Jeju Island - Hamdeok Beach + Seopseom Peak
연
6 days ago
I originally only knew about Hamdeok Beach, but while using Naver Map to plan my itinerary I noticed… huh, there’s a place called Rhino Peak right next to it, so I clicked out of curiosity and found out!
Wow, I’d discovered a hidden gem😍
Everyone’s photos looked amazing, but since I’d never been, I wondered if I’d have to hike really high up.
I’d already decided that if it was a steep climb, I’d skip it, but it turned out you only need to walk a short distance on site!
And walking while enjoying the view and taking photos was not tiring at all～～～
So I wanted to share this for anyone heading to Hamdeok Beach, besides eating garlic bread, make sure to add Rhino Peak to your plan too❤️
Here’s my firsthand experience:
In eastern Jeju Island, I really recommend planning a little combo trip of “Hamdeok Garlic Bread + Hamdeok Beach + Rhino Peak”.
📍Hamdeok Garlic Bread
Get off at the Hamdeok Beach Bus Stop and it’s a 5-minute walk!
The sign says they’ve already sold one million!
One costs under 200 TWD,
and personally I thought it was genuinely delicious and pretty filling too!
It’s perfect to share between two people,
and besides the garlic bread, the other breads looked so good as well.
It’s not just tourists buying it,
Koreans were also all carrying a bag each,
There is a seating area, but it’s only about four tables～
📍Hamdeok Beach
The water here is seriously crystal clear,
no matter where you stand, every photo looks great,
It’s one of the most iconic beaches in the area,
and because the sea turns a gorgeous emerald color, it’s even nicknamed the “Maldives of Korea”😍
When the weather is good, the sunlight brings out different layers of blue and green,
and near the shore you can even see the sandy bottom clearly,
plus Jeju Island’s signature black basalt rocks,
the contrast is stunning🤩
That day I just strolled around and took photos,
but I’ve heard online that the water here is relatively shallow,
so it’s great for families traveling with kids.
📍Rhino Peak Trail
Rhino Peak is actually a volcanic hill,
right next to Hamdeok Beach,
and because of this unique location,
Hamdeok Beach itself is also often called “Hamdeok Rhino Peak Seaside.”
It’s about a 15-minute walk from the beach,
just follow the coastline at an easy pace,
enjoy the sea breeze and take some photos, and you’ll be there.
The section up Rhino Peak has an uphill path,
but personally I didn’t find it steep or long,
and as you slowly walk up the trail, your viewpoint gradually rises,
until you can see the entire stretch of Hamdeok Beach,
it’s absolutely worth it!
That day there happened to be cherry blossoms and canola flower fields,
and seeing them together was incredibly soothing and relaxing!
I couldn’t stop pressing the shutter,
it was just too beautiful❤️
Summary:
For me, the best thing about Hamdeok Beach is how effortless it feels, you don’t need a packed itinerary, just feel the sea breeze, take a walk, and snap some photos.
There are grassy areas nearby, walking paths on both sides, a trail, cafes, and all kinds of convenient facilities, even if you don’t go into the water, it’s still perfect for simply relaxing and looking out at the sea.
The Rhino Peak Trail is less “hiking a mountain” and more “watching the ocean.”
You’ll walk a bit, then turn back to look at the sea again.
Walk a bit more, then you can’t help stopping for another photo.
What really makes it hard to leave is actually that whole process.
So if you have time, I really recommend not stopping at the sand alone.
At least walk up a little way on Rhino Peak.
Because Hamdeok from above looks completely different from what you see standing on the beach.
If you love taking photos, Rhino Peak has a huge advantage,
you can capture “mountain + sea + canola flowers” all in the same shot,
and if you shoot toward the ocean, you can capture the full curve of Hamdeok Beach.
When the weather is great, the emerald color of the water really pops.
I’d suggest setting aside half a day for this area.
There are quite a few buses here, so it’s also very friendly if you’re not driving!
Also, even though Rhino Peak isn’t as tough as a big mountain hike, it’s still best to wear comfortable walking shoes!
If you like a travel style of ocean views, strolling, taking photos, and sitting down at a cafe, Hamdeok Beach + Rhino Peak is absolutely worth adding to your eastern Jeju Island itinerary❤️
