A small country that packs a big punch, Slovenia regularly tops destination popularity polls. This is not a beach holiday destination, having only a short stretch of crowded coast. Instead, there is excellent walking, lots of small, high-quality hotels, interesting cuisine, fast-improving spas, and a range of organic hill farms that take guests. It also has cheap flights, with easyJet into Ljubljana and Ryanair into Klagenfurt and Trieste, both close to Slovenia’s borders.

There’s a lot of variety in its 20,000 square kilometres. The northern part is dominated by the southern slopes of the Alps, cradling lakes Bled and Bohinj. Pastoral valleys filled with vines and hops spread east, while the west is rough country of karstic limestone, filled with caves. Ljubljana is a delightful, cultural little city, a southerly Prague.

If you're single...

...and holidaying with mates
The small town of Bovec in the Soca Valley, close to the Italian border, is popular with adrenalin junkies. A mountainous, riverine setting means that canyoning, paragliding and hydrospeeding are at your fingertips, but the town also has a range of welcoming cafés and bars, where you can enjoy winding down after a hard day of adventure.

The English-run Hotel Alp (00 386 5388 4000, www.alp-chandler.si) offers B&B from £19 a day, but you can also book via Crystal Active (0870 8880266, www.crystal-active.co.uk), which offers a week in early June from £489pp or two weeks in August at £998pp, including flights, transfers, bike hire and half-board.

...and want lots to do
Myriad alpine plants, birds and butterflies will keep you busy on Naturetrek’s “Alpine Flowers of the Julian Alps” trips. This is a single-centre walking holiday that explores a variety of habitats, stopping for picnics and returning to a comfortable hotel serving organic food and wines in Ukanc, on the shores of Lake Bohinj.

The eight-day trip starts on July 1 and costs £895pp including flights, transfers, accommodation, meals and guides. Naturetrek (01962 733051, www.naturetrek.co.uk).

...and want to indulge
A stylish escorted tour of Slovenia’s highlights is available from Headwater. Starting in Ljubljana, you’ll stay in the Grand Union Hotel, an Art Nouveau property with a rooftop pool, and then head down to the coast at Piran, with wine-tasting en route. You end up at Lake Bled in the opulent, five-star Grand Hotel Toplice.

Price: £919pp includes flights, B&B plus four dinners and guided programme. Headwater (01606 720199, www.headwater.com).

If you're a couple who...

...like to do very little
Sample one of Slovenia’s spas. The four-star Vitarium is the newest addition to the Smarjeske Toplice Health Resort — one of the largest in Slovenia. Set on the site of three thermal pools in a botanical park, this hotel offers a range of treatments and facilities, plus anti-stress and anti-ageing programmes. For the reinvigorated there are tennis courts and riverbank walks.

Seven nights in June is from £565pp, 14 nights in August is from £895pp, including return flights to Ljubljana, transfers and half board. Holiday Options (0870 4208372, www.holidayoptions.co.uk).

...love to do a lot
Inntravel offers walking in the Julian Alps. The seven-day trip takes in lakes Bled and Bohinj, with delightful routes linking villages. Guests stay in comfortable hotels and at the four-star Hotel Vila Bled, once the summer residence of President Tito.