Thinking about a templestay in South Korea? We went to Golgulsa Temple (골굴사), near to the city of Gyeongju, for our templestay experience and loved it!
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about a Golgulsa Templestay before you go yourself, as well as our honest review of the epic experience.
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Introduction to South Korea Templestays
Templestays are becoming increasingly popular with tourists visiting South Korea who are keen to learn more about temple life. By way of a quick comparison, we also went to a templestay in Japan, however we found that the Korean templestay experience felt much more authentic, and more of an experience rather than just a hotel stay.
, near to the city of Gyeongju, for our templestay experience and loved it! Let’s dive into everything you need to know about a Golgulsa Templestay before you go yourself, as well as our honest review of the epic experience. Introduction to South […])
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There are many Buddhist temples in South Korea, and some of these offer overnight stays for travellers. Many of these same templestays also offer longer term stays to those wanting a longer spiritual experience, but for us the 2-day-1-night experience was perfect.
With most templestays you will be encouraged to join in with meditation, reflection and morning services, which gives you the ability to watch and experience the daily life of Buddhist Monks.
If you are interested in adding this templestay into your trip, why not also check out our Ultimate 10-Day South Korea Itinerary.
Golgulsa Temple (골굴사)
Golgulsa Temple is located on Hamwolsan Mountain near Gyeongju and offers Templestay programs year-round, allowing guests to stay from a single day to over a month.
The temple is known for teaching Seonmudo (sometimes also called Sunmudo), a traditional Korean Buddhist martial art that combines moving meditation, known as qigong, and breathing exercises to harmonise body and mind.
This practice is over 1,000 years old and promotes awareness of internal and external energies and includes elements of yoga and sitting meditation.
During your Templestay at Golgulsa Temple, you can engage in various activities such as sitting and walking meditation, Seonmudo, archery, chanting, practising 108 prostrations, and even have a chat with monks over tea. The experience is complemented by simple, healthy vegetarian temple cuisine.
Optional activities like horseback riding (Monday to Thursday) and excursions to nearby areas (Sunday only) are also available for an additional fee.
Where Is Golgulsa Temple & How Do I Get There?
Golgulsa Temple is located near to the charming city of Gyeongju. The temple is a little ‘out in the sticks’, so the easiest way to reach it is via taxi, which takes around an hour.
If you’re looking to save a bit of money, jump on the bus to Golgulsa instead. The timetables can be confusing in South Korea, so we’re working on a full guide ASAP, but if you are travelling from Gyeongju Train Station this should get you where you need to go:
- Head outside of Gyeongju Train Station, following signs for “Urban Bus”
- Take any of these buses: No: 50, 51, 60, 70 & 700.
- Get off at the “Express Bus Terminal” & don’t cross the road.
- Transfer to any of these buses: No: 100 / 100-1 / 150 / 150-1
- Get off at the bus stop for “Andong/Girimsa/Golgulsa (안동/기림사/골굴사).”
- You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere – that’s where you want to be! Take the left road (there is a sign that says “Golgulsa”) and keep walking for about 10-15 mins.
If in doubt, just ask the bus driver when you get on the 100 / 100-1 / 150 / 150-1 if the bus goes to “Golgulsa”, and they’ll confirm. Normally, they’ll also give you a shout when you get to the right stop.
We also highly recommend the Papago translation app, created by Naver. It allows you to type, speak or take a picture for quick and accurate translations into Korean. Papago was much more accurate for us, both in South Korea and Japan, compared to Google Translate.
We also found that Google/Apple Maps didn’t work well in South Korea. We were recommended the Naver app which helped us get around and was especially helpful with walking routes and public transport.
Golgulsa Temple Contact Details:
Address: Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea 101-5, Girim-ro, Yangbuk-myeon
Phone Number: 054-775-1689
E-mail: golgulsatemplestay@gmail.com
Oh, and DEFINITELY make sure you spend some time in Gyeong-ju before or after your templestay. It was the capital of the Silla Kingdom (most of the Korean peninsula) for almost 900 years, making it a culturally and historically important city.
There’s so much to see and do, from the amazing covered Woljeonggyo bridge to the fascinating earth-mounds that lay atop ancient royal tombs.
Take a look at some of the best ways to experience Gyeong-ju:
What’s Involved in a Golgulsa Templestay
The 2-day-1-night overnight stay has a fairly packed itinerary but with spaces to pause and connect with your own thoughts and nature.
Day 1
- Check into your room from 2:30pm and change into your templestay clothes which are given to you when you check in. Make sure you wear a suitable t-shirt or long sleeve shirt to go under the vest that you are given.
- Seonmudo Demonstration – not to be missed! The Seonmudo instructors and students showcase an unforgettable performance
- Temple Orientation
- Seonmudo Training
- 108 Prostrations
- Dinner
Day 2
- Early morning Buddhist Service
- Sitting Meditation
- Walking Meditation
- Breakfast
- Seonmudo Training
- Tea with a Buddhist Monk
- Lunch
Optional activities (extra fee)
- Archery
- Horseback riding (Monday – Thursday)
Meals
Included in your Golgulsa templestay is dinner on day 1, as well as breakfast and lunch on day 2. The food is simple vegetarian food. Each meal is different but don’t stress about being hungry, there’s always plenty of food (and LOTS of rice!) to help you fill up.
Just be conscious not to fill your plate too much, wasting food is discouraged.
Golgulsa Templestay Cost
The 2-day-1-night ‘Moving Seon – Seonmudo!’ experience currently costs 80,000KRW per person. Golgulsa Temple also offers alternative experiences such as 3-day-2-night options, weekend getaways and even daytime visits. Check out the different experience options here.
Accommodation
The templestay accommodation offers single-sex dorm rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. During your stay you spend very little time in your room, so we personally didn’t mind the setup. You have an early dinner and early bedtime, followed by an early morning rise for the morning ceremony, so all you really need is a bed to sleep in for the night!
The rooms don’t have any lockers, so we would recommend leaving any larger valuables with the templestay office and carrying things like your passports around with you. If you have a lock on your backpack or suitcase this would be sensible too.
Is a Templestay in Golgulsa Temple It Worth It?
Yes! We loved our stay, and the brilliant experience has stuck with us. We have carried through some of the meditative activities into our daily lives as well as continuing to practise some of the Seonmudo that we learned!
The staff who work at the templestay office, those who cook, the volunteers, monks and Seonmudo instructors were amazing and so helpful, making our experience wonderful! The Seonmudo was definitely a highlight – you do need a small level of fitness but there was never any pressure to take part or if you needed a rest, you were encouraged to do so!
If you want to book our exact stay, you can find more information about it here.
Check out some of the other popular English speaking templestays in South Korea.
A Short Intro to Korean Buddhism & Seonmudo
Finally, in case you want a bit more information on Korean Buddhism:
Buddhism became the state religion during Korea’s Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.E. – 668 C.E.), especially flourishing under the Unified Silla kingdom (668-935). The Seon order, a form of Zen, was introduced from China, providing a philosophical foundation that persisted through the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Despite initial growth, Buddhism faced political repression during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) under Neo-Confucian rule, leading to a retreat to mountain monasteries and a strengthened bond with commoners. In the 20th century, Korean Buddhism was influenced by Japanese Buddhism until liberation in 1945, which allowed for the resurgence of traditional practices like the Jogye Order.
Seonmudo, meaning “the way of meditative martial arts,” blends meditation, yoga, and martial arts to harmonise mind and body. Originating during the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C.E. – 935 A.D.), Seonmudo was practised by monks who often served as spiritual leaders and soldiers. Revived in the 20th century and formalised at Golgulsa Temple in the 1980s by Grandmaster Jeog Un Sunim, Seonmudo is now part of templestay programs open to all. This practice promotes physical and mental well-being.
If you’re headed to Busan after your time in Golgulsa Temple, make sure you check out these amazing things to do while you’re there:
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