The notebook of Mount Paektu and Samjiyon
Follow the light on the ridges.
Border volcano, crater lake and high-altitude city occupy a central place in the geography and official narrative of the country.
At your own pace
Identity summary
3 to 6 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Mountain · Lake · Volcano · Nature
Variable accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Mount Paektu and Samjiyon
Border volcano, crater lake and high-altitude city occupy a central place in the geography and official narrative of the country.
Lake Chon at Mount Paektu, City of Samjiyon and Cascades of Rimyongsu give the most telling landmarks of Mount Paektu and Samjiyon. Together, they make up a destination where mountain reliefs, shores and lakes, volcanic landscapes and natural spaces meet, with atmospheres that change over the course of the stages rather than just one uniform decor.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 6 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Lake Chon au mont Paektu
- City of Samjiyon
- Rimyongsu Cascades
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Lake
Lake Chon au mont Paektu
Lake Chon fills the caldeira from Mount Paektu to the Chinese border, in a volcanic landscape subjected to a very brutal weather. The site is sacralized by the North Korean national narrative; road access, cable car and observation depend entirely on the conditions and authorizations.
Place indismissible
City of Samjiyon
Samjiyon has been largely rebuilt as a model town near Mount Paektu, with state-planned hotels, accommodations and cultural facilities. It serves as a basis for regional visits, without independent freedom of movement or guaranteed access to the announced infrastructure.
Waterfall
Rimyongsu Cascades
Rimyongsu causes many falls to flow from a basaltic cliff on the edge of a forest village. The water continues partially to flow under the ice in winter, creating a singular landscape accessible only when the excursion is included in the official program.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Escaped to discover
Changbaishan, northern slope
Jilin, 🇨🇳 People's Republic of China
Discover this idea
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
