Jeju is always fantastic, but late April is truly the perfect time for riding, with both the weather and scenery at their peak. Having completed the Jeju round-trip about five times now, I’d say this is personally my favorite season. Our group of six from Pyeongtaek took a ferry from Wando to Jeju Port, stayed the first night, and began our journey the following morning.
Ferry Wando to Jeju port
After the rain the previous day, the weather on our first day of riding was absolutely perfect. Typically, for a 230km Jeju round-trip planned over three days, the final day is often tight due to flight or ferry schedules. To allow for some flexibility later on, we usually ride counter-clockwise on the first day, reaching around the 7 o'clock position on the map. While there are plenty of hotels along the way that allow for last-minute stops, pushing a bit further on day one makes the rest of the trip much more relaxed. Since we had a reservation, we rode past Jungmun and made it all the way to Seogwipo on our first day.
Riding from Jeju City to Sanbangsan
Riding day 2
On our second day, we rode from Seogwipo to Seongsan (around the 4 o'clock position). Unlike the western coast, the water here becomes increasingly crystal clear, and the shoreline is characterized by rugged volcanic rocks rather than sandy beaches. Riding along the southern coast of Jeju feels like the sun is sparkling over the ocean all day long. The weather and breeze were simply perfect.
Jeju's coastal routes offer two options: wide bike paths along the main roads, and narrower, winding paths that dip closer to the shore and lead you through peaceful fishing villages. These hidden roads are as safe as the designated bike paths since there’s almost no traffic, though they occasionally come to a dead end, requiring a quick backtrack. We finished our second day in Seongsan, home to the famous Sunrise Peak (Ilchulbong)
Riding Day 3
The third day covers the stretch from the 4 o'clock to 1 o'clock position, which is arguably the most beautiful section of the entire Jeju circuit. With its shallow, expansive white sandy beaches and incredibly transparent waters, it feels like a tropical paradise in the South Pacific (though I've never actually been there). The reason we pushed ourselves further on the first day was specifically to afford more time to soak in these breathtaking views today. For anyone planning a trip around Jeju, I highly recommend allocating more time to the East Coast rather than the West Coast to fully enjoy this scenery.
I was so captivated by the stunning scenery that I didn't actually take many photos. I have quite a few short videos, but since there isn't a feature to upload them directly here, I’ll share them separately below. Spring has arrived! I highly recommend planning your own Jeju riding trip before this season slips away. If you need any advice or tips for your journey, feel free to ask Mike at Platoon Cycles.
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