My wife and I started our own ‘slow travel’ mission. For the past four months, we have been checking out the natural world in and around Sydney – starting in our own backyard. We were amazed – thrilled, even – at what we found. In the large tracts of mangrove forest and bushland, we couldn’t see any hint of suburbia. Instead, we encountered many different species of plants and wildflowers.

Deep in the South Pacific, in the Solomon Islands, is an atoll called Rennell Island. Like so many other natural World Heritage Sites that have gained UNESCO recognition for their unique biogeography, Rennell faces a dilemma: It wants to realise its high potential for ecotourism, but this can only happen if the infrastructure remains basic and little or no development is imposed on the area’s natural and cultural attractions. Can this precarious balance be achieved?

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, in northeastern Brazil, is an area of appeal for both the traveller on a quest for adventure and the vacationer in search of peace, quiet and balance. From 4×4 excursions on 10-meter high sand dunes to quiet walks on the beach and dives in the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, travel in Lençóis Maranhenses has something for the nature lover inside all of us.

Lijiang, China, is a charming city in the heart of Yunnan province, a region notable for its ethnic minorities. Lily Zhang, a local Naxi woman who grew up in a beautiful Naxi village about 15 kilometres from Lijiang City, is the whl.travel local connection in Lijiang. As a Lijiang local, Lily shares the top 5 things to do in Lijiang while on a Lijiang holiday.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND PORTUGUESE. Home to the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world, South Pantanal, in Brazil, is an incredible ecological wonder, a wilderness area full of forested hills, seasonally affected but perennial waterfalls, rivers, lagoons, meadows and exotic wildlife, including jaguars.