In the local dialect, an olle is the narrow stone alleyway that leads up to the front door of a home. It is a path meant to welcome you inside.
The Jeju Olle Trails take that idea and stretch it around the entire perimeter of the island. It is a massive network of walking paths, more than four hundred kilometers all told, broken into twenty-seven routes. Some take you along jagged volcanic cliffs. Others wander through quiet farming villages and tangerine orchards.
You do not need a map to find your way. You just look for the ribbons. All along the trail, you will see blue and orange ribbons tied to tree branches, utility poles, and fences. The blue stands for the Jeju ocean. The orange stands for the island's famous tangerines.
These paths were made for slow travel. There is no rush here. You just follow the colors, stop at a seaside cafe when you want to rest, and take your time walking through the island's backyard.
