6 Best Sights in Yeongnam Alps, Side Trips from Busan

Nestled at the base of the stone-crowned Yeongchuksan, Korea's largest temple is a village unto itself. With more than 65 buildings within the temple grounds, Tongdosa is one of the country's "Three Jewel Temples" and is famous for having no outside statues of Buddha. This is because the temple contains relics of the Buddha himself, including a robe, a begging bowl, and a supposed piece of his skull. For all of its history, art, and heritage, Tongdosa shines brightest as a nature destination. The valley it calls home is a stunning piece of real estate, and the mountain that looms over the temple and surrounding town is like a gargantuan stone sentinel. You can feel the power emanating from the rock and understand at once why, centuries ago, it was decided that this was a holy place. Tongdosa also hosts temple stays, if you're in the mood to experience life from the inside.

At 1,240 meters (4,068 feet) Gajisan is the highest mountain in the Yeongnam Alps, and makes a great day trip for anyone wanting to summit the peak. The best approach is from the trailhead at Baegyeonsa Temple. While it's a challenging hike in spots, the trail is well-developed and it can be done by anyone in reasonable physical condition. And like any great trek, the view from the top makes all the hard work worth it.

This former amethyst mine has been turned into a tourist attraction that's worth a visit if caves are your thing. The 2.5-km-long (1.55 miles) cavern can be accessed on foot and offers views to amethysts, rotating exhibitions, as well as subterranean boat rides. There are a few older carnival rides outside in case the cave itself wasn't thrilling enough for you.

A popular summer getaway for Busan residents, who flock to its bracing river waters to beat the heat, this long valley is a beautiful area full of pine trees, apple orchards, waterfalls, and plenty of accommodations in the form of country pensions. It's also a great base from which to launch hiking trips up into the Yeongnam Alps, which act as a natural rock walls on both sides of the valley. 

Famous for its hanu beef bulgogi, the town of Eonyang sits in the shadow of Sinbulsan mountain on the far outskirts of the city of Ulsan and makes the perfect base for exploring the Yeongnam Alps. Most of the main attractions are within a 20-minute drive of the town, which offers plenty in the way of lodging and food options.

Situated on the northern flank of Cheonwangsan mountain, this natural wonder is famous for its unusual climate. In the heat of the summer, the valley's streams and water freeze; in the winter, they thaw out and run at higher temperatures than normal in the region. There is also a cable car that runs to the top of nearby Jaeyaksan mountain (1,112 meters/3,648 feet), a rugged peak that's considered the eastern gateway to the Yeongnam Alps.