider if the ice festival itself is your main reason for going.

Packages C1 and C2 take a different route: both include strawberry picking and Eobi Ice Valley, while C1 adds Nami Island and C2 adds snow sledding. Packages D, E and F include strawberries, Eobi Ice Valley and Nami Island, then add Garden of Morning Calm, a rail bike or Petite France. The package names are the clearest guide to what you are buying, so match the exact option to your priorities rather than relying on the tour’s broad title.

The listed starting prices vary by package, from about US$59.95 for A1 to more than US$110 for B2. A general price is also shown from US$55.19, so check the price for your chosen date and package before paying. The value is strongest if you want several stops and transport in one booking. It is less compelling if you are only keen on one attraction or expect long, unhurried visits everywhere.

Alps Village and the Cheongyang ice festival

Alps Village, also called Alps Village in English and Alps Village in Korean, is the festival setting for the Cheongyang route. Expect man-made ice fountains and sculptures, with sledding or other winter activities available in the activity package when conditions allow. It is a compact, built-for-winter attraction, not a vast natural ice formation, so set your expectations accordingly.

Timing can make a real difference. Late in the season, some sculptures may have melted or broken away, and facilities such as a café may be closed. If the ice has thawed, the visit can still be a pleasant outing, but there may be less to see and do than the photos suggest. A cold spell improves the odds of seeing the festival at its best, but the tour information does not promise particular weather or ice conditions.

A1 is the simpler choice if you mainly want to walk through the festival and take photos. A2 is better if you want to add winter activities, but those depend on conditions and availability. If the trip falls near the end of the season, I would choose this route only if the suspension bridge and countryside drive also appeal to you.

Cheonjangho suspension bridge: a scenic counterpoint

The Cheonjangho suspension bridge offers a different kind of winter stop: an elevated walk with views over the surrounding area. It is paired with the Cheongyang packages, giving the day a scenic contrast to Alps Village’s constructed ice displays.

The bridge is a good reason to choose A1 or A2 if you like outdoor viewpoints and are comfortable with a walk above the ground. The available details do not specify the time spent there or describe the route’s accessibility, so ask the operator in advance if that affects your plans. If you are bringing a stroller or wheelchair, notify the operator ahead of time.

Strawberry picking: the most hands-on stop

Strawberry picking gives the day a welcome change of pace. Instead of looking at winter scenery from a path or bus window, you get to pick the fruit yourself. The farm experience is included in B1, B2 and C1 through F, though it may be changed if conditions interfere.

The exact farm routine can vary. Some visits have included time to eat picked strawberries, enjoy toast with strawberry jam and have hot tea or coffee. One group found the time, around 40 to 50 minutes, enough to pick fruit, sit down and take photos. Treat those extras as possibilities, not guaranteed inclusions, since meals and beverages are listed as excluded and farm arrangements can differ.

For families, this can be the most engaging stop: picking fruit is simple, tactile and easy to share. Keep in mind that the tour information does not set out a guaranteed amount of fruit or explain whether any produce beyond the included picking is charged separately. Check the package details if that matters to your budget.

Eobi Ice Valley and the limits of winter scenery

Eobi Ice Valley is promoted as a frozen scene for photographs. Its appeal depends heavily on the weather. If the cold has held, ice formations can make a striking backdrop; during a warm spell, there may be little ice left, and shaded conditions can make photos look dark.

That uncertainty is worth taking seriously. Some departures have substituted an alpaca stop or another activity when the original attraction was affected by weather or maintenance. In one case, a planned visit was replaced by an alpaca café; in another, a garden stop was unavailable because of roadworks, with a different stop and partial refund arranged. Those are examples of changes, not promises of a particular replacement.

If a specific ice photo is your main goal, this is a gamble. If you see Eobi as one part of a varied day that also includes strawberries and Nami Island, a change of plan is easier to accept.

Nami Island and the package add-ons

Nami Island is included in C1 and D, E and F. Its tree-lined paths are the draw, and the island’s association with Korean dramas adds a familiar pop-culture touch. It works well as a leisurely walk and photo stop, but a packed day means you should not expect unlimited time to explore every corner.

The add-on determines the rest of the day. D includes Garden of Morning Calm, E includes a rail bike, and F includes Petite France. The tour description also lists Elysian as a ski resort with winter views and sledding, but the package options supplied here identify C2 as the snow-sled choice. Confirm the attraction names on your selected option rather than assuming all these places are part of one route.

A rail bike gives you a more active outing with riverside views. Garden of Morning Calm is a garden visit whose flowers and seasonal plants depend on the time of year. Petite France offers a small French-inspired village setting and photo spots. Each add-on has a different character, so choose the one you would most regret missing, not simply the package with the longest name.

The day’s rhythm, bus time and lunch

The listed schedule starts with morning departures at 06:30, 07:10 or 07:20, depending on the meeting point. A portion of the day is shown as self-guided, with about four hours and 40 minutes including lunch time, followed by a two-and-a-half-hour drive and a return from around 17:00. The precise order and timing can change with the route, weather and traffic.

The early start helps fit several destinations into one day, but this is not a relaxed countryside stay. You will spend substantial time travelling between Seoul and the attractions, and road congestion can stretch the return. A long Lunar New Year traffic jam has been reported, so avoid making a tight dinner reservation or onward connection after the scheduled return.

Lunch and drinks are not included. You can choose where to eat during the lunch break, but the tour may recommend a restaurant. One practical tip: if you do not want a full meal, a nearby convenience store may be a simpler option than a restaurant that requires each person to order a dish. Keep some money aside for meals, drinks and personal purchases.

Guides, language and group comfort

The tour includes a Chinese-, English- or Korean-speaking guide, but the exact language mix and guide vary by departure. Guides such as Jessie, Lena and Mario have been praised for clear instructions, helping with photos and keeping a group on schedule. Edward and other guides have also been singled out for being helpful and friendly. You cannot count on a particular person, but a guide who gives clear meeting instructions is especially useful on a multi-stop day.

Some departures combine English and Mandarin explanations. If you need one language in particular, confirm what is available before booking. A few people have found a guide’s Mandarin difficult to follow or felt that English explanations were brief, so language support is worth checking rather than assuming every announcement will be equally detailed in both languages.

The group can be large, though smaller departures have also used a nine-seat vehicle. The group size is not guaranteed. If you are travelling with older relatives or young children, a guide’s help with photos, timing and getting on and off the bus can make the day easier, but the pace still involves several stops and a long ride.

Price, practical details and who should book

For the price, you are paying for round-trip transfers from Seoul, attraction admission and a guide, not meals or personal expenses. That combination can be good value if you want several rural stops without coordinating transport yourself. It is harder to judge as a bargain if one of the main attractions is weather-dependent or if you prefer to spend most of the day in one place.

There are several Seoul meeting points, including Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and Myeongdong Station, with a listed return through Hongik University Station. Exact pickup and drop-off details vary by package. Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure; late arrivals and no-shows are not refunded. The voucher is for the date booked, and changes are allowed until one day before the activity, subject to stated exceptions. A minimum of four participants is required; if it is not met, you can choose another date or request a full refund.

Children aged zero to two can join free. Tell the operator in advance if you plan to bring a stroller or wheelchair, since the tour information asks for prior notice but does not set out detailed accessibility arrangements.

Should you book this winter day trip?

Book it if you want a full day outside Seoul and enjoy mixing scenery with small activities. The strawberry farm, Nami Island and rail bike combination is a strong fit for anyone who wants variety, while A1 or A2 makes more sense if the Cheongyang festival and suspension bridge are the priority.

Skip it if you need guaranteed ice, a fixed attraction list or a slow pace. Weather substitutions and traffic are real considerations, and the route covers too much ground to feel leisurely. Before booking, compare the package names, check the meeting point and language, and decide which one or two stops matter most to you.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

Admission to the attractions, round-trip transfers from the meeting point and a Chinese-, English- or Korean-speaking guide are included. Meals, drinks and personal expenses are not.

Which package includes the Cheongyang Ice Festival?

Packages A1 and A2 include Cheongyang Ice Festival and the Cheonjangho suspension bridge. B1 and B2 add strawberry picking to that route.

Which package includes Nami Island?

Nami Island is included in C1, D, E and F. The additional stop differs: C1 includes strawberries and Eobi Ice Valley, while D, E and F add Garden of Morning Calm, a rail bike or Petite France.

Is strawberry picking included in every package?

No. It is included in B1, B2 and packages C1, C2, D, E and F. It is not listed for A1 or A2.

Can the attractions change because of weather?

Yes. The schedule may change because of weather or traffic, and some stops have been replaced when conditions or road access made a planned visit unavailable.

Are meals included?

No. Meals and beverages are not included. The schedule includes lunch time, so bring money for food and drinks.

Where does the tour depart from in Seoul?

Meeting points include Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and Myeongdong Station. The exact meeting point and time depend on the package, so check your booking details.

How early should I arrive at the meeting point?

Arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure time. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refunded.

Can children aged two or younger join for free?

Yes. Children aged zero to two are listed as free. If you plan to bring a stroller or wheelchair, notify the operator in advance.