Jeju Island is a place of myths and legends. According to legend, three demi-gods emerged from Samsunghyeol which is said to have been on the northern slopes of Mount Halla and became the creators of the Jeju people who founded the Kingdom.
One in five of the population earns their living from the sea, and in many families, the women have been divers for generations. At 1950 metres/6350 feet, Mount Halla is the highest peak in Korea visible all over the island. Jeju is a popular tourist destination and offers not only good weather and beaches but exceptional natural landscapes.
On arrival, check into your hotel and then commence your sightseeing starting with the Dragon Head Rock where you can see the Haeneo woman divers working to catch seafood and then head to Samseonghyeol Shrine where according to legend, it was here that three demigods emerged from the ground to become the founding fathers of Jeju, the Halla Botanical Garden and the Jeju Folklore and Natural History.
The next day, it’s time to take in some of the stunning beauty of the island. Start with the Sangumburi Crater, an extinct volcano. The crater is 100 metres/325 feet deep. Over 400 species of plants and animals live inside the crater. Next is the Manjang Lava Cave, one of the longest lava tubes in the world. The cave is academically significant as rare species live in the cave and it is considered to be a world class tourist attraction.
After lunch, visit the Seongsan Sunrise Peak which rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago. With 99 sharp rocks surrounding the crater, it looks like a gigantic crown. The sunrise from the crater is magnificent. Then it’s on to the Folklore Village and finally head to the Jeju “Mysterious Road” which connects 2 highways and earned its name, as objects and liquid appear to roll and flow up the hill instead of down, actually an optical illusion.
