Life has never been so fast-paced. Our days are dominated by constant demands: appointments, deadlines, emails and texts; spurred on by the endless march of technological innovation. According to a new study, we now spend more time on our smartphones and tablets than asleep, and by 2015 it is predicted that we will consume an average of 15.5 hours of media a day.  It’s no surprise, then, that more and more of us are looking for an escape. Celebrities such as Mia Farrow, Steve Jobs, Oprah and now the supermodel Gisele have chosen to get as far away from modern life as possible by enrolling themselves on silent retreats. What better way to recover from a frantic summer than a stay in total silence to recover your serenity?  This autumn, the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen kicked off the A-list trend with a silent holiday in Costa Rica. For three days she attempted to get in touch with her inner Zen through silence and meditation. We know this because the 34-year-old posted a picture of herself on Instagram next to the hashtag "#goinginward", which had more than 81,000 ‘likes’. I hope she understands that the phone won’t be able to stay.  If you, too, fancy a moment of total calm (and we really do mean a calm. When Telegraph writer Charmain Evans went on one such retreat recently, she discovered a place where even reading and writing was banned), then here some of the places you should consider visiting…  Located on the coast of Costa Rica in a forested valley, this retreat markets itself as “an oasis of an alternative lifestyle” with a “transformative spiritual voyage”. Sounds blissful.  Simple Peace Retreat Hermiatage, Assisi Italy  Stretching from one to three weeks, this hermitage retreat is set in 25 acres surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland in the ancient town of Assisi. You’ll experience relative freedom at this retreat, as trips into the town are encouraged in the afternoons after a day of meditation.  If you’re looking for somewhere a little closer to home, this silent meditation retreat in the Buddhist tradition might be the thing. You’ll be guided by experienced Dharma teachers from around the world, and will learn meditative movements and the benefits of total silence.  This is an eco-community offering a restorative sanctuary. Your days will be filled with yoga and meditation in an open air octagon tent surrounded by nature and “garden-to-table organic cuisine”.
The supermodel Gisele has been away on a holiday that demands total silence.   We have a look at the best places to experience the sound of silence this   autumn