Visiting Jeju Island: Journey Itinerary & Helpful Data

Whenever you go to South Korea, there are some tried and true locations that will probably be constructed into any journey itinerary – bustling Seoul, or foodie paradise Busan. However there’s one vacation spot that provides you a style of every thing Korea has to supply, from the spectacular surroundings to the wonderful cultural scene, historic highlights to the possibility to get energetic: Jeju Island. Round 100km south off the Korean mainland lies Jeju Island, an autonomous province that’s famed for gorgeous mountains, stunning coastlines, and an incredible tradition.  

How huge is Jeju Island?

At round 1,840 sq. kilometers, Jeju is the most important island in South Korea – in reality, it’s quite a bit bigger than folks would possibly count on. It’s 2.5x the dimensions of Singapore, and solely a tiny bit smaller than the Spanish island of Tenerife. The inhabitants of Jeju Island is over 675,000, that means there are about as many individuals in Jeju as there are in Luxembourg!  

What’s the finest time to go to Jeju Island?

In the event you’re a nature lover, Spring and Autumn will serve you properly. In Autumn, (Sep-Nov) the island turns into a haven for individuals who like to observe the leaves change, with wealthy oranges overlaying the island. Nonetheless, for true photographers, there’s no higher time to go to than in Spring (Mar-Might). The climate is delicate, and it’s throughout this era that the island’s unimaginable subtropical local weather involves life, littering the panorama with stunning cherry blossoms, vibrant azaleas, golden canolas and magnolias.

In the event you’re a sun-lover, summer season (Jun-Aug) on Jeju Island will serve you properly – although you might need the dodge the odd rain bathe. With temperatures reaching 30 levels, it turns into a well-liked vacation spot for beach-goers and watersports lovers alike. However should you’re a fan of a extra tranquil panorama, winter (Dec-Feb) offers the chance to discover rolling hills and dramatic UNESCO World Heritage websites with out the crowds.  

Why is Jeju Island well-known?

The flight between Jeju Island and Seoul is the world’s busiest route – and that’s not by probability. Jeju Island shouldn’t be solely a paradise for these after coastlines and mountaintops – it’s additionally well-known because the filming location for innumerable Okay-dramas, is dwelling to over 100 museums, and has a captivating tradition that features its personal dialect, a gaggle of free-diving ladies named haenyeo, and an unimaginable meals scene. It’s additionally price visiting Jeju Island to be taught extra concerning the essential, sobering position it performs in wider 20th century Korean historical past. 

What are the most effective meals to strive in Jeju?

As an island with a wealthy seafaring (and diving) tradition, you’d be remiss to go to Jeju Island and never pattern the seafood. The haenyeo are matriarchal group that, in response to the Jeju Tourism Board, date again one thousand years, and are unimaginable free divers who head as much as 20 meters underwater to retrieve abalone, conches, and seaweed. The result’s a neighborhood delicacies stuffed with recent, locally-caught seafood dishes. (In the event you’re in Jeju-si in any respect, the Jeju Haenyeo Museum makes for a really fascinating go to.)  

For the meat-eaters amongst us, you can also’t go to Jeju Island with out making an attempt black pork. It’s a dish that’s so intrinsic to Jeju tradition that there’s a complete road devoted to it! The native breed of black pig is a staple in lots of Jeju dishes, so it’s properly price a strive whilst you’re there… simply make certain it’s Korean BBQ model!  

Whenever you go to Jeju Island, you’ll discover it dwelling to swathes of timber that brim with juicy mandarins. In the event you don’t seize a recent one, just be sure you cease in at a neighborhood retailer for a recent juice, a zesty tangerine chocolate, or a scrumptious mandarin-infused baked deal with.  

What’s there to do in Jeju Island?

Brief reply: tons! From climbing to watersports, museums to café-hopping – it’s an island filled with issues to do.  

In the event you’re primarily based in Seogwipo Metropolis – the right location for any eager vacationers – you’ll haven’t any finish of pure options to discover. It’s the most effective base to hike on the Olle Path (we suggest Path #7) and spot the dramatic Oedolgae Rock, go to the Jeongbang Falls – the one waterfall in Asia to circulation immediately into the ocean – and head up the wonderful Seongsan Ilchulbong for unimaginable views throughout the island and out to sea.  

It’s additionally the most effective place to benefit from the island’s shoreline. You’ll be able to pay a go to to Jungmun Seashore, the place the gusty winds make it the final word browsing vacation spot, and even strive your hand at one of many native diving golf equipment. In the event you want to stay dry, you possibly can take a yacht crusing tour across the island – after which wind down the night again on dry land, with a sundown drink searching to sea from the cliffs.  

In the event you’re after the right Jeju Island journey itinerary, we will help you out – we spend two incredible days in Jeju as a part of our 12-day Korea Journey.