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David Beckham has admitted he loved the anonymity of riding through Brazil's Amazing Rainforest on a motorbike, but his journey wasn't without its challenges.

The football star, who explored the world's largest rainforest on two wheels earlier this year for a BBC documentary, admitted that the freedom he experienced was amazing, but he struggled with sleeping in a hammock and not being able to wash as often as he liked.

Speaking to comedian and adventurer Michael Palin in a special interview, the former England player said he realised that after decades as a footballing superstar he hadn't had a big adventure so decided to plan the Brazilian odyssey.

Cultural journey: Beckham explored the Amazon area of Brazil for the special BBC documentary which will air on June 9

'I retired 12 months ago and my life has always been a schedule. I realised I'd never done anything like his with friends,' he explained.

'I wanted to do something that we would all enjoy - I'm a big bike rider and it was a trip I really wanted to do.'

The star decided to travel with three of his closest friends, Anthony Mandler (a world-renowned photographer and video director) Derek White (an experienced motorbike rider) and best friend Dave Gardner who he's know since they were 14.

The global star admitted that the anonymity riding the bike afforded him was amazing.

'When I have the helmet on nobody knows it's me. When I'm on a bike it's one of the few times that I feel free - so bikes were a big part of it for me.'

But while Beckham looked forward to his adventure, it seems some were worried about how he would cope.

On the road: David Beckham explored the Amazon by motorbike with three of his best friends while filming the 90-minute programme

Footage form the documentary shows Brooklyn predicting his dad will struggle with spiders in the jungle, while wife Victoria jokes that he will need to wear a hat 'the whole time' to cover his messy hair.

The four friends set off to Brazil, just a few months ahead of the World Cup, to explore the wilds of the rainforest for a 90-minute BBC Documentary called 'David Beckham: Into the Unknown'.

Set to air at 8.30 on BB1 on June 9, the programme will see the friends fly in to the rainforest city of Manaus - where England are set to play Italy - and racking up the miles as they head into the wilderness, bed down in hammocks and even catch and fillet their own fish, before cooking them on the open fire.

In one part of the remote jungle, young children asked the star what his forest back home was like and what his job was.

When he explained he was a footballer, the children didn't know what that was and the star joked that it was the first time he had to explain the game, except to Victoria.

In conversation: Michael Palin interviews David Beckham about his adventure in Brazil, which was filmed for the BBC

Party time: David Beckham arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Carnival

The football star was in Rio de Janeiro to take in the world famous Carnival and to star in a advert campaign, thought to be for a motorbike brand

Easy rider: He was spotted shooting the commercial, which saw him walk out of a building, put on a helmet and ride through the streets of Rio de Janeiro

In the interview with Palin, himself famed for circumnavigating the globe for various BBC documentaries, Beckham admitted he had practised sleeping in a hammock at home before embarking on his trip.

But despite testing it out with Victoria and his children, he said he only slept for 30 minutes on his first night under the jungle canopy. It was only when someone 'taught' him how to sleep comfortably that he finally managed to get the hang of it.

However, the star did admit that the lack of washing facilities did get him down.

'I am a clean person, so that was pretty tough for me,' he said.

Swoon! The sports star was pictured hanging out of his hotel balcony when he first arrived while friends took his picture

Enjoying himself: The star appeared to be taking in the sights as he looked at the view pensively

Down to business: Beckham was in the area as he has a sponsorship commitment but then travelled on to the Amazon to film the documentary

Despite the hardships, the star admitted he was a dab hand at making a fire.

And he certainly seemed to bond well with the locals, particularly when he met members of the remote Yanomami tribe, who have interacted with very few westerners.

Photos show him carrying a young child on his back as well as a moody black and white image of him posing with his motorbike.

Beckham said the team took quite a difficult route through the rainforest, admitting there were a few 'dodgy roads along the way'.

But the star said the journey was 'exhilarating', and didn't ever regret the experience, even when he nearly fell off his bike after hitting some ridged in the road, following two solid days of rain.

'That was probably the worst that we came up against, but it was fun,' he told Palin. 'I'd do it all over again.'

While some of the roads were dangerous, Beckham said he never felt that the situation was life-threatening, but said he wouldn't want his boys doing it.