Relax and Rejuvenate: With Some of The Best Healing Hot Springs Around the World

It’s a good thing hot springs have medicinal properties. Otherwise, an entire cottage industry revolving around people willingly submerging themselves in water heated boiling-hot by active volcanoes and rubbing themselves with mud that smells like sulfur would be quite odd.

However, people like doing this! And have for centuries! Because of the health benefits of hot springs, entire towns have grown up around bathing in these springs from Baden-Baden to Warm Springs.

A renewed interest in wellness has led to a renaissance in healing thermal baths, meaning thermal spa vacations are more popular than ever.

 If you're drawn to the unique charm of geothermal landscapes, start your journey by exploring some of the best hot springs in the world, such as:

White Sulphur Springs, W.V.

White Sulphur Springs is home to a  luxurious Greenbrier resort. Renowned for its championship golf course, its cuisine, and its bunker designed to hold the U.S Congress in the event of a nuclear attack on Washington D.C.,  The Greenbrier exemplifies refined living at its most opulent.

This is a capital-R Resort of the old school, replete with a White House-style main building, starched linen and a  and a front porch spacious enough to host a full graduating class and their extended families.

Its expansive spa includes sulfur baths followed by a “Scotch spray,”  which might just be the most refined way to conclude a mineral soak.

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

 Iceland is a dream destination for those who love the sensation of geothermal energy bubbling beneath their feet—but prefer a more serene atmosphere than tropical locales. When in Reykjavik you can’t miss visiting the iconic Blue Lagoon. This superheated lake is loved by locals and tourists for the fact that it’s neither 38 degrees nor the color of cooled lava.

Whether you simply wade or float in the warm waters, indulge in the swim-up mud-mask bar or opt for a more comprehensive spa treatment with a stay at the onsite hotel, you’ll experience Iceland’s warmth amid its cold. Which is a good and necessary thing.

Chena Hot Springs, Alaska

Alaska is another cold part of the world where hot volcanoes are a fact of life.

Anchorage has several active volcanoes within a relatively short distance, and Fairbanks,  Alaska’s other major city is home to the nearby Chena Hot Springs close by.

 Fairbanks may not be Alaska’s most picturesque destination, but the springs—an offshoot of the Chena River—are nestled in a pristine stretch of central Alaskan wilderness. Nearby, a rustic lodge offers a refreshingly unpretentious alternative to the prim-and-proper elegance of the Greenbrier. Chena Hot Springs are a bit more rugged than many other hot-springs resorts, but for people looking to get their feet wet in the hot-springs lifestyle it’s a great place to start.

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland

When you hear the word “grand” in connection with Switzerland, ou might expect something old, luxurious, and truly impressive and Bad Ragaz doesn’t disappoint.

There’s been a resort at Bad Ragaz for centuries. The latest iteration is more streamlined and ss reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, though accommodations still range from charming, old-world “taking-the-cure” rooms to sleek, modern suites.

Restaurants offer a plethora of cuisines, with a natural emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, and the hot springs are as hot as they were in the 1200s, or so we assume. They’re complemented by slightly newer wellness regimens like hyperbaric-oxygen treatments in a holistic health approach.

Banjar Hot Springs, Indonesia

 Despite the name, a banjar isn’t a musical instrument—it’s actually a traditional Balinese community council. That has little to do with Banjar Hot Springs, a serene retreat on the island of Bali, one of many Indonesian islands shaped by the powerful forces of volcanic activity. You may well ask, why do you need to sit in 100-degree waters when it’s 100 degrees outside? The answer? Mosquitoes can’t swim. That and because the heated waters actually feel refreshing compared to the air around them.

The hot springs are considered a holy place in Indonesia, so commercial development is modest and restricted to an adjoining spa. If you want a hot spring right at your hotel, consider the Mimpi Resort Menjangan, which offers rooms with private hot-spring access.

Takaragawa Onsen, Japan

Japan’s hot springs are called “onsen,” and they’re found near areas of volcanic activity, such as the northern island of Hokkaido.

Traditional onsen baths are often combined with meditative walks through the woods in a practice called “forest bathing.” If you detect similarities between forest baths and the Scandinavian sauna, you’re on to something. Both involve heat, cold and tree branches, though to different degrees.

Takaragawa Onsen looks amazing. The description states, “It follows the stream of Takaraga into the beautiful lodging inside the great nature,” which loosely translated makes it sound like something straight out of a a Miyazaki movie.

The description also states, “It is a hidden hot spa in Gunma, but traffic of people is endless due to television and magazine advertisements,” so if you’re looking for a secluded hideaway that could also be a stand-in  for O’Hare, you’ve come to the right place!

Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Turkey

 Turkey’s dynamic geology makes it a natural hotspot for thermal springs—Pamukkale being one of the most stunning examples.The Pamukkale pools are located in a mountainous, relatively remote part of the country due east of Athens, Greece, as the crow flies, though humans have to navigate across the Aegean Sea and up some treacherous mountain roads to make that work.

Once at the springs, visitors are treated to a nowhere-else-on-earth combination of table rocks with scalding, electric-blue pools and baths built amidst genuine ancient Roman ruins.

If there’s a more spectacular place on earth to rub yourself with steaming mud, it’s news to us.

Tabacón Resort, Costa Rica

 At this point, it might be easier to list the places on Earth not sitting near a volcano. Tabacón sits right in the shadow of Arenal Volcano, where the Earth’s geothermal energy fuels lush rainforests, natural hot springs, and one of the most rejuvenating spa experiences you’ll find anywhere. Tabacón is located near a volcanic national park northwest of San  José and offers the amenities you expect from a Costa Rica resort: An eco-forward profile, locally sourced cuisine, a multifaceted spa, an emphasis on wellness, unique lodgings, and great views of a volcanic jungle.

It’s glorious, luxurious and totally worthy of its five-star rating.

Wherever you choose to take a dip in a hot pool – even if it’s in a hot tub at a Cancun resort – your journey and your stay deserve to be protected with travel protection plus assistance services from Generali Global Assistance.

Our plans can help cover your hot-springs travel, whether it takes you to Yellowstone or halfway around the world.

Get a nice, warm feeling. Get a quote today.

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