Itinerary
- Seongsan Ilchulbong
- Udo Island
- Manjanggul Cave
- Jeongbang Waterfall
- Jusangjeolli Cliff
- Sanbangsan
- Hyeopjae Beach
- Hallim Park
- Hallasan (Seongpanak)
- Dongmun Market
Four days is enough to circle Jeju properly — one day per coast plus the mountain. This circuit runs clockwise from the east and needs a rental car.
Day One: The Volcanic East
Sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong, breakfast at the harbor, then the Udo ferry for the morning — the bike loop takes three hours. Afternoon at Manjanggul Cave, twenty minutes west: a 1 km walkable section of one of the world's longest lava tubes, cool and dripping, with the world's largest lava column at the end. Sleep near Seongsan or Hamdeok.
Day Two: The South
Drive to Seogwipo. Jeongbang Waterfall first — the one that falls into the sea — then the Maeil Olle Market for lunch. Afternoon at Jusangjeolli's basalt columns, then west to Sanbangsan, the big dome mountain on the southwest coast. The temple grotto partway up (Sanbanggulsa) is a short steep climb with a sea view; the Yongmeori coastal cliffs at its base — layered sandstone shelves over the water — are the better stop when the tide allows entry. Sleep in the Jungmun or Seogwipo area.
Day Three: The West
The west coast is Jeju's beach side. Start at Hallim Park — the botanical garden with its own small lava tube and palm-tree avenue — then cross the road to Hyeopjae Beach, the island's prettiest: white sand, shallow turquoise water, and Biyangdo island sitting offshore. Swim, then drive the coastal road north past Geumneung beach to the Aewol cafe strip for sunset — the stretch of waterfront cafes around Handam is where Jeju's coffee culture lives. Sleep in Aewol or Jeju City.
Day Four: The Mountain
Finish with Hallasan. With a reservation and an early start, Seongpanak gets you to the summit crater (9.6 km each way, a full day). Without one, Eorimok to Witse Oreum is the best consolation — 6.8 km each way to the plateau below the summit. Either way, end at Dongmun Market in Jeju City for a last black-pork dinner before the flight out.