South Korea by River: Yeongsan to Seomjin — 6 Days

Cycling through spring blooms, bamboo forests, and tea-farming villages along two river routes in South Korea's southern provinces.

This six-day cycling journey traces two of South Korea's major river valleys from Mokpo through Naju, Damyang, and into the tea-growing region around Hadong before finishing at the tidal wetlands of Suncheon Bay and the island-scattered coast near Yeosu. The route follows dedicated national cycling paths and quieter rural roads, moving through spring-season landscape changes — from rice plains to bamboo groves to mountain tea fields. Mornings and afternoons split between on-bike time and immersive stops: local markets, village cafes, working tea farms, and family-run restaurants serving regional specialties like freshwater fish and grass-fed beef. The pace is moderate, with distances ranging from zero (a full day at a tea farm) to 100 kilometers, and accommodation throughout stays in small-town guesthouses rather than urban centers.