Top elevation: 1,360 m (4,460 ft)
Base elevation: 768 m (2,520 ft)
Runs: 10
Longest run: 4.8 km (3 mi)
Lift system: Chair and drag lifts
Alaska, Austria, Alaska, Canada, Colorado, France, and Switzerland are the world’s most famous ski countries. But there are more ski resorts outside these popular ski destinations that offer the nearly same quality of terrains and facilities on top of adventure and fun for all winter sports enthusiasts or for just mere travelers on a winter holiday.
While Asia is known as the best continent for beaches, mountains, greeneries, wildlife, flora, and fauna, the region is also home to many stunning ski resorts. Japan, in particular, has numerous ski spots that are visited by people from across the globe.
Besides Japan, Korea has its own ski resort where locals and foreign visitors can come and enjoy a holiday.
Welcome to Masikryong Ski Resort at 1,360-metre (4,460 ft) Taehwa Peak’s summit that is nearly 20 kilometers (12 mi) outside Wonsan City in Kangwon Province, North Korea. This resort is a much-talked-about Kim-Jong-un’s ski resort.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Masik Ski Resort is in Kangwon province, 24 km away from Wonsan city, about a 3.5-hour drive from capital Pyongyang.
RESORT’S STATS
The resort has a total area of 1412 hectares, and 1 360 meter is the highest elevation of the slopes from the base. Four chairlifts are servicing and take visitors to the summit. Yet, it will take a while to get to the peak, and 3 separate lifts are needed to be taken. As of the moment, there is no gondola.
One hundred ten kilometers is the resort’s total length of runs, with 40 degrees steepest slope. Among the 11 multi-level ski runs, only 5 are currently open that include two beginner slopes. There are a bell lift and an escalator on the intermediate slopes. Prioritizing visitor’s safety, the resort also has three first aid and patrol stations. The ski resort is open November through March.
GEARS
If you are comfortable bringing your own skiing essentials and skiing gear, you may do so. If ever you opt to leave them behind but decided to have fun skiing and snowboarding at the resort, you may rent gear and equipment at the resort’s shop, where you can take Masik-branded ski apparel.
FACILITIES
Besides the nine beginners to intermediate level pistes, the site has a ski school and kindergarten, and a children’s snow park. So, those families or parents bringing along their kids in Masikryong Ski Resort can freely enjoy touring around while their kids also enjoy their own activities. There is also a hotel within the resort that provides has a swimming pool and sauna, massage room, beauty parlor, billiards room, restaurants, and an ice-skating rink.
There is a 120-room hotel designed by the Pyongyang Architectural Institute. It has a twin pyramidal tower in which the taller tower has 9 floors.
The ski resort was completed by Korean People’s Army in just 10 months and was part of a drive by leader Kim Jong-un aiming that foreign tourist numbers will increase from 200,000 to 1 million per annum by 2016.
HOTEL
As part of the holiday vacation preparation, choosing a place to stay is always on the list of concerns. Suppose you plan to visit Masikryong Ski Resort in North Korea. In that case, there is no need to bother thinking about where to stay because there is a stunning and very accommodating Masikryong Hotel.
The hotel provides a swimming pool and a sauna. If you are tired after a day’s enjoyable activities, the hotel also offers a massage room to relax your body. The hotel is quite complete of all the things you need while you are in the area for a vacation. There is a beauty parlor, billiards room, and some dining restaurants with some of Korea’s authentic cuisine.
Various shops sell books, drinks, snacks, and an on-site ski shop skiwear of sale. The hotel is truly a premier place to stay with its reliable facilities and endless entertainment options.
Masikryong Hotel: Visiting Tips
- The hotel offers so much evening fun while you are there to explore. Check out the excellent swimming pool and leisure facilities in the basement.
- Visitors stay in Block 1, and the guides stay in block 2.
- Ski rental and pass facilities are in block 2 but is accessible from block 1.
- In case of an emergency such as an unwanted accident on the slope, there is an on-site doctor to take care of the patient.
- Visiting the resort during summer offers an excellent chance to see the surrounding mountain views; just make sure you ask to ride the ski lift. It costs extra though, even without the skiing!