Templestay

A templestay is a program where you stay at a Korean Buddhist temple and experience monastic life. Activities may include chanting services, meditation, formal monastic meals (baru gongyang), 108 prostrations and walks around the temple. Anyone can join regardless of religion, and some temples offer programs in foreign languages.

You can search temples and programs and book through the official templestay website run by the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism. It has an English version for international visitors. Popular temples fill up quickly on weekends, so reserve early. The temple may contact you after booking.

Programs generally fall into structured experience types, with a schedule of activities, and relaxation types, where you rest at your own pace. Some temples also offer short day programs of a few hours. For first-timers, a one-night experience program gives a good sense of temple life.

Yes, anyone can join regardless of religion. Rituals like chanting or bowing are offered as experiences, and you can often simply observe if you prefer not to take part. What matters most is respecting the temple's daily rules and routines.

It varies by temple, but you usually arrive in the afternoon for orientation, dinner and evening chanting, then go to bed early. The next day often starts with an early-morning service, timed by each temple somewhere between about 3 and 4:30 a.m., followed by breakfast, light communal work or a walk, and checkout. Follow each temple's guidance on early services.

Many temples lend a practice uniform, usually a vest and loose trousers, but what is provided varies, so check your booking information. Bring your own underlayers, socks, toiletries and comfortable shoes. Mountain temples can be chilly at night in any season, so pack a warm layer too.

Temple food is vegetarian, without meat or fish, and traditionally avoids the five pungent vegetables such as garlic and green onion. The rule is to take only what you can eat and leave nothing behind. If you have allergies, mention them when booking.

Baru gongyang is a formal monastic meal where food is served in a set of bowls called baru and eaten in a prescribed order and manner. At the end, you rinse the bowls with water and drink it, leaving no food behind. During a templestay, staff walk you through each step.

You usually sleep on a mattress laid on a heated ondol floor. Rooms are often separated by gender or shared with your own group or family, and bathrooms and showers may be shared. Private rooms and facilities vary by temple, so check before booking.

Walk quietly on the grounds and avoid loud conversation; alcohol and smoking are not allowed. Remove your shoes before entering halls and avoid the central door. When you meet a monk, greet them with palms pressed together in a slight bow (hapjang).

Yes. Some temples in Seoul and near major tourist areas run English programs for international guests. You can filter by language on the official booking site. Even without an interpreter, some temples provide simple written guides in English. Temples popular with foreigners tend to feel welcoming.

Yes. Several temples in Seoul itself offer templestay, so even travelers on a short trip can take part. Day programs last just a few hours and fit easily into an itinerary. If you want a deep mountain-temple atmosphere, consider a temple in the countryside.

The 108 prostrations are a reflective practice often included in programs, but you do not need to push yourself if your knees or back hurt. Some temples combine it with stringing 108 prayer beads. Let staff know about any physical limits, and they will usually accommodate you.

Some templestays welcome families, and certain temples run programs for children. Early-morning services can be hard for kids, so a relaxation-type program may suit better. Age requirements vary by temple, so check before booking. Families often enjoy the craft and walking activities.

Fees vary by temple, program type and length of stay. The official booking site lists prices and what is included for each temple. Meals and lodging are usually covered, and it is worth checking the cancellation policy before you pay.

Many temples do not ban phones outright, but turn yours off during services and meditation. Keep calls and video viewing brief and away from others. Some temples encourage you to hand in your phone to focus on the experience, so follow their guidance.

Many templestays include a tea session (chadam) where you sit with a monk, drink tea and talk. It is a relaxed chance to ask about Buddhism or life in general. In foreign-language programs, an interpreter or an English-speaking monk may join.

Temple scenery is generally fine to photograph, but avoid shooting during services or the Buddha statues inside halls. Ask permission before photographing other participants or monks. Some temples tell you when photography is appropriate during the program. When in doubt, put the camera away.

Bring toiletries, a towel, spare underwear and socks, and any personal medication. Mountain temples get cold at night and before dawn, so pack a warm layer. Travel light, and skip flashy jewelry and strong perfume out of respect for the setting.

Historic temples such as Haeinsa, Tongdosa and Songgwangsa run templestay programs. Together these three are known as the Three Jewel Temples, representing the Buddha, the teachings and the monastic community. Check the official booking site for each temple's programs and language support.