Jangsado Island Marine Park

Lying about 1 km west of the southern tip of Geojedo, Jangsado is an island turned entirely into a garden. Its name means "long snake island", after its long, thin shape, and it opened as Jangsado Marine Park (also known as Camellia) in December 2011. Centuries-old camellia groves cover much of the island, and the Camellia Tunnel, where red flowers bloom and fall from November to April, has become its trademark.

An island-sized garden

Administratively Jangsado belongs to Hansan-myeon in Tongyeong, but boats run from both Geoje and Tongyeong. The island is inside Hallyeohaesang National Park, and the paths were laid out to disturb the natural vegetation as little as possible. Around 100,000 camellias grow here along with machilus and chinquapin trees, and the island is home to rare species such as the fairy pitta, a protected natural monument, and wild wind orchids. The park lists about 1,000 plant species on the island.

What you will see

• Camellia Tunnel: a path where old camellias meet overhead. Flowering peaks in January–February, when fallen blossoms carpet the ground red; watch for the tiny Japanese white-eyes that come for the nectar. The path became famous after appearing in the drama "My Love from the Star" (filmed in winter 2013), and the 2016 drama "Uncontrollably Fond" was also shot here.
• About 20 themed gardens: a maze garden, a herb garden and more are strung along the island, and unheated greenhouses hold subtropical plants such as cycads and palms. In summer, hydrangeas bloom all over the island.
• Viewpoints: as you follow the island's spine, you get repeated views over the small islands of the Hallyeo Waterway and the Geoje coast. The walkway lined with red hoop-shaped arches is the most photographed spot.

Tripto tips

• Boats: cruise boats leave from Geunpo and Gabae ports on Geoje and from the Tongyeong cruise terminal in Donam-dong. The crossing takes 15–20 minutes from Geoje and about 50 minutes from Tongyeong; fares and departure times differ by operator. The park has no ticket office of its own, so park tickets are sold by the boat operators together with your boat ticket.
• Admission: the official website lists KRW 10,000 for adults, KRW 8,000 for middle and high school students and military or police, and KRW 5,000 for children aged 3 and over and people with disabilities.
• Getting back: you must return on the boat you came on. Note the boat's name and scheduled departure time before you get off. Your time is set by the boat's departure, so follow the numbered route in the leaflet you receive at the entrance.
• Closures: the park closes on the day before and the morning of Seollal and Chuseok, and on the first and third Mondays in winter (December–February). When a typhoon or high-wave warning is in force for the eastern South Sea, boats do not run and the park closes.
• Rules: no pets, outside food, alcohol, cooking or picnic mats. Toilets are only inside buildings, and there is no ATM on the island (cards are accepted).
• Food: the island's restaurant and snack bars sell simple dishes such as sea-squirt bibimbap, Chungmu gimbap, yuja (citron) bread and mulberry-leaf ice cream.- When to go: camellias from December to March, best in January–February; hydrangeas in summer. There is nowhere to stay on the island, so book a room in Geoje or Tongyeong near the ports.