Jeju Island a.ka. the Hawaii of Korea – Places You Must Visit on Jeju Island
Jeju-do or popularly known as Jeju Island is the biggest island in South Korea. It is also the only self-governing province in South Korea. This simply means the province is run the local natives and not by the people of the mainland.
The island was brought into being by the disturbance of an underwater volcano approximately 2 million years ago. Jeju island is home to immaculate nature, ethereal beaches and sleeping volcanoes. In 2011, Jeju Island was titled as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Fasten your seat belts! We are going on a trip to Jeju Island!
한라산국립공원 [유네스코 세계자연유산] Hallasan National Park [UNESCO World Heritage]
In 2002, Hallasan National Park was designated as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve and in 2007 as the World Heritage Side.
Hallasan has 7 trails – Eorimok Trail, Yeongsil Trail, Seongpanak Trail, Seokgulam Trail, Gwaneumsa Trail, Donnaeko Trail and Eoseungsaengak Trail. The longest trail among all these is the Seongpanak Trail and it takes 4.5 hours to finish it.
To fully enjoy the beautiful nature at Hallasan National Park, you can take a hike up the mountain. Hallasan mountain is located in the heart of Jeju Island. The hike on the mountain is relatively easy so you don't need to worry about it!
월정리해수욕장 – Woljeongri Beach
Woljeongri Beach is well known for its picturesque, emerald ocean and white sand beach. If you enjoy going to quiet beaches with not much crowd around then this is the perfect beach for you.
And if your stomach starts rumbling in the midst of your beach time, just head to the cosy cafes and restaurants that stretches across this exquisite beach.
You can also take a long ride along the beach to enjoy the exotic landscapes of Jeju-do!
주상절리대 Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff
Jusangjeolli Cliff lies just 600 metres southwest from Daepo-dong. The Jusangjeolli Cliff was formed when the lava erupted from the Hallasan Mountain into the Jungmum sea.
Jusangjeolli cliff has stone pillars arranged along the coast. These stone pillars has unique shapes such as hexagons and cubes and has diverse sizes. The stones are so perfectly shaped that it looks like it has been carved by a craftsman.
The 20m cliff is a popular spot for those who love sea angling. The high tide wave crashing into the cliff provides a spectacular view of the ocean.
만장굴 [유네스코 세계자연유산] Manjanggul Cave [UNESCO World Heritage]
Manjanggul Cave is one of the world’s best lava tunnels. The cave is widely recognized for its captivating structures such as the 70 centimeters tall stalagmites and the lava tube tunnels.
Keep in mind that only the first 1 kilometer of the cave is open for sighting. Despite that, there is still so much for you to discover! Keep you eyes open you might find rare wildlife in there!
성산일출봉 [유네스코 세계문화유산] Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak [UNESCO World Heritage]
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is located on the east side of the Jeju-do island. Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak emerged from below the sea after a volcano erupted 100,000 years ago.
If you look from the aerial view, there is an enormous crater on the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. The crater is 90m high and 600m in diameter.
It almost looks like a huge crown because of the 99 sharp rock surrounding the circumference of the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak.
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If you look at the structure of the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, the north and south east sides are cliffs while the northwest side is made of lush grassy hill.
The grassy hill connects to a village called “Seongsan.” The grassy hill is a perfect spot to take walks or even ride on horses.
If you love waking up early, don’t forget to catch a glimpse of the sunrise because it looks stunning from the crater. And if you were to visit Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak during spring, you will see the place just surrounded by bright yellow canola flowers.
섭지코지 – Seopjikoji
Seopjikoji is located at the edge of the eastern shore of Jeju Island. If you were to visit here in April, you will get the chance to see an amazing view of the yellow canola flowers in full bloom.
The Hyeopja Beacon Fire Station is located at the top of the hill. The station reaches 4 meters in height with the width and length of 9 meters.
Movies such as Gingko Bed, The Uprising, One Thousand and One Nights and other Korean TV dramas were filmed here.
I hope you enjoyed this exhilarating ride in Korea's very own Hawaii – Jeju Island, because I definitely did!
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