Jeju Island in South Korea
After riding the rivers paths from Seoul to Busan we always thought we would return to Korea and ride Jeju Island. An opportunity presented itself when we signed up for a rafting trip in Bhutan (NW Rafting Company). Flights from Seattle stop in Seoul so we booked and inexpensive flight to Jeju for a eight day trip around the Island before continuing on to Bhutan.
Jeju Island is Korea's version of going to Hawaii, it has a semi-tropical climate and an island culture that is different from the mainland. Located off the southern coast of South Korea, Jeju Island is a beautiful island paradise dominated by an extinct volcano in the center. With lush green forests, stunning coastline, and unique culture, Jeju Island has long been a destination for tourists from all over the world and has the busiest airport in Korea. Beyond its beauty, Jeju Island is home to a unique culture that has been shaped by its long history and its unique geography. From its unique cuisine to its vibrant festivals, Jeju culture is a one of a kind destination.
People getting their passbook stamped along the Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path (제주 환상 자전거길).
Completing the "Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path" was our primary goal when returning to Korea. The route takes riders around the full circumference of the island for a total distance of 234 km. The route is divided into 10 sections of about 20 to 30 kilometers each. A blue line on the path or road keeps riders on the route. Many signs mark the route and even if you can't find the way, just keep the ocean to one side. Its an island so one can't get too far off course. We found the route easy to follow and drivers were courteous on the few sections where the route was on roads. Most of the route is on very quite roads or dedicated cycle paths. We allocated about 5 to 6 days for biking and easily completed the route in this amount of time and spend a few more days on the island to do other activities.
We traveled the route counter-clockwise to take advantage of the winds at our backs. It is a circular route so at some point you will be riding heading directly into the wind. The path is very close to the beach and surf and provides easy access to the water. We even saw dolphins swimming in the surf as we cycled along the coast.
The route is relatively flat with some gentile climbs in places. The route has sections that are bike lanes on roads as well as dedicate paths that are shared pedestrians. The route is suitable for all kinds of bikes but we recommend at hybrid or mountain bike with smooth tires. The route can be rough is places so larger tires will help smooth the ride.
Jeju island is surprisingly bike friendly, you can ride routes other than the coastal routes and can get to just about any location by bike. Look for the dotted lines on Naver Maps. Our experience is that if Naver shows a bike route, it is actually there and usable by bikes.
Guides, Maps and Other Information
K-Biking Into the Beautiful Nature Covers many routes in Korea, including Jeju but doesn't provide much detail. "Bicycle trails are well-established throughout the country, so you can go on a tour across the nation. As most bicycle routes are created along beautiful rivers, lakes and coasts, you can enjoy beautiful sceneries up close."
Bike Trip Bike Trip is the business most people recommend for bike rental on Jeju. This where we rented our bikes. The rental reservation form is a little hard to work with and don't worry about paying, they accept credit cards and you can pay when you get there. Click the link for BikeTrip contact information. BikeTrip Business Card
Korea By Bike, Has a good description of the route and other information including routes on the mainland. Ads make the site hard to use.
Ministry of Interior site on "Happy" routes. Is good for an overview of what's out there and has a listing of routes on the mainland.
Korea.net is the Internet portal that represents the voice of the Korean government and which promotes Korea online. Not specifically about cycling but has lots of info.
Naver Maps This the "Google Maps" of Korea only better. Has amazing detail and shows bikes paths. Click on 자전거 to turn on cycle paths. Or by clicking Theme > Bicycle icon on the right side of the map home screen. Click here for what to look for:
See the Maps and Guides page for more mapping information.
Click on map for larger image
Detailed Jeju Tourist Map from Visit Jeju
There are many cycling apps with maps available for iphone and android. A couple of the better offline apps are listed here.
Naver is the "Google Maps" of Korea only better. Has amazing detail and shows bikes paths. Click on 자전거 to turn on cycle paths. Or by clicking Theme > Bicycle icon on the right side of the map home screen. Click here for what to look for:
Guru Maps has the ability to show map types other than OpenStreetMap, in particular it will display OpenCycleMap.
What it is Like
Korea is a place where any cyclist can find a route to please them and Jeju is no exception. Following the coastal route will always keep one in view of ocean beaches and sites such as dolphins swimming near the coast. Beware of the wind when traveling on the north east coast, it will significantly slow your progress.
- Travel Tips
and 
will ship bicycles for free as baggage. Must be under 50 Lbs. To reach Jeju you will probably have to transfer from Incheon to Gimpo, the domestic airport. We opted to stay overnight just outside the airport and rest from our long flight and continued to Jeju the next day. Take note that the all stops train is very busy during the day and probably does not accommodate bicycles.
- Renting Bicycles
BikeTrip is not the only place to rent bikes on Jeju, just the shop that has the most English.
Here are some images for rental shops very close to the Jeju airport. Rental shop near BikeTrip and Rental shop a little farther than BikeTrip We noticed people getting bikes from these places but I don't know how much English they understand. Also, bikes can be purchased in Korea for a small amount. Photo from a Lotte store near our hotel.
- Ride Quality
The route is mostly on paved pathways near the coast and road sections on small agricultural roads. Traffic is light and drivers are courteous. The route is not suitable for a road bike with narrow tires. Gentile hill climbs are present throughout the route.
Just starting the route on the first day. Notice the blue markers and lines on the pavement indication the Jeju Circular Bike Route.
- Elevation Change
The routes are mostly level but in some areas the routes travel through hilly terrain. Although the steeper sections are on roads, traffic is very light.
First nights dinner from 7-Eleven or a CU store. Convenience stores are open at all hours and provide at least a basic meal and other items such as soju.
- Best Season
September, October, and November. Summers can be hot and wet and winters are cold.
- Options
Bicycle travel in Korea can be started in Busan, with a ferry ride to Jeju. The ferry crossing takes a considerable number of hours so we opted not to go this route since we where continuing on to Bhutan and had limited time.
Coastal path. Just follow the blue lines and keep the ocean to one side. There are many side trips to explore along the way.
Food is varied and plentiful on Jeju, seafood being the most unique and easiest to find. This sushi dinner was relatively inexpensive. Look for small restaurants in residential areas serving just one type of meal. These are popular with the working class and serve great food.
Citrus unique to Jeju and very popular.
Links to More Detailed Information about Riding in Korea