JEJU
JEJU
WHAT TO DO IN JEJU ISLAND?
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Jeju or Jeju-do is a beautiful island situated in South Korea. Nicknamed the “Hawaii” of Korea due to its partly tropical climate, this island is one of the favorite destinations for South Koreans. Whether it is for holidays, a school trip, a romantic weekend or a solo trip, all the pretexts are good for spending a few days on Jeju Island…
While living in South Korea for 2 years, we could not miss the chance to visit this romantic island. We spent a few days on the Island, and enjoyed our stay a lot. Expect volcanos, surfing, hiked, diving, sunbathing, and seafood. Our stay was unforgettable and a nice gateway from the hectic and sometimes stressful city life we had in Seoul.
Here is our take on the 10 best places to visit on Jeju Island.
About us
Hey there !
We are Hammer and Guillaume, a fun couple who loves traveling and always being on new adventures !
We would like to share with you some of our top 10 things to do in the places we've visited or lived in for a while.
Like everyone else who is going to new places, we always wonder what are the best things to do. For that purpose, we've compiled a list of 10 best things to do in some of our favorite places on earth.
1. Enjoy a gorgeous sunrise from Seongsan Ilchulbong
Whether you are a sunrise lover or a passionate hiker, this activity will delight you. A 45-minute walk will take you to the edges of the crater of this extinct volcano that offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Do not hesitate to get up early to admire the sunrise from this unique place, you will not regret it! We are not inventing anything since "Ilchulbong" means "peak of the rising sun".
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Seongsan Ilchulbong is clearly one of the must-see places on Jeju Island. This volcanic cone is located in the east of the island. As with Hallasan Mountain, the Seongsan Ilchulbong is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the global name: volcanic island and Jeju lava tunnels.
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2. Hike Hallasan and Jeju Olle-gil
Are you a hiking enthusiast? You've chosen the right destination: Jeju Island is full of paths to explore! The must-hike? Take on Mount Halla (or Hallasan), the highest point on the island (and even the highest peak in South Korea with with its 1,950 meters above sea level). This national park offers different trails, with varying distances and levels of difficulty. We loved it so much! You can also get started on one of the 26 tracks of the Jeju Olle-gil. This walking circuit goes around the island for more than 400 kilometers. So we put on our hiking shoes ’and off you go!
3. Learn more about the Haenyeo
The haenyeo are among the symbols of Jeju Island. The haenyeo are women snorkeling divers. They dive in order to collect different shells. Haenyeo literally means woman of the sea. The culture of haenyeo is classified as a UNESCO intangible world heritage. This culture is endangered. Indeed, with South Korea’s economic boom and the development of tourism on Jeju Island, many other professions are attracting young people.
However, it is still possible to see haenyeo during your stay on Jeju Island. Several options are possible: a demonstration for tourists takes place every day at the Seongsan Ilchulbong site in the village of Seongsan. It is also possible to see some Haenyeo in other parts of Jeju while strolling along the coast if you want to avoid the tourist show.
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FLIKR. Credit: amanderson2
4. Relax at the Beach!
From the peaceful black sand beach of Seongsan (near Seongsan Ilchulbong) to that of Hyeopjae, with its turquoise water, its white sand and its surprising volcanic rock formations, you will inevitably find one to your liking.
Among the most popular beaches there is also Jungmun Saekdal (this is where we went surfing. The waves were pretty amazing and you can rent surfboard directly on the beach), located near a tourist complex. There you can also have a drink while watching the sun go down over the ocean.
In Jeju, you can also practice many activities: water skiing, parasailing, etc.
Finally, if you don't have enough of the beatiful beach, you can complete your beach tour with the following: Geumneung (Euddeum), Gimnyeong (Seonsegi), Gwakji (Gwamul), Hado, Hamdoek, Hahyo Soesokkak, Hwasun (Golden Sand), Iho (Tewoo), Pyoseon (Haevichi), Samyang (Black Sand), Sanhosa, Woljeongri. Just relax and enjoy!
5. Admire some waterfalls
Jeju is also known for its waterfalls. There are several on the island, especially in the southern part (the most interesting part of the island overall). Without a doubt, the most famous waterfall on Jeju Island is Jeongbang. Indeed, the Jeongbang Waterfall is famous to be the only waterfall in Asia to jump directly into the sea. It is the waterfall to see in priority in Jeju. If you are a fan of waterfalls and want to see others on Jeju Island, you can also turn to those of Cheonjiyeon or Eongtto. They are all around Seogwipo, about twenty kilometers maximum around the city. You can easily visit those in half a day.
6. Go explore a lava tunnel
Manjanggul Cave is located in the northeast of Jeju Island. This is one of the lava tunnels on Jeju Island. This impressive lava tunnel was formed over 250,000 years ago! Its total length exceeds 13 kilometers. It is possible to visit a portion of about one kilometer. The tunnel is huge: 18 meters in width on average over 20 meters in height. Entrance to Manjanggul Cave costs 2,000 won per person. Watch the hours, the last entry is at 5 p.m. Allow about an hour for this visit.
7. Explore the sister island of Udo
Udo Island is very close to Jeju. It takes less than 15 minutes by ferry to get there. It is located east of Jeju and the ferry departs from Seongsan. There is a ferry every 30 minutes. The island is not huge but cannot be visited on foot, so it's possible to take the ferry with your car or you can rent a small buggy or bicycle on the island. We highly recommend this cute and preserved island, count 3 to 4 hours to visit. This place can be very crowded with tourists at time, so do not expect to be alone and having your most quiet moment... But still well worth a visit.
8. Visit some temples
As everywhere in South Korea, there are several Buddhist temples on Jeju Island. Even if it is not the number 1 attraction of Jeju Island, some temples are worth a visit. Gwaneumsa Temple in Jeju in particular. Gwaneumsa temple is the oldest Buddhist temple on Jeju Island. This temple is located on the edge of Hallasan National Park. You will pass a few hundred meters from it if you plan to climb Mount Hallasan. A short detour to the temple is therefore recommended. Beyond the Gwaneumsa temple, other Buddhist temples may be worth a visit in particular of the Yakchunsa temple, which is located in the south of Jeju Island.
9. Visit Wollyeongri Cactus Village
Less known in Jeju, and often not in the guide book, is the village of Wollyeongri. We ended up there by chance, as we stopped randomly along the coast while driving on our way back to the airport. However, we were quite surprised to see a village with thousands of Cactuses. (Yes, Cactuses!?). Although Jeju is not a desert, it does have a village entirely covered in cactuses. These cactuses grow naturally in between the rocks of Wollyeong. This species is originally from Mexico. As of today, no one knows how come those cactuses ended up on jeju Island. We were very lucky to stop in this village, as on top of finding out about his place by chance, all cactuses were blooming with amazing yellow flowers. Their flowers, only blossom in the summer.At Wollyeongri, you wenjoy a beautiful coastal walk surrounded by Cactus and lava rock. What an experience!
10. Learn more about those famous statues (Dol Hareubang)
Dol Hareubang are stone statues representing ancient deities who were believed to protect the people of Jeju Island. These stone statues are the symbol of Jeju. You can see them everywhere: in decoration, in souvenir shops, in front of houses etc. You can't go to Jeju without seeing these Dol Hareubangs! In the north of Jeju Island, some 20 km east of Jeju-si (or Jeju City), you can visit Dol Hareubang park. In this rather pleasant park, you can see many statues representing these Dol Hareubangs.
Jeju is considered the #1 destination for South Korea.n Its climate quite different from the rest of South Korea certainly plays into this feeling that the Koreans have toward Jeju Island. Nevertheless, Jeju Island should not be summed up as an island where one goes just for idleness and the beach. We highly recommend that you include Jeju Island in your travel itinerary. The ideal is to spend 3 or 4 days there. If you are going to visit Jeju Island soon and have additional questions about your stay, please do not hesitate to send us your comment.
If you want to know more about Jeju, you can get your full travel guide here:
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Where to stay in Jeju?
Where to stay on Jeju Island is the key question. First of all, we recommend that you avoid booking accommodation in Jeju-si, the island's main city. Most of the places to see or beautiful beaches are in the southern part of the island and not in the north.
Next, you first need to know what you are looking for when staying on Jeju Island. If you plan to go to Jeju for lazing around, I recommend you choose a hotel with a swimming pool (and / or near the beach). If you mainly go there to visit Jeju Island, the criteria may be different. However, for us, a stay in Jeju necessarily involves relaxing by the sea even if you can (should?) add a few visits to it.
Here is our top recommendations for where to stay in Jeju:
- The first few nights we stayed right next to Seongsan Ilchulbong, in a stunning hotel called The Cloud Pool and Spa. The hotel is located on top of a cliff, surrounded by the sea and an impressive view on Seongsan Ilchulbong. The hotel has a nice swimming pool, great cafe and restaurant which serves breakfast in the morning, as well as a huge garden to chill while looking out the ocean. It is also very close to the ferry to go to Udo Island. So perfect for your first few days on Jeju. You can book directly here.
- In our last few days, we stayed in the house, a very cute hotel, called La Pause Pension. The room was realluy comfortable and a yummy breakfast was included every morning. The owner was really nice, and could speak perfect english. She gave us a lot of great recommendations. You can book here.
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About us
Hey there !
We are Hammer and Guillaume, a fun couple who loves traveling and always being on new adventures !
We would like to share with you some of our top 10 things to do in the places we've visited or lived in for a while.
Like everyone else who is going to new places, we always wonder what are the best things to do. For that purpose, we've compiled a list of 10 best things to do in some of our favorite places on earth.
Related articles
Follow our travels
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You like our recommendations? You wanna add other great things to do? Feel free to leave a comment here: