The Italian Island of Tavolara, pictured here from across the waters of the Gulf of Olbia, is beautiful nature at its best. It lies off the coast of the town of Olbia on the northeast coast of Sardinia. Olbia is the main destination for ferries arriving from mainland Italy, so Tavolara is often among the first sights seen by visitors to Sardinia.

Mongolia’s long history owes much to a certain gentle beast of burden – the horse. Contemporary tourism has not been blind to the appeal of horses in Mongolia, which outnumber humans almost seven to one. Cultural activities such as overnight stays with nomadic herdsman are popular among travellers, while horse races capture the imagination of locals and foreigners alike. Of course, the pristine landscape of vast steppes, dunes and mountains is heaven on horseback for anyone looking to get away from it all.

These days, untouristed beaches are few and far between, so we can all see the appeal of a story like ‘The Beach,’ which follows a utopian community on a remote Thai island untouched by tourism. The real-life inspiration for Alex Garland’s best-selling book, however, was the undeveloped paradise of Ang Thong National Marine Park, a stunning 42-island archipelago off the east coast of southern Thailand and most easily reached from the laidback island of Koh Samui.

This is a photo of Ruhondeza, the Silverback of the Mubare group of gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. With a worldwide population of approximately 720, mountain gorillas in the wild have been interacted with by only a few visitors to Africa. Each of six family groups has undergone an extremely delicate process so they tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.

It broke away from the Gondwana supercontinent more than 160 million years ago and never looked back. Then, over the course of time, the isolation of Madagascar allowed for the evolution of unique plants and animals. The country’s geographic seclusion has resulted in one of the most biodiverse nations on the planet, but it is also currently one of the most endangered.

Word Environment Day, a celebration since 1972 of positive action for the environment, is commemorated every year on 5 June. In keeping with its aim of raising awareness of environmental issues and inciting action, we have assembled a selection of notable projects flagged by our local partners that showcase how things can be done.

As anyone involved in the ecotourism industry can tell you, there are conservation and environmental challenges in every tourist destination. In Zimbabwe, troubles have surfaced in the area surrounding the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. In recent years, many native animal species have suffered from an increase in poaching.

Every year, curious travellers journey throughout the globe to escape into the untouched wild. The goal: to witness incredible plant and animal life without human interference. The WHL Group presents here five of its favourite national parks, the kinds of places where nature comes first.