The small city of Chaiya is one of the oldest in Thailand, dating back to the 8th century when it was the regional capital. It is also the locale of one of Thailand's most famous Buddhist meditation centers, Suanmok, which means "The Garden of Meditation". The temple grounds are spread over 120 hectares of forest and feature an impressive gallery (pictured above) of spiritual art inspired by styles and religions from around the world. Monks at the wat give free guided tours in English, Thai and some Chinese dialects.

Nearby, the affiliated International Dhamma Hermitage holds meditation retreats during the first 10 days of every month, and is very popular with travelers of all kinds seeking a traditional Buddhist spiritual experience. There is no advance registration necessary for the retreat, but a donation for room and board is customary.

K-LEO can answer your questions about the temples and arrange buses and taxis for day trips to Chaiya or overnight accommodations in either Chaiya or the K-LEO guesthouse in Surat Thani.