15 Amazing Ways to Enjoy Jeju in Autumn
Have you had enough of our mid-year scorching heat wave yet? Between now and our usual year-end monsoon season relief, we could sure use a little break from Singapore’s infernal summer.
Meanwhile, the photos on our Instagram feed paint a picture of reds and yellows strewn across rolling hills, and tall, pillowy reeds swaying in the wind. Ahhh, autumn in Jeju Island, Korea, why do you tempt us so?
In this article, we take a look at how best to experience the beauty of Jeju’s autumn foliage amidst the island’s cool, crisp temperatures, and some must-do Jeju attractions in autumn.
Before you jet off to Jeju, do remember to purchase travel insurance to cover you and your loved ones to stay protected while you are away from home.
Intro to Jeju Island
Jeju Island is a stunning volcanic island located off the southern coast of South Korea. It’s renowned for its unique geological features, including the UNESCO-listed Hallasan Mountain, Jeju lava tubes, and dramatic coastal cliffs. In autumn, this “Island of the Gods” transforms into a picturesque landscape of red, orange and gold, and showcases the island’s beauty in one of its most enchanting seasons.
Getting to Jeju Island
The easiest way is probably to fly from Singapore to Jeju City (SIN-CJU) directly on a 6-hour Scoot flight. If you’re also exploring mainland South Korea, then flying from Seoul to Jeju is as easy as an hour-long flight that leaves every 5 to 10 minutes!
Why Jeju in Autumn
Cool Temperatures
Summer in Jeju is hot and humid, and also receives the most rain, and possibly typhoons! Autumn in Jeju Island (Sep-Nov) is blessed with fresh and cool weather, with temperatures of 20-26°C, making outdoor activities so much more enjoyable.
Shoulder Season
September bids farewell to international and domestic summer tourists (the Korean summer break ends in August too), so accommodation, transportation, and activities are typically priced lower in the off-peak season of autumn. Renting a car will also be cheaper, giving you more flexibility to visit remote places, and you’ll also encounter fewer people on popular hiking trails. Essentially, autumn in Jeju allows you to enjoy the island’s natural beauty in a more peaceful way.
Cultural History
Koreans have always loved to engage in ‘dampungnori’, or leaf viewing, before the autumn leaves fall to the woodland floor. This dates as far back as the Goryeo era (from 918 AD), and in the Joseon era, they even declared a special national holiday just to ascend mountainsides and wax lyrical about the gorgeous autumn views over chrysanthemum liquor.
Must-See Autumn Sights on Jeju Island
Jeju Island is beautiful all year round, but the scenery is especially enchanting in autumn. Here are some Jeju attractions in autumn that you should not miss out on!
1. Catch the Sunrise at the Peak
Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) is one of few places designated with UNESCO’s triple crown — it’s a Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage Site, and Global Geopark.
The locals say that Seongsan Ilchulbong is where the sun first kisses the island every morning. If you’re able to jump out of bed early enough, scaling this mountain (technically speaking, “tuff cone”) will reward you with one of the most beautiful sunrises in your life. It’s a gentle slope to the top that will take you about 30 minutes (one way), but it does include stone paths and multiple staircases.
Note: It opens 1 hour before sunrise and if you’re earlier than that you won’t have to pay!
2. Capture the Silver Grass
If it’s photos of that dreamy, romantic “Jeju in the fall” feel you’re after, then you’ll want to capture the unmistakable rows of silver grass lining the mountainside like cascading silk.
Eulalia grass is affectionately called silver grass, thanks to its head of wispy silver leaves and flowers. These tall, thin, reed-like plants sway in the breeze and are the definitive image of autumn in Jeju.
One great place to see silver grass is Sangumburi Crater. The beautiful sight of the silver grass fields is further enhanced when the afternoon light hits just so, and sunset brings with it yet another lens through which to appreciate this ethereal scenery.
3. Climb a Volcano
‘Oreum’ is the Jeju dialect name given to the parasitic volcanic hills that formed around the island’s main volcano, Hallasan Mountain. There are over 360 oreum on Jeju, but many locals and tourists alike seem to enjoy Saebyeol Oreum.
Usually host to the Jeju Fire Festival, where thousands of people come to say goodbye to past memories and welcome springtime, the view from the top in autumn is just as breathtaking, with a panoramic view of Mt Hallasan in the distance. Silver grass also covers this entire oreum in the fall season, but the Sangumburi trail above is more accessible for the young and old. You can climb Saebyeol Oreum in 20-30 minutes but it’s a steep slope that can be tougher for little kids.
4. Smell the Camellias
Autumn isn’t just when the last red leaves fall to the ground. Autumn in Jeju is also when camellias finally burst into bloom after a whole year of waiting. This is the season where Camellia Hill, also known as ‘The Forest for Love and Healing’, becomes covered in a myriad of more than 6,000 camellias of 500 different species. Jeju’s native breed in particular presents itself with a bold red. There are also trails of pink muhly grass (a national obsession in Korea!) which start blooming first in Jeju before the rest of the country. The strong fragrance of osmanthus also fills the autumn air, and this sensory experience is a great way to really take in the rich scent of autumn in Jeju.
5. Jeongbang Waterfall
Jeongbang Waterfall is the only waterfall in Korea to fall directly into the ocean, and one of only seven in Asia to do so. Not only is it unique to Jeju, but it’s also splendorous to stand near it and feel the misty might of the falls. Although the walk to the falls is short, it consists of a series of steep stone steps, and at the base of the falls, the boulders can be slippery. But many have concluded that making the climb up and down is completely worth it!
Jeju for the Kids
Is appreciating breathtaking scenery not exciting enough for the kids? No worries, the little ones can also experience the wonder of Jeju in autumn through these interactive activities.
6. Pick Tangerines
You can’t visit Jeju in autumn and not taste the sweet, juicy goodness of tangerines, which were considered royal fruits during the Goryeo Dynasty. Today, there are over 120 types of citrus fruits grown in Jeju, and Hallabong is the most loved tangerine for its sweetness and easy-to-peel skin.
There are many tangerine farms in Jeju, so ask your hotel concierge or taxi driver for local recommendations. You usually pay a small fee to pick as many tangerines as your heart desires within a certain timeframe. It’s a great farm-to-table experience for the kids, and a good opportunity to teach them not to be too kiasu — pick only what you can eat or want to take home, and prevent waste!
7. Zorb Downhill
For a truly 360 experience of Jeju in autumn, don’t expect to stay upright! Climb into a huge plastic ball and zorb your way down the cool green meadow! A fun activity for the whole family, the zorbs Big Bolland can fit 1-4 people per ball, and kids from 5 years old and above are allowed.
8. Cycle on Train Tracks
Take in the slow, scenic journey of Jeju’s oreum while riding a four-wheeled bicycle on a railroad track. The Jeju Rail Bike trail takes about 35 minutes to complete, and is relatively easy to do for visitors of all ages, thanks to the help of an electric motor. Autumn is a great time for this activity as it can be too cold in winter.
9. Feed Calves
At the Jeju Morning Smile Farm, you can feed milk to little calves, make your own ice cream and cheese, and sample fresh Korean kaymak (dessert cream) — their kaymak toast is probably our kaya toast! The cows here roam freely in the UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve, and it’s Korea’s only dairy farm certified for free-grazing animal welfare. Enjoy some simple joys on a farm with the beautiful Hallasan Mountain dressed in Jeju’s autumn foliage as your backdrop.
In Touch with Nature
Autumn is nature’s season of transformation and change, and it’s a great time for us to reflect and meditate on our own lives as well. Jeju Island offers many opportunities for quiet serenity in nature, a growing trend especially amongst city dwelling visitors.
10. Walk Barefoot in the Forest
It’s called “earthing” or “grounding”, and it’s the latest must-do vacation activity in Jeju. Walking barefoot through the woods allows the cleansing scent of greenery to fill your lungs, the sounds of nature to calm your nerves, and apparently helps dissipate electromagnetic waves in your body — improving blood circulation and relieving stress. More Koreans are now walking barefoot in cypress and cedar forests to heal their bodies and minds from the fatigue of everyday life.
Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest is a little out of the way, but this hidden gem of towering cedar trees whisper their wisdom of yesteryears as you walk through the forest. In autumn, they turn vibrant shades of red and yellow, and offer a vantage point to an unfolding carpet of fall colours stretching as far as the eyes can see. The oreum summit trail is only 50 metres upwards, and you can be up and down within an hour. But the most therapeutic experience comes from a special acupressure trail where feeling the earth beneath your bare feet will let nature massage your worries away, one step at a time.
11. Experience Forest Healing
Nature can be the best medicine for the mind and spirit, and with a forest so dense you can’t even see the sky, you’ll feel completely surrounded by nature. A tranquil space to just be, you’ll be transported to a dimension of rejuvenation for the weary soul. 10 forest trails wind throughout Seogwipo Healing Forest, each of them under 2km and offering unique healing experiences. Walk freely in the forest, or sign up for therapist-led forest healing programmes — a soothing foot bath, breathing exercise, meditation session, or tea ceremony, are just some possibilities.
12. Camp in Nature
To truly immerse yourself in nature, consider camping in the forest itself. At Seogwipo Natural Recreation Forest, you can choose from family bungalows and camping accommodation, and wake up to the sight of roe deer running through the unspoilt forest and the peaceful sounds of the natural streams.
Best Hikes to Witness Autumn in Jeju
Of course, the truly best way to experience autumn's kaleidoscope of colours on Jeju Island, is to go hiking. Each of these three treks offer stunning seasonal displays at different difficulty levels.
13. Conquer Mount Hallasan (Hard hike)
Hallasan National Park, the only Korean park protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the highest mountain in South Korea — Mount Hallasan. The top of the mountain is THE prime spot to admire Jeju’s autumn foliage, but naturally demands quite the hike. For those who can, a trek to the summit — either the Seongpanak Trail (9.6km) or Gwaneumsa Trail (8.7km) — will offer breathtaking views of colourful forests, crater lakes, and expansive vistas of golds against the volcanic landscape.
14. Hike the Eoseungsaengak Trail (Medium hike)
For a more accessible but also rewarding autumn experience, the Eoseungsaengak Trail is the shortest mountain hike with stunning panoramic views. The 1.3km trail (one-way) winds through dense forests that burst into vibrant autumn colours, culminating in a view of Mt. Hallasan and its surrounding landscape drenched in fall foliage. (Note: While it’s a short trail, it still consists of steps and uneven rocks, so it’s not accessible for the less mobile.)
15. Walk through the Bijarim Forest (Easy hike)
Known as the “Forest of Nutmeg Trees”, Bijarim Forest is home to almost 3,000 ancient nutmeg trees, some over 800 years old. In autumn, the usually volcanic red earth forest floor is blanketed with a golden carpet of fallen leaves, while the canopy above glows with warm autumn hues. The 3.3km trail is an easy trek (wheelchair and pram accessible), so visitors of all ages can soak in the mystical serenity of this enchanting forest at a leisurely pace.
So, which of these amazing things to do in Jeju Island are you adding to your Jeju autumn itinerary? Before you go, don’t forget to get your travel insurance early, because one of the best ways to enjoy Jeju in autumn… is with peace of mind.
