The Sepik River is one of two vast tropical river systems in Papua New Guinea that meander through the densely forested lowlands of the world's second largest - and the world's tallest - island. Along the banks of the river and its many tributaries live sparsely scattered, remote villages scarcely contacted by the outside world, where people live a lifestyle that has changed little for thousands of years.

In Thailand's north east, the Mighty Mekong River forms a border between the country's least developed and most unspoiled region, Isaan, and the exotic landlocked country of Laos.

If you have never visited Cambodia before and are limited on time, the highlights not to miss are the ancient, UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, and the Mekong riverside capital of Phnom Penh, once regarded as the Venice of old French Indochina.

Kanchanaburi is Thailand's third largest province lying 130-kilometres west and a comfortable 2-hour drive from Bangkok. The Province is rich in rainforest, lakes, rivers and wildlife, as well as ethnic minority people, and makes for some scenic as well as challenging biking.