15 Temple Workshops & Classes to Book Around the World

1.Silver Jewelry Making Class in Kuta or Uluwatu

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 380 reviews · 3 hours · from $41Our pick

Spend three hours with English-speaking silversmiths in Kuta or Uluwatu, turning 2 to 5 grams of Indonesian silver into one handmade ring, bracelet, or other piece. You choose a sample or bring a workable design, then melt, shape, solder, sand, and polish it with guidance from instructors such as Made.

“Fun and great value for money, the teachers are very helpful and make every step simple. The pieces turned out beautifully highly recommend”

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2.Uluwatu Silver Jewelry Making Workshop with Creation

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 260 reviews · 2 hours · from $46

At Rolling Fork Restaurant near Padang Padang Beach, an English or Indonesian-speaking silversmith guides you through making one silver jewelry design. You can choose from sample styles or create your own, then saw, file, stamp, hammer, and polish 1 to 6 grams of silver into a personal Bali souvenir.

“Such a fun and creative experience! Very hands on and some great options to choose from. Completely obsessed with my ring and excited to do this again in future!”

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3.Calligraphy class at Buddhist temple in city center

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · 1h 10m · from $55Top rated

In central Kyoto, a Japanese calligraphy teacher and translator guide you through brush handling, basic strokes, and your chosen kanji. Work on tatami in a historic Buddhist temple, then finish a shikishi board and receive a small character key-chain. Groups are limited to six.

“This activity definitely surpassed my expectations. We really enjoyed it. Both the teacher and translator did a wonderful job and we learned a lot.”

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4.Best Surf Lesson around Uluwatu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 1h 30m · from $32

Meet Curly at Balangan Beach for a 90-minute surf lesson near Uluwatu. He matches the session to your ability, explains board skills on shore, then coaches you in the water. Boards and rash guards are included, with groups limited to five and English instruction.

“He is an amazing teacher and an incredibly talented surfer. With him, you don’t just learn how to surf — you learn about life, too. If you’re feeling afraid, he’ll help you overcome your fears and guide you into such a powerful mindset that you’ll be amazed. Since my very first lesson, I’ve been able to handle the waves thanks to him. I’m so grateful — thank you so much!♥️🙏🏻🪬🏄🏼🏄🏼”

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5.Chinese Kungfu class in old temple beside Forbidden Ci

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 53 reviews · 3 days · from $45

Meet Limeng and a trained kungfu master in Pudusi, a nearly 700-year-old royal temple beside the Forbidden City. You’ll spend about an hour learning Shaolin-based movements, practical self-defense, and basic forms, with English translation and optional kungfu uniforms available to buy.

“I got lucky and had a one-on-one session. It was my first time trying any martial arts, but my guide was patient and a really good teacher. We had someone there to help us translate and answer our questions. It was located in their home. It was easily my favorite part of our whole trip to Beijing. I learned some valuable lessons for self-defense as well.”

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6.Vegan Temple Food Class, Jogyesa & Changdeokgung Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 34 reviews · from $73

Meet at Anguk Station for a hands-on vegan temple food class with a Buddhist monk, then explore Jogyesa, Insadong, Seoul’s medicinal market, and Changdeokgung Palace. Guides such as Bruce, Gina, Ron, and BJ add cultural context, translation, and practical help along the way.

“This was an amazing experience. The temple cooking class was fun and informative. I enjoyed the dish we made and learned a lot. Our guide, Bruce was a big help translating and teaching us all about the Changdeokgung palace. We also spent time exploring a fantastic art market area. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour.”

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7.Full-Day Private Water Temple Ritual & Yoga Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 31 reviews · from $92

Start with a guided holy-water ritual at Pura Mengening, then spend the afternoon at Tepi Sawah Villa with lunch, pools, rice paddies, yoga, and meditation. English-speaking guides, including Putu and Jero Priestess Luh Manis, help beginners take part respectfully.

“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.”

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8.Kyoto Home Cooking Class ＆Supermarket tour near Fushimiinari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 4 hours · from $127

Cook about five Japanese dishes with Miho in a traditional home near Fushimi Inari, using dashi, seasonal ingredients, and clear English instruction. Eat your meal in a tatami room overlooking a garden, then visit a local supermarket to learn which products to buy at home.

“I loved this cooking class and so would definitely recommend it. The host was wonderful. She was direct and detailed in her directions and was very accommodating. The food we cooked was delicious. The supermarket tour was fun and educational.”

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9.Thai Dance Class at Wat Arun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $71

At a small Bangkok dance school near Wat Arun, instructors such as Jenny, Jan, Ploy, and Thapisa guide you through Thai poses, hand work, and three dances. You will dress in traditional Ayutthayan costume, wear long dance nails, take photos, and share snacks and herbal tea afterward.

“This was the most unique and culturally immersive activity that we did in Thailand! It was way more than a dance class! We got to be dressed in traditional Thai clothing, learned helpful phrases in Thai and background in the culture. Honestly Read more”

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10.Temple Tour and Traditional Calligraphy Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 24 reviews · 1 hour · from $20Best value

Spend one calm hour at Saishoji Temple near Yotsubashi Station. An English-speaking instructor introduces Osaka history, temple customs, zazen, and basic calligraphy. You will write a favorite kanji on a mini shikishi, receive a kanji name card, and take home an 8 cm ceramic plate.

“The staff were very polite and I was able to experience the experience with peace of mind. It was my first time trying calligraphy, but thanks to the easy-to-understand instructions, I was able to enjoy it. Through my time at the KOKORO SHINSAIBASHI TEMPLE Japanese culture experience, I gained a deeper understanding of traditional Japanese culture. The temple experience in particular allowed me to concentrate in a quiet space, which calmed my mind. I found the experience on Google Maps and participated alone, but it was still enjoyable even on my own. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone interested in Japanese”

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11.Kanazawa: Samurai Swordsmanship Lesson at a rented temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 1 hour · from $80

Meet Shin near FamilyMart Kanazawa Saiwai-cho, then head to a rented temple for a private samurai lesson. You’ll dress in a traditional kimono, learn basic katana movements, hear about samurai culture, and receive photos and video afterward.

“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!”

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12.Cooking Class in a former Artist Monastery in the Heart of Monopoli

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $114

Join Marilena in her former artist monastery in Monopoli’s old town for a hands-on Apulian cooking class. Make cavatelli, fusilli, orecchiette, or ricotta ravioli, then finish with homemade-biscuit tiramisu, wine, coffee, and limoncello.

“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!!”

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13.Surf Lessons in Uluwatu for All Levels

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · from $38

Spend two hours learning or improving your surfing with Soulflow Surf Bali. Coaches such as Tangkius tailor lessons to your level, choosing from Balangan, Dreamland, Padang Padang, Uluwatu, and other breaks according to daily waves. Equipment, rash guard, sunscreen, shower, and a locker are included.

“I had a single lesson and I'm a complete beginner... Tank (the coach) was really patient with me and after 15 minutes Theory in the water, with a ton of practical tips. The lesson went 1:50 (10min. shorter than planned, but he said that the waves are now way too big.) So, a very experienced and well-equipped coach/surf shop. Definitely a recommendation.”

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14.Canggu: Surfing Class, Tanah Lot & Kecak Dance Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 12 reviews · 7 hours

Start at 1 PM with a beginner-friendly surf lesson in Canggu, then continue to Tanah Lot for temple views, sunset, and a Kecak Dance show. English and Korean guides, hotel pickup, tickets, massage, and Polaroid photos depend on the option you book. Traffic and crowds can affect timing.

“Sometimes I feel they don’t know what Guides word stand for. First he ask us what we wanted to do the day before. Which is strange for a guide tour. I was prepared so I send him the list of things we had in mind the day before. When the day arrives he was not prepared at all and brought us very far from the supposed destination to a touristic place with no charm that cost us more than the tour itself. A Gojek would have done better. We have stop the tour half way.”

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15.Temple Of Heaven+Tai Chi Class+Tea Ceremony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 6 hours · from $129

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Temple of Heaven, practice Tai Chi for 30 to 40 minutes, explore the echo wall and temples, then visit a tea house for a traditional ceremony. Private hotel pickup is included within Beijing’s fourth ring road.

“This was such a wonderful experience in Beijing. Visiting the Temple of Heaven was unforgettable, but the Tai Chi lesson truly made the day extraordinary. The Tea House visit was another highlight—the owner was so knowledgeable, sharing both fascinating stories and incredible teas. The best part of the entire tour, though, was Candice. She wasn’t just a guide—she felt like a friend, which made the whole experience even more special. It’s a day I will always treasure. I also want to thank the rest of the Beijing Tour Company team for their support. Amber and Kolar, your help with coordinating our two groups was greatly appreciated. We now understand why…”

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