Twenty-five minutes by ferry from Ibiza, but a world away from its rave scene, Formentera, the quietest of the Balearic islands, combines a handful of villages, a fine collection of dirt tracks and small farms with vineyards and great beaches — including the popular Llevant and Illetes.

Alternative types — many of whom go au naturel on the beaches — have been keeping quiet about Formentera for more than 40 years. Thomson Small & Friendly (0870-165 0078, www.thomson.co.uk ) has seven nights at the three-star Cala Saona hotel from £495pp, based on two people sharing.

Porto Santo

A satellite of Madeira, this island has one thing that its bigger sister lacks — sand. Eight miles (20km) long, this island has few hotels but plenty of wildlife. Telephones arrived only in 1946, electricity didn’t make an appearance until nearly a decade later — Porto Santo is not a hotbed of innovation, but has an austere beauty and isolated beaches. Cadogan Holidays (023-8082 8300, www.cadoganholidays.com ) has seven nights at the four-star Vila Beleira Resort from £382pp.

Gozo

Most visitors to Gozo are holidaymakers from nearby Malta. Notably less touristy than its neighbour, but it has hotels, restaurants and the handsome pedestrianised capital Rabat, topped by the imposing Citadel, originally a fortified town — as well as beaches, including the very pretty Mgarr Ix-Xini. Cadogan Holidays (as above) has seven nights at the L’Imgarr from £424pp.

Comino

Between Gozo and Malta, this is a mere speck in the Med, barely a mile long, with a population of four permanent residents, and excellent beaches. Malta Direct (020-8561 9079, www.maltadirect.com ) has 14 nights at the Comino Hotel for £588pp.

Lampedusa

An enticing slice of Italy, west of Malta and Gozo, halfway to Tunisia. Now that Giorgio Armani and Madonna have discovered nearby Pantelleria, head here for an island few will have heard about. With flights from Palermo or ferries from Porto Empédocle in Sicily, in summer you would be hard-pressed to find a non-Italian visitor. Flights with Air One (00 39 06 478761, www.air-one.it ) from Milan (Linate) cost from £120 return. Siremar (00 39 09 23 545455) ferries cost about £25.

Alónnisos

One of Greece’s lesser-visited islands, Alónnisos beyond Skopelos, demonstrates an appealingly slow pace of life. There are pine forests, fine pebble beaches on the eastern side, uninhabited islands, and thanks to the marine park status, the water is said to be the cleanest in the Aegean. Travel a la Carte (01635 863030, www.travelalacarte.co.uk ) has 14 nights in a villa for £809pp, based on four people sharing.