A Preview of Jeju Olle Routes 19 and 20 Before the Walking Festival: From Hamdeok to Woljeong-ri

If you want to make the most of a long autumn day in Jeju, the scenery you encounter on foot will stay with you longer than the views from inside a car. This year’s Jeju Olle Walking Festival runs from November 5 to 7, with Routes 19 and 20 in eastern Jeju City taking center stage. If you are considering signing up, start by looking at where the two routes go and how long they take.

Festival admission fees, operating hours, and start and finish locations may vary depending on how you register. Check the official Jeju Olle Walking Festival guide again for the final schedule.

Route 19: Through Villages to the Sea at Hamdeok

Route 19 begins at Jocheon Manse Dongsan and passes through Sinheung-ri, Hamdeok, Bukchon, and Dongbok before reaching Gimnyeong Seopogu Port. You may be surprised if you expect an uninterrupted coastal trail. Village lanes, farm roads, and oreum scenery around Seoubong alternate throughout the route. The entire route is approximately 19.2km and officially takes 6–8 hours, so it is best to keep nearly the whole day free.

If completing the whole route feels daunting at first, try walking the approximately 6km section from Jocheon Manse Dongsan to Hamdeok Beach. There is a clear sense of arrival when you reach the sea, and it is easy to take a break in Hamdeok or move on to your next activity. However, leaving midway and meeting-point arrangements for festival programs may differ from an independent walk, so follow the participant instructions first.

Route 20: From Gimnyeong to Woljeong-ri, Then on to Sehwa

Route 20 starts at Gimnyeong Seopogu Port and continues to the Jeju Haenyeo Museum via Gimnyeong Seongsegi Beach, Woljeong-ri, Haengwon, and the Sehwa area. It is approximately 17.4km and takes an estimated 5–6 hours. Although it is shorter than Route 19, prolonged exposure to coastal winds means the perceived difficulty varies with the weather.

If you only want a taste of the route, choose the approximately 7km section from Gimnyeong Seopogu Port to Woljeong-ri Beach. If you plan to complete the route, allow plenty of time to take photos and rest in Woljeong-ri. The sea and village scenery continue beyond this point, but a late start can be challenging in November when daylight hours are short.

Which Route Is Best If You Only Have One Day?

Choose Route 19 if you enjoy trails with frequently changing scenery, or Route 20 if you want a long walk with the sea by your side. If you are walking both routes on consecutive days, it is better to save your legs for the next day rather than push the pace too hard from day one. Travelers who are not walking the entire route should check not only how to get from their accommodation to the starting point, but also how to return from wherever they finish.

Whether you pause at Hamdeok’s blue sea or continue beyond Woljeong-ri to the end, the Olle Trail offers the pleasure of a journey built one step at a time. This autumn, choose your day not by how many destinations you can visit, but by which path you want to remember for years to come.

※ Route distances, stops, and the festival schedule were referenced from Visit Jeju Route 19, Visit Jeju Route 20, and the festival guide. Before setting out, check again for detours and operational notices.