Located in the municipality of Manciano, the town of
Saturnia with its eponymous hot springs and nearby waterfalls
is one of Italy’s most surreal sites, so it’s surprising that it
remains unbeknown to the majority of tourists. Said to have
markedly different but equally relaxing properties, the water is
believed to cure an array of maladies ranging from acne to
tonsillitis.

The 17 tiered pools of Pamukkale hang from the side of a valley
in
Turkey‘s picturesque southwest. Made up of centuries worth of
calcium-carbonate deposits, these travertine terraces overlook the
city of Denizli, their sparkling blue waters reflecting the

Aegean sky. Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish, and
it’s here you will find ruins of Hierapolis, the Greco-Roman
city.

A continuous efflux of carbon dioxide forms bubbles in
New Zealand‘s champagne pool which is aesthetically pretty
similar to the drink (though unfortunately not in taste). Teeming
with microbial life, cerulean blue waters contrasts with a
rust-coloured outer ring due to 900 years of mineral and silicate
deposition. Note that this one is not safe for either swimming or
drinking.

sit at the foot of a canyon in the green heart of Villarica
National Park, where 17 hot-spring pools are connected by suspended
wooden walkways and waterfalls. The set up means you can spend a
relaxed day getting lost on the meandering paths, soothing sore
muscles in the healing heated waters.

At 14,764 feet above sea level, Yangpachen hot springs are the
highest on the planet and produce the majority of the electricity
used by
Tibet‘s capital, Lhasa. Offering Panoramic views of the
snow-capped peaks of the Nyainqen Tanggula mountains, they provide
the perfect place to unwind with your head well and truly in the
clouds.

While most of the ice in Antarctica never melts – and the sea is
almost always below freezing – along the shoreline of Pendulum Cove
you’ll find hot springs that often surpass 70 degrees. When the
polar heat sources meet, the waters reach an equilibrium that is
perfect for bathing in. Previously a whaling station and then a
British base during WWII, Deception Island is one of the world’s
eerier hot-spring locations.

Located at 2,790 feet and requiring a challenging mile-long hike
through forest to reach, the hot-spring pools of Jigokudani
Shibu Onsen are some of the most secluded and magical in the
world. Share a dip with local Japanese Macaques, watch skiers shoot
down the slopes nearby or simply sit back and relax in the
therapeutically warm waters before heading into the picturesque
town of Yamanouchi for lunch.

Immersed in the Fuyuan Forest, the Butterfly Valley is home to
Fuyuan’s waterfalls and hot springs. Reachable only on foot, they
are set among lush cypress trees and rock formations with brightly
coloured butterflies flitting overhead, making for a hot spring
experience which is hard to beat.