Hiking Hallasan is one of the best highlights of a trip to Jeju Island. But in order to hike to the peak, you need to have a reservation! Reservations on weekend can book out in advance, especially on holiday weekends. Too be sure to plan ahead!
Reservations open on 1st of the month, and you can reserve any date until the end of the next month. Example: On June 1st, you can reserve until July 31st. There are two course you can choose from to hike the peak of Hallasan (Seongpanak & Gwaneumsa) and both require a reservation to hike. See the below information for this process.
For all other National Parks you have to book on the KNPS reservation website, the guide to that booking process can be found in this KNPS Guide.
Jump to:
(2) My Description of Hiking Hallasan
(3) The Hallasan Reservation Page
(4) The KNPS Reservation Guide
(5) Recommended Accommodations on Jeju Island
South Korean National Parks don’t sell their own swag, which is why I have designed some items for Hallasan National Park -> So if you need something to commemorate your time at this park you can check out my Etsy shop! The designs center around the Hallasan peak stone.
Trail Options:
Trail Start Times:
- Start times are earlier in the Summer than the Winter (5am vs 6am)
- There are two important times to consider (1) the start time of your reservation and (2) the second cut off time. While you might get a reservation for 10:00-13:00, you should be aware that the second ‘control place’ (Azalea Field Control Center & Samgakbong Peak Control Station) have 12~1pm cut offs. So you are not guaranteed to be able to hike to the peak even with a reservation, you must arrive at these second points before their cutoffs. See the below image for the specific timing per month
- ^ To ensure your ability to hike to the peak, it’s advised you book an earlier time spot. But these are often booked out first, so book early!
Seongpanak Trail (Orange)
Gwaneumsa Trail (Green)
Making a Reservation:
- No Account Required! So its open to anyone.
- The Hallasan Reservation Page
- Screenshot your reservation – You will need to show it at the entrance
- Reserve up to 4 spots
- Penalty System: If you do not visit without cancellation you cannot make a reservation for 3 months. For a second offense its for 1 year.
Part 1:
- Make an Account or type in your name and email for guest reservations
Part 2:
- Select a Trail
- Select the Date
- Select Visit Start Time
- Three Start Time Options (Early AM, mid-morning and lunch time)- specific hours fluctuate with the season
- You must start the hike in the window of time you have selected or else they will deny you entry to the park
At this screen the number of available spots are displayed
- Select the number of Visitors (max 4)
Click Reserve and you are done! Just bring a screenshot or have easy access to the reservation to show to the staff at the entrance.
Picking Lodging for Hiking Mt. Hallasan on Jeju Island:
It’s important to remember transportation when planning your trip to Mt. Hallasan. Taxis are available from both the north and south areas of Jeju Island. Both are roughly the same distance from the Seongpanak starting point. But Gwaneumsa is significantly closer to Jeju City.
There are public transportation options – specifically buses that run north to south. Two buses stop at the Seongpanak starting point: bus 281 and 181. But it’s important to note that for the earliest start times (about 5am-7am) relying on the buses isn’t an option.
Jeju City and Hamdeok Beach:
There are a wide range of lodging options in Jeju City, ranging from beds in hostels to fancy beachside resorts. A nice western hotel right on the water in Jeju city for about $100-90 ish is the Jeju Oriental Hotel and Casino. A highly rated budget hotel located half way between the beach and downtown area is the Jeju Pacific Hotel. And a highly rated hostel in downtown Jeju City is You & I Guesthouse.
Personally, I enjoy staying on one of the beaches to the east of Jeju City. In particular, Hamdeok Beach is a great option – I’ve stayed there 3 times at various pensions / hotels. Not only are there nearby restaurants, great cafes and bars, but there is also a small nature hike at the end of the beach. For a nice hotel room right on the beach I would recommend Utop Ubless Hotel Jeju. A very budget friendly option a couple small blocks from the beach is Bella Yuna Hotel.
Happy Trekking!
-Aurora
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