Travel analysis: The price of peace - The rise of silent retreats

From the hustle and bustle of Manchester airport, frantic airport dads hurrying their families to the correct gate, blaring announcements that seem to compete with one another, and a sea of people positioned inconveniently in the way, to the tranquillity of a forest monastery deep in Northern Thailand, the contrast could not be more dramatic.

Here, the only noise is that of birds, wind rustling through the trees, and the crunching of leaves beneath your feet. No talking, no phones, no distractions, just quiet.

For travellers exhausted by modern-day connectivity, silent retreats are becoming a sought-after escape, writes Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather.