Slip Away from the Marado Ferry Dock in Daejeong and Circle Gapado Island

Did you know some Jeju Olle routes aren't on the mainland at all, and require taking a boat to reach? The route GYULI is introducing today, Olle Route 10-1, is exactly that kind of course. It's said to circle Gapado Island, reached by boat from the very same dock in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo, where ferries to Marado depart. Many people probably think of Daejeong-eup as little more than a stop on the way to Marado, but Gapado, the island in between, is said to have its own story worth telling. A route that has you walking part of Jeju's main-island Olle trail, then hopping on a boat to another island to keep walking, is a fairly unusual structure, and it's said to be mentioned as a must-do course among those aiming to complete the full Olle trail. Today GYULI will walk through what kind of place Gapado and Olle Route 10-1 are said to be, and why people are drawn to this island. I'll be careful not to confidently pin down the ferry schedule, exact course distance, or how long it takes, so I'll stick to passing along what's said about it as honestly as I can.

Gapado, reached by boat from Daejeong

Gapado is said to be an island belonging to Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo. It's commonly said that you board the boat from the same dock where ferries to Marado depart, and there's word that boats often reach Gapado before Marado or stop there along the same route. Ferry schedules and whether boats are running are said to change often depending on the season and weather, so rather than state this definitively, GYULI wants to make sure you check the latest information before you go. Olle Route 10-1 is introduced as a course that circles this island of Gapado. While most of the mainland Olle routes tend to run long stretches along the coast or over oreum, Route 10-1 is said to stand out as more of a loop course that circles the entire island. Because it's an island, the course is also said to run largely flat with little elevation change, which is part of why it's often introduced as an approachable Olle course.

🍊 More Photos, via GYULI

Why it comes up so often during green barley season

There's said to be a particular time of year when Gapado and Olle Route 10-1 get mentioned especially often — what's known as green barley season. Fields of green barley spread across much of the island are said to be the scene most often used to represent the island, rippling in the wind like waves. That said, exactly when the barley grows and when it looks its best is said to vary with that year's weather and growing conditions, so I can't confidently pin down a specific window and guarantee you'll see it. Take 'green barley season' as a general reference only, and if you're planning a visit around it, it's worth checking that year's conditions closer to the date. Beyond the barley, various spots on the island are said to offer views stretching to Marado, Sanbangsan, and even Hallasan. Being a low-lying island, there's said to be little to block the view, so many reviews mention wide-open scenery in every direction throughout the walk. Some people are also said to rent bicycles to go around the island, and whether walking or cycling suits you better probably comes down to personal preference.

Good to know before walking the island course

The first thing to sort out before walking Gapado's Olle Route 10-1 is said to be the ferry. Unlike mainland Olle routes, which you can leave partway through whenever you change your mind, an island course is said to require timing your arrival and departure around the boat schedule. So it's worth calculating how much time you can comfortably spend on the island in advance, and double-checking the exact ferry schedule before you go. There are said to be restaurants and convenience stores on the island, but they may not be as plentiful as on the mainland, so it's safer to bring water and a light snack just in case. Boats are also said to be canceled depending on the weather, so if a typhoon or strong winds are forecast, it's worth checking in advance whether ferries are running. How long it takes to circle the whole island is said to vary depending on your pace and how much you stop to rest, so please understand that I can't confidently claim a set amount of time will be enough. That said, the course itself is often introduced as approachable, since it circles a small, flat island. There's also word that shade is limited, so a hat and sunscreen are worth packing.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI