Gapa Island: Jeju’s Quiet Little Island for Biking, Barley, and Olle Trail 10-1

Last Updated on July 8, 2026

Gapa Island (가파도), the second southernmost point of Korea, sits just 5.5 kilometers off the coast of Jeju Island. It’s not the island off of Jeju that comes up in most planning conversations, most people head to Udo Island if they’re doing island-hopping. But Gapa is something different: flatter, quieter, and off the tourist trail unless you’re doing the Jeju Olle-gil. I first visited about 12 years ago and came back recently specifically to complete the Jeju Olle Trail 10-1 that runs around it.

Gapa is said to look like a ray swimming in the waves, which is how it got its name. The highest point is only 20.5 meters above sea level, making it the most low-lying inhabited island in Korea, a striking counterpoint to the same island chain that holds Hallasan, the tallest mountain in the country. Want to do something a bit different in Jeju? Find Gapa.

Ready to take a trip to Gapa Island? Here’s what you should know;

• How To Get There
• What To Do On Gapa Island
  • The Jeju Olle Trail 10-1
  • Rent A Bike To Get Around
  • See What There Is To See
  • What To Eat
• Tips For Your Trip To Jeju Island
• FAQ

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How To Get There

Gapa Island is reached from Moseulpo Port (모슬포항) in Seogwipo. The port also serves Mara Island, Korea’s actual southernmost point. Because Mara is the furthest south in Korea that one can go, that ferry tends to be busier.

Address: Gapa-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (제주 서귀포시 대정읍 가파리)

Directions: Check updated timetables directly with the terminal. Currently, from Unjinhang Harbor, ferries depart to Gapado at 9:00am, and 10:00am, 2:00pm & 4:00pm.; Returning from Gapado to Moseulpo Port, ferries depart at 9:20am, 10:20am, 2:20pm & 4:20pm

• Tickets are purchased as a round-trip set.
• If you depart on the last ferry from Jeju Island, you will have to spend the night on Gapa Island or if you miss the last ferry back, you’ll have to spend the night. So be prepared and watch the time when you go.
• Tickets must be purchased at least 40 minutes prior to departure.
• On-site ticket purchase is available but do be aware that tickets may sell out in high season so it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance online or over the phone.
• Make sure to take ID for everyone traveling as it will be checked prior to boarding.

Cost: Adult round trip ticket: W15,500; Children: W7,800 ~ W15,300 depending on age

Amenities on the island: restaurants, bike rental (W5,000), restrooms

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What To Do On Gapa Island

The Jeju Olle Trail 10-1

My most recent visit was specifically to complete the Jeju Olle Trail 10-1, which runs around the perimeter of Gapa Island. The trail is 4.2 kilometers, rated easy, the island’s maximum elevation is 20.5 meters, and takes between one and two hours depending on your pace. This was a trek I took my husband and daughter on which meant it was slow and meandering, but a perfect way to enjoy Gapa. The island is just big enough for a proper stroll, with views of the surrounding ocean the whole way around.

Depending on when you arrive, you can eat or stop at a cafe near Sangdong Port, Hadong Port, or near Gapa Elementary School (this is where we opted to stop). The flat terrain and short total distance make this one of the more relaxed Olle courses, well suited to anyone who wants the Olle experience without a demanding day on the trail.

Rent A Bike To Get Around

You can rent a bike at the shop near Gapa Port and bike along the paths that circle and criss-cross the land. You won’t be able to miss the bike rental shop either. It’s the first thing you’ll see and it’s obvious that most people visiting the island for just a couple hours get bikes for the trip.

Regular bikes and tandem bikes are available for W5,000 and W10,000 respectively. Payment is only in cash so make sure you plan ahead. Bikes make it easier to get around to every part of the island and get back to the port in time for departure.

See What There Is To See

Low lying houses sit along a narrow road that runs down the center of the island and fields walled in by lava rocks stacked together spread out from there. Gapa is special in that it is a carbon-free island, the first in the country, and solar panels and wind turbines collect energy for the residents.

People have inhabited the island and started cultivating barley there since 1842. The fields are especially nice from late winter to early summer. The coasts of the island are lined with rocks that make walking out to sea rather easy, though be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Pools of water collect between the rocks and make for a great place to take a swim and cool off in the heat of the summer. If you plan the ferries correctly, you can hop over to the island to grab some lunch and bike around before getting back to Jeju’s mainland.

K-Drama Filming Location: Gapa Island served as a location in the 2022 K-drama “Our Blues”, specifically Episodes 11 and 12, where characters Yeong-ok and Jeong-jun visit the island together. The wide blue coastal scenery and the quietness of the island were used to capture a particular feeling of anticipation and connection between the characters.

What To Eat

Be sure to have your Korean prepared to order some delicious fishy delights, but also perk up your ears to listen to some pretty strong Jeju dialect. The women of the island are strong, diving into the ocean to collect seafood for their meals, but they are very friendly and even when the restaurants are not technically open, they will gladly fill your belly with a hearty meal… if you can ask like we had to.

Noodle Restaurant (춘자네집)

On our trip out, we asked an older grandmother to point us in the direction of a good restaurant as we hadn’t eaten breakfast and were pretty hungry. She showed us to one, but finding that the door was closed and no one was inside she went and found the owner of the establishment, brought her back and told her to make us some food.

Little did we know, the owner really had nothing prepared in the back and after ordering we peered around into the kitchen to see that she was on a mat on the floor making noodles for our soup from scratch. Suffice it to say, we ate them all up as they were delicious and worth the wait.

She made us two kinds of soups to enjoy: spiral shellfish noodle soup (보말갈국수) and sea urchin noodle soup (서게갈국수). The kimchi was especially spicy, but a nice break from the soup on the palate and we were grateful she’d taken the time to feed us. This was just one of the truly beautiful places I visited while on Jeju Island. It was even more appealing after this experience with a local who took the time, even though her restaurant was closed, to hand make noodles while we waited and cook them up for us. What a treat and what a dish.

• Address: 96-1 Gapa-ro 67 beon-gil Daejeong-eub Seogwipo-si, Jeju (제주 서귀포시 대정읍 가파로67번길 96-1)
• Hours: 9:30am – 7:00pm

Green Barley Ice Cream

The island’s barley specialty shows up in its ice cream, which has a distinctive pale green color and is a perfect summer snack after a bike ride or a walk around the trail. Easy to find, good for photos, and genuinely delicious in the heat.

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Tips For Your Trip To Jeju Island:

• This trip is ideal for people staying on the southwest coast of Jeju or in Seogwipo City.
• If you like the idea of taking a ferry to Gapa Island, you might like the idea of taking a ferry to Jeju! Here are all of the different options to get to Jeju Island from ferry to plane.
• Other stops to check out if you head there include the grotto on Sanbang Mountain which is just up from Yongmeori Coast and then go to the peak of Halla Mountain and of course the stunning Jeongbang Waterfall and don’t miss the beautiful Hamdeok Beach too. You can also visit Yakcheonsa Temple which features 80,000 Buddha statues.

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FAQ

How do I get to Gapa Island from Jeju?

Take a ferry from Moseulpo Port (모슬포항) in Seogwipo. Ferries depart at 9:00am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm. The last return ferry from Gapa leaves at 4:20pm. Tickets are round-trip and must be purchased at least 40 minutes before departure.

How long does it take to get around Gapa Island?

About 1-2 hours walking the Jeju Olle Trail 10-1 (4.2km), or roughly the same amount of time by bike. Most visitors arrive on one ferry and return on the next, which is enough time to see the whole island comfortably.

When is the best time to visit Gapa Island?

April and May, when the barley fields are at their most scenic and the Green Barley Festival takes place. Summer is also good for cooling off in the rock pools along the coast.

Is Gapa Island the same as Mara Island?

No, both are accessible from Moseulpo Port, but they’re separate islands. Mara Island is Korea’s southernmost point; Gapa is the second southernmost. Gapa is larger and less visited.

Was Gapa Island in any K-dramas?

Yes, Episodes 11 and 12 of “Our Blues” (2022) were filmed on Gapa Island.

Do I need cash on Gapa Island?

Yes. Bike rental is cash-only (₩5,000 regular, ₩10,000 tandem), and many restaurants and small shops on the island prefer or require cash.

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Gapa Island is a fun quick adventure off the coast of Jeju Island that’s enough off the radar that you’ll feel like you’re adventuring to an undiscovered place (FYI if you visit during Barley Festival period, you won’t be alone though haha). The barley moving in the wind between the lava rock walls. The quiet on a ferry back to Jeju’s coast with the island already receding. It’s a lovely escape.

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