From here, it’s well worth an out and back two or three-day excursion to Nong Khiaw before riding on to Pak Beng.

Next up, cross the Mekong and spend a couple of days riding to Sayabouri (Xayaburi). From here continue over the mountains to Kasi before taking the main road back to Luang Prabang for a wild ride through a region of Laos few ever get to see.

This is a demanding but extremely rewarding tour that can take a week to complete.

The Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Long known as one of the great treks of the world, Nepal has increased road access along the Annapurna Circuit, now making it a prime challenge for adventurous mountain bikers.

The full circuit is between 160km and 230km, depending on the trails taken, and is now well-covered by organised tour groups and solo riders.

With long and high-altitude climbs topping out at the Thorung La pass, which reaches 5,416 meters, before descending to Lower Mustang this is a tough but stunning challenge.

The fastest known time for a mountain biker on the route is 21 hours, although most people take around 10 days to cover the distance.

The Four Rivers Trail, South Korea

Spanning a large part of South Korea on the 633-kilometre way between Seoul and Busan, the Four Rivers Trail is one of the world’s best long-distance cycling routes, and makes for an ideal bike packing or touring route, and is one that is not too physically demanding.

The well-surfaced trail rolls through picturesque countryside as it follows the rivers, and it is well blessed with camping, hotel and guest house options along the way.

Spring, summer and autumn are the best times to tackle this five to 10-day tour.

Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

The imposing Mount Kinabalu towers some 4,095 meters above Sabah in Malaysian Borneo and is the region’s highest peak.

From the Kinabalu Park headquarters the main ascent rises steeply through an incredible and diverse rainforest to reach Laban Rata, which is where climbers spend the night in one of the mountain huts.

Some do summit on the same day and then return here for the night, although most make the climb through the early hours with the aim of reaching the top for sunrise, when you can see right across to the city of Kota Kinabalu.

Climbing permits, a guide and a booked bed on the mountain are obligatory. Only 130 climbers a day are permitted on the mountain, and so you are best to book with a local agent in advance.

This is not a technical climb, but it is very physical, and acclimatising is advised. The mountain is also home to Asia’s highest via ferrata routes – roped and exposed mild rock climbing – which needs to be booked in advance, and is ideal for the more adventurous climbers.

The March-September dry season is best, but you can usually climb year-round.

The Chadar Trek, Ladakh, India

Trekking through the Zanskar Gorge in the remote Ladakh region of the Indian Himalayas makes for one of Asia’s most spectacular winter adventures.

As the river freezes over it provides the only route in and out of the valley, which is famed for its Buddhist culture and remote monastery.

The Chadar trek is 105km long in each direction, and requires you to carry camping gear, lots of warm clothes and provisions. It takes around four to six days of moderate but slightly tricky high-altitude hiking.

Permits are obligatory, and are available in Uttarkashi, and local guides and porters are highly recommended. The only time for this trek is during January and February.

Ak-Suu Transverse trek, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has gained enormous popularity with adventure seekers in recent years, and with such amazing scenery and time-locked culture it’s easy to see why.

This 109km trek through the eastern Karakol area of the country takes around a week to complete and passes through the craggy alpine scenery and lakes of the Issy-Kol region.

There is almost 7,500 meters of elevation gain along the way, and so it’s a physically demanding trek that means carrying your gear and supplies, but it requires little in the way of technical mountaineering skills.

Trail maps and GPS files can be found online, although it’s a good idea to hire a local guide and possibly even porters, which can be arranged locally at the start point in Jyrgalan village.