Founded in 577 and last rebuilt in 1720, this Zen temple is nestled among the verdant hills of Seonunsan Provincial Park. Just behind the temple is a 500-year-old camellia forest that flowers around the end of April. Beyond, there are hiking trails that take you to up to the outerlying hermitages.
It's a 30-minute hike to Dosol-am hermitage and just beyond is a giant Buddha rock carving dating to the Goryeo dynasty; the amazing image is carved into the cliff face and is 15m high. On the right is a very narrow grotto, and next to it stairs lead up to a tiny shrine and a great view.
From Dosol-am, you can you can climb up to Nakjodae , and then loop back down to the temple, passing the hermitage Chamdang-am . The total hike should take about three hours.
Seonun-sa has a great templestay (₩50,000) which includes a 'walking meditation' trip up to the hermitages.
