Just near the Grand Palace in Bangkok is the Wat Mahathat, which houses the Vipassana Meditaion Centre. And this beautiful, peaceful place is open to all to learn mediation.

For some, meditation might seem a little airy-fairy, but these lessons – taught multiple times every day – are definitely worth a try.

The only rules are that attendants follow a few Buddhist Precepts (the basic Buddhist code of ethics, kind of like commandments). Those are: no harming living beings, no stealing, no lying, no drugs/booze and no sex. Also, if you attend the classes, you’re asked to wear all white.

You’ll have to be pretty serious about giving this a try, obviously – because there is no half-stepping. You can’t sit down and zen out for a while and then go get a beer with your merry gang of backpackers. But perhaps, after a few days of said gang of backpackers, this could be a way to focus on something else and get some peace, quiet and a different perspective.

Wat Mahathat is at Thanon Maha Rat Phra Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok.