Tao Abundance Temple, Seoul's most-important Buddhist Site
Joined 2022
Doseon-sa was founded around 1100 years ago just beneath the three main peaks of the Triple-Horns Mtn, Seoul's sacred & prominent guardian (a National Park), by one of Korea's greatest Buddhist masters. It has remained the most religiously important monastery of the Seoul area ever since always crowded with sincere Buddhists. It has several unusual features that will be pointed out and explained to your group. There is a large ancient standing Buddha statue designated as a National Treasure.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Any Metro-Subway Station, your Hotel lobby, or other.
Downtown or Uptown Seoul
Depart from our meeting place -- your hotel or other site, and travel by subway trains, rented car or taxis (extra cost) to far-NE Seoul, then up to the temple near the Bukhan-san National Park Entrance.
Lower Doseon-sa, the Tao Abundance Monastery
We will walk through the lower and outer grounds, seeing grand views of the pine forest and the city area far-below, learning about the long history and Feng-shui character of this grand temple, including tales of its remarkable founder, Korea's first "National Master". We will see many interesting monuments, including a huge complex stone memorial for a great/important 20th-Century master, whose accomplishments will be recounted.
Upper Doseon-sa, the Tao Abundance Monastery
We will tour the upper and inner courtyards, seeing a grand view of the rocky peaks soaring above. Visiting all the main buildings, we'll see several unique shrines for great heroes of Buddhism and Korea's modern development, and I will explain everything with artistic details and several more colorful stories. The capstone is a large ancient standing relief-carving of Buddha designated as a National Treasure, said to have been sculpted by Maser Doseon himself about 875 CE.
Lower Doseon-sa
We will be departing the temple, heading back down to urban civilization. There are some great Korean restaurants at the gorge's bottom, if you wish to partake. Otherwise, we'll have you back where you wish to be (or on the way) by 13:30, four hours from the start.
Ending Point
Your hotel, or any place downtown, as you wish.
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guiding Fee
Transportation costs for us all, meal, snack, drinks. There is no entrance fee.
Tour Important Information
I am a well-known expert on both Korean Buddhism and Korea's folk-religion traditions, and will give a fascinating tour! You will learn a lot about Buddhist beliefs & history, and folk-buddhist practices, and see some amazing photo-perfect sights! Many great short stories will be told...
Transportation is an extra cost, and can be done however you wish; I will explain the options. It's best to avoid the morning rush-hour (7:30-9am).
Should not be done in a medium or heavy rain; light rain is possible, but blue sky is best!
Important message from the supplier
I do this full-time now, any day -- but only in Spring & Autumn.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2022
About Tour Guide David a. M.
I have been a Professor of Korean Cultural Tourism in Seoul, and a Tour-guide, Lecturer and Author on Traditional Cultural Sites, especially religious ones, on the high-end, for 25 years. Wrote the 1996-7 edition of Lonely Planet's KOREA guidebook!
Reviews
Kelioniu A.
“Perfect day in Seoul with David”
David's knowledge and charisma is extraordinary, we all had amazing time, learned a lot. On a separate note, special thanks for effective communication prior to the tour. Highly recommended!
Jeanine B.
“A Full Day and Then Some...”
Dave is a wealth of knowledge about Korea and its history. Also about modern day Seoul. This introduction was well worth the time and money. The day was well organized and even during a difficult weather day, David got us through the city and provided good links between current day and historical.
David a. M.
Thanks Jeanine; I really enjoyed doing this with you! We had a fascinating day, despite the weather... I hope you return someday! David
Jeanine B.
“Wealth of Knowledge”
David has a wealth of knowledge about the events leading up to the Korean War, and the war itself. I learned a great deal about something that's affected my family my entire life.
David a. M.
Thanks Jeanine; I really enjoyed doing this specialized tour with you! It's really important that we understand the Korean War in-detail, including the five key controversial turning-point decisions made by the most powerful actors... We had a fascinating morning, despite the bizarre weather... I hope you return someday! David
$395/ per group
More tours by David a. M.
Full-day Intro to Seoul and Korean History
This is my standard and very popular Itinerary for this ~8 hour tour: it can be adjusted for individual preferences. Its intention is to be a fascinating orientation & overview of Seoul "old & new", with introduction to who the Koreans are, and the key points of their history and customs. We can move faster and see more, or take our time and see a bit fewer sites; it's all up to your personal style. I will be telling colorful stories all along the way. You will learn so much, and in context!!
Half-day Intro to Seoul and Korean History
This is my most popular standard tour, perfect for any visiting Korea for a serious first look. It walks us through the best sights of Seoul's historic central downtown area, very close to each-other, while I tell the relevant colorful stories at each brief stop. It is completely flexible on the timing and number / nature of the sites visited; all depends on where I pick you up and drop you off, and just what you want to see and do. On this system I also offer a full-day version of this tour.
Korean War Museum and Memorial in Central Seoul -- a good alternative to the DMZ
I don't recommend day-trips to the DMZ -- the JSA remains off-limits due to North Korean policy, and anyway most of what you see is just barbed-wire fences and various monuments; a trip there does not give insight into North Korea nor about the 1950-53 war. The long trip driving up there & back is not worth your precious time. There is a very good alternative, which is this gigantic compound in the middle of Seoul -- a large museum of the Korean war & outdoor display of weaponry from that era.
Royal & Shamanic Shrines of Benevolent King Mountain
Would you like to see some scenic sites that are "truly Korean" and yet quite unusual? This tour is really "off the beaten path" but is also right above downtown Seoul, on Mt. Inwang-san, Seoul's center of Shamanic practices, and a park with relics of the Joseon Dynasty's royal & spiritual-nationalist heritage. These are rarely-seen yet fascinating sites overlooking the busy modern power-centers. This unique walking-tour climbs a few steep slopes on paved paths, but it's worth it!
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Seoul
Central Seoul Walking Tour ; From Gwanghwamun Square to Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley.
Gwanghwamun Square connects the Joseon Dynasty and modern times. The view of Bukaksan Mountain and Gyeongbokgung Palace from Gwanghwamun Square is just like a landscape. Let's go on a journey back to the past at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. We can tour antique shops and galleries along the Insadong Cultural Street. Jogyesa Temple is worth visiting. Lastly, Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley has pretty cafes, restaurants, and stores while maintaing traditional Korea houses.
Full-day Intro to Seoul and Korean History
This is my standard and very popular Itinerary for this ~8 hour tour: it can be adjusted for individual preferences. Its intention is to be a fascinating orientation & overview of Seoul "old & new", with introduction to who the Koreans are, and the key points of their history and customs. We can move faster and see more, or take our time and see a bit fewer sites; it's all up to your personal style. I will be telling colorful stories all along the way. You will learn so much, and in context!!
Seoul Downtown Walking Tour - the past and the present
From the serene atmosphere of palaces and old traditional villages to the bustling traditional markets and streets, you will see and experience real life in Seoul. I will help you explore the hidden gems and stories!
Gangbuk Seoul (Northern district of Hangang River in Seoul) one day tour
This is the highlight to cover the traditional district in Seoul(called "Gangbuk"). You will learn overall Korean history including Seoul, life passages of Koreans(from birth till after death) and Korean democracy evolvement. You will feel the beauty of traditional architecture harmonized with modern buildings in Seoul. This tour covers visiting old palace, folk museum, city stream, old city wall and etcetra. For more description, refer to the itinerary below.
