Thailand is growing as a popular cycling destination and for great reasons: with an abundance of local restaurants and lodging which are safe and inexpensive, the roads are in excellent condition, there aren’t many hills and around every corner is a unique experience from golden temples, to isolated villages, breathtaking scenery to name but a few. The capital Bangkok is connected to the world by frequent and high quality transport links and it’s generally no problem to throw your bike on a bus, train, tuk tuk (or even a pick up truck) to cover some stretches.

Be warned that in the Thailand, the weather is generally, hot, hotter or unbearable. The heat and humidity can be tough for some people to handle. You’d be smart to do as the Thais do and nap in the shade during the hot midday hours and you’re likely to end most days dripping in sweat and with a quenching thirst.

Most first-time cycle tourists spend a few days acclimatising in Bangkok, visit the key tourist spots and generally try to get a look and feel of the culture.

These could include the northern city of Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi – famous as the home of the Bridge over the River Kwai – and Ayutthya, the ancient capital of Thailand.

Heading south, there’s no shortage of beaches to explore, from quieter haunts on the east coast to popular resorts like Ao Nang on the west coast. Exotic islands spring up on both sides.

There are many national parks to see like Khao Yai with waterfalls and wildlife, although be aware of the two price entry fees for visitors and Locals. A better option may be to base yourself outside the park and take a tour with a company like Green leaf. The south of Thailand is known for heavily built up resorts like Phuket but you can also find out-of-the-way fishing villages. If you really want to avoid the crowds, try cycling the north-east province of Isan, the least visited in all of Thailand, or along the border with Myanmar.