The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe, where the Alps face the Pannonian plains and the Mediterranean meets the mysterious Karst. To the north is Austria; Hungary is to the east; Croatia to the south and Italy to the west. The Slovenian coast of the Adriatic Sea, with its mild Mediterranean climate is a perfect getaway and only a couple of hours from Venice, Italy. In Slovenia, you can experience varied landscapes and amazing contrasts in the same day : a morning swim in the Adriatic, followed two hours later by skiing below Alpine peaks, then an adventurous discovery of Karst subterranean phenomena viewed perhaps from the back of the country's famous white Lipizzaner horse, or an invigorating bath in a thermal spring; an encounter with history in a lively mediaeval city and, not far away, a more solitary stroll through primeval forests or undulating, winegrowing hills.

Always the most westernised and liberal of Yugoslavia's former republics, Slovenia and its homogeneous population of two million people bear virtually no physical or psychological scars from ten days of war in 1991. Adopted into the European Union in 2004, it is today a sweet secure country, full of colourful history and spectacular natural and cultural attractions ranging from the picturesque Julian Alps to the unique, accessible cave systems of Postojna and Skocjan and to the world renowned stud farm situated in the mysterious Karst region, just two kilometers from the Italian border in the southwest corner of this diminutive country. You can be active from morning to evening because the opportunities for sport and recreation are ideal everywhere: in some places it is possible to go horseback riding, and in others you can try high adrenaline sports such as white-water kayaking, skiing, hang gliding or paragliding, you can play tennis and golf, swim in a river or in a swimming pool. There is something for everyone in this amazing diverse country which provides an interesting mix of leisure and recreational activities, or exciting excursions. It could be especially attractive to those who enjoy mountains and lakes, or spending time on the ski slopes. There are more than 7,000 kms of marked mountain trails for hiking and climbing, the countryside provides excellent terrain for horse riding, or you can spend time relaxing on the Mediterranean coast. Slovenia also has numerous natural spas where you can take care of your health with the help of thermal mineral waters or you can also choose to travel back through time in museums, castles, churches and galleries and then go on to enjoy yourself in a local casino.

Slovenia enjoys a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. It has a long tradition of wine production going back at least to the time of the Roman Empire and is well known for its excellent wines and delicious traditional food. The official language is Slovene but English is spoken by many of its charming people. Italian and Hungarian are also spoken in nationally mixed areas. Conveniently located in the centre of the country, the capital city of Ljubljana is an ideal departure point to discover the amazingly diverse features of Slovenia, all within a two hour drive.The young and vibrant spirit of the capital, which has a remarkable agenda of cultural events, often stuns first time visitors. Easy to get to, the country is connected with the rest of the world by a modern highway network, railway system, international airport and seaports.