The Jervis Bay area features several lakes, inlets and calm surf beaches from where you can begin a stand-up paddleboarding adventure. Most locations have nearby parking if you're bringing your own paddleboard, or there are several operators along the coast offering rental, tours and private or group lessons. Paddleboarding in the Jervis Bay Marine Park gives you the chance to be surrounded by colourful sea life including dolphins, eagle rays, penguins, fish and birds.

Fisherman's Village is located near the beach, on the northern coast of Koh Samui. The pier is actually in decay, but the village still retains its charm. The area comes alive every Friday night when the main street is blocked off to vehicles to make space for stalls that sell everything from coconut carved monkeys to clothes and other souvenirs. During the rest of the week, it's still a picturesque place for a walk.

The favelas are Brazil's gloomily famous shanty towns. Once a shelter for war veterans and freedmen, they have now become the symbol of social and economic inequalities in the country. A guided tour of these communities represents a unique opportunity to understand the locals' living conditions, their challenges and their daily struggles. If you have the chance, visit the famous favela named Rocinha to discover a whole different side of Rio de Janeiro. Visits are only recommended as part of a supervised guided tour and may be unsafe to do on one's own.