Slovenia

You might have a to squint at a map to spot Slovenia, but for a little country in central Europe it packs an adrenaline-fuelled wallop.  There are the Alps running along the north; pristine lakes, karst caves and forests abound in the middle; plus a snipped of Adriatic coastline to the west.  Combined, they make the perfect playground for adventure-seekers. Here’s our guide to the biggest thrills.

Wellness tourism is nothing new in Slovenia. It's countryside is seriously idyllic - especially in and around Lake Bled to the mountainous nations north-west. It was here that pioneering Swiss wellness expert Dr Arnold Rikli established a 'healing institute' in 1855, prescribing a strict meat-and-booze-free diet, and a routine of hikes in the hills and swims in the lake, much of which was to be done naked for maximum sun exposure.

Experience Macedonia's Pristine Powder
Skiers looking for perfect powder, that fluffy, untouched stuff of dreams and snow that's all but guaranteed love Popova Sapka in northwest Macedonia, which one reviewer called "the Balkans' St Moritz".  Set at 1,700m up in the rounded peaks of the Dinaric Mountains, Popova is higher than most of its Eastern European competitors meaning good cover is pretty much a given from January to March (the town's simple, effective slogan is: 'We have snow').  No wonder, then that it's hosted both the European and Balkan Ski Championships along with the Sarplaninski Cup, which was launched at Popova in 1947.  Wide, open runs combined with plenty of incredible off-piste terrai and great value accommodation mean Popova is one of Eastern Europe's best kept ski destinations.