Seoul Korean Shamanism Half-Day Guided Tour

Ito ang isa sa mga pinakanatatanging karanasan ko sa Seoul. Ang walking tour sa Inwangsan ay tumagal ng halos dalawang oras at ang bilis ay napakakumportable. Tiniyak ng aming gabay na si Ethan na ang lahat ay makakapagpahinga sa pag-akyat, kaya hindi ito naramdaman na minadali. Maganda ang paglalakad, at ang mas matataas na tanawin ay nag-aalok ng nakamamanghang tanawin ng cityscape ng Seoul. Nakatuon ang tour sa Korean spirituality at sa kasaysayan ng Korean Shamanism. Ipinaliwanag ni Ethan kung paano nagsasagawa ng mga ritwal ang mga shaman, nagpaparangal sa mga espiritu, at kung paano naiimpluwensyahan ng mga tradisyong ito ang kulturang Koreano ngayon. Dumaan kami sa isang dambana at isang maliit na tindahan na nagbebenta ng mga souvenir at insenso. Ang highlight ay isang personal na pagbabasa ng shaman. Ibinahagi ng shaman ang mga insight tungkol sa aking enerhiya at spirit guide, at isinalin ni Ethan ang lahat. Ang karanasan ay naramdaman na tunay at hindi inihanda para sa mga turista. Lubos ko itong inirerekomenda para sa sinumang naghahanap ng kulturang Koreano, espirituwalidad, at mga natatanging karanasan na higit pa sa karaniwang mga tour sa Seoul.

One of the most unique and memorable experiences you can have in Korea—this tour is absolutely worth booking! Even though we arrived late and missed Ethan's email, he was very understanding and still welcomed us to the experience. The tour was engaging, educational, and gave us a deeper understanding of Korean shamanism and its cultural significance. Along the way, we enjoyed beautiful views and a cool evening breeze, which made the atmosphere even more special. I learned so much, had a great time, and left with a newfound respect for the culture. If you want to experience a side of Korea beyond the usual tourist attractions, don't miss this tour!

Si Ethan ay isang napakagaling na gabay at napakatalino, hindi lamang sa shamanism kundi pati na rin sa kasaysayan at kultura ng Korea. Binigyang-diin niya ang pagkakaroon ng bukas na isip kaya alam mong ligtas ang tour! Nakapagbigay kami ng hiling sa tuktok ng bundok na isang napakagandang nakakapagpakalmang karanasan. Kahit hindi ka espirituwal na tao, ipapakita sa iyo ng tour na ito ang isang bagong bahagi ng Seoul, makakapaglubog ka sa kalikasan, makakakita ng magagandang tanawin, at matututo tungkol sa kasaysayan at mga kuwento ng Korea.

Napakahusay ni Ethan sa paggabay sa tour at pagpapaliwanag ng mga pundasyon ng Korea at Korean Shamanism. Parehong ang tour at ang Shaman reading ang aking binook, at lubos kong inirerekomenda ang dalawa. Mahusay magkuwento si Ethan, at pagdating mo sa tuktok, hindi mo halos mararamdaman na nag-hike ka. Bago ako nag-book, nakapag-research na ako tungkol sa Korean Shamanism at marami akong personal na tanong tungkol sa mga bagay na aking naramdaman at naranasan. Ang makita ang mga altar at sagradong lugar nang personal ay nagbigay ng mas malalim na konteksto, at ang reading ay nakatulong upang linawin at kumpirmahin ang maraming bagay para sa akin. Kinakabahan ako sa hindi ko alam, ngunit malakas ang aking pagnanais na gawin ito, at sulit na sulit ito. Nakatulong ang pagkaalam ng Korean, ngunit hindi ito kinakailangan dahil mahusay magsalin si Ethan at may alam din sa Ingles ang Shaman. Ito ay isang niche tour, ngunit isang malalim na makabuluhan at nakapagbukas ng isip. 10/10 ang rekomendasyon. ❤️ PS: Sa reading, iwasan ang magtanong tungkol sa mga yumao maliban kung talagang kinakailangan. Ito ay kumukonsumo ng enerhiya, at ang mga Shaman ay tao rin. Maraming salamat muli sa 무당 선생님!

Ethan was the brainchild behind this tour and an awesome guide. He’s a wonderful storyteller who really knows how to set the mood as you ascend the mountain and immerse yourself in its mystical atmosphere. The place has a really strong spiritual energy, and if you’re someone who’s sensitive to these things, you might just feel a thing or two. I decided to consult a shaman during the tour, and I have absolutely no regrets. It was such a fun and unique experience, and the shaman definitely gave me some new perspectives on life. Would highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for something a little different, meaningful, and memorable!

Overall, one of the most unique experiences from my rent trip to Seoul. The tour involves about two hours of walking and hiking with quite a few stairs, but our guide, Ethan, made sure we had plenty of breaks while sharing interesting facts and stories along the way. The nighttime views of Seoul from the mountainside were beautiful, and there was also an opportunity to purchase candles and make a wish near the top. Definitely a memorable trip.

The tour was nice & promptly - easy to follow. Ethan is our tour guide and he's very attentive to all of the guests, taking frequent breaks along the trails as the stairs quite steep & knowledgeable about the history of Seoul in general & deep stories about shamanism & we got to see the rituals today as well! Definitely once in a lifetime experience to see where the locals go & learn about the history & especially the people! I also did the shaman reading which the shaman is very lovely & Ethan is very patiently explaining to me about my reading which was another experience I've never tried before! 10/10 recommended! Thank you so much for such a lovely tour!!

Very impressive tour that guide around area that tourist probably never head to on their own - also very authentic and not those setted ground for tourism purpose. Ethan is a vivid, energetic, patient and caring storyteller that has in-depth knowledge towards Korean folklore and Shamanism, who are always willing to share his knowledge and recieve random questions from the group. In addition, it is lucky to have joined the optional Shaman reading experience. Being able to visit a Shaman and having one-to-one session to experience the spiritual culture is one of the most unforgettable part of my Seoul trip. Highly recommended for those who are looking for beyond-typical experience in Seoul.

Fue una experiencia increíble. Como alguien interesada en el chamanismo y la espiritualidad cumplió con todas mis expectativas. Ethan fue muy detallista, nos contactó con anticipación para darnos toda la información necesaria, ajustó el horario para que todos pudiéramos vivir la experiencia completa y durante todo el recorrido nos dió una explicación muy interesante sobre el lugar, sobre historia coreana y sobre la cultura del chamanismo. Durante el recorrido pudimos orar para pedir un deseo y a pesar de ser una montaña no se sintió pesado porque nos dió las pausas necesarias para descansar. Definitivamente lo recomiendo altamente y volvería a tomar el tour completo en mi próxima visita a Corea.

So I came to Seonbawi rock with my Filipino sister last year to pray and the benevolent spirits residing there had granted my wish. I received a major major miracle and I promised that I would visit again as gratitude. Honestly, if Ethan didn't start this tour I would have broken my promise because my sister back in the Philippines can't come with me, and I don't want to risk going alone at Ingwangsan as a foreigner, who knows what would happen. 😅 I really liked that Ethan is considerate and prepared, even gave us some mosquito repellents. Our pacing during the hike is also good. I also enjoyed the stories he told us. It was a surprise to hear folktales and legends that I haven't heard of yet. If the benevolent spirits at Seonbawi Rock made my wish come true this year, I would join Ethan's tour again next year October and that is a promiseeee~ I hope we can witness a 'gut' in the future 🏞️🥹🙏