There is something oddly satisfying about watching people who absolutely do not want to go hiking get dragged into the great outdoors. Netflix’s Take a Hike! turns that premise into a charming Korean reality series, following four celebrity beginners as they trade comfortable routines for snow-covered mountains, exhausting trails, and plenty of questioning about why anyone voluntarily does this.

The 10-episode series brings together singer Car, the garden; DAY6’s Dowoon; actor Lee Chae-min; and ALLDAY PROJECT’s Tarzzan, who have little enthusiasm for hiking but plenty of personality. Produced by the team behind New Journey to the West, Jinny’s Kitchen, and Earth Arcade, the show combines physical challenges with the kind of spontaneous banter and warmth that makes Korean variety shows so addictive.

But what makes a hiking show worth adding to the Netflix queue, especially if the closest thing to a mountain adventure is reaching for the remote? Here are three reasons to pack your virtual bags.

One of the biggest charms of Take a Hike! is that its cast members do not suddenly transform into enthusiastic outdoor experts. They are beginners, and the show lets them remain beginners. Instead of presenting perfectly prepared celebrities conquering picturesque trails without breaking a sweat, it embraces the complaints, exhaustion, confusion, and moments of genuine disbelief that come with tackling a difficult winter hike.

That honesty gives the series a refreshing quality. When the group faces demanding trails, including a particularly punishing multi-hour trek in Seoraksan, celebrity status offers absolutely no shortcut. The mountains remain unimpressed, and watching the four attempts to keep going creates plenty of naturally funny moments. Their recurring question about why anyone would willingly put themselves through this becomes almost a running joke, and perhaps the show's most relatable sentiment.

The hiking itself may bring the group together, but the relationships are what give Take a Hike! its heart. The four celebrities begin as an unlikely collection of personalities, complete with their own assigned roles within the makeshift “Hasan Hiking Club.” What initially feels awkward gradually develops into genuine camaraderie as they spend more time together. Their contrasting personalities create plenty of playful banter, while the challenges of each hike give them opportunities to rely on one another. As the journey continues, the group starts feeling less like four reluctant hikers and more like an unexpectedly close-knit team.

Shared suffering has a way of accelerating friendships, and the series makes the most of it. Complaints eventually become inside jokes, difficult climbs turn into opportunities to encourage one another, and strangers begin behaving more like friends. Their different personalities also keep the group dynamic unpredictable, creating plenty of banter alongside quieter moments of support. By the time the hikes become particularly demanding, the question is no longer simply whether they can reach the summit; it is whether they can get there together.

If watching other people suffer through a mountain climb sounds exhausting, Take a Hike! has an excellent solution: make the scenery gorgeous and the food look incredible. The series takes viewers through Korea's snow-covered mountain landscapes, turning the harsh winter conditions into some of the show's most visually striking moments. The sweeping views provide a beautiful contrast to the cast's very real struggle with the cold, steep trails. Even the most exhausting climbs feel rewarding when the group finally reaches a scenic viewpoint.

There is also a very Korean variety-show-style reward waiting after the physical punishment. Warm shelter meals, pork belly, ramyeon, and later feasts become infinitely more appealing after hours in the cold. That contrast is part of what makes the show so comforting. The simple pleasure of eating together after a difficult trek adds another layer of warmth to the series. It turns each exhausting hike into an experience that feels less like a punishment and more like a memory worth making.

Take a Hike! works because it does not pretend that hiking is always glamorous. It finds humor in the exhaustion, warmth in the friendships, and beauty in the landscapes surrounding the cast. The result is a feel-good reality series that combines celebrity chemistry, travel, physical challenges, food, and plenty of laughs without taking itself too seriously.

And perhaps that is the show's sneaky appeal: hiking does not have to be a passion to make for compelling television. Whether viewers are experienced trekkers or firmly committed to couch-based adventures, Take a Hike! offers an easygoing escape that might make those snowy Korean peaks look just tempting enough to visit.

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Will four reluctant beginners make hiking look fun enough to inspire the next adventure? Let us know in the comments!