Jeju Island bucket list: Places to visit for some nature adventure
While the bustling city of Seoul is famous for its state-of-the-art buildings and modern technologies, Jeju Island is known for its scenic ocean views and natural wonders.
In case you missed it, Filipino passport holders can visit South Korea's Jeju Island and Yangyang without a visa. So if you are looking to relax and reset, then Jeju should be your next travel destination.
The island is home to serene beaches, majestic volcanic landscapes, mystical mountains, and offers plenty of other attractions you can't find in the capital of South Korea.
If you want to get away for a bit or make a side trip from Seoul, check out Jeju. Here, we listed down 7 magnificent landscapes to visit in the island.
Jungmun Saekdal Beach
When most Koreans think of "Jeju beach," Jungmun Saekdal Beach springs to mind. The big waves at this Jeju Island attraction make it a favorite among surfers, who flock here every year for the Jeju International Surf Competition.
The shore's distinguishing feature is the presence of varied colors of black, red, and grey grains mixed with the generally white sands, resulting in colorful picturesque beaches and an extraordinary highlight to the island's black hyeonmuam stones. A classic view may be found to the right of the beach: the natural sea cave is frequently used in TV ads!
For a thrilling vacation in the sun, Jungmun Beach provides a variety of marine sports such as parasailing, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, rafting, and yacht cruises.
Where to find: Saekdal-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Seongsan Ilchulbong
Here's yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site on Jeju Island: Seongsan Ilchubong, also known as Morning Peak to non-Korean speakers, is famous for its magnificent sunrise views.
Upon the first glimpse, this Jeju Island attraction appears to be a massive structure with a plethora of stones on the pinnacle. This mountain is actually an extinct volcano with a massive crater at its crest.The crater erupted from the sea in a sequence of volcanic eruptions more than 100,000 years ago.
Presently, a ridge connects all regions of Seongsan Ilchubong, specially designed for walking and horseback riding to adjacent Seongsan Village. In the spring, the pinnacle of the mountain is covered in a swath of yellow rapeseed flowers, hoping to make the ascent worthwhile.
Where to find: Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, South Korea
Jeju Folk Village
Have you ever wondered how Koreans lived in the nineteenth century? Then visit the Jeju Island attraction known as the Jeju Folk Village! This cultural village has over 100 traditional dwellings and 8,000 folk artifacts.
There are four villages on the museum grounds: Mountain Village, Hill-country Village, Fishing Village, and Shamanism Village. Many more museum halls feature relics from farming and fishing, as well as folk performances. For example, you can get your fate told at the Fortune Teller's residence or pick up some wise words from the seodang or traditional village school! If you don't believe in superstition, you can certainly appreciate the intricate nature of ancient handcrafts.
Not only that, but guests who prefer hands-on activities can participate in a variety of programs year-round. Learn to cook patjuk (red bean porridge) for the Dongji (Winter Solstice) or dubu (tofu) for the winter.
Where to find: 631-34 Minsokhaean-ro, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Manjanggul Cave
Going back to one of Jeju Island's natural charms and another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manjanggul Cave is one of the world's best and longest lava tunnels. This wonder was formed more than 2.5 million years ago and encompasses a number of natural structures, including 70cm long lava stalagmites and lava tube tunnels. Together with the soothing colored lights that highlight these unique structures, this cave has a hauntingly magical feel about it.
So, what exactly is a lava tube? Lava tubes, such as Manjanggul Cave, are geological tunnels formed by streaming lava moving beneath a lava flow's hardened surface. Such tubes are either extinct or drain lava from a volcano during an eruption. If they are extinct, it signifies that the lava flow has long stopped, the rock has cooled, and a cave has formed. Now you know how the Manjanggul came was formed!
Take a while to marvel at the strange and magnificent patterns of the stalagmites and stalactites that have stayed nearly untouched for centuries. Features include Turtle Rock, whose turtle-like shape is claimed to mirror Jeju Island itself, and the world's largest known lava pillar, which rises to an incredible height of 7.6 meters and dwarfs its surroundings.
Where to find: 182 Manjanggul-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Seopjikoji Lighthouse
Seopjikoji Lighthouse is perched on a hill with panoramic views of the sea. It's also known as the 'Wishing Lighthouse,' since people believe it can grant wishes. The magnificent white structure has appeared in a number of dramas, including All In and Boys Over Flowers, and in the love drama Orange Marmalade, where Yeo Jin Goo and Kim Seolhyun exchanged their first kiss.
Where to find: Seopjikoji-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Maze Land
If you've seen Legend Of The Blue Sea, you've probably seen the maze hedges. Maze Land is a theme park that owns the world's largest stone maze. The passageway is composed primarily of stone and wood found on Jeju and is designed to depict the three primary items or "Samda," which explain the things abounding on Jeju Island: rocks, wind, and women.
The maze is not only a pleasant pastime for you and your friends, but it also has health benefits because the stones radiate a lot of far-infrared radiation and the forests create a lot of phytoncides. The park, with its diversity of trees that are several decades old, is ideal for "forest bathing," in which individuals immerse themselves in the wilderness to reap the advantages.
Where to find: 2134-47, Bijarim-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea