- I booked an overnight stay at a Buddhist temple in Seoul during a recent trip to South Korea.
- The temple stay gave me a chance to participate in various Buddhist ceremonies and meditation sessions, as well as providing a place to sleep and two delicious meals.
- At $41, the temple stay - one of dozens across South Korea - was one of the best deals and best decisions I have made while traveling.
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One month into traveling around Asia, my accommodations have run the gambit.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I stayed in a bunk bed - the last private room available in a well-reviewed hostel that I booked last minute. In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I accidentally booked a hotel room without windows. (I upgraded after two nights. Beware the term "cozy" when reserving hotels online.) I'm writing this article from a bungalow in Koh Lipe, Thailand that overlooks the ocean.
Beach views aside, the best deal out of all the places that I have stayed was found at a Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea.
While preparing for my trip, I discovered South Korea offers a program in which you can stay in a Buddhist temple overnight. Intrigued, I decided to book a one-night program at a temple in Seoul for $41.
The temple stay didn't offer the best sleep of my life or the type of relaxation you might find on a Thai island. Instead, it presented different kind of cultural insight than you'd find at a museum, instructed me on how to reset my mind, and served up some incredible food.
Here is why I would recommend staying at a Buddhist temple to anyone visiting South Korea.