Zip Line from Gapyeong to Nami Island

Having just opened last November 2010, very little has been written about Nami Island’s (Namiseom) latest attraction, the 940 meter long Nami Skyline ZipWire ZipRider (zip-line cable ride) from Gapyeong Wharf to Namiseom.  And their website is not helpful unless you know how to read Korean.

So, EJ, Annette, Ria and I had to discover it by ourselves when we went there.

Nami Island can be reached by Tour Bus from Insadong, Seoul.  Round trip fare costs W15,000 (or P600*).  However, They follow only one schedule.  The bus leaves Insadong at 9am and returns at 4pm.  I didn’t want to go there on a fixed schedule, so I decided to go there via Korail train.

From wherever you are billeted in Seoul, take the subway to Sangbong Station (using Line 7 or the olive green line).  Fare should be around W1,000 (or P40).  When you get there, transfer to the Gyeongchun Line and take the train to Gapyeong Station.  Don’t worry, directional signs are in Korean and English so you won't get lost.  Fare should be around W1,800 (or P70).  Gapyeong is 60 kilometers east of Seoul and the train ride should take about 60 to 70 minutes.

Once you get to Gapyeong Station, you take a taxi to Gapyeong Wharf.  Fare should be W3,000 (or P120).  The Nami Skyline Zipwire ZipRider Tower is next to the wharf.

From Gapyeong Wharf, you can reach Nami Island by ferry.  Round-trip fare (including entrance to the island) costs W8,000 (P320).

OR, you can take the Zipwire, which is what WE did.

There were no lines to the zipwire, compared to the line for the ferry.  Either the tourists were scared of ziplining, or they thought it was too cold to hang on a zipline 80 meters (260 feet) above the Cheongpyeong Lake.

According to the guy at the front desk, their zipline is Euro Standard compliant.  It was built by the same company who built ziplines in Utah, Colorado, California, New Hampshire, Vermont and Switzerland.

Ziplining from Gapyeong Wharf to Nami Island will set you back W38,000 (P1,500), including entrance and return ferry.

Feeling adventurous, the four of us tried it out.

You get to the top floor via elevator.  It was cold that day.  Temperature was about 4 degrees Centegrade (4°C).  The wind was blowing, but the tower did not sway--as I had earlier expected.  The tower was solid and sturdy, which was good.

Once you get to the top, you will be met by a guy who will brief you on what to do.  Basically, sit down and lift your feet when you land.

While waiting, there was a tent with a heater to warm ourselves.

Watching the couple ahead of us zipline to Nami Island.

When it was our turn, we jumped into our harnesses.  The zipline guys strapped us in.  And then opened the doors.  Only then do you realize how high up you are from the ground, and it’s too late to back out!

Annette and EJ getting ready for their turn.

Surprisingly, the ride down was not fast like a rollercoaster.  Ria and I glided on average speed (the website says about 35 mph).  The speed was just enough for us to take in the experience and enjoy the scenery.  I used my point and shoot camera to videotape the whole ride.  Will post it next time.

The zipline ride lasted for about 1 minute.  It was quick, but well worth it.  After all, how many of us can say that they ziplined a kilometer, 80 meters above a lake in South Korea?

My next post will be about our time in Nami Island.

Budget:

Item	Price
Subway Fare to Sangbong Station	P 40
Train Fare to Gapyeong	P 70
Taxi to Gapyeong Wharf	P 120
Zip-Line to Nami Island with Entrance and Ferry	P  1,500
TOTAL	P 1,730

 

*As of March 2011, currency exchange rate is W1 = P0.04