Cold river, warm goal: dinner.

Pyeongchang’s trout festival turns winter into hands-on fun, with ice fishing through drilled holes and a festival day packed with snow activities.

I like that the tour is practical: you get round-trip transportation, a guide, admission, and the fishing setup, so you’re not scrambling for gear. I also like the food payoff: your catch can be cooked right at the dedicated grill center, either grilled or as sashimi.

One thing to consider: catching a trout isn’t guaranteed. Even with the right gear and guidance, the day can be more about the experience than a full fish basket, and English support can vary by guide.

Key things to know before you go

• Tent or open-air ice fishing: choose the setup that feels right for the cold and the vibe.
• All-in package feel: you’re covered for admission, chair rental, and ice fishing equipment.
• On-site cooking: trout can be served grilled or as sashimi through the festival’s grill center.
• More than fishing: sledding, ice skating, bumper cars, plus other snow rides can fill the day.
• Weekdays only in late January: January 2 to January 29 runs on weekdays, not weekends.

Ice Fishing on Pyeongchang’s Frozen River

This is one of those winter activities that sounds simple until you’re standing next to the frozen river and you can see the drilled holes. The core idea is straightforward: you fish for trout on the ice, using holes drilled into the frozen surface, then you bring your catch to the festival to be prepared.

What makes it special for a Korean winter experience is how hands-on it feels. Instead of watching winter sports from the sidelines, you’re doing the work: staying steady while you fish, keeping warm, and learning how to handle the moment when the line starts to move. It’s also family-friendly in spirit, since the festival offers multiple activities beyond fishing if you want a break from the cold.

And yes, it’s cold. That’s part of the deal. The good news is the tour is built around a full day in a winter event, so you’re not stuck in one spot with nothing else to do.

What the $41 Price Includes (and Why It’s Fair)

At $41 per person, the value is mainly in what you don’t have to figure out yourself.

Here’s what’s included:

• Admission fee
• Fishing chair rental
• Ice fishing equipment
• Round-trip transportation
• Professional tour guide

What’s not included:

• Meals and drinks (lunch is separate)
• Personal expenses
• Insurance
• Optional seaweed snacks after the tour end

For this kind of winter day trip, transportation plus equipment can easily be the biggest costs if you plan it independently. This package bundles those essentials, so you spend your time on the festival instead of logistics.

The one cost risk to watch is lunch. Since lunch isn’t included, you’ll need to budget for it separately. The guide will recommend a restaurant, but your dietary needs will be your responsibility.

From Downtown Seoul to Pyeongchang: How the Day Moves

Your day starts with a meet-up in downtown Seoul. The exact meeting point can vary depending on the option you book, but the overall rhythm is the same: you gather, then you head out to Pyeongchang-gun, where the festival is held.

A key detail that affects your comfort is timing around weekends. This tour runs January 2 to January 29 on weekdays only, and weekend tours aren’t offered due to heavy traffic congestion. So if you’re flexible, weekday travel can mean a smoother trip.

Once you arrive, you’ll spend your day at the heart of the festival. That matters, because it’s easy to waste time on long transfers inside an event site. Here, the plan keeps you close to the action: fishing, snow activities, and the on-site grill center.

At the end, the tour returns you back toward your starting area. One convenience detail: there’s a single drop-off point at Hongik University Station at the end of the tour, for the sake of all participants.

Tent Fishing vs. Open-Air Ice Fishing

The main highlight is the fishing itself, and you get a choice in how you experience it.

You can try:

• Open-air ice fishing
• Tent fishing

Open-air usually feels more exposed and windswept, so you’ll rely heavily on your clothing and gloves. Tent fishing can feel cozier because it gives you a bit of shelter while you work the line.

Either way, the mechanics stay the same. You’re fishing through holes in the ice, and your goal is to catch trout. The tour gives you the equipment and a guide who can help you manage the setup and keep things running safely.

One reality check: ice fishing is not like pressing a button and catching fish instantly. Even when everything is “easy,” the catch can still take patience. That’s why the rest of the festival matters so much: if fishing is slower, you still have winter fun lined up.

Getting Your Trout Cooked: Grilled or Sashimi at the Grill Center

The best part of catching fish is what happens after. At this festival, there’s a dedicated grill center where your trout can be cooked for you on the spot.

You can typically enjoy it either:

• Grilled
• Served as sashimi

This is more than just a snack. It’s the payoff that turns fishing into a full-circle experience: you work for the catch, then you eat what you caught, while you’re still in the same winter festival atmosphere.

Practical note: meals and drinks aren’t included in the tour price, so you may still buy extra items separately. But the fish preparation itself is built into the festival experience through the grill center, which is a big part of the value.

Beyond Fishing: Winter Activities for All Ages

Fishing is the headline, but the festival is designed to keep you moving even if you want a break from the ice.

Expect classic winter options like:

• Ice sledding
• Ice skating
• Bumper cars

And if you’re comparing notes with people who have done this day, you’ll hear about extra snow rides and tow experiences that can add variety to the schedule. Examples include snowmobile raft tow rides, snow cat rides, inflatable tube runs, and snow cart rides. Not every activity may run every day, but the key point is that you’re not locked into only one type of snow play.

This matters for families and mixed groups. Someone who isn’t sure about fishing can still enjoy the day. And even for fish fans, shifting to other activities is a smart way to warm up.

Cold-Weather Checklist That Actually Helps

If you want a day that feels fun instead of miserable, your clothing choices will do most of the work.

Bring:

• Gloves
• Warm shoes
• Warm clothing

That’s it for the must-haves listed, but here’s how to think about it. You want to be warm enough that you can focus on the fishing tips from the guide, not just on surviving the cold. Your hands and feet are the first things to get painful, so gloves and warm shoes aren’t just comfort items.

Also plan to take breaks when you switch activities. Ice fishing sits still, and snow activities are more active. Alternating movement and warm-up moments makes a big difference over a full festival day.

Guide and Language Reality: What to Expect

The tour includes a professional guide, and the service lists languages including Chinese, English, and Korean.

Still, there’s one practical consideration: not every guide will speak English. If you rely on English for instructions, you can reduce friction by preparing a few basic phrases in Korean or using translation on your phone.

The good side is that a strong guide can still help you succeed at the fishing part through demonstrations and support. One key lesson from the experience vibe is that the setup is well organized. People report that it’s easy to get started and that the guide helps with what to do next, including tips tied to getting your trout to the right place for cooking.

Who This Tour Works Best For

This is a strong fit if you want:

• An easy-to-book winter day experience from Seoul
• A hands-on activity you can do at multiple ages
• A built-in food reward after fishing
• A day that includes more than one kind of snow fun

It’s especially good for families because the festival-style schedule covers different comfort levels. If someone is not thrilled about ice fishing, there are other winter activities to rotate into.

For tiny kids: children under 24 months who do not require a separate seat with valid ID can join for free. If you need separate seating for a child, you’ll want to plan accordingly.

Price, Timing, and the Weekday Advantage

Let’s talk scheduling, because it affects the whole day.

This tour runs:

• January 2 to January 29
• On weekdays only

Weekends aren’t available due to heavy traffic congestion, and that’s not a small detail. Long road delays in winter can shrink your time at the festival and make the cold feel sharper. If your schedule allows it, weekdays are the safer bet.

Also, the tour has a minimum traveler requirement. If it doesn’t meet that threshold, you should expect an email one day before departure with either an alternate date or a full refund.

Should You Book the Pyeongchang Trout Festival Tour?

Yes, you should book this if you want a winter day trip that is easy to manage, equipment-supported, and centered on a memorable hands-on activity. The value is in the included essentials: transportation, guide, admission, and fishing gear. Add the on-site trout cooking, and you get an experience that turns into an actual meal plan.

You might skip it if you’re mainly chasing guaranteed fish. Ice fishing can be unpredictable, and even with guidance, results depend on timing and conditions. Also, if you need consistent English instruction, consider that guide language can vary, even though English is listed as a possible option.

My simple decision rule: book it if your priority is the full winter festival day—fishing, snow rides, and trout cooked after you catch it. Pass if you only care about fishing outcomes and don’t want a winter day built around trying, waiting, and enjoying everything else.

FAQ

What’s included in the Pyeongchang Trout Festival tour?

The tour includes the admission fee, fishing chair rental, ice fishing equipment, round-trip transportation from Seoul, and a professional tour guide.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is separate from the tour. The guide will recommend a restaurant, but the cost of food is not included. If you have dietary restrictions, you may want to bring your own lunch.

Do I need to bring fishing gear?

No. Ice fishing equipment is provided as part of the package, along with a fishing chair rental.

What should I bring for the cold?

You should bring gloves, warm shoes, and warm clothing.

Are there weekend tours?

No. This exclusive tour runs January 2 to January 29 on weekdays only. Weekend tours are not available due to heavy traffic congestion.

Where do I meet and where do I return?

The start meeting point may vary depending on the option booked. The activity ends back at the meeting point, but there is one single drop-off point at Hongik University Station at the end of the tour for convenience.