Typically known as a honeymooner’s paradise, Korea’s Jeju Island is also gaining popularity with visitors interested in the island’s natural beauty and myriad outdoor activities. Originally formed from the remnants of a dormant volcano, Jeju offers a lush subtropical environment, diverse outdoor activities and a unique eco-system, that earned it a Biosphere Reserve designation by UNESCO in 2002. Now, Jejueco, a Jeju-based company run by a Russian expatriate, is offering a unique sampling of tours that focus specifically on Jeju’s ecological offerings.




For visitors with just a few days in Jeju, Jejueco offers a 3-day, 2-night program, known as Eco Weekend. The program, which is currently set to run through October, includes such activities as snorkeling, crater and waterfall hiking, and kayaking. Although the program begins every Friday night with a welcome dinner and brief tour introduction, Saturday is the real start of the outdoor adventure. Programs include a visit to a Wild Orchids and Shitake Mushroom Park, Seaside Hiking on Jeju’s rocky seashore, boat charters to local islets, and a visit to the island’s Pineapple greenhouses. On Sundays guests explore Jeju Island’s famous Jongbang Waterfall, reported to be the only seaside waterfall in Asia. The program also includes a visit to an ancient lava estuary, a hiking tour of a seaside crater, a visit to a green tea plantation, and a visit to a “Harubang” Stone Statue park, one of Jeju Island’s famous mythological icons. Weather permitting, kayaking may be substituted for one of the other activities on the agenda. The Eco Weekend Program costs 230,000 won (~ 200 USD) per person and includes two night’s accommodations, welcome dinner, all lunches and breakfasts. Also included are local transfers, an English-speaking guide, and all taxes, tips and admission fees. For more information about this and other Jejueco programs, visit the website at www.jejueco.com.

For more information about all of Korea’s sightseeing programs, contact the KNTO at 800/TOUR-KOREA or visit the website at www.tour2korea.com.