Guided Tours

Samye Ling hosts visits by a variety of groups, including schools.

We run our guided tours from Mondays to Fridays and these can be arranged in advance for a minimum of 10 people and a maximum agreed with our tour guide.  As tours are booked by groups, usually a school or college for educational purposes, it is not possible to turn up and join an existing tour, so booking your tour well in advance is essential.

Types of Tours

- Day Tours:

We offer day tours, which entail a tour of the temple and stupa, the chance to attend a Buddhist prayer session, guided meditation and an opportunity for questions and answers.  Normally these tours are held between 10.30am and 3pm, though the times are negotiable.  We can hold these tours for a minimum of 10 people and the charge for adults is £6 per person and children £3 per person.

- Overnight Tours:

We also offer an overnight programme which provides a more in-depth experience of living in a Buddhist monastery.  We can organise these tours for a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 30 people.  The charge for adults is £15 each and children (16 years and under) £6 each - in addition to the normal accommodation rate. There are special rates for visiting school parties (see below).

We regret we cannot host overnight tours during course times, mainly Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as our accommodation will be in use.

- School Tours

For day tours the charge is £3 each (both pupils and teachers).  Please read information for day tours above.  For overnight tours the charge is £6 each (both pupils and teachers) - in addition to the normal accommodation rate.

Overnight school tours normally stay in the dormitory accommodation in Johnstone House, there are 18 female spaces and 15 male dormitory spaces.

Booking Tours

In order to book your guided tour or for more information, please contact tours@samyeling.org.

Coach Route Instructions

If you are arriving by coach please take care to not allow the driver to drive through Sibbaldbie, the road is narrow and there is a sharp turn over a narrow bridge which most coaches cannot navigate and have to reverse over a mile to get out, often causing damage.

Please use the following route:

Leave the motorway at J17, from the south turn right over the motorway bridge, from the north turn left, down to the roundabout.

Turn left at the roundabout.

Follow the road until you see an overhead bridge with the saw mill on the right, turn right just before the bridge onto a short slip road up to a T junction.

Turn right at the T junction.

Follow that road through to Samye Ling.

What to Bring

To ensure a safe and comfortable visit, please ask everyone to bring sturdy shoes, warm clothing and some waterproof clothing, including an umbrella.  You will be asked to take off your shoes on entering the temple and dining room.

Bring a packed lunch or arrange beforehand with Reception to have lunch in the Samye Ling dining room (£5 per head).  Refreshments are also available in the Tibetan Tea Rooms.  If you are staying overnight it is advisable to bring a torch as we do not have street lighting here.

Contact Details

To book a tour contact tours@samyeling.org by email or write to:

Samye Ling Tours
Kagyu Samye Ling
Eskdalemuir
Dumfriesshire
DG13 0QL