Gamaksan Aster Festival : The Basics
Planning an autumn trip to Geochang? Byeolbaram Hill on Gamaksan is the place to be in early autumn. Purple asters blanket a plateau about 900 m up, with wind turbines and layered mountain ridges behind them. People call it the Gamaksan aster festival, but its official name is “Gamaksan Flower and Star Trip,” running September 18 to October 11, 2026. In 2026, car reservations and the shuttle bus matter more than anything, so read up before you go.
- Dates: September 18 – October 11, 2026, 07:00–19:00
- Venue: Byeolbaram Hill, 452 Yeonsusa-gil, Sinwon-myeon, Geochang-gun
- Highlights: asters, Siberian chrysanthemums, wind turbines, observatories
- Shuttle: 3,000 won round trip per person
The aster field covers 5 hectares with about 300,000 plants, and another 4 hectares feature Siberian chrysanthemum, Korean aster and other wild autumn flowers.
Why Go
Lots of places have flowers; few pair them with a high plateau. Step back and frame flowers, turbines and sky together to capture what makes it special. The observatory gives a view down over the whole field, and the chrysanthemum area adds a different autumn mood.
With Kids
Mix walking with activities. The stamp tour gives elementary kids a goal, and the aster area has a silver-grass maze and activity space. The summit has about 3.8 km of barrier-free trail and three observatories, so no serious hike is needed. On October 3–4, a magic show runs once a day, 14:00–15:40. It gets windy and chilly at altitude, so pack an extra layer for the kids.
Performance Dates in October
- Sunset Hill concerts: October 3 and 10, 14:00–16:00
- Geochang Akwoohoe celebration concert: October 7, 13:00–15:00
- Busking on holidays
Schedules can change, so check the official site on the day. For families, October 3–4 stand out because you can combine the asters with the magic show.
The Shuttle Bus Matters More Than Parking
To ease summit traffic, private cars needed advance reservations in 2026, and October bookings closed on September 6. Without one, park at the Geochang High-Tech Industrial Complex temporary lot (San 147, Daesan-ri, Namsang-myeon) and take the shuttle: 3,000 won round trip, free for Geochang residents, from 07:00 every 5–10 minutes. Last buses up/down are 16:30/18:30 on weekdays and 16:55/19:00 on holidays. The Korea Tourism Organization estimates about 100 minutes round trip on weekdays and 120 on holidays, including waits. Arrive in the morning and enjoy the flowers through lunch.
How Much Time to Allow
With the aster field, chrysanthemum area, observatory, maze and stamp tour, allow two hours or more on site, plus shuttle time. Block out a full morning or afternoon rather than squeezing the Gamaksan aster festival in as a one-hour stop.
Nearby Stops
Geochang Incident Memorial Park, also in Sinwon-myeon, is a meaningful place to talk about modern Korean history with older kids. Geochang Changpowon, a 420,000 m² riverside eco-park, offers irises in spring, lotus in summer and chrysanthemums and silver grass in autumn. Flower and Star Trip → Memorial Park → Changpowon makes a varied day.
Gamaksan with Kids: Our Take
Asters and wind turbines at 900 m create a scene you will not find elsewhere, and kids can enjoy the stamp tour, maze and observatories. In 2026, the key is the car reservation and shuttle system, so check the lot and shuttle times before you set off.
Dates, programs and prices in this guide are as of the 2026 edition. Check the official website for next year’s schedule before you go.
More Family Trips on Yans World
- Clam Digging Experience at Mongsanpo and Dalsanpo Beaches: Family-friendly Clam Digging Points and Delicious Clams
- Samcheok Travel: A Great Place to Visit with Kids – Isabu Lion Park
- Yesan Yedang Lake Swing Bridge Musical Fountain Times Boryeong Travel
Schedules and prices can change, so check the VISITKOREA official tourism site before you go.