The Rooms Are Divine

SWITZERLAND
Hospice Du Grand Saint-Bernard
This ancient Alpine monastery has offered refuge to travelers for more than 1,000 years. Today, $51 will get you a bed, views of three public squares and a vista that would make the Von Trapp family yodel in ecstasy.

INDIA
The Golden Temple
Not for the high-maintenance tourist, this vast Sikh temple in Amritsar operates a hostel and a community kitchen. With about

40,000 mouths to feed each day, service is spotty, but who cares? Room and board are free.

SCOTLAND
Dhanakosa
Find enlightenment in the southern Scottish Highlands at this Buddhist hideaway. Retreats on offer combine meditation with everything from photography classes to Tai Chi, starting from $100 a weekend.

KOREA
Mu Sang Sa
This Zen temple, three hours' drive from Seoul , holds twice-yearly retreats. Live the life of a monk or a nun for up to three months without any prior meditation experience, from $175 a week.