DAY 3 OF 5-DAY stay in Tongyeong

Hansando (한산도) is an island between Geoje in the east and Tongyeong in the west. I almost went there on my trip to Geoje last year. It’s a part of Hallyeohaesang National Park (한려해상국립공원) one of the many Korean National Parks. This one is unusual in that it covers lots of separate areas and islands in the south of Korea which (I think) makes it the biggest in land coverage.

This time I opted to take my car since I didn’t really have a plan of what to do on the island. I’d seen plenty of other car get on and off ferries in the area; here they get drivers to reverse on the the back and I got on and off easily enough on both legs.

Once on the island, the first thing I did was start driving clockwise as the main road hugs the coastline. I drove north, stopped by a campsite, then to a peninsula. There wasn’t much there and I hadn’t seen the times for the return ferries, so I went back to the harbour with the intention to drive anticlockwise. Once I’d got the ferry times I tried to go the other way around the island but the road is blocked for cars, so continued back where I’d come from, avoiding the peninsula this time. I drove to Chubongdo (추봉도) a connected island on the south east coast for no other reason than “why not!”. Like I said, no plans.

I stopped at Bongam, wandered around a bit.

At the end of the village I found the beautiful grey-pebbled Bongam beach (봉암해수욕장). The pebbles were huge, so not sure how people relax here!

I saw a temple on the map so decied to take a stroll up there. It wasn’t a big impressive temple so I didn’t stay long, just changed into my shorts (it was getting warm out).

After that, I headed back to Hansando and continued driving clockwise. I went inland a bit a came across some black goats standing right in the middle of the road; cute! Back at the harbour, I bought my return ticket and waited a short time.

This is a nice island, but probably best to come for hiking and staying at a pension here and fishing or just relaxing. Coming without a plan basically means driving around a bit!

Places I visited on this trip. Click the ‘door’ icon on the left to see a list: