Jeju Trek

Let’s experience nature in the light of Spring. Let’s hike Jeju Island’s untouched natural beauty: its golden sandy beach; its forests rich with the smell of trees. Let’s visit Jeju Island, rich with the scents of spring.

Jeju Island and Easter Island, famous for their stone statues, are two volcanic islands 8,000 kilometers apart. But they share a number of striking similarities.

Both islands feature stone statues, both are windy, both are hilly, and both have native wild horses.

Jeju Island’s hills are a unique geographical feature. Its main peak, Halla, is located at the center of the island, and is joined by 368 hills that cover the rest. Their sizes, shapes, and origins are different, but their swelling forms and dented round lines are consistent.

Climbing to the top of these hills is a special experience. Since the hills aren’t too high or steep, it’s not too difficult. At the Halla Mountain National Park, even the largest Eohseungsaeng Hill (1,176m) takes only 30 minutes to climb. But the benefits of the hike are great.

First, at the summit, Jeju Island’s beautiful landscape is visible. Of course, from Halla Mountain’s summit the beach and the ocean are clearly visible too. Another thing is the wind. One experiences an unbridled wind not encountered on flat land. Fight the strong wind, which makes it hard for even adults to keep their balance, while taking in the view.

Yongnuni Hill (Jongdal-ri, Gujwa-eup in Bukjeju-gun) presents the essence of trekking. Past the cemetery encircled by stone walls, the low summit follows the treeless path. Below it, go around the pitted Gumburi (crater) and a larger hill will continue on the front. These three continuous Gumburis form the composite volcano chain Yongnuni Hill. The rising path entirely covered in grass feels like stepping on a carpet and is not too steep. Including the summit, it takes about 15 minutes.

Eohseungsaeng Hill is closer to mountain climbing. In addition to climbing a steep mountain path for about 30 minutes, it’s not just the shape of a bald mountain, you need to pass through a forest also. Such labor involved is compensated by an exquisite view at the summit. The beach surrounded by the ocean and the cityscape of Jeju is starkly visible. Because of the high elevation, there is snow in the shady spots as late as the end of March. Thus it is necessary to prepare your trekking shoes in the spring.

Keunjeolmul Hill (650m- Bonggae-dong, Jeju-city), where one can combine a therapeutic walk in the forest and a stroll, is Jeju Island’s best hill trekking course. You go up through cedar forest. You can enjoy a summer walk in the woods in the Seasonal Nature Forest Resort. The upwards path is on the steep side and takes about 20 minutes to reach the summit. At the summit, there is a circular Gumburi.

In Jeju Island, if you turn your back on the mountain you encounter the sea. If you go to the Hyatt Hotel in Jungmun, there is a gorgeous beach, called “Joreunmosari.” It is a black sand beach but after breakwaters were built at neighboring beaches, golden sand has been swept in. In the Jeju dialect, “Joreun” means small, and “Mosari” means “sand.”

Taking a tour bus to get to the sights-

Among many Jeju Island vacation packages of “Rent a car + non-scheduled travel,” a new package “Tour bus + Hiking experience” has been launched last month. Tamra tour company presented a package “Jeju Unexplored Region Hiking Trip” (2 days/1 night), which was selected as one of the top five recommended regional tour packages selected by the Korea Tourism Organization to encourage tourism within Korea.

The specialties of this package include a guided bus tour, a personal exploration experience trip, upgraded accommodation and meals, and inexpensive costs. You ride a salon shaped bus with a table in the center and visit the Stone Harubang Park and Seobjikoji Ceramic Village, lesser known tourist destinations. Appropriate to the name “Hiking Trip,” there are many experience courses, where you can ride ponies, trek the hills, walk on the Joreunmosari Beach, or go to Casino Practice. Starting with a drive on the beach road, the Mongol horseback show and a visit to the wind power village (Haengwon-ri) are included.

Accommodations include the condolike “Dongyang Sunrise Resort” (in Jochun-eup, Bukjeju-gun), and meals are available at the Seongeup traditional village “Gwoindangne” including pork bulgogi (8,000won a person), or at the Hyatt Hotel’s Japanese restaurant including boiled mackerel (15,000 won per person).

The cost per person (round trip airfare + accommodations + four meals) is about 240,000 won (weekdays), 280,000 won (weekends), accommodations and times subject to change. Participation in the bus tour only is 45,000 won for two days (lunch and horseback riding included). Sold from the end of March through the end of November.

Questions and reservations: Tour Bus (www.tbus.co.kr) 1544-4118, 064-747-4004

Seung-Ha Cho summer@donga.com