Within an hour’s flight from Seoul, Busan or Daegu, travelers in Korea can reach a land of a completely different character. Recognized as the best-preserved area in the nation, Jejudo Island is Korea’s only island province.
The island is Korea’s most popular honeymoon destination. Known as ‘Little Hawaii’ for its volcanic landscape, picturesque subtropical scenery, sandy beaches, waterfalls and hiking trails, it is one of the world’s top ten tourist
attractions with over seven million visitors a year.
Jejudo Island enjoys a semitropical climate, with its plants and landscape being remarkably different from those of the mainland. It is the natural habitat of over 2,000 species. Its principal mountain is the 1,950-meter Hallasan, a dormant volcano crowned with a large crater. Many centuries ago, lava flows from this volcano created tunnels, pillars and other unusual features formed by the quickly-cooled basalt. Favorite destinations include the Jeju Folkcraft and Natural History Museum, Jungmun Resort, Cheonjiyeon Falls, and Jeju Fantasy Gardens, and the Olle Trail.
Jejudo Island’s old thatched cottages with walls made from lava rock offer visitors a great chance to glimpse the island’s unique folk culture.
They reflect both the island’s natural environment, characterized by strong winds, and the hearty lifestyle of its people.
Closer to the mainland, more than 3,000 smaller islands line the winding southern and western coastlines. The completion of the Honam and Namhae expressways in 1973 made these picturesque coasts more accessible.
The areas around Jinhae, Tongyeong, Jinju and Namhae are recommended highlights. The southern boundary of the Korean Peninsula is a jagged coastline which has created an irregular pattern of bays and inlets dotted with large and small islands.
