Pyeongchang (평창), a county of Gangwon Province located some 3 hours’ drive away from Seoul, known as the ski and snowboard capital of South Korea. It was the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics and a top winter destination thanks to its beautiful Taebaek Mountain range that stretches from North Korea. We’ve seen numerous blogs talking about this beautiful, sparkling, whitened landscape of Pyeongchang during winter. The vast ski slopes and fairytale-looking resorts continue to draw visitors today.
It is indeed an excellent place for winter vacation. But I’d like to cast light on the summer in Pyeongchang. The summer temperature in Pyeongchang is claimed to be 6 degrees Celsius lower than in Seoul, makes it a perfect getaway to escape the sweltering summer heat in Korea. If you are planning a summer vacation to South Korea, Pyeongchang is worth checking out, especially for those who would like to explore beyond Seoul.
The sheep ranches in Daegwallyeong are one of the best places to check out while in Pyeongchang. The 3 sheep ranches that are open for public visits in Daegwallyeong are Yangtte Sheep Farm (양떼 목장), Samyang Sheep Farm (삼양 목장) and Sky Sheep Farm (하늘 목장). They are all one-of-its-kind, so it’s hard to select just one farm to visit. For this post, we’ll be talking about Yangtte Sheep Farm, and I’ll come back to the rest in future.
Yangtte Sheep Farm is South Korea’s first and the only ranch that raises sheep. The owner started building the farm in 1988, and it gained popularity after a few TV dramas and commercial took place here. The barn and fences were painstakingly built by the owner and his team.
One thing you should probably note when travelling to Pyeongchang in summer is that the season is usually shorter compared to other provinces. We visited Pyeongchang in the 2nd week of August. While Seoul was still in the dead heat of summer, the maple trees in this region were starting to turn red. Rain is frequent during the transitional season so a poncho will be handy.
It rained on and off all day during our visit, and a thick fog enveloped the ranch. Though inconvenient, the sight of the foggy farm was a true sight to behold.
Down the slope across the ranch is a feeding barn, where visitors would be able to get up close with these fluffy creatures. Just show your entrance ticket in exchange for a small basket of hay – I bet kids would enjoy this activity!
We were lucky as it was a brief shower and by the time we finished feeding the sheep, the rain stopped, and the sheep were out again. Isn’t it soothing to see the fluffy creatures roaming freely on the green fields? Please do not forget to visit the wooden shack in the middle of the ranch on your way up or down the feeding barn. It is an iconic sight in Daegwalleong that is certainly not to be missed.
Writer’s Note: Daegwallyeong Yangtte Sheep Farm is great place to check out in Pyeongchang. I love the rustic and natural landscape, and the long circular walkway that surrounds the entire ranch. I went there for that beautiful wooden shack though, but I’d say it is a destination suitable for all seasons: You’ll see about 300 sheep graze on the vast field from March to late October and a magical winter wonderland in the winter. However, the sheep will go indoor during winter.
Contact Details:
Daegwallyeong Yangtte Farm 대관령 양떼목장
483-32, Daegwallyeongmaru-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwondo
강원도 평창군 대관령면 대관령마루길 483-32
Transportation:
It is not exactly convenient to go to the farm using public transport, but it is not entirely impossible.
- Take the subway Line No.2 to Gangbyeon Station (강변 역), and take exit 4.
- This will bring you to the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울 터미널), where you can take an intercity bus to Hoenggye (횡계) Intercity Bus Terminal. The bus journey will take about 2hr and 30 minutes, and the ticket cost KRW 14,500 per pax.
- Once arrived at Hoenggye Intercity Bus Terminal, you may take a red colour shuttle bus to the farm, OR take a taxi to Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm. The taxi will cost you about KRW 12,000, and it takes about 10 minutes.)
Maps:
|
If you are currently located in South Korea, you may download the Naver Map app to navigate.
[facebook_like_button]
[facebook_follow_button href=”{$facebook_profile_url}”]
[facebook_embedded_post href=”{$facebook_post_url}”]
Like the post? Why not share it? ; D
↓↓↓↓
Sharing buttons are located below the tags.
