SHORE EXCURSIONS CREDIT

OVERVIEW

Delve deeply into Korean culture at a park devoted to traditional life and natural wonders, and then browse a museum that celebrates tea. While walking about the lushly landscaped grounds at Hallim Park, you might see a 300-year-old bonsai pine tree, peacocks strutting about or historical thatched houses that depict traditional life in Jeju centuries ago. The lava caves at Hallim Park are another highlight, as they were created long ago by the eruption of Mt. Halla and contain an abundance of stalagmites and stalactites, which are rare in lava caves. You will next visit the O’Sulloc Tea Museum, whose exhibits are devoted to every imaginable aspect of tea, including tea cups, tea rooms, tea leaves and the history of tea. Even the building is shaped like a green tea cup. If you venture up to the museum’s second-floor observatory, you will be treated to sweeping views of the surrounding plantation with its terraced fields of tea.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing, including a lightweight jacket.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with non-slip soles.

OVERVIEW

Follow a coastal walkway that will present you with outstanding views of the sea and an understanding of how Jeju generates electricity from wind power. As you approach the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Walkway, you will see its collection of towering white wind turbines along the shore and on rocky outcroppings just offshore. The landscape of turbines together with the walkway demonstrate Jeju’s commitment to producing green energy in harmony with the area’s natural beauty. If the tide is low, you may also spot people gathering fish and clams within stone walls known as ‘Wondam’ that are designed to capture marine life. It is a traditional way of fishing without negatively impacting the environment. You will spot the bounty of the sea on ice while browsing Dongmun, the oldest and largest traditional open-air market in Jeju. Besides fresh seafood, you will find everything from kimchi to handmade furniture.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Travel the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Walkway and observe the towering wind turbines.
• A traditional eco way of catching fish called ‘Wondam’ which is a stone wall built along the intertidal zone where fish trapped inside the wall at the low tide.
• Behold a stunning variety of local seafood and more at Jeju’s largest open-air market.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a fascinating look at Jeju’s most recognizable landmarks, which include a rock shaped like a dragon’s head, a revealing cultural museum and a thriving city market. Although natural elements carved what looks to be a dragon’s head in Yongduam Rock, various mystical legends abound about its creation. Regardless of how it was formed, the rock has become a symbol of Jeju. You will learn more about the city at the Folklore and Natural History Museum. While browsing the exhibits, you may learn about Jeju’s natural features, endemic animals and plants, and daily rituals. Items such as ancient looms for weaving hemp clothing and chunks of lava are beautifully displayed. Continuing on to Dongmun Market, you will enjoy a close-up look into daily life on the island, as the locals will be shopping for merchandise ranging from abalone to herbs to tangerine-flavored chocolate. Established in 1945 following Korea’s liberation from colonial rule, the market features hundreds of stalls.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing, including a lightweight jacket.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with non-slip soles.

OVERVIEW

Explore two volcanically formed Korean Natural Monuments – heavily forested Sangumburi Crater and Manjanggul Cave, an ancient lava tunnel filled with usual formations. Unlike most volcanoes, Sangumburi didn’t spew much lava and its crater is perfectly shaped like a natural stadium. Sangumburi offers sweeping views of the surrounding forest and because it is intact, you can easily imagine the magnitude of the explosion that formed the crater. Tiny roe deer live in and around the depression, and you may spot one grazing in an open area. You will also explore nearby Manjanggul Cave, which rising lava from deep in the ground formed. What was left in its wake is so fascinating that it has been deemed a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. After descending into the eerily lit cave, which is one of the world’s largest lava tubes, you will see stalactites, stalagmites and lava tube tunnels that once served as pathways for the molten rock.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore two geological wonders that volcanic eruptions created.
• Behold a massive stadium-like volcanic crater that roe deer now inhabit.
• Walk through a cavernous lava tube so spectacular that it is a World Natural Heritage site.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Behold the natural beauty in southern Jeju Island, much of it the result of past volcanic activity. You will likely hear roaring Cheonjiyeon Falls before seeing the cascade, which plummets straight down from a sheer rock cliff. From the viewing platform, the water appears to fall from the heavens, which is appropriate since Cheonjiyeon translates to “sky connected to land.” As you look out from the observation deck at Jusangjeolli Cliff, you’ll notice its striking hexagonal columns—shaped by volcanic activity long ago. They formed during the Pleistocene Period when molten lava hit the cold ocean water, quickly cooled, fractured and shot high into the air. Yakcheonsa Temple will offer a glimpse into the island’s Buddhist culture and scenic beauty. A stream spills into a pond at the base of the temple and pilgrims are often seen drinking from its supposedly medicinal waters. For a close-up look at daily life on Jeju, you will spend free time at a bustling market.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a scenic trail to Cheonjiyeon Falls, a beautiful cascade within a verdant forest.
• View ancient hexagonal columns that quickly cooling lava formed at Jusanjeolli Cliff.
• Explore a local market with time to shop or simply look around.
• Wander around a Buddhist temple built next to a stream that is supposedly medicinal.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the nuances of Korean culture, history and daily life by browsing a museum, participating in a tea ceremony and strolling through a marketplace. While perusing the exhibits at the Folklore and Natural History Museum, you may learn about Jeju’s natural features, endemic animals and plants, and daily rituals. Displays include ancient looms for weaving hemp clothing and chunks of lava that reflect the island’s volcanic creation. Then, under the guidance of a tea culture master, you will experience the ceremonial rite of preparing and drinking tea. To add to the decorum, you may choose to wear a “hanbok,” a traditional Korean costume for special occasions. Through the tea culture, you will discover the nuances of this hallowed art, which is considered a form of meditation that purifies the soul. At Dongmun Market, you can expect to be mesmerized by the sights and sounds, as it is one of the city’s most popular and busiest markets.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold a museum’s cultural curiosities, including statues that were graveyard guardians.
• Experience a reflective tea ceremony under the guidance of a tea culture master.
• Browse the stalls at a lively market with an incredible selection of merchandise

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing, including a lightweight jacket.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with non-slip soles.

OVERVIEW

Take in the spectacular view from atop crater-shaped Seaongsan Sunrise Rock and then visit a traditional village that reveals the rich culture and heritage of Jeju Island. After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a leisurely 50 minute drive to Seaongsan Sunrise Rock, a crater named in part because it lies on Jeju’s easternmost shore and attracts locals that gather to watch the sunrise. Formed a millennia ago in a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, the crater looks like a crown because 99 jagged rocks surround the top of the huge circular crater. It is so stunning that UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. You may walk up the stairs leading to the jungle-covered bowl at the top or remain below. Both perspectives offer spectacular views. Seaongsan, which means “castle hill,” was originally an islet but a thin strip of land now connects it to the main island. The crater is an outstanding example of a lava cone and volcanologists continually study it, as do botanists who come for the endemic flora. Next, you will drive inland to a wide plain at the foot of Hallasan Mountain, where you will find the Seongeup Folk Village. Created as an expression of traditional Korean life, the re-created village contains several rock-walled thatched-roofed houses. Other highlights include Confucian shrines, fortress ruins and ancient government buildings. Many of the traditions and even the dialect spoken here have been handed down over the generations. After visiting, you will re-board your coach and travel back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the stunning views from atop a volcanic crown-like crater.
• Recognize the reasons why UNESCO declared the crater a World Heritage site.
• See village buildings ranging from Confucian shrines to thatched-roof houses.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

View a volcanic crater so spectacular that it has become a Korean Natural Monument and explore a park with eerie stone statues that celebrate Jeju’s volcanic heritage. As you approach the extinct Sangumburi Crater, you will notice that its interior is shallow, broad and shaped like a natural stadium. Unlike other such craters, it didn’t fill with water after the eruption, which encouraged lush foliage to grow. The guide may point out flora such as red-wood evergreen oaks and mountain strawberry trees, depending on the season. For an introduction to the island’s unusual stone culture and mythology, you will browse the enlightening Jeju Stone Museum. In the surrounding park, you will find traditional thatched-roof houses, bizarrely shaped geological formations and dolhareubang statues, which are stone sculptures that symbolize protection and good fortune.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore an unusual volcanic crater filled with lush foliage rather than water.
• Delve into the island’s stone culture at Jeju Stone Park and its museum.
• Walk about the park and behold its seemingly countless stone statues

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Meet the famed women divers of Jeju Island who descend to staggering depths without oxygen tanks; then stroll the winding paths of the world’s largest bonsai garden. The so-called Mermaids of Jeju reach dizzying depths to gather conch, clams, abalone and other marine life. It’s not so much what they do, but how they do it that is so incredible. The women free dive without oxygen tanks and carry only a pair of goggles, a ball-like tube for balance and a basket for their collected items. The work is perilous, and the divers have become much-admired symbols of female independence and strength. You will also visit the Spirited Garden, a showcase for bonsai trees, many of which are set among black volcanic rocks and marked with plaques that quote Korean poetry. As you stroll through this idyllic setting, you will sense the garden’s intent to promote peace of mind and contemplation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meet women that free dive to collect seafood on the ocean floor.
• Watch a demonstration of their prodigious diving skills and how they minimize peril.
• Enjoy a serene walk through the world’s largest bonsai garden.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.