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Korea Travel Qrator
Vassilina Mozajeva
Estonia
Jeju:
Treasure Box
of Nature
November 29, 2018
#KoreaTourism #Korea #Koreatour #travel #Jeju #Seogwipo #Jeongbangpokpo #Sangumburi #mazeland #seriresort #seriworld
* Korea Travel Qrator : A travel expert who explores Korea Quality-certified facilities and conveys the feeling of travel through vivid experience contents.
Have you ever been surprised when something in life happens just at the right time, and there simply couldn’t be a better moment for this to come up? That is exactly the situation I happened to be in last week. To my own surprise, I went to Jeju Island! Maybe you have heard that there is a common joke among foreigners living in Korea. They always dream and wish to visit Jeju since their first few days in Korea, but never end up getting together to do it. I am happy I’ve managed to overcome this stereotype, and this wasn’t my first time visiting this stunning island.
Powerful and refreshing Jeongbangpokpo Waterfall
However, I’ve got to say that I had a totally wrong perception about this wonderful place. I always pictured Jeju as something like Korean Hawaii, a paradise for spending summer times by the seacoast enjoying swimming, water sports and many other fun activities. All of a sudden, this year so many of my friends travelled to Jeju in November, which raised up my jealousy and curiosity so much, so I decided not to lag behind the trend.
When I say that Jeju is a fantastic place for relaxation, I truly mean it. This island makes you appreciate how powerful the nature beauty could be and how much it can help you to feel happy just by looking at it. Of course, it is impossible to see all the places that Jeju offers within a couple of days, otherwise, you might feel overdose of positive emotions, but I am going to share with you some of my favourite nature spots in Jeju.
Fantastic view of the Jeongbangpokpo Waterfall falling into the ocean
One of the places I always pay a visit to whenever I am in Jeju regardless of season is the Jeongbangpokpo Waterfall located on the south of the island. Maybe I just love water, but this waterfall is truly breathtaking. Fantastic fact is that it doesn’t have any stream or a river it falls into because it falls directly into the ocean which makes the view unbelievable and unique.
When visiting, do not rush down the stairs to reach the bottom of the waterfall, but stop on the platform halfway through the staircase and you will see an incredible view from the top where the whole waterfall surrounded by volcanic cliffs falls into the ocean.
Surprisingly, down at the bottom, you can get very close to the waterfall, but you have to jump on some rocks to reach the best photo zone. The closer you get, the more you will feel the refreshing mist coming from the powerful water flow. Be careful as the rocks can be slippery.
Another place that I visited this time was totally a new discovery for me. I have no idea why I have never heard about this place until one of my Korean friends told me it is undoubtedly her favourite spot on the whole island.
Endless beauty of Jeju landscapes at Sangumburi
The place is called Sangumburi Crater and is located on the northeast part of Jeju. Since Jeju is a volcanic island and the place is named crater, it is easy to guess that this is indeed a volcanic formation as well. However, Sangumburi Crater is unique and fairly different from the one you could see on top of the Hallasan mountain or any other place on the island.
During the eruption when the materials ejected, unlike other parasitic cones, Sangumburi was formed as a crater with a hole in it. The crater reminds one of the shape of a coliseum covered with various plants.
Experts say that vegetation in this area is very special and includes rare plants. However, the crater itself is somehow not the only main attraction that brings many travellers here. Sangumburi is surrounded with an incredible view from all of its angles: beautiful fields, nature and mountains in the background seem to be endless. Especially during late autumn and early winter, the fields are covered with silver grass creating a view that is hard to compare to anything else.
The silver grass field at Sangumburi
However, if you decide to visit this place to enjoy one of the prettiest sunsets in Jeju, keep in mind that the park closes pretty early and you won’t be able to get in after 5 p.m.
Woman Maze in Maze Land
Not that far away from the Sangumburi Crater, driving towards north, I found another attraction, Maze Land. I wasn’t sure whether it would be more of an attraction for kids or not but decided to give it a try. It turned out to be lots of fun especially if you try to find the way out of the maze without having a peek on the map beforehand. The park has three different mazes which people usually go through one after another.
All of them represent Jeju’s theme, featuring three elements: wind, women and rocks. Two of them, Wind Maze and Woman Maze, are green while the last one, Stone Maze, is made of rock walls which somehow give a totally different experience.
Stone Maze in Maze Land
They even claim that this Stone Maze is the longest stone maze in the world. In the middle of the park, there is also a platform to look at the mazes from above. It was lovely to see how some kids or parents would stand on the platform, trying to help children to find a way out by giving them direction hints. It is a nice place to spend an hour or two, having fun and getting lost between the walls of mazes.
The whole island is packed with beautiful parks, seacoasts, mountains, fields, and beaches. Jeju Island and its natural beauty is an effective cure to heal the mind and run away from a big city hustle to refresh yourself. No matter how many times you come here, you will always wish to come back.
If you want to challenge yourself and find a way to spend an active day not going further away than 500 meters from the hotel, then The Seri Resort is a perfect place for you.
The entrance to the hotel.
Jeju is a wonderful island full of tourist attractions, but sometimes it is nice to spend a day without getting on a bus or driving a car. Staying at The Seri Resort is a great choice. The hotel provides different room types to fit the desires of different customers. It is also conveniently located on the south of the island in Seogwipo area nearby many tourist attractions, such as Oedolgae Rock or Jeongbangpokpo Falls.
However, what makes this resort special is the facilities it has on site. Right next to the hotel you can experience exciting go-karts. It is suitable for both kids and adults to enjoy the whole year round. There is also a wonderful green maze next to the hotel. In the evening, bright illumination makes this place even more attractive, creating additional spots for taking great photos.
Near the maze you could also find horses and try horseback riding or just enjoy feeding these lovely animals. To entertain young hotel guests in summer, a small outdoor swimming pool with a slide is available. If you get hungry playing around the whole day near the hotel, there are several restaurant options just across the street, although the hotel also has a nice buffet restaurant.
Hotel bathroom
Hotel room for three people with a nice balcony.
To experience all the fun at The Seri Resort, you can easily book it at a reasonable price, around 80,000 won, on any booking website such as Agoda or Booking.com. It is easy to drive to the hotel and the bus stop is a short walking distance away from it.
Hotel name | The Seri Hostel |
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Website | http://www.seriworld.co.kr/ |
Address | 97-17, Beophwansang-ro 2beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do |
Price | 80,000 won |
Tel | (+82) 64-739-8254 |
Check in/out | 4 PM / 12 PM |
This hotel provides fantastic facilities! Right next door to the hotel guests can enjoy beautiful green maze. In the evening colourful illuminations light up the maze creating a romantic and cosy ambience for couples and families to stroll around. There are also horse riding and carting available nearby. Make sure to check your voucher, received during the check-in, and you will be surprised with a nice discount for the activities provided near the hotel.
1. This column was last updated in December 2018, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.
2. This travelogue is written by Travel Qrator Vassilina Mozajeva, all contents are opinions based on my own experiences.