At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Probably a Saturday in late October 2027, in another county around Jirisan, if the pattern of the 2024 and 2026 editions (both on the fourth Saturday of October) holds. No host county or date announced as of 18 October 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Probably a Saturday in late October 2027, in another county around Jirisan, if the pattern of the 2024 and 2026 editions (both on the fourth Saturday of October) holds. No host county or date announced as of 18 October 2026. |
| Admission | ₩20,000 per walker by advance registration (₩10,000 for Jirisan Dulle-gil supporters and one companion); each walker gets back a ₩10,000 Sancheong Love gift certificate and a souvenir.Registration, general: ₩20,000 · Registration, Jirisan Dulle-gil supporter: ₩10,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Sancheong County Citizens' Park경상남도 산청군 산청읍 웅석봉로86번길 7 |
| Nearest station | No rail access; see Getting there |
| From Seoul | about 3 h 9 min · BusLeave from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal · One-way fare from ₩30,800 · Plan to stay overFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Sancheong, Hamyang, Namwon, Gurye, Jangsu and Hadong (joint hosts), with the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail organisation산청군 · 함양군 · 남원시 · 구례군 · 장수군 · 하동군 (지리산둘레길) |
| Usual timing | One Saturday in late October in the editions found: 26 Oct 2024 in Gurye and 24 Oct 2026 in Sancheong, both the fourth Saturday of the month. The host town moves between the counties around Jirisan. Registration for 2026 opened on 9 September; no 2025 edition was confirmed in the sources checked. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 2011 |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026Checked against 13 sources · See sources |
What it is like
The Jirisan Dulle-gil is a 289 km walking trail in 21 sections that loops around Jirisan, Korea's largest mountain national park, through Namwon, Gurye, Hamyang, Sancheong and Hadong and more than 120 villages. It opened in full in 2012 and was designated a national forest trail in May 2021. Its walking festival, nicknamed 'Jirisan Picnic' (지리산소풍), started in 2011 as a way to build a slow, reflective walking culture on the mountain, and it is held in a different county around Jirisan from one edition to the next. Six municipalities now host it together: Sancheong, Hamyang, Namwon, Gurye, Jangsu and Hadong.
The 2026 edition is in Sancheong on Saturday 24 October. Walkers check in from 08:30 at Sancheong County Citizens' Park in the county town, Sancheong-eup, then set off on a loop of about 12 km: past Seonnyeotang and Hanbat village, a lunch stop in Sancheong-eup, and back to the park via the Hwanajeong pavilion. The registration page places the walk in the Sucheol–Seongsimwon section of the trail. Hands-on activities and small events are set up along the way, and back at the park a 'picnic market' of local sellers offers food and crafts while cultural performances run until the 17:00 close.
This is a registration event rather than an open-access festival. The fee is ₩20,000 (half price for regular supporters of the trail and one companion), paid online through Event-us until 22 October 2026 at 17:00. Each walker gets a souvenir and a ₩10,000 Sancheong Love gift certificate, local currency that can be spent in Sancheong-eup, so the net cost is closer to ₩10,000.
The honest caveats: everything is in Korean, including the registration page, and the walk is most of a day on foot. Sancheong has no railway, and the first bus from Seoul arrives well after check-in, so visitors from Seoul or Busan need to arrive the evening before. The previous edition found, on 26 October 2024 in Gurye, offered three courses of about 13–14 km that took four to five hours.
Highlights
- About 12 km loop on the Jirisan Dulle-gil from Sancheong County Citizens' Park, past Seonnyeotang and Hanbat village, with lunch in Sancheong-eup and a return via the Hwanajeong pavilion (2026)
- Hands-on activities and small events set up along the course
- A picnic market of local sellers' food and crafts, plus cultural performances, at the park after the walk
- Every registered walker receives a souvenir and a ₩10,000 Sancheong Love gift certificate to spend in Sancheong-eup
- Hosted jointly by six municipalities around Jirisan and held in a different county from one edition to the next since 2011
- The trail itself: 289 km in 21 sections linking more than 120 villages across three provinces, a national forest trail since May 2021
Who it suits. Best for reasonably fit walkers who want an organised, sociable day on a section of the Jirisan Dulle-gil with Korean participants, a lunch stop in a country town and a market at the finish. Less suited to anyone who cannot walk about 12 km, travellers who need English-language guidance, or day-trippers from Seoul.
Getting there
From Seoul
Intercity bus from Seoul Nambu Terminal (Line 3, Nambu Bus Terminal station) to Sancheong Bus Terminal in Sancheong-eup: 5 a day, about 3 h 9 m, ₩30,800 deluxe class (October 2026 timetable). Even the first morning bus arrives well after the 08:30 check-in, so travel on an afternoon or evening bus the day before and stay overnight; check departure times in a bus booking app or at the terminal. By rail: Sancheong has no station. Take the KTX-Sancheon from Seoul Station to Jinju (3 h 22 m–3 h 43 m, ₩52,700–53,100 standard, October 2026 fares after the 1 Sep 2026 KTX–SRT merger), then a city bus or taxi to Jinju Intercity Bus Terminal and a bus to Sancheong (about 43 minutes, ₩5,800).
From Busan
Direct intercity buses link Busan Seobu (Sasang) Terminal and Sancheong, about 2 h 18 m, ₩15,800 (five a day from Sancheong in the October 2026 timetable; Sasang departure times were not checked). Or take a bus from Sasang to Jinju (about 1 h 34 m, ₩10,000, roughly 38 a day) and change for Sancheong (about 43 minutes). Arrive the evening before for the 08:30 check-in.
From Incheon Airport
Take AREX into Seoul and the subway to Nambu Bus Terminal station (Line 3), then the Sancheong bus; allow a full day and stay overnight in Sancheong or Jinju before the walk.
Getting home
The festival closes at 17:00. From Sancheong, buses run to Seoul Nambu 5 times a day (about 3 h 36 m, ₩30,800) and to Jinju about 31 times a day (about 43 minutes), and KTX trains run from Jinju to Seoul about 9–11 times a day; Jinju Station is outside the town centre, so allow time for a taxi. Direct buses to Busan Sasang are few and the last may leave before the festival ends, so going via Jinju is safer. The last bus and train times for 24 October 2026 have not been confirmed from the operators' timetables: check the last bus at Sancheong Bus Terminal and the last KTX in the Korail+ app (코레일+) before you set off.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Registration, general | ₩20,000 | Includes a souvenir and a ₩10,000 Sancheong Love gift certificate usable in Sancheong-eup |
| Registration, Jirisan Dulle-gil supporter | ₩10,000 | 50% off for regular supporters, for the supporter and one companion (KTO); sold as a separate ticket on Event-us |
- Booking
- Register online on Event-us (event-us.kr, Korean interface) between 9 September 2026, 14:00, and 22 October 2026, 17:00; registration was still open on 22 October, with a 'closing soon' label on the ticket list. Cancellation fees depend on payment method and timing. Whether same-day registration is possible, or whether foreign phone numbers and cards work, was not stated.
- English on site
- No English information was found; the registration page and the event are in Korean.
- Best time to go
- Be at the park for check-in from 08:30, and stay after the walk for the market and performances before the 17:00 close.
- What to bring
- Walking shoes, water, a warm layer for a late-October morning in the hills, rain gear, and your registration confirmation.
- Step-free access
- The main event is a walk of about 12 km on village roads and trail; no accessibility information was published.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Probably a Saturday in late October 2027, in another county around Jirisan, if the pattern of the 2024 and 2026 editions (both on the fourth Saturday of October) holds. No host county or date announced as of 18 October 2026. | expected | Registration for 2026 opened on 9 September 2026, so expect 2027 details around late summer 2027. |
| 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | ended | Start and finish at Sancheong County Citizens' Park (산청군민근린공원), 7 Ungseokbong-ro 86beon-gil, Sancheong-eup. |
| 2024 | 26 Oct 2024 | ended | Gurye County, Jeollanam-do. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
- Getting awayAfter
The festival closes at 17:00 at the park in Sancheong-eup; the way home is by bus from Sancheong Bus Terminal. Buses to Jinju run about 31 times a day (about 43 minutes), but only 5 a day go to Seoul Nambu and few to Busan Sasang. If the direct bus has gone, go via Jinju and take the KTX from Jinju Station (a taxi from the town centre). Check the last bus at the terminal before you start walking.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Jirisan Walking Festival 2026?
Saturday 24 October 2026, 09:00–17:00, starting and finishing at Sancheong County Citizens' Park in Sancheong-eup, Gyeongsangnam-do. Check-in opens at 08:30.
How much does it cost, and what is included?
₩20,000 per walker (₩10,000 for Jirisan Dulle-gil supporters, who can bring one companion at the same discount). Every walker receives a souvenir and a ₩10,000 Sancheong Love gift certificate to spend in Sancheong-eup.
How do I register?
Online through the Jirisan Dulle-gil channel on Event-us (Korean only), until 22 October 2026 at 17:00. Registration was still open on 22 October, but the ticket list carried a 'closing soon' label, so places may run out. Whether you can sign up on the day was not published.
How long is the walk?
About 12 km in 2026: a loop from the park past Seonnyeotang and Hanbat village, with lunch in Sancheong-eup and a return via the Hwanajeong pavilion. The 2024 courses of about 13–14 km took 4–5 hours, so plan on most of the day.
Can I do it as a day trip from Seoul?
Not really. Even the first morning bus from Seoul Nambu Terminal reaches Sancheong well after the 08:30 check-in, and the first KTX to Jinju plus the 43-minute bus to Sancheong does not make it either. Take an afternoon or evening bus from Nambu the day before (about 3 h 9 m, ₩30,800). Going home, there are only five buses a day to Seoul Nambu: check the last one at Sancheong Bus Terminal, or the last KTX from Jinju in the Korail+ app (코레일+).
Is there English support?
None was found. Registration and on-site instructions are in Korean, so a Korean-speaking companion or a translation app helps.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
22 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO TourAPI listing 2026 지리산걷기축제 ‘지리산소풍’ (contentId 3382929)kto — 24 Oct 2026; 09:00–17:00, check-in 08:30; ₩20,000, 50% off for regular supporters and up to 2 people; ₩10,000 Sancheong Love gift certificate and souvenir; venue, address, coordinates; six host municipalities; phone 055-884-0850; homepage; begun 2011, rotating among five Jirisan counties; about 12 km loop via Seonnyeotang, Hanbat village, lunch in Sancheong-eup, Hwanajeong; market and performances
- Event-us — 2026 지리산걷기축제 registration page (Jirisan Dulle-gil channel)official — 24 Oct (Sat) 09:00–17:00; venue and address; course in the Sucheol–Seongsimwon section area; ₩20,000 general and ₩10,000 supporter tickets; registration 9 Sep 14:00 to 22 Oct 17:00; 'closing soon' label; slogan; cancellation fees by payment method and timing
- Event-us — 2026 지리산걷기축제 mobile ticket pageofficial — Status 'recruiting' (모집중) with a 'closing soon' (마감임박) label on 19 Oct 2026; 24 Oct (Sat) 09:00–17:00; Sucheol–Seongsimwon section; ₩20,000 general and ₩10,000 supporter tickets; registration 9 Sep 14:00 to 22 Oct 17:00; changes and cancellations via My Page, fees by payment method and timing; still 'recruiting' (모집중) with 'closing soon' on 22 Oct 2026; no notices posted (등록된 공지/안내가 없습니다)
- Jeonbuk Ilbo (전북일보) — '지리산 둘레길 걷기축제' 개최...10월 22일까지 신청 접수 (16 Oct 2024)news — 2024 festival in Gurye: start at the Jirisan History and Culture Center, finish at Seosicheon sports park; about 13 km in three courses of 4–5 hours; registration to 22 Oct via atcjirisan.com or Korail Tourism Development; Western Regional Forest Service with six counties; 5th Asia Trails Conference; makgeolli quiz
- Festival directory listing — 지리산둘레길 걷기축제 (2024)other — 2024 date 26 Oct (Sat), 10:00–18:00; Jirisan History and Culture Center, 화엄사로 377-36, Gurye; six host municipalities, Korea Forest Service sponsor, Supgil and Asia Trails Network as operators; phone 055-884-0850; three courses of about 13–14 km ending at Gurye Public Stadium; side events incl. makgeolli tasting from six Jirisan-area towns, bread tour, beoksu workshop, busking
- Jeonbuk Ilbo (전북일보) — 서부지방산림청, 지리산둘레길 개통 10주년 행사 개최 (26 Oct 2022)news — Jirisan Dulle-gil fully opened in 2012; 289 km in 21 sections; three provinces and five cities and counties (Namwon, Gurye, Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong); more than 120 villages; national forest trail since May 2021
- Seoul Nambu Terminal intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-08)other — Seoul Nambu → Sancheong: 5 a day at 08:20 (arr 11:29), 12:20, 16:30, 18:30 and 21:10; 3 h 9 m; ₩30,800 deluxe
- Sancheong Bus Terminal intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-10)other — Sancheong → Seoul Nambu 5 a day, last 17:55, 3 h 36 m, ₩30,800; → Jinju 31 a day 06:30–20:42 incl. 17:07, 17:16, 17:56, 43 min, ₩5,800; → Busan Sasang 5 a day (08:13, 09:05, 09:51, 14:35, 15:50), 2 h 18 m, ₩15,800
- asamaru train timetable — Seoul Station to Jinju Stationother — KTX-Sancheon 3 h 22 m–3 h 43 m, ₩52,700–53,100, 9–11 departures per day in mid-October 2026, first 05:03
- asamaru train timetable — Jinju Station to Seoul Stationother — Last KTX 19:15 (20:05 on 16–18 Oct 2026), ₩53,100
- asamaru intercity bus timetable — Jinju Intercity Bus Terminalother — Jinju–Busan Sasang about 1 h 34 m, ₩10,000/₩13,100, about 38 departures, 05:50–22:00 (22:00 bus ₩12,000)
- Korail press release: 코레일-에스알 9월 1일 하나로…안전 최우선, 더 편리한 고속철도의 시작 (31 Aug 2026)official — Integration and integrated running from 1 Sep 2026; KTX and SRT merged into KTX
- Korail KTX fare table, effective 1 Sep 2026 (xls)official — Standard class Seoul–Jinju ₩53,100 / ₩52,700
What we could not confirm
- Whether a 2025 edition was held, and where and when (none found)
- Timetable beyond the 08:30 check-in: walk start, lunch, finish and performance times
- Whether lunch in Sancheong-eup is included or paid by the walker (for example with the gift certificate)
- How KTO's 12 km loop via Seonnyeotang, Hanbat village and Hwanajeong relates to the 'Sucheol–Seongsimwon section' named on the registration page
- Capacity, and whether same-day registration is possible (registration was still open on 22 October)
- Whether Event-us registration accepts foreign phone numbers and cards
- Walking time between Sancheong Bus Terminal and Sancheong County Citizens' Park; parking and any shuttle
- First and last bus times between Sancheong and Seoul Nambu, Jinju and Busan Sasang, and the last KTX from Jinju to Seoul, on 23–24 October 2026: not confirmed from the bus operators' or Korail's timetable for those days (clock times removed from the page on 22 October 2026)
- Rain policy, age limits and pet rules
- 2027 host county and dates
- Official Japanese and Chinese names (none found)
Changes: 2026-10-18 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: registration still open on 19 October (closes 22 October, 17:00); no other changes found. · 2026-10-19 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of the Jungsan-ri valley on Jirisan (Wonho E, CC BY-SA 3.0). · 2026-10-20 — Bus class corrected from the timetable: the fare listed as premium is deluxe (우등). · 2026-10-22 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: date, venue and fee unchanged and registration still open on 22 October; bus and train clock times removed from Getting there until they can be confirmed for 24 October (check the last bus and train before you go). · 2026-10-24 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit): no place kept (the walk fills the day; Donguibogam and Namsa Yedam villages need a car); added how to get away by bus via Jinju; transport: no clock times left (removed 22 Oct), last-train check points to Korail+ (코레일+); prices: unchanged (₩20,000 registration, organizer notice).
