Odongdo, Yeosu: breakwater, train and camellia trail

Short answer: cross the breakwater, walk the camellia forest

Odongdo is an island in Hallyeohaesang National Park, named for its paulownia-leaf shape and home to about 3,000 camellia trees. It is free and open 24 hours. Cross the 768 m breakwater from the Odongdo entrance and a forest-tunnel trail of about 2.5 km circles the island, with a lighthouse and a musical fountain.

This post goes deep on Odongdo alone. The 2-day plans that pair Odongdo with the maritime cable car, the night sea and Hyangiram, and the month-by-month weather comparison, are in the separate posts below.

• Entrance to island: the 768 m breakwater, about 15 minutes on foot, or the Dongbaek Train (KRW 1,000)
• On the island: a forest-tunnel trail of about 2.5 km, a lighthouse, a musical fountain
• Camellias: start blooming in February and peak in March (per Yeosu City)
• Next: the maritime cable car from the Jasan (Haeya) Platform on the Odongdo entrance side

• Yeosu travel guide →
• Yeosu night sea in 2 days: where and how? →
• Which month is best for Yeosu? By the climate normals →

Entrance to island: walk the 768 m breakwater or take the train?

The Odongdo walk starts at the Odongdo entrance car park. The breakwater path to the island is 768 m long, about a 15-minute walk. This breakwater path is the first stretch of the Odongdo walk.

If you would rather not walk it, take the Dongbaek Train. It is a small train along the breakwater from the Odongdo entrance to the island; the fare is KRW 1,000, free for ages 6 and under and 65 and over. It runs 09:30–17:00, with a break from 12:00 to 13:00.

During the 12:00–13:00 break and after 17:00, you walk the breakwater. Odongdo is open 24 hours, but if you plan to ride the train back, check the running times before you head onto the island.

• Breakwater: 768 m, about 15 minutes on foot
• Dongbaek Train fare: KRW 1,000 (free for ages 6 and under and 65 and over)
• Dongbaek Train hours: 09:30–17:00, break 12:00–13:00
• How often trains run and one-way or round-trip fares: check official info before you go

On the island: about 2.5 km of camellia forest tunnel, lighthouse and fountain

On the island, a forest-tunnel trail of about 2.5 km runs among about 3,000 camellia trees. The guide also lists the Odongdo and Jasan Park area as good for camellia forest walks and the cable car.

Along the trail you'll find a lighthouse and a musical fountain. For the fountain's show times and whether you can go inside the lighthouse, check official info before you go.

For walking times on each part of the trail, and whether it suits wheelchairs or strollers, check official info before you go as well. You'll be on the forest trail and the breakwater for a while, so wear comfortable shoes.

• Camellia trees: about 3,000
• Trail: a forest-tunnel path of about 2.5 km
• Sights: a lighthouse, a musical fountain
• Admission: free, open 24 hours

The sea side: the rocky shore

Odongdo is not only forest. Rocky shore runs around the island, and on clear days you can see islands and ships out at sea.

Whether there are paths down to the rocky shore, and how far you can go, check official info before you go. Odongdo lies at the end of Hallyeohaesang National Park.

• Around the island: rocky shore and sea views
• Paths and access to the shore: check official info before you go

Camellia season and weather: blooms from February, peak in March

Odongdo's camellias start blooming in February and peak in March (per Yeosu City). For this year's blooms, check official info before you go.

The figures below are rounded 1991–2020 normals for Yeosu station from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Weather on the shore of Odongdo, an island, can differ from the station figures, and these are 30-year averages, not this year's weather. Check the forecast before you go.

In February, when the camellias start, the normal high is about 9°C and the low about 1°C; in March, the peak, the high is about 12°C and the low about 5°C. You'll walk the breakwater and forest trail for a while, so bring a jacket.

• December: high 9°C · low 2°C · 26 mm
• January: high 7°C · low 0°C · 25 mm
• February: high 9°C · low 1°C · 45 mm
• March: high 12°C · low 5°C · 84 mm
• April: high 17°C · low 10°C · 125 mm

On to the maritime cable car: Jasan (Haeya) Platform by the entrance

When you walk back across the breakwater to the Odongdo entrance, the maritime cable car's Jasan (Haeya) Platform is on the Odongdo entrance side too. It is Korea's first cable car over the sea, a 1.5 km line between Jasan Park (Haeya Platform) and Dolsan Park (Nora Platform), about 13 minutes one way.

It runs 09:30–21:30 (last tickets 21:00), with no reservations: tickets are sold on the day only. In the glass-floored crystal cabins, wheelchairs, strollers and suitcases are restricted, and food and drinks are not allowed on board.

The evening plan that continues from the cable car to the Dolsan Park night view and the night sea is in the 'Yeosu night sea in 2 days' post.

• Standard cabin adults: KRW 17,000 round trip · 14,000 one way
• Crystal cabin adults: KRW 24,000 round trip · 19,000 one way
• Hours: 09:30–21:30, last tickets 21:00, on-the-day tickets only

Getting there and checklist before you go

The guide's Day 1 starts by arriving at Yeosu EXPO Station and walking Odongdo's camellia forest. The KTX takes about 3 hr to 3 hr 20 min from Seoul Station to Yeosu EXPO Station; check fares and seats with Korail. For city bus routes and timetables to the Odongdo entrance, check the Yeosu traffic information centre (its.yeosu.go.kr). Adult city bus fares are KRW 1,700 in cash or KRW 1,600 by transit card.

The tourist interpretation helpline is 1330. Entry rules for Korea depend on your nationality, so check official Korean government information before you travel.

• Dongbaek Train: 09:30–17:00 (break 12:00–13:00); otherwise walk the breakwater
• Musical fountain times and lighthouse visits: check official info before you go
• Camellias: start in February, peak in March; check official info for this year
• Maritime cable car: on-the-day tickets only, last tickets 21:00
• Check the forecast before you go; comfortable shoes and a jacket for the long walk

• Full Yeosu travel guide →
• Yeosu old town by day: Jinnamgwan to Jongpo →
• Yeosu's Hyangiram by bus, plus Geomundo by boat →
• Yeosu vs Tongyeong: Which Should You Choose for a First Trip? →

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