Most monasteries extend a warm welcome to foreign guests and in remote areas will often offer a place to stay for the night. Maintain this good faith by observing the following courtesies:

Always circumambulate gompas and other religious objects clockwise, thus keeping shrines and choertens to your right.

Don't touch or remove anything on an altar.

Don’t take prayer flags or mani stones.

Don't take photos during a prayer meeting. At other times always ask permission to take a photo, especially one using flash. The larger monasteries charge photography fees, though some monks will allow you to take a quick picture for free. If they won't there's no point getting angry, you don't know what pressures they may be under.

Don't wear shorts or short skirts in a monastery.

Take your hat off when you go into a chapel.

Don't smoke in a monastery.