Temple, shrine & monastery tours
Every trip has one free morning too few. These 12 temple workshops & classes justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get back to the fun part.
Learn Japanese calligraphy in Kyoto at a Buddhist temple, with patient instruction, a handmade souvenir, and a quiet tatami-room setting.
“Great activity for our family, with an original print to take home. Both Jose and the Japanese instructor were very knowledgeable, patient and helpful. They complemented each other well. Highly recommended!!!”
Practice practical Shaolin kungfu in a 700-year-old royal temple beside Beijing’s Forbidden City, with English translation and cultural insight.
“Very special activity by a sunny morning in a relic temple in a hutong. Very special souvenir with the professor (he was very very strong !!) Thank you to the guide to who was very lovely. I recommend definitely”
Review of Seoul’s vegan temple food class, Jogyesa, Insadong, medicinal market, and Changdeokgung Palace, with practical tips and value advice.
“the tour was amazing, throughout the whole day we kept being surprised by the quality of the tour and services provided, BJ was such a professional, a note also that it was PRIVATE i booked the slot and i was pleasantly surprised by the VIP treatment !! 🔥 not forgetting of course that the cooking class was so informative 👌 the tour was so convenient for foreigners also, make sure to take classes on saturday btww that's when the classes are in english !!”
Review of Bali’s private water temple ritual, villa lunch, pools, yoga, and meditation retreat, with practical tips on timing, value, and access.
“Great trip, very relaxing. The driver was very nice and timely. Putu was the guide for the water ritual and yoga which was amazing. I was a beginner at Yoga and Putu was very understanding and accommodating. She is amazing and can't recommend this tour enough.”
Learn Thai dance at Wat Arun in costume, with traditional nails, music, snacks, and patient instruction in a small Bangkok class.
“This was more than a dance class. Upon arrival, you are costumed in a traditional dance costume, complete with jewels and headdress. Jan, the instructor offers a brief history of the various dances throughout the Kingdom. By the end of the Read more”
Explore My Son’s Hindu temples, a riverside terra cotta workshop, rural villages, and local noodles on a private Da Nang tour.
“We had an amazing day with our guide John. My Son and the pottery village is definitely worth a visit and John was a very knowing and friendly guide, who made the tour so much more enjoyable. Doing the tour in the jeep is a fun twist that makes the transportation an experience itself. We would definitely recommend this tour.”
Practice Japanese calligraphy, meditation, and cultural traditions at Saishoji Temple in Osaka for just $20 per person.
“I had a truly wonderful time at the calligraphy experience. The experience at Saishoji Temple was calming, and it was very refreshing to experience the state of "nothingness." The time to move the brush slowly and concentrate was truly luxurious, and I'm grateful to have been able to experience it in Shinsaibashi, away from the hustle and bustle. I participated alone, but it was a time of quiet self-reflection, and it's a wonderful memory. I found this service on Viator and highly recommend it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a spiritually cleansing experience.”
Review of Kanazawa’s private samurai swordsmanship lesson, with kimono rental, temple setting, instruction, photos, videos, price, and practical tips.
“Thank you Shin for the great experience we had! We enjoyed our lesson in Samurai techniques and had great fun with dressing up. My son was also very pleased to be able to test the Japanese frases he learned from the dragon ball with you. We would recommend this activity to all, it felt very special to be in a traditional temple also during the lesson. We have not been able to download the photos yet but will do it as soon as we get home. An additional plus to this activity: you get plenty of photos and videos taken by Shins friend. Thanks again and all the best!”
Make pasta, ravioli, tomato sauce, and tiramisu in Marilena’s former artist monastery in Monopoli, with wine and a shared meal included.
“Great cooking class in the heart of Monopoli, such a convenient location as well as a great class. Marilena was an excellent host, welcoming us into her home which was a cool and artsy space. The lesson portion of the evening was a lot of fun and very informative, making three different types of pasta as well as delicious tiramisu. Highly recommend!!”
Review of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, Tai Chi class, and tea ceremony, with practical advice on price, guides, transport, timing, and value.
“Mon guide jackie est très sympathique. Il m'a bien expliqué l'histoire du temple du ciel. Ensuite nous avons fait un cours de thai-chi qui s'est très bien passé. Jackie s'est montré patient et très professionnel. Pour finir j'ai participé à la cérémonie du thé. J'ai bu le meilleur thé de ma vie entouré de personnes très agréables. Je recommande ce tour et surtout le guide Jackie !”
Review of a private Bangkok tour pairing the Grand Palace, National Museum, riverfront lunch, tuk-tuk market visit, and Thai cooking class.
“We had an incredible private tour, visiting the Grand Palace, the National Museum, and finishing with a Thai cooking class. Our guide was fantastic, offering deep insights into Thai history and culture. The cooking class was a true highlight, where we learned to make authentic dishes in a beautiful setting. Highly recommend this tour for a perfect blend of history, culture, and culinary adventure!”
Review of Luang Prabang’s pottery and cycling tour, with a Mekong ferry, Wat Chomphet views, village lunch, and hands-on clay work.
