The peaceful and tolerant nature of the Thai people is legendary in South East Asia where they are regarded as humble, hospitable and easy going. Combined with 13th century history, fantastic scenery and great, but not too difficult cycling, in areas where few tourists go, you have all the ingredients of a truly great discovery bike ride.

The nation of Indonesia stretches along an equatorial archipelago numbering nearly 18,000 islands in total. Encompassing several ecosystem types as well as straddling the boundaries between the Oriental and Australasian faunal regions, Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth.

The diverse Lesser Sunda Islands, stretching eastwards from Bali, offer the most amazing landscapes and a glorious cornucopia of weaving for textile lovers.

Off limits to Westerners till relatively recently, Vietnam is the South East Asia that Elvis knew.