While you go to South Korea, there are some tried and true locations that shall be constructed into any journey itinerary – bustling Seoul, or foodie paradise Busan. However there’s one vacation spot that offers you a style of all the things Korea has to supply, from the spectacular surroundings to the superb cultural scene, historic highlights to the possibility to get lively: Jeju Island. Round 100km south off the Korean mainland lies Jeju Island, an autonomous province that’s famed for beautiful mountains, stunning coastlines, and an incredible tradition.
How huge is Jeju Island?
At round 1,840 sq. kilometers, Jeju is the biggest island in South Korea – in truth, it’s rather a lot bigger than individuals 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, which means there are about as many individuals in Jeju as there are in Luxembourg!
What’s the greatest time to go to Jeju Island?
When you’re a nature lover, Spring and Autumn will serve you effectively. In Autumn, (Sep-Nov) the island turns into a haven for individuals who like to look at the leaves change, with wealthy oranges overlaying the island. Nevertheless, 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.
When you’re a sun-lover, summer time (Jun-Aug) on Jeju Island will serve you effectively – 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 fanatics alike. However in case 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 likelihood. 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 Ok-dramas, is residence 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 value visiting Jeju Island to study extra in regards to the vital, sobering position it performs in wider 20th century Korean historical past.
What are the perfect 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 keeping with 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 an area delicacies full of recent, locally-caught seafood dishes. (When you’re in Jeju-si in any respect, the Jeju Haenyeo Museum makes for a really attention-grabbing go to.)
For the meat-eaters amongst us, you can also’t go to Jeju Island with out attempting black pork. It’s a dish that’s so intrinsic to Jeju tradition that there’s a whole avenue devoted to it! The native breed of black pig is a staple in lots of Jeju dishes, so it’s effectively value a strive when you’re there… simply be certain that it’s Korean BBQ type!
While you go to Jeju Island, you’ll discover it residence to swathes of timber that brim with juicy mandarins. When you don’t seize a recent one, just remember to cease in at an area 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: heaps! From climbing to watersports, museums to café-hopping – it’s an island full of issues to do.
When you’re primarily based in Seogwipo Metropolis – the right location for any eager vacationers – you’ll don’t have any finish of pure options to discover. It’s the perfect base to hike on the Olle Path (we advocate Path #7) and spot the dramatic Oedolgae Rock, go to the Jeongbang Falls – the one waterfall in Asia to movement immediately into the ocean – and head up the superb Seongsan Ilchulbong for unimaginable views throughout the island and out to sea.
It’s additionally the perfect place to take advantage of the island’s shoreline. You may pay a go to to Jungmun Seaside, 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. When 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 looking to sea from the cliffs.
When 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.
