Jeju Island is a beloved and tropical gem south of the Korean peninsula. The largest island in the country, it’s known fondly by locals as “The Hawaii of Korea”. This popular vacation spot boasts some of Korea’s most beautiful sights including Hallasan, Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls, the Olle Trails and more. Of everything Jeju Island has to offer, the Olle Trails are one of the best – in my humble opinion!
The Olle Trails are a series of paths that loop around the outskirts of the entire island for a total of about 422 km. The trail is sectioned off into 21 main routes and 5 sub-routes, each with its own designated number. The majority of the trail follows the stunning coast of the island, but also passes through beaches, small villages, farmland and more – making it a fantastic way to see the island.
Some come to explore the route in its entirety, while others pick and choose trails to hike for the day. Each section is easily accessible so it’s easy to start wherever suits your travels best.
The stunning Olle Trails are a relatively new addition to the island. Created in 2007 by ex-journalist Suh Myung-Suk, the trails were inspired by her trip to the Camino de Santiago. Exhausted and burnt out from her many years as a journalist, she traveled to Spain as a means to recharge through nature.
When she returned, she felt Koreans should also have a way to find relief from their often busy and stressful lives. She forged and mapped the path herself, and now only ten years later the Olle Trails are a Jeju staple. What better way to disconnect than through the enjoyment of the great outdoors?
I visited Jeju at the beginning of May and enjoyed the chance to experience the best of what Jeju had to offer in the blossoming season of spring. While I only had the pleasure of walking Olle 8 and Olle 10 myself, the Olle Trails come highly recommended from those who know the island best.
You can check out each individual trail, what it has to offer, where it starts and ends, and its difficulty and distance on the Olle Trail’s official website. Their other site – Jeju Olle Trail Guide – has fantastic guides for each section of the trail as well. We found it super helpful in our planning!
Olle Trail #8
Distance: About 18km. Time: 5-6 hours. Difficulty: Medium.
Sights: Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliffs, Stunning Coast, Jungmun Saekdal Beach.
We didn’t have time to walk the Olle 8 from start to finish, but we made sure to see the main sights. We started at Jungmun Saekdal Beach – a popular tourist area with lots of hallabong treats, cafes, and things to do. Crowded beaches aren’t exactly my cup of tea, so we quickly scanned the beach and ventured along the trail towards the famous Jusangjeolli Cliffs!
The cliffs were absolutely stunning and quite possibly my favorite part of the entire trip. Before visiting the official observation decks, we found a small path down to the water and enjoyed the views away from the crowds. After having our fill of fresh sea air and glorious views (is that even possible though, really?), we continued down the trail. The admission fee to the deck is 2,000 won (less than $2 USD) and well worth it!
Olle Trail #10
Distance: 15.5km. Time: 4-5 hours. Difficulty: Medium.
Sights: Hwasun Golden Sand Beach, Songaksan, Jeolwoolyi Oreum (Crater).
We hiked Olle 10 at the very start of our Jeju adventure, immediately after a 12+ hour journey from Daegu. While a little exhausted, the route proved not too difficult and meandered peacefully through various different landscapes. It was such a diverse trail!
We started at Hwasun Beach and nearly walked the full 15 km of Olle 10. I have to admit, the first half of the trail wasn’t particularly interesting, but it was cool to see some small local villages and farmland.
The trail eventually meets the coast and continues up Mt. Songak as picturesque boardwalks. We made it to Songaksan just as the sun was setting, and enjoyed serene and peaceful views overlooking the ocean. This portion of Olle 10 was by far my favorite.
Ahh Jeju – not the “Hawaii of Korea” I’d expected, but beautiful in its own right. I’m not sure if I’ll make it back again, but if I do, it’ll be for the Olle Trails!
Have you been to Jeju before? What was your favorite part? Share below! 🙂
