The Best Private Trips to Book for Your Religious Studies Class

South Korea is a fascinating case study when it comes to faith. This is very much a multi-religion state, with Christianity the most widely practiced (27%), but one belief system has embedded itself into the Korean way of life beyond direct religious practice. Only around 15% of the population regard themselves as Buddhist today, but the religion was brought here in the 4th century, and many of the principles of Buddhism align with that of Korean society, even the non-believing side. To get an understanding of Korean Buddhism is fairly easy, thanks to the tourist tradition of a Korean temple stay, which is included on day six of this itinerary. You’ll be staying the night at Golgulsa, an ancient cave temple dating back to the 6th century. You’ll tuck into two tasty vegetarian meals, take a class in the martial art of sunmudo, as well as archery, and work on your Buddhist chanting and meditation before bed. The trip also includes a visit to Bulguksa Temple and an optional trip to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.

A common subject for religious studies classes is the Holocaust, and the route of this 10-day Rail Trip takes in three of Europe’s most significant cities in relation to Jewish history. We start with a guided tour in the German capital, a city that not only saw huge Jewish populations suffer, but also where much of the political power stood to enforce it. You’ll visit Hitler’s Bunker, the Reichstag and the extremely profound Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe whilst here. Our next city, Prague, is also incredibly significant in European Jewish history. The Czech capital’s old Jewish Quarter offers a vivid historical insight, having been brilliantly preserved over the last century, and is home to the excellent Jewish Museum, which you’ll have plenty of time to visit. Having also stopped off in Vienna and Bratislava, the trip ends in Budapest, another city where huge Jewish populations where displaced and murdered. The city is home to its own Jewish Quarter, as well as the largest synagogue in Europe. Perhaps most profound is the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, which is not to be missed on a visit to the Hungarian capital.