Weekend Trip to Chungju with My Baby – Hwalok Cave Kayak Boat Experience
This is not just a cave, it’s a whole new adventure!
When people visit Korea for the first time, they usually stick to Seoul, Busan, or Jeju, right?
But if you really want to explore the “real” Korea, Chungju should definitely be on your list!
Especially Hwalok Cave… it’s not just another cave.
It was honestly such a unique and cool experience! 😆
And if you’re the type who loves capturing those perfect Instagram moments –
this place is made for that!
It’s super photogenic, and these days it’s trending not just with locals but also among international visitors! 📸
If you have a day to spare in your Korea travel itinerary,
this place is a must-visit!
Let me tell you everything you need to know about the cave, kayaking, ticket discounts, stroller access, and more~ 🍼💕
walok Cave Admission Fee (+Kayak Boat Package) & Discount Info
🕘 Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM
(Last Entry at 4:00 PM / Last Kayak Boarding at 5:00 PM)
Hwalok Cave Admission Fees
Adults: 10,000 KRW / Children: 8,000 KRW / Teenagers: 9,000 KRW
Cave + Kayak Boat Package
dults: 15,000 KRW / Teenagers: 14,000 KRW / Children: 13,000 KRW
❗ Note: Online reservations are not available for Hwalok Cave – tickets must be purchased on-site only!
If you want to add the kayak boat experience, it’s an additional 5,000 KRW on top of the regular admission fee.
I read on a 2023 blog that the kayak add-on used to be just 3,000 KRW… so yes, it got a bit pricier this year 😢
We chose the kayak package and paid:
2 Adults (15,000 KRW each) + 1 Child (13,000 KRW) = Total 43,000 KRW
Kids under 24 months can enter for free,
but our baby is 29 months old so we had to pay the child rate. A bit unfortunate 😭
🎫 Discount info:
- Chungju citizens, seniors (65+), people with disabilities, and national merit holders
→ Admission: 8,000 KRW / Package: 11,000 KRW
👥 Group Discount: Groups of 30 or more get a 1,000 KRW discount per person!
Inside Temperature: 11~15°C – Don’t forget to bring a jacket!
They say Hwalok Cave is warmer than outside in winter, and cooler in summer – pretty cool, right?
We visited in late April when it was warm outside, so we were wearing short sleeves.
But since the cave temperature stays around 14~15°C, we ended up putting on thick jackets!
I even dressed my baby in a padded coat, and it still felt a bit chilly inside.
So yes – if you’re planning a visit, definitely bring a jacket or something warm!
Stroller-friendly: Yes!
🚲 Bicycles & 🛴 kick scooters: Not allowed!
The paths inside Hwalok Cave are nicely paved, so it’s convenient to bring a stroller.
But please note – bicycles and kick scooters are not allowed inside the cave!
Hwalok Cave is located near Chungju Lake in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do,
and it used to be an active mine for over 100 years, where they extracted jade, white jade, and talc!
In 2019, it was beautifully remodeled into an interactive experience cave.
The pathways inside are fully paved, which makes it super convenient for strollers.
Just keep in mind – bicycles and kick scooters are not allowed inside!
Enjoy the Chungju Starlight Festival inside Hwalok Cave!
The magical lights inside the cave feel just like a starlight festival –
a dreamy experience you won’t forget!
Since the inside of the cave is quite dark,
there were tons of glowing light displays that felt just like a lantern festival!
Colorful lights shaped like animals, flowers, and fairytale characters totally captured our baby’s attention! ✨
Kayak Boat Experience – A Must-Do with Kids!
If you’re visiting Hwalok Cave with children,
don’t miss the kayak boat ride!
It’s a short but super fun activity that little ones will love.
You’ll need to walk a little deeper into the cave to reach the kayak boat area.
Honestly, if you skip the kayak ride, there’s mostly just walking and looking around –
so if you’re visiting with a baby or young kids, the kayak experience is a must! 😄
The ride itself takes about 10 minutes, and it’s just the right length for little ones to enjoy.
There are lots of photo zones with beautiful plants and flowers!
here were lots of photo zones, but since it was quite dark, the pictures didn’t turn out very well 😢
Still, there were glow-in-the-dark areas, light displays, plants, and even fish –
so there was plenty to look around and enjoy!
It took us about one hour in total to walk through the cave and enjoy the kayak boat experience.
After exploring the cave, our baby had so much fun running around outside!
Our baby actually enjoyed playing outside even more than exploring the cave! 😄
He was amazed by the dinosaurs and loved riding the little mining train.
He didn’t want to leave at all – we had to carry him back to the parking lot! 😅😭
I do wish there were more hands-on activities for young kids,
but overall, we had a great time exploring Hwalok Cave and riding the kayak together!