The world’s top 5 natural spas

A hot spring holiday will make you feel good while also bestowing restorative qualities; soaking in naturally thermal waters can do wonders for body and mind. Best of all, these natural spas are all open to the public and considerably cheaper than your typical 5-star hotel spa.

Treat yourself at one of these top-rated natural spa destinations, according to global travellers.

Ruisui, Taiwan

What makes the hot springs in Ruisui particularly special is their natural carbonated quality, so you’ll be spared the sulphuric smell of most other geothermal spas. The water here is rust-coloured and rich in iron (among other minerals), so it’s not only soothing but also cleansing and revitalizing for your skin. Enjoy the silky-smooth feeling of sinking into a steaming hot bath, with the choice between a public pool or a private tub.

Berehove, Ukraine

Even when the winter weather is bracing, the hot springs near Berehove offer an alluring sanctuary in the Carpathian Mountains. The thermal water here is especially healing because it contains a rare combination and abundance of minerals.

Kaga, Japan

The Japanese word for a hot spring is onsen and there are thousands to choose from all over the country. But many believe that those found at Kaga are the best; four natural spas found in the mountains – Yamashiro, Yamanaka, Katayamazu and Awazu. You can access the heavenly water via soyu (public baths), which are traditional Japanese wooden buildings with thermal pools draped with weeping willows and flowers.

Quesada, Costa Rica

In the valley of the San Carlos plain, Quesada is a launch pad for volcanic Costa Rica’s multiple hot springs. Deep in the jungle, thermal rivers are guided into jade-green, cloudy pools amid the ferns and palm trees. Indulgent spa houses have cropped up in the area too so visitors can now book mud wraps, exfoliations and other pampering treatments.

Strelcha, Bulgaria

The humble Bulgarian spa town of Strelcha, with its old stone churches and rustic houses, has several hot spring spots in the surrounding countryside. Knowledge of the water’s curative nature dates back to antiquity, so sanatoriums and health centres are ubiquitous. But taking a dip by yourself will be enough to detoxify, ease muscles and all-over tension, with the Sredna Gora Mountains and their thick coat of forest forming the blissful backdrop.