Adventure AsiaAI-assisted
Andong
  • Andong
  • Cheongsong
  • Cheongsong
  • Chungju
  • Chungju Dam
  • Chungju
South Korea15 daysGroup Small Group

Seoul to Jeju by Bicycle — 15 Days

Cycle the full length of South Korea from the Han River to Jeju Island's volcanic coast, crossing mountain passes, UNESCO heritage sites, and East Coast fishing villages.

This 15-day bicycle tour traces South Korea's geography from Seoul southward to Jeju Island, covering mixed terrain — mountain passes, river valleys, coastal paths, and volcanic landscapes. The route follows established bike networks and includes significant elevation gain over the interior, particularly the Ihwaryeong Pass in Mungyeong, before descending to the East Coast and crossing by overnight ferry to Jeju. Days alternate between riding and rest stops in cultural centers: Andong, known for Confucian heritage and Hahoe Folk Village; Gyeongju, the ancient Silla Kingdom capital; Busan, South Korea's second-largest city; and the island itself. The itinerary combines sustained cycling with guided cultural exploration, local food experiences, and time in hanok hotels and traditional villages. Support includes a guide, accommodation, meals, mechanical assistance, and a rental bike with helmet.

Highlights

  • Climb Ihwaryeong Pass (761 meters elevation gain) through Korea's mountainous interior
  • Tour Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, a UNESCO World Heritage site of Confucian architecture and centuries-old traditions
  • Cycle through Juwangsan National Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark with dramatic cliff formations and river valleys
  • Ride the East Coast bike path from Pohang to Yeongdeok, Korea's snow crab capital, with views of the East Sea
  • Visit Gyeongju's Buddhist heritage sites: Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage designations
  • Visit Busan's Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Fish Market, and Haedongyonggungsa Temple on the coast
  • Circle Jeju Island's coastline, passing Seongsanilchulbong volcanic tuff cone (UNESCO World Heritage) and coastal fishing villages

Day by day

1Han River Ride: Seoul to YangpyeongYangpyeong · Han River Bike Path
Leave Seoul on the Han River Bike Path, trading urban density for open river valleys and farmland. The 70-kilometer ride climbs 600 meters through rolling terrain as you move southeast into Yangpyeong, where the Bukhangang River converges with mountains and orchards. This area is known for its mountain landscape and agricultural character — a distinct shift from the capital.
2River Valley: Yangpyeong to ChungjuChungju · Namhangang River Bike Path
Follow the Namhangang River Bike Path eastward for 70 kilometers, gaining 420 meters as you pass through quiet valleys and riverside farmland. The route leads into Korea's inland regions, arriving in Chungju, a lakeside city with historical significance dating to the Three Kingdoms period.
3Mountain Crossing: Ihwaryeong Pass to MungyeongIhwaryeong Pass · Mungyeong · Chungju to Mungyeong
Today's 75-kilometer ride from Chungju to Mungyeong is a landmark climb for Korean cyclists. Ihwaryeong Pass (761 meters elevation gain) marks the crossing from the Han River basin into the inland mountain valleys. The descent delivers you to Mungyeong, a historic mountain town, where you rest near Mungyeong Saejae, an old trade route through these ridges.
4Mountain to Cultural Heart: Mungyeong to AndongMungyeong · Andong · Nakdonggang River basin
A longer 100-kilometer day that descends from mountain valleys into the Nakdonggang River basin, gaining 703 meters overall. You arrive in Andong, a regional center of Confucian learning and home to Hahoe Folk Village, where tradition shapes the local identity more visibly than in Seoul or other urban centers.
5Andong: Hahoe Village and Cultural ImmersionHahoe Folk Village · Andong's Cultural Street
Rest day in Andong. Walk through Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site where traditional hanok houses line narrow streets and Confucian customs are reflected in the village layout and architecture. The village sits on a peninsula formed by the Nakdonggang River. Return to Andong's Cultural Street for a guided tour of local food traditions — Andong Galbi (braised short ribs) and the renowned Andong Jjimdak Alley, where chicken stew cooked in soy and glass noodles defines regional identity.
6Mountain Air: Andong to CheongsongCheongsong · Andong Lake · apple orchards
A 73-kilometer ride northeastward, climbing 461 meters as you leave Andong Lake behind and enter Cheongsong, one of Korea's highest-oxygen, least-polluted regions. The landscape shifts noticeably — you pass apple orchards, Cheongsong's signature crop, as the air clears and elevation increases. The ride reflects Korea's internal geographic diversity in a single day.
7Volcanic Geopark: Juwangsan to Yeongdeok CoastYeongdeok · Juwangsan National Park · Ganggu Port in Yeongdeok
An 85-kilometer descent through Juwangsan National Park (a UNESCO Global Geopark) carries you from mountain terrain into the coastal lowlands, with 230 meters of climbing despite the general downward trajectory. The route passes dramatic cliff faces and valleys carved by the Gukcheonggang River before reaching Ganggu Port in Yeongdeok, where the East Sea becomes visible. Yeongdeok is Korea's snow crab capital — the local specialty.
8East Coast Path: Yeongdeok to GyeongjuYeongdeok · Gyeongju · East Coast bike path · Pohang
A 70-kilometer ride following the East Coast bike path, with 480 meters of elevation gain as the route traces the shoreline and coastal foothills southward. The journey begins at dawn over the East Sea near Yeongdeok, continues through Pohang (Korea's steel-manufacturing hub) with its designed coastal paths, and concludes in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom. The transition from industrial port to historical city marks Korea's east-coast geography.
9Gyeongju: Buddhist Heritage and RestSeokguram Grotto · Bulguksa Temple · Cheomseongdae Observatory · Anapji Pond · Hwangnam Food Street
Rest day in Gyeongju, a city whose urban layout preserves Silla Kingdom-era archaeology — royal burial mounds rise from residential streets and parks. Walk to Seokguram Grotto, a 8th-century stone temple carved into a mountainside, or Bulguksa Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit Cheomseongdae Observatory (the oldest surviving astronomical tower in East Asia) and Anapji Pond, an ancient recreational garden. Evening meals along Hwangnam Food Street, near your hanok hotel, offer local specialties in the old town setting.
10KTX to Busan, City Tour, and Overnight FerryBusan · Gyeongju · Gamcheon Culture Village · Jagalchi Fish Market · Nampodong · Haedongyonggungsa Temple · Samcheonpo Ferry Terminal
Board the KTX (Korean bullet train) in Gyeongju and travel south to Busan in under two hours. A half-day guided city tour includes Gamcheon Culture Village (a hillside neighborhood of pastel-colored houses built during the Korean War era), Jagalchi Fish Market (Busan's largest seafood market), and Nampodong's food alleyways. Visit Haedongyonggungsa Temple, perched on cliffs above Haeundae Beach. The evening is free in Haeundae; afterward, transfer by chartered vehicle to Samcheonpo Ferry Terminal to board the overnight ferry to Jeju with your bicycle.
11Jeju West Coast: City to Moseulpo HarborMoseulpo Harbor · Jeju Island's western coastline · Ihotaewu Beach · Hyunjae Beach
Disembark from the ferry and begin cycling Jeju Island's western coastline. This 70-kilometer ride climbs 300 meters as you see black sand beaches, lava rock formations, and fishing villages. Pass Ihotaewu Beach and Hyunjae Beach before arriving at Moseulpo Harbor, a working fishing village where local boats supply Jeju's fish markets and restaurants.
12Southwest Jeju: Sanbangsan and WaterfallsJeju's southwestern region · Sanbangsan hot spring area · Seoguipo · Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
A shorter 40-kilometer day with 462 meters of elevation gain — the cycling paces slower due to repeated rolling hills rather than sustained climbs. You ride Jeju's southwestern region, passing Songak Mountain and Sanbangsan hot spring area (where mineral-rich water emerges from volcanic rock). The route reaches Seoguipo, Jeju's second-largest city and administrative center for the southern prefecture. Seoguipo is known for waterfalls; visit Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, whose water cascades in distinct tiers down dark volcanic stone near the hotel.
13South Jeju Coastal Path: Seoguipo to SeongsanilchulbongSeoguipo to Seongsanilchulbong · Seongsanilchulbong
An 85-kilometer coastal ride from Seoguipo eastward along Jeju's southern bike path, gaining 230 meters over largely flat terrain with consistent ocean views. You cross Seoguipo city to reach Seongsan county, arriving at Seongsanilchulbong, a volcanic formation that rises from the coast. Seongsanilchulbong is a UNESCO World Heritage site and marks the eastern edge of Jeju's settled coastline.
14Jeju Circumference: East and North Coast to CityGimnyeong Beach · Hamdeok Beach · bike rental facility
The final cycling day covers 64 kilometers with 302 meters of elevation gain, traveling the eastern and northern coastlines back to Jeju City. The route is relatively flat, though increasingly crowded as you approach the main city; focus and road awareness grow necessary near downtown. Pass Gimnyeong Beach and Hamdeok Beach, which reflect Jeju's different coastal characters — white sand and volcanic basalt in alternation. Arrive at the bike rental facility to return equipment, marking the end of the cycling portion of the tour.
15Departure from JejuJeju
Airport transfer.

Where you go

Map: Seoul to Jeju by Bicycle — 15 Days route
Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
  1. 1Yangpyeong
  2. 2Han River bike path
  3. 3Chungju
  4. 4Namhangang River Bike Path
  5. 5Ihwaryeong Pass
  6. 6Mungyeong
  7. 7Andong
  8. 8Hahoe Folk Village
  9. 9Cheongsong
  10. 10Andong Lake
  11. 11Yeongdeok
  12. 12Juwangsan National Park
  13. 13Yeongdeok
  14. 14Gyeongju
  15. 15Pohang
  16. 16Bulguksa Temple
  17. 17Cheomseongdae Observatory
  18. 18Busan
  19. 19Gyeongju
  20. 20Gamcheon Culture Village
  21. 21Jagalchi Fish Market
  22. 22Nampodong
  23. 23Haedongyonggungsa Temple
  24. 24Seoguipo
  25. 25Seongsanilchulbong
  26. 26Gimnyeong Beach
  27. 27Hamdeok Beach
  28. 28Jeju

Included

  • What's included
  • English Speaking bike tour guide
  • All accommodation described in E-brochure
  • Meals(13 B, 11 L, 11 D): Please check meals plan below, and please let us know if you have any food concern in advance
  • Support vehicle & driver
  • Overnight ferry to Jeju island from main land
  • Day snack for water, energy bars, seasonal fruits and etc
  • Bike repair and medical first aids service in emergency
  • Rental bikes with helmets (But we recommend you to bring your own helmet if you have one)
  • KTX, Korean bullet train ticket from Gyeongju to Busan
  • Busan half day city tour
  • Andong half day city tour

Not included

  • NOT included
  • Personal snack, drinks(coffee/tea), food during the tour
  • Traveler's insurance
Customise this tripAsk an advisor