An important note on Jeju’s updated bus system and this blog post
From August 2017, Jeju Island implemented a new city and intercity bus system. It increased the number of buses in service, while simplifying the routes, fees and numbering system.
Consequently, the contents of this previously published blog post may have changed. We therefore would kindly request that you consult this page for new bus maps in English on VisitJeju.net, and this page on our blog for a chart of the old and new bus route numbers.
If you read Korean, then the province’s official bus system website is a useful and up-to-date resource. We hope you’ll enjoy your travels on Jeju Island!
The last chance to see the snow of Halla-san!
The February snow falling upon Halla-san always brings the gift of nostalgia. Through the
long snowflake tunnel is a snow-covered prairie, that merges with the sky! As you stand there and consume this spectacle with awe, you can almost hear Hiroko of <Love Letter> shout “Odengkkideska” towards the snow-capped mountains after losing his lover. At this time, the apricot flower is already blossoming in the lower skirts of the island… it seems that winter doesn’t know how to wane even in the face of farewell, saying goodbye with snow instead of tears. Even in the last moments, it relishes the final pure-white delight on Halla-san.
A mountain high enough to reach the galaxy, Halla-san was named so because of its immense height. In the heart of the island, where the early spring flowers have begun to tug at and melt the frozen ground, February’s Halla-san stands there alone, shining bright white, showing off the most beautiful version of itself. For anyone who is heading to Halla-san’s peak lured by its magical appearance, they must be prepared to mingle with hell and heaven. Seongpanak, Halla-san’s basecamp is at an altitude of 900meters, while the altitude at its peak, Baekrogdam is 1,950meters, which is a very long way to climb. As you venture up the the slippery slope without a single downhill turn, your breath will be taken away. The snowflake tunnel that was once spectacular now seems like a maze. At the precise moment when sensation is lost in the feet and one cannot tell whether you are walking or standing, the uplifting sound of people can be heard like an auditory hallucination. And, then, Baekrogdam displays itself in all its majesty! The overwhelming emotions of joy blossom in the heart as the realization flows through your body that you have climbed to the highest point in Korea.
Tip. How to Enjoy Halla-san Seongpanak Course Seongpanak – Azalea Field Shelter – Baerogdam – Samgakbong Shelter - Gwanumsa(18.3km, Estimate Duration 9hours 30minutes)
Course Selection?
The most popular course is a roundtrip between Seongpanak↔Baekrogdam. However, this course has a relatively plain landscape. Although this course requires more energy, the <Seongpanak↔Baekrogdam↔Gwanumsa> course will allow you to see the real value of Halla-san. In particular, the scenery you will encounter along the course from the Samgakbong Shelter to Baekrogdam is incredibly beautiful.
Begin Trekking at the Earliest Time Possible in the Morning!
The Azalea Shelter and the Samgakbong Shelter closes the upward path leading to Baekrogdam, at noon exactly. So, if you want to see Baekrogdam, you must pass through these shelters before noon. The sooner you begin trekking, the better it will be as you need to walk a distance of over 18 kilometers. If you have confidence in your fitness, you can choose to take a look around Sara Oreum between the Seongpanak↔Baekrogdam course.
A repository of subtropical, temperate, and subarctic vegetation according to its altitude, Halla-san is registered as an UNESCO World Heritage and thus receives special protection. The diverse array of life is a feast of colors from spring until autumn when it takes a pure-white rest during the wintertime. However, that does not mean you are missing out on such glorious beauty. On the contrary, the path leading to Wisse Oreum is surrounded by the untouched charm of Korea’s snow mountain. On the path heading from Young-shil to Wisse Oreum, you have the opportunity to stand at the iced over waterfall that once flowed over Beyongpungbawi that makes visitors gasp at its wonderment. Obaekjanggeunbawi, which is known to have formed from the son of the creator of Jeju, Seolmundae Halmang, bewitches the snow in a wondrous way. In the same way, as you stand in the snowy fields of Seonjajjiwat and Mansaw Hill, which are high mountain plains, you will want to roll in the snow like the lovers, Oliver and Jenny in the move <Love Story>. Relishing the diversity of delights that the path to Wisse Oreum’s peak provides, you will see a Christmas card scenery unfold in front of your eyes. This is the pure forest of the beautiful Korean fir tree.
Tip. How to Enjoy the Halla-san Wisse Oreum Course Eorimok – Wisse Oreum - Youngshil(12.6km, Estimate Duration 6hours)
This is the course that will allow you to enjoy all of the charms of the snow mountain with minimal legwork. The path isn’t rugged, so it is a suitable challenge for those who are new to the winter mountain. The Eorimok-Wisse Oreum Course is an easy walk. However, if you want to enjoy all of the diverse charms of a winter snow mountain, it would be more ideal to walk the entire course of the Eorimok-Wisse Orreum-Youngshil Course. In particular, the Youngship-Wisse Oreum course is surrounded by strange rocks and bizarre stones which are a splendor. The Eorimok and Young-shil Hiking Information Center closes the upward path at noon exactly, so make sure to pass through it before then.
1100-ro is the road that crosses Halla-san and ends at Seogwipo Jungmun in Jeju-si. The real world is whitened as soon as you set foot on bus number 740, which runs up and down this road that transform into an endless snowflake tunnel that goes on and on! Time passes slowly along the white path, until the surrounding trees start to shrink and a peek of the blue sky makes itself known through the open space. This is 1100 Highland, at an altitude of 1,100m above sea level, it is the highest point of the road. A secret garden waits to be discovered across from the rest area of 1100 Highland, where a statue of a white deer stands like a signpost. This is the 1100 Highland Wetland. Living organisms live hectically day to day, as spring comes late to the wetlands, resulting in a shortened summer and early autumn. After passing through 1100 Highland, the downward slope begins. The snowflake tunnel continues on then reaches Jungmun, which even in the mid-winter, doesn’t lose its greenery due to its warm-temperate climate. Halla-san stores vegetation from the warm-temperate to the arctic climate. The 1100 road that winds through its inner beauty allows one to see the diverse winter light that shines upon Jeju Island, making it all the more charming.
Tip. How to enjoy the 1100 Highland Wetland Bus Number 740 that travels back and forth to the 1100 Highland This is a suitable destination for those that want to enjoy the snowy landscape of Halla-san but don’t want to go mountain climbing, or for those who have a low fitness level. Getting on bus number 740 at the Jeju Cross-country Bus Terminal takes you on the 1100 road (route 1139), passing through the 1100 Highland Wetland, and making its final stop at Jungmun. The first bus starts running at 8 o’clock in the morning, and the last bus departs at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The bus runs at an interval of 60~80minutes. When and how does one get to 1100 Highland Wetland? Halla-san is at its most captivating the morning after it has snowed. The very front row of the bus is where you may enjoy a complete view of the snowy landscape. After heavy snow, compact cars are banned from the 1100 road, and larger vehicles are required to place chains on the tires. Even with tire chains, cars can slip on the steep slope so the safest way to enjoy the snowy scenery on the 1100 road is by bus number 740.
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