2 Best Sights in Side Trips from Busan, South Korea

At 1,240 meters (4,068 feet) Gajisan is the highest mountain in the Yeongnam Alps, and makes a great day trip for anyone wanting to summit the peak. The best approach is from the trailhead at Baegyeonsa Temple. While it's a challenging hike in spots, the trail is well-developed and it can be done by anyone in reasonable physical condition. And like any great trek, the view from the top makes all the hard work worth it.

Rising like a guardian over Tongyeong, Mireuksan mountain is accessed by the longest cable car in Korea (1,975 meters/1.22 miles). This Swiss-designed gondola not only provides jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains, islands, and ocean, but also affords passengers enough time to meditate on the raw beauty of this particular corner of the country.