Some people come to Thailand just to see the sacred temples, and even the most die-hard partier will take the occasional break to bask in their beauty. It gives you a chance to relax and take a timeout from the chaos of Thailand in a serene, picturesque setting as well as a get a unique glimpse of Thai culture. Buddhism permeates the heart and soul of this country and factors in to nearly everything they do, so make sure you take the opportunity to see it up close and personal.

But before you do, it’s a good idea to understand basic temple etiquette. Here are 8 rules of temple etiquette to observe on your visit:

1. Dress Properly—When you visit a Thai temple, it is absolutely a necessity to observe the Thai custom of covering yourself properly. While this may be overlooked in some of the touristy temple destinations, it is important to keep in perspective how local Thais visiting the place might feel and you should always follow this tradition.

If the rule is overlooked, it is most likely because of the Thais efforts to avoid conflict. So wear pants and shirts with sleeves. In this heat—Really? Yes, really. It never ceases to amaze me how oblivious travelers in Thailand are to how offensive it is to run around in shorts and tank tops. Many of the temples will carry sarongs or long pants that you can rent in order to enter.

2. Take off Your Shoes—You’d have to be a complete social idiot to miss this one, as the first thing you see when arriving at the temple door is everyone’s shoes sitting outside. Thais believe the feet are the dirtiest part of the body, and it actually makes sense, but to them the feet are also spiritually unclean. Shoes, meanwhile, are absolutely filthy. Whatever you do—take off your shoes before you enter the building!

3. Watch Where You Point Your Feet—When you are sitting or kneeling, it is important not to point your feet at any religious artifacts or statues of Buddha. Watch what the Thais do. Most will kneel with their feet tucked under them and pointed backwards. Because Westerners bodies are built differently and are not accustomed to this position, it can be uncomfortable for long periods of time, so you might want to put them off to the side instead of directly underneath you. This is fine, and many Thais may do the same.

4. Women and Monks—Women should NEVER touch a monk. If you watch monks in public, you will notice they always make an effort to not walk too close to women—especially clueless foreign women. If you even brush up against their robes, they have to spend a day or more physically and spiritually cleansing themselves as well as fasting.

This is one of the main reasons monks have special seating at public events. If you are handing an object of some sort, place it before them on the cloth or table reserved for the purpose. Do not hand anything directly to them. It is best for men to do the same.

5. Donate Some Money—Most temples are able to function and keep running because of the money that is contributed by visitors. Help preserve the temples for what they provide in Thai society and so people after you can revel in their beauty and mystique. There is typically a donation box on site. Hey—you can even write it off on your taxes!

6. Do NOT Climb on Statues—One of the most ridiculous cultural insults I’ve ever witnessed in my life was in Laos when a group of foreigners decided it was okay to sit up on a statue and watch the sunset from a temple situated on a mountaintop—while drinking beer and smoking cigarettes! Even when the lady working the temple kept asking them to get down, they stayed up there taking pictures until a group of us other tourists demanded they listen.

Come on, People! This is just common sense here. Are you determined to give foreigners a bad name? In another case, I read a news story of a man in Bangkok spitting on a statue of Buddha and being beaten to death by onlookers. I’m not sure if he was Thai or Westerner (obviously mentally ill), but it is obvious that disrespecting the religion is very taboo. Use your head.

7. Bring Some Grub—Monks eat by way of food donated by normal citizens. Nobody will demand gifts from you, but it is a nice gesture and a show of your cultural appreciation to bring food. Keep in mind that it must be food purchased or prepared for the sole purpose of giving to the monks. You cannot just give them your leftovers. Maybe you don’t believe in karma, but a little good luck couldn’t hurt, right?

8. Get Involved—I realize that due to your religious beliefs, you might not even be able to consider taking part in a Buddhist ritual, but my own beliefs make this a non-issue. If you are similar, get involved in the temple rituals. Get sprinkled with blessed water by a monk. Make an offering. Wake up early one morning and give alms. It really enhances the Thailand experience.

Before you get intimidated by all the rules and customs, please understand that Thais realize you don’t know their culture and that you will make some basic mistakes. Even their religion is taken with a healthy dose of humor, and it is okay to have a light heart and be playful in a Thai temple. So don’t take anything too seriously. Just try to remember these basic rules, follow the example set by Thai visitors, and enjoy yourself.

For me, visiting a Thai temple puts me in a peaceful, relaxed state and helps me center. I hope this same is true for you.