10 must-do things in Jeju Island when you travel to this amazing destination

Last Updated on 2016-06-23 , 12:28 pm

With many young Singaporeans travelling to Korea in recent years, many are seeking out new and adventurous things to do in the land of kimchi and K-pop idols.

And many will usually include Jeju island as one of the must-go spots during their trip, more so for the lovebirds (since the island is well-known to be rather romantic).

Whatever your travel goal may be, these are the 10 things you must do when you are on Jeju island.

Fancy a climb up a volcano?

Probably the only downside to this is having to wake up at least 90-minutes before dawn to take the trek up and witness the majestic sunrise.

But if you are one of the those also concerned about the hike, you can be rest assured that most people complete the steep 182-metre climb up Seongsan Ilchul-bongin in about 25-minutes. You may proceed to add this into your itinerary now.

Halla Mountain Challenge

And while we are at it, why not attempt scaling Halla Mountain too? We get it that not everyone will be able to challenge the 1,950m summit via a 9km (five hours one-way) hike so that’s why we are here to tell you that there are less demanding trail options that range from 30-minutes to 3.5 hours that deliver the same experience.

One can expect awesome flora and fauna, rock formations and of course, hordes of fashionable hikers who want to look good while they work out.

Walk Olle

In traditional Jeju dialect, Olle is the narrow path that runs from one’s front door to the street. Today, however, the term refers to an integrated network of 26 well-marked hiking paths that snake all across the island.

Spanning between seven and 23 kilometres long, take a stroll along any one of these paths and look out for tangerine orchards while you pass through narrow alleys and see humble homes with straw-thatched roofs. You may even be able to traverse rocky coastlines that are carved out of black lava rock.

Have a taste of barbequed black pork

For the uninitiated, barbequed black pork is the island’s most famous dish and is available throughout the island. Try cooking either the fattier cut known as samgyupsal or the leaner one moksal over charcoal briquettes and season with salt and black on the grill for a lip-smacking experience.

Savour the simple local fare

Because Jeju’s food is very much influenced by flavours from the sea, the locals have this hot pot of seafood deliciousness called haemul tang that when served with seasonal vegetable and a bowl of rice, can make for a really hearty breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner.

Walk along Lee Jung-Seop art street in Seogwipo

Situated in an arty neighbourhood packed with craft shops, chill-out beer bars and Bauhaus-styled restaurants, Seogwipo’s Lee Jung-Seop Art Gallery & Park is quite apart from anything on the Korean mainland.

Allow yourself to immerse in a world of pastel colours, asymmetrical lines and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow a connection with the beautiful natural environment.

Do a little exploring on U-do

Most travellers come here for a day-trip or stay one night to give them more time to discover the uncovered spots on this smaller island off the northeast coast of Jeju.

Go on and do some exploration. You may just be surprised by the interesting finds you rake up like decadent peanut butter ice-cream and really luscious burgers prepared by a gracious lady who operates an intriguing eccentric museum that houses a nearly complete collection of Anne of Green Gables memorabilia.

Make a visit to Buddha in a cave in Sagae

We try to seek enlightenment all the time, so what better way to do it than by visiting Buddha who is located in a cave just 2km from the town centre?

A 150m climb up some steep stairs from Sanbang-san will eventually lead you there and the best way to give thanks for your safe journey is to get a drink from the pool of water and light a stick of incense. Oh, and don’t forget to take some time to admire the view before you pray for a safe journey back.

Travel back in time at Seongup Folk Village

Located just an hour outside Jeju City, one can get themselves lost while they weave through narrow lanes and peek inside restaurants and shops that seem to have stopped in time with their traditional architectural design and wood burning stoves.

Watch the sun set on Hyeopjae Beach

Possibly the best way to end your visit to Jeju is by watching the fiery ball in the sky settle down for the day. With the blue seas rippling along nine kilometres of soft white sand, Hyeopjae in Hallim Village is arguably the island’s most scenic beach. Sit back, relax and take in the magic while the bright sky turns into dusk.

Top Image: Agnieszka Skalska / Shutterstock.com

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com