Korean Buddhism Zen Retreat 12 Days Tour 11 Nights

1ST DAY ARRIVAL - SEOUL

Arrive at ICN airport and welcomed by our representative. Transfer to hotel for free at leisure.

2ND DAY SEOUL

Morning: Jogyesa Temple’s ‘Global Inspiration’ Temple Tour

Single Pillar Gate - Exterior of the Main Buddha Hall - Interior of the Main Buddha Hall - Bell Pavilion - Stupa
Lunch: "Baru Gongyang", formal monastic meal.

Afternoon: 2.5 hour Temple Life program at Bongeunsa Temple, the head temple of the SEON Buddhism - This program is for those who want a brief experience of both Korean and Buddhist culture. Basic programs include the temple tour, tea ceremony, meditation, and making lotus lanterns. Afterwards, visit COEX (Korea convention & exhibition center) shopping mall.

Overnight in Seoul

3RD DAY SEOUL - YONGMUNSA- SHINHEUNGSA, MT. SEORAK

Morning: Yongmunsa Temple in Yongmun Mountain, founded in AD 913 during Shilla Dynasty, National Treasure #531

Afternoon: Shinheungsa Temple, founded in AD652 during Shilla Dynasty.

Overnight in Mt. Seorak

4TH MT. SEORAK- NAKSANSA- WOLJEONGSA TEMPLE STAY

Morning: Naksansa, found in AD 671 during Shilla dynasty

Afternoon: Woljeonsa Temple Stay program starts at 3pm.

Overnight Woljeonsa, MT. Odae

5TH DAY MT. ODAE - ANDONG

Transfer to Andong Hahoe Village which Village has conserved Hahoe Byeolsingut Mask Dance performed by the public in general, and Seonyujulbul Nori-a boat ride and fire play enjoyed by the nobility called Yang ban. The village conserves many cultural heritages which show Korean traditional living cultures and ancient architectural styles. Visit Mask museum.

Overnight in Andong

6TH ANDONG - GYEONGJU

Visit Dosan Confucian Academy - Sacred place of Korean Spiritual Culture

Afternoon: Transfer to Gyeongju and visit Gyeongju National Museum - Free at leisure.

Overnight in Gyeongju

7TH GYEONGJU

Full day Gyeongju tour: Bulguksa Temple, one of Korea's best well-known temples; Seokguram Grotto, one of the Asia's finest Buddhist shrines surrounded by Bodhisattvas and guardian deities; Royal Tumuli Park, displaying a collection of royal Shilla tombs; Anapji Pond, where royal families relaxed and enjoyed themselves; Cheomseongdae Observatory, the world’s earliest known existing observatory.

Overnight in Gyeongju

8TH GYEONGJU - TONGDOSA- BEOMEOSA- BUSAN

Morning: Tongdosa Temple, founded in AD 646, one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea; Famous for not having any Buddha statue at the main temple, instead the real shrines of the Sakyamuni Buddha, SARI, are preserved in it.

Afternoon: Beomeosa Temple, founded in AD 678, got its name “heavenly fish at golden well” from a legend that golden-colored fish had lived in a well filled with golden colored water that never dried up.

Overnight in Busan

9TH BUSAN - HAEINSA TEMPLE- MT. JIRI

Morning: Haeundae Beach & Jagalchi Fish Market

Afternoon: Haeinsa Temple, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, home of the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, engraved on 80,000 woodblocks between AD1237 and AD1248.
Transfer to Mt. Jiri National Park, where the time stops and nature begins.

Overnight in Mt. Jiri

10TH MT. JIRI - SEOUL

Morning: Hwaomsa Temple, founded in AD 544 by a monk from India during Baekjae Dynasty. The name Hwaom comes from the ‘Avatam Saka Su tra’ or Flower Garland Sutra in English, one of the most influential Mahayana Sutras of East Asian Buddhism. Cross country drive to Seoul.

Overnight in Seoul

11TH DAY SEOUL

Free Day. *Optional Tour Available

Overnight in Seoul

12TH SEOUL - DEPARTURE

Transfer to Incheon Int’l airport & Departure