15 of the most gorgeous hot springs in the world

Hot springs are one of Mother Earth’s most incredible tricks, and a humbling peek behind the curtain about our planet. You might not think very much at all about the ground under your feet, but a hot spring is an eye-opening (and awesome) reminder that there’s a whole lot more going on under there than meets the eye.

Tucked high in the peaks of the Himalayas, the Yangpachen Hot Springs is the highest altitude set of hot springs in the world at 1280 metres above sea level. Since the water rests at 70 degrees Celcius and has to be cooled down before bathers can wade, Yangpachen doesn’t have to close with the seasons.

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The first thing you’ll notice about the Banjar Hot Springs is its tints of yellow and red. Chalk it up to the water’s high sulphuric content, which is also responsible for its famous healing and soothing elements. Intricately carved dragon head fountains feed the springs’ three-tiered pools, surrounded by kilometres of Bali rainforest.

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Dubbed “Fairyland on Earth,” Huanglong National Park is magical not only for the colour-changing waters of its hot springs but for the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys and Giant Pandas the forest is home to as well. The terraced hot springs spill over into one another for around 3.6km, earning the nickname “Yellow Dragon”, as the pools resemble a dragon’s scales.

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The water in this 1000-year-old spring embarks on quite the journey to get there, flowing down from the slopes of Tuscany’s Mount Amiata. From there, it follows an underground course, slowly filtering into the spring’s thermal pool through micro-cracks in the rock. It takes 40 years for the water to arrive at its final destination. Legend has it the springs formed when Jupiter threw lightning bolts at Saturn – and missed.

For people who thought only scientists or a krill visit Antarctica –  this island has already deceived you. Just a few hundred kilometres from the southernmost tip of Chile, the active underwater volcano that formed Deception Island keeps the heat hidden just a few centimetres below the surface. All you need to do after taking a dip in the Antarctic is dig a few centimetres in the sand to access its geothermal heat.

Located in Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the third-largest hot spring in the world. Its mesmerising colours of orange, yellow, green, and blue are only one of its crowd-drawing attributes. Its maximum depth is 120 metres and its diameter is an impressive 112 metres. The spring’s average temperature is 71 degrees Celsius.

Pamukkale, which is Turkish for “Cotton Castle,” is Turkey’s most visited tourist attraction. And after seeing these incredible hot springs, we understand why. The springs almost appear to be “hanging” onto the side of a cliff, creating a remarkable natural phenomenon. Pamukkale is also rich in history – it’s located beneath the site of the very well-preserved ancient Greek-Roman city of Hierapolis. Who wouldn’t want to bathe and walk where the Romans once did?

Situated in an 800-year-old lava field in Iceland, Blue Lagoon is truly a natural wonder. The lagoon holds nine million litres of geothermal seawater, which has temperatures ranging from 36 to 38.8 degrees Celcius. According to the Blue Lagoon website, “In this subterranean frontier of porous lava and searing heat, seawater and groundwater converge, giving rise to a hybrid fluid known as geothermal seawater.” Not to mention, the lagoon’s maximum depth is only 1.5 metres, making it an incredibly ideal and easy place for relaxation.

Not only is Thailand one of the most budget-friendly places to travel in the world, but it’s also home to the breathtaking Jae Sorn Hot Spring. Nestled among rocky terrain in Chae Son National Park, this hot spring has an average temperature ranging from 80 to 100 degrees Celsius. While it’s particularly beautiful during its misty morning hours, the spring’s warm waters create a beautiful ambiance at any time of the day. It’s also common to cook eggs in the hot spring; eggs can be purchased at nearby stands.

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