Temples and Coast
8 nights in Korea. A temple night near Gyeongju, seaside temples in Busan and Yeosu, and the south coast in between.
Itinerary ideas › Temples and Coast
A quieter loop for guests who want Korea's Buddhist heritage and the sea. It starts with Jogyesa and the palaces in Seoul, spends a night in a temple near Gyeongju with dawn chanting and tea, follows the coast to Busan's Haedong Yonggungsa and ends at Yeosu's cliff-top Hyangiram Hermitage before the train back to Seoul.
The route
- Seoul2 nights
- Temple stay near Gyeongju1 night
- Gyeongju1 night
- Busan2 nights
- Yeosu1 night
- Seoul1 night
Day by day
-
Day 1
Arrive in Seoul
Your guide meets you at Incheon Airport. An easy evening and a first Korean dinner.
-
Day 2
Jogyesa and the palaces
Visit Jogyesa, the head temple of the Jogye Order, and Bongeunsa among the towers of Gangnam. Lunch is temple food. In the afternoon, Changdeokgung Palace and the lanes of Bukchon.
-
Day 3
To Gyeongju and a night in a temple
Take the KTX to Gyeongju (about two hours). Visit Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the evening check in at a temple stay with a simple dinner, an evening chant and tea.
-
Day 4
Dawn at the temple, then Silla heritage
Join the dawn ceremony and a short meditation, and share a temple breakfast. Later, explore the royal tombs and Cheomseongdae, and see Anapji pond lit up at night.
-
Day 5
To Busan and the sea temple
Drive to Busan (about an hour). Visit Haedong Yonggungsa, a temple built on the rocks above the sea, and walk along the coast at Songjeong.
-
Day 6
Busan at leisure
Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi fish market and the Taejongdae coastal path. Evening free.
-
Day 7
Along the south coast to Yeosu
Drive west along the coast, stopping in Tongyeong for its harbour and cable car, then on to Yeosu. In the evening walk by the harbour and eat fresh seafood.
-
Day 8
Hyangiram Hermitage and back to Seoul
Visit Hyangiram, a small hermitage that clings to a cliff above the sea, and see Odongdo island. Take the KTX back to Seoul (about three hours).
-
Day 9
Departure
Transfer to Incheon Airport for your flight home.
Seasons
- Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for temple stairs and coast walks.
- Winter is cold but clear and quiet; temple rooms are heated from the floor.
- Summer is humid, with a rainy spell that often starts in late June.
Make it your own
Jeju extension, 2 to 3 nights
Add Jeju at the end: a short flight from Busan or Seoul, then the volcanic coast, haenyeo culture, tea fields and Olle trail sections.
Autumn colour edition
Dates in mid-October to mid-November, with the order of stops adjusted so that Seoraksan and the southern temples fall near their usual colour peak.
Spring blossom edition
Dates from late March to mid-April, planned around the blossom as it moves north, with Gyeongju and the southern coast at their best.
What a proposal usually covers
- Hotels, hanok and temple-stay accommodation as listed, with breakfast
- Private vehicle and driver, or KTX and domestic flights where the route says so
- An English-speaking local guide; other languages on request, subject to availability
- Entrance fees and experiences named in the plan
- Airport transfers at the start and end
- Selected meals, as described day by day
Exact inclusions, hotels and dates are set out in your written proposal.
The temple stay, hanok or hotel nights and the south coast visits depend on availability. We confirm the temple and its programme when we send your proposal.
