Thai action
Don’t just laze on a beach in Thailand, head to the interior’s jungles, mountains and rivers. In Chiang Mai province, Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon, rises 2,575m above sea level. Clothed in lush forests, the surrounding hills are homes to hill tribes. You can take guided treks here, by foot or riding elephants. The most popular trails are in Doi Inthanon National Park, where over 300 bird species and various wild orchids can be seen.The Mae Nam Ping (Ping River) runs through Chiang Mai, and this is an opportunity to paddle over rapids, surrounded by greenery. There are many local tour operators that will pick you up from your accommodation in Chiang Mai city. See www.tourismthailand.org for details of how to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.

Heaven for climbers
Named by early Mormon settlers, the Joshua Tree National Park’s famous trees were thought to point the way to the Promised Land. Today the desert park has become a mecca for modern-day explorers and is home to palm-studded oases, ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings) and spectacular rock formations. Visitors generally head to the cooler, wetter, western section with its trademark trees and rocks – now known as the Wonderland of Rocks, the area is a sweet shop of climbs and hikes. Headstone Rock and Saddle Rock are favourites with experienced climbers, while Echo Rock is where rookie climbers can test their mettle. The park is three-hour drive from San Diego. For more information about climbing in the park, visit: www.joshuatreerockclimbing.com

Canoe tour
Ancient, shallow-rooted pines perch on quartz-rich white rocks in the unspoilt and remote Killarney National Park, an eight-hour drive from Toronto. You can arrange canoeing tours through Killarney Lodge ( www.killarney.com ), where you can stay from £29.50 per night. Paddling from lake to lake, you can camp out at the designated spots, and get from lake to lake by means of portage – which means carrying your kit, canoes and paddles over to the next lake along a path. You can see kites, moose, and even black bears out in the wild, if you are lucky.www.ontariotravel.net/uk

In the Conquistadores’ footsteps
The Camino Real tour in Panama is a jungle- hiking adventure from one side of Panama to the other (Pacific to Caribbean). This trek passes along the Camino Real (King’s Road) built by the Spanish in the 1500s, as they took gold across the Central American isthmus to meet galleons bound for Spain. Dense rainforest has overgrown the Camino Real, so this is a demanding expedition with ample opportunities to spot wildlife.Journey Latin America offers an eight-day Camino Real trek from £636, including transfers, four nights of hotel accommodation, three nights’ camping, mainly full-board, and an expert guide.www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Dramatic landscapes
See some of New Zealand’s mountains, rivers, glaciers, alpine lakes, waterfalls and rainforests by air, by foot and by boat, in a James-Bond style adventure organised by Discover the World. On the ‘Siberia Experience’ you take a short flight from Wanaka to the start of a three-hour trek through the Mount Aspiring National Park, and then take a jet boat ride back to the start. All in all, the trip takes four hours, and there is a 45-minute transfer from Wanaka, costing £109. The trip can be added to Discover the World’s 21-day New Zealand self-drive trip.www.discover-the-world.co.uk/new-zealand