Though incredibly beautiful, the western half of Jeju is somewhat wilder and generally less accessible than East Jeju. Tour buses usually don’t halt here and people who go to this area are mostly locals. But travelers who decided to explore this part of the island will be rewarded with unspoiled terrain and experiences that they can find nowhere else.
The west side of Jeju-do is where the island hides its true beauty. Unlike the rocky eastern coast which features volcanoes and craters, West Jeju appears more pleasant with evergreen gardens, white sandy beaches, and turquoise-colored water.
In fact, one of Jeju’s dreamiest gardens – Hallim Park, and one of its most attractive beaches – Hyeopjae Beach are located in this area. But the beauty of West Jeju doesn’t stop there. The windswept coastal line becomes more impressive when turning southward to Yongmeori, where it turns into a spectacular wall of rocks.
1. Hallim Park
One of the most popular attractions in West Jeju, Hallim Park began as a subtropical arboretum in the 1970s. It was the life project of a man named Bong-kyu Song who wanted to create a world-class recreational park near his hometown, Hallim (33km west of Jeju City). After purchasing a piece of barren land, he covered it with tons of soil and started planting palm trees and tropical flowers.
Over time, the park has expanded, reaching nearly 100.000m². Today, it consists of multiple gardens that can be enjoyed in any season, including the Jeju Stone and Bonsai Garden, the Bird Garden, and much more. In addition, a folk village was built to present the traditional living style.
2. Hyeopjae Beach
A stone’s throw away from Hallim Park is Hyeopjae Beach – a small but charming stretch of seashore that has white sand, and surprisingly, turquoise-colored water. This beach in West Jeju is about 9 kilometers long and 20 meters wide.
Its beautiful white color comes from a large number of crushed seashells that have been mixed in with the sand. The water is also pretty shallow with no sudden drop, making it suitable for everyone. Just off the beach is Biyang-do, or the “The Flying Over Island” – the last formed volcanic island in Jeju-do.
3. Sanbangsan
Standing tall in the plains of Andok-myeon like a giant dome, Mount Sanbangsan is, in fact, a massive body of lava that was created some 700,00 – 800,000 years ago. At a height of 395 meters, the mountain can be seen from nearly everywhere in the region.
Due to its relatively high elevation and close proximity to the sea, Mount Sanbangsan has developed a distinctive volcanic environment, making it the sanctuary for a variety of vegetation. Hewn out of the peak itself are Sanbangulsa – a Buddhist temple that offers a spectacular view out over the ocean and the Yongmeori coast.
4. Yongmeori Coast
A jagged and highly photogenic cliff, Yongmeori is the place where Mount Sanbangsang stretches into the sea. This area is created by layers of sand that have been deposited for millions of years. Under the influence of wind and waves, hollows, bridges, and mysterious patterns are formed along the seashore; enough to make anyone who witnesses it exclaim in wonder.
When strolling along the Yongmeori coast, you will probably meet haenyeo – the famous female divers of Jeju. Known for their iron will and strong determination, as well as their remarkable diving skill, these ladies represent the matriarchal family system that still exists on the island. They come here to sell their catch of the day, such as octopuses, sea urchins, or even abalones.
Tips for visiting West Jeju
- While renting a car or taking a taxi is the most convenient way to explore West Jeju, you can still reach most attractions by bus. It takes a little patience though.
- To Hallim Park/ Hyeopjae Beach: take westbound express buses (Nr. 101, red color) to Hallim-ri. From there take the local buses (blue color) to Hyeopjae Beach or Hallim Park.
- To Sanbangsan/Yongmeori: take westbound express buses (Nr. 101, red color) to Andeok Nonghyup Bank. From there take the local buses (blue color) to Sanbangsan.
- Climbing to the cave in Sanbangsan takes about 20-25 minutes. The staircase is well-maintained and located behind the main temple.
- The operation hour of Yongmeori coast depends on the tides. During high tides or bad weather, the coastline will be closed. Therefore, it’s recommended to check the weather and tide schedule before visiting.
Great Read! Please check out my new article about South Africa – the 3 rondavels.
https://travelrahul.wordpress.com/2019/01/26/the-3-rondavels-south-africa/
Thank you! 🙂
Awesome photos–thanks for sharing!
It is so nice to hear about other travellers experiences when going off the beaten path. There are so much to explore and so much more fun in areas with less outside visitors 🙂
It’s indeed refreshing! Another advantage of getting off the beaten path is that I don’t have to wait to capture a human-free photo. It’s something rare in the Instagram era 🙂
That is for sure, poluted with other tourists. Kind of like trying to watch the stars from the main square of a large city. The other tourists are preventing you from seeing how magnificent something is in the same way that the light from a city prevents you from seeing the stars 🙂
Sashimi couldn’t get more fresh than that! It looks like you explored many corners of Jeju, and thanks for writing about them — your posts will come handy when I plan to go there one day.
You welcome! I am glad that they can be useful for you 😀
Wow! This landscape looks truly magnificent. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thank you for your compliment! 😉
Who would have thought that Korea, which is mostly known for its cities and music and food, also had so much natural beauty? I definitely hadn’t thought about it. I love coastal rock formations, they look great. And the beach looks perfect too – was the water warm tropical-like? 🙂
I was there in late October, so the water was quite cold 🙂 But it would be perfect in summer when the weather is hot and humid.
I know so little about South Korea, and what I do know is very different from what you’ve shown in this post. Absolutely gorgeous! I especially love those cliffs, and it would be interesting to learn more about the female divers.
I fortunately had a conversation with one of this diver. We had a language barrier but her daughter helped me in translation 🙂
The diver is around 60 yet she can still dive everyday to bring back the freshest seafood for her restaurant.