Take the Plunge at These Thermal Pools Around the World
Dive into an oasis of relaxation and rejuvenation at the hottest thermal pools around.
Water has long been used to settle minds, relax muscles, and elevate spirits, so it's no wonder we chose the name "spa" for places focussed on water-related relaxation – it comes from the Latin "health through water".
Around the world, many cultures have developed unique ways of using hot water to rejuvenate the body and the mind. From the Icelandic rituals of hopping between fire and ice to total immersion in the geothermal pools on the Azores and even the luck-bringing – and apparently marriage-saving – baths in the Japanese town of Kinosaki.
No country has a volcanic setup like Iceland. The main streets are heated in winter using geothermal energy and there are heated outdoor pools scattered along the famous ring road that all offer a full-on spa lagoon experience.
Amongst them is the Sky Lagoon, just outside the capital, Reykjavik. Opened in June 2021, it's the latest and hottest addition to Iceland's landscape, combining Icelandic rituals with a slick modern design.
Following the 7-step ritual, visitors move from relaxed bathing at the infinity edge of the main pool directly to the refreshing ice plunge. This is followed up by a warm-up in the sauna, complete with incredible views of the surrounding scenery. Next is a walk through the cold fog-mist to prepare for an invigorating sea salt body scrub to massage away any leftover tension. Rounding off the experience is the steam room and some final relaxation time in the main pool with its impressive view of Mount Keilir.
Millions of years ago a clash of tectonic plates created this unique set of nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. The result is a display of incredible hot waterfalls, open-water pools, and thermal spas all on the main island of Sao Miguel.
Within the two-hundred-year-old botanical garden of Terra Nostra (roughly translating to "our Earth") there's palm tree-lined alleys, bamboo forests, and flower fields, along with a pond-sized thermal pool where the mineral-rich orange waters sit at a balmy 35-40C.
For a more private experience, a walk around the gardens leads to a range of hidden small pools, all surrounded by lush greenery.
The ancient people of Kinosaki attribute the healing power of its onsen, or hot springs, to the onsen guardian. That's why today, the first thing visitors do before entering this city of bathhouses is to pay respect to a statue of the onsen guardian. The short hike up the hill is when the guardian gives consent to your upcoming onsen pilgrimage – a tour through all seven bathhouses and a challenge to become the most relaxed and rejuvenated you've ever been.
If you want to bathe with a specific purpose in mind, choose from the different powers that each house offers: enlightenment at the Mandara-yu onsen, longevity at Kono-yu, or luck in love at Goshuno-yu. No matter which one you go for, relaxation of mind and body is definitely included.
Reach out to our curators and they'll start planning your ultimate thermal experience.
Katharina Kiéck
Having dreamt of becoming a race car driver, Katharina studied to be an anthropologist, worked as a futurist, and tried brand strategy at Twitter before founding her own media production company. When she's not traveling or surfing herself, she's organizing network and surf experiences for people working in tech. Constantly on the move, her Achilles heel is cinnamon buns.
Images rights: Sky Lagoon Iceland, Terra Nostra & Myriad Marketing / Visit Kinosaki.