Build your own raft out of timber and rope and let it take you downstream along the serene Ume River. Experience nature up close and personal. Let the endlessly bright summer nights of the north create a lifetime memory. Feel free to go ashore whenever you wish, wander through the forest, or rest in a picturesque clearing. Pull up on a beach for a swim, or fish whenever the mood strikes. Your guide will assist in building the raft. Choose to embark on a one, two, or seven-day rafting adventure. Sleep on the raft or in a tent, and if you like, a box packed with typical Västerbotten food can be provided for you. You'll cook your own meals over an open fire or on a portable stove.

Surrounded by a lavish garden in the northwest of Chiang Mai you will find the Wat Chet Yot Buddhist temple, with its 7 peaks (pagodas) on top of the structure. It is thought to have been built in the 15th century during the Lanna period, and it is a centre of pilgrimage for those born in the year of the Snake. Imbibe the fascinating culture and learn about the temple's interesting history.

This fish market is a sight in itself, where fishermen sell their catch of the day and experts fillet large tuna in the back. But what is really special about this place is that you can purchase what you want from the market stalls and take them to any of the surrounding eateries to be prepared however you like, ensuring one of the freshest meals you've ever had.

For some insight into Cape Verde's more recent turbulent history, visit Colonia Penal de Tarrafal, a prison and concentration camp nicknamed 'Campo da Morte Lenta' (Camp of the Slow Death). It was used to keep political opponents of António de Oliveira Salazar, the right-wing dictator who governed Portugal in the mid-20th century. It is a harrowing, but important visit.