South Korean Temple Stays: Complete Immersion in Living Tradition

An overnight stay in a South Korean temple isn’t luxurious in the classic sense of the word - no soft mattresses, spa menus or indulgent meals - but in something else entirely: experience and cultural immersion.

Rise to the sound of temple drums, take part in meditation and chanting in spaces that echo with centuries of practice, and sleep in simple quarters. Meals are vegetarian and taken in silence, designed to focus the mind as much as to nourish the body. 

The rhythm is slower than that of modern life, and intentionally so — you’re here to experience life as a Buddhist monk.

The setting plays a big part. Temples have traditionally been built away from civilisation and in harmony with their natural surroundings — perched in forests, tucked into valleys, or high on mountain slopes.

There are plenty of different temples to visit. At Beopjusa, walk beneath pines before joining the evening ritual. At Haeinsa, the UNESCO-listed home of the Tripitaka Koreana, you’ll feel history compressed into every wooden beam. Bulguksa, with its pagodas and painted halls, shows temple architecture at its most striking, while Jogyesa, in central Seoul, offers an unexpectedly calm pause in the capital.

It’s this contrast — between scale and stillness, history and daily life — that we feel makes the experience so rewarding. The wooden halls aren’t backdrops; they’re living spaces for worship and study. The monks you meet aren’t performing for visitors; they’re hosts continuing traditions much as they always have.

A night in a temple is unlikely to be the most comfortable part of your journey through South Korea. But it will be one of the most memorable. It’s not about retreat so much as immersion — the kind of cultural experience that lingers long after you’ve left.

Thinking about South Korea? Get in touch with our team at info@ampersandtravel.com to start planning an itinerary that includes an authentic experience of temple life.