World's Best Natural Spas

The peoples of the ancient world already knew that bubbling mineral waters and gurgling mud pools are good for the body and the sprit. Yeah, there is nothing more relaxing than immersing your body in the hot, thermal waters that soothe away your worries and pains. Thanks to our generous nature there are hot springs all over the world, and some of the countries are truly blessed with hundreds of amazing natural spas.

Here they are: 

1. New Zealand

If you are an eager bather, head for New Zealand, home to absolutely amazing nature and natural wonders. The country can boast hundreds of thermal hot pools, from bubbling mineral hot springs to mud pools. Known as waiariki in Māori, the hot springs have been used for therapeutic purposes for ages in New Zealand. Among the most popular geothermal areas is Whakarewarewa near Rotorua, which has around 500 pools.
New Zealand has such enormous thermal activity that in many places the hot waters are located just beneath the ground and all you need to do is to dig your own pool and relax.

2. Iceland

The ultimate destination for geothermal bath lovers is, of course, Iceland. This isolated land of geysers, glaciers and volcanoes (what a mix!), is home to about 250 thermal areas forming around 800 hot springs.
The famed Blue Lagoon, a huge natural spa, is one of the most visited attractions in the country. Rich in minerals, the waters of the Lagoon are reputed to have a number of therapeutic uses.
Besides, the geothermal waters heat about 85% of the households in Iceland - apparently, a supply of hot water is cheaper than a supply of cold water in the country.

 3. The Czech Republic

Have you ever heard of the Czech Republic being one of the most popular balneological destinations (by the way, balneology is the science of the therapeutic use of thermal baths) in the world? This little landlocked country in the Central Europe is home to more than 30 health retreat resorts where you can find an array of spa centers, thermal baths and mineral pools. The West Bohemian region has the highest concentration of spa treatment resorts in the Czech Republic where five most important spa centers are: Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne, Frantiskovy Lazne, Lazne Jachymov and Lazne Kynzvart.

4. Turkey

Turkey is a heaven for natural spa addicts. With around 1,300 thermal springs throughout the country, Turkey is one of the richest states in the world in terms of geothermal activity. This is thanks to the country's strategic location above a geothermal belt and seismic fault. The country, dotted with marvelously located hot springs and spa resorts, will not disappoint even the most demanding bathers. While ‘spaing' in Turkey, do not forget to visit one of the traditional Turkish steam baths called hamam that can be found in every town of the country.

5. Costa Rica

A part of the Pacific Ring Fire Circle, Costa Rica is home to around 200 volcanic formations. Thanks to the volcanic activity, the country has become one of the world's most rewarding hot spring destinations. Be it mud baths, mineral pools or thermal hot springs, spa facilities can be found throughout the country. Among the most popular destinations for thermal retreat are Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja and the Miravalles Volcano.

6. Hungary

Bathing culture, brought to Hungary by the Romans and then developed by the Turks in the 16th and 17th century, has become an essential part of the Hungarian tradition. Today, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is often called the Spa Capital of the World. It is the only city on the globe with natural hot springs within the city's limits.
Among the absolutely stunning and amazing spa areas is also Lake Hévíz, which is the largest thermal lake in Europe. Hévíz, the famous town of spas that emerged on the shores of the lake and surrounded by picturesque hills, has been a spa destination throughout the ages. The healing power of the lake's water was known even to the ancient Romans.

7. Japan

A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting an onsen - a Japanese term for a hot spring. As a volcanically active country, Japan has literally thousands of hot springs scattered along its islands. The thermal baths can be found in many types and shapes, including outdoor and indoor baths. Every town and region has its share of hot pools, often accompanied by ryokan, traditional Japanese style inns where one can experience traditional lifestyle of Japan.

The Colorful Trips of a Lifetime

Call me a color freak but I'd rather think of myself as a sophisticated connoisseur of tone whose world is not built of prime colors but defined by firebrick red, mint green, misty rose and indigo. The nature is a visual feast of shades and the Architect has painted the world a myriad of hues to caress your senses, stir your mind and inspire your artistic soul. So go for it and don't trek the world passing the simplest of beauty unnoticed. Sharpen your senses and embrace the variety for you surely deserve a life in Technicolor.

1. Golden Imperial Dunes, California

For the yellow and pure golds head for the Californian Imperial Sand Dunes, sometimes called the Algodones. Bordering with Arizona and the Mexican state of Baja California, this sandy patch of enormous dimensions stretches for 72 km and has 10 km of width. The prevailing northerly and westerly winds blowing from the dry bed of Lake Cahuilla have sculpted the landscape into marvelous forms making the site an off-roaders' and photographers' paradise. So if what you're looking for is scenic scenery of gold and yellow hues, awesome opportunities for a bit of solitude, unless you happen to share the spot with maniac OHVs, and rare fauna and flora, the mega sandbox is there for you.

 Imperial Dunes, California.

2. Lavender fields of Provence, France

For an uplifting and mind calming experience choose Provence whose lavender carpets  soothe the nerves and give the highest  of eye delights. Mind-stirring and stimulating, this picturesque part of France is famed for its soft light and vivid landscapes of pastel colored beauties which many an artist, Picasso or Van Gogh to name just two, found inspiring enough to produce outstanding masterpieces. Although the cultivation of lavender goes back to the last century, its healing properties have been appreciated since antiquity. So to spice up, or should it be 'herb up', your Provence of historic fortified medieval towns of Avignon and Aix-en-Provence or the ancient Roman towns like Orange and Arles, just find your lavender-clad fragrant beauty spot and let the purples and violets do their magic tricks.

 The lavender fields of Provence, France. 

3. Turquoise Tongariro Lakes, New Zealand

A hypnotizing  turquoise beauty somewhere along Tongariro Trail in New Zealand is a trio of turquoise-colored lakes which owe their remarkable tint to the volcanic minerals dissolved in them. The landscape of solidified lava flows,  yellow sulfur specked rocks  and active vents emitting steam and sulfur dioxide gas takes your breath away almost literally. And although the walk is surely not a comfy one, either,  with sharp-edged volcanic rock and shifting scree underfoot, your pain shall be made up for with the amazing view of the three, uniquely rare in color, lakes.

 Turquoise Tongariro Lakes, New Zealand.

4. White icebergs of Jökulsárlón, Iceland

You're bound to freeze here but surely with awe first. This bizarre seascape of black and white icebergs, snow caps and ice splinters cutting the blue waters of the Jökulsárlón Lake make the visitors agape and shiver. Situated at the south end of the glacier Vatnajökull and around 400km from Reykjavik, the waters of this glacial lake are the largest in Iceland and sport an awesome palette of white, black and blue. The freezing lagoon is a popular destination for cruisers to see and hear the icebergs breaking off the mighty glacier. So wrap up warm, put some protection cream and sunglasses for the dazzling whites are there to blind you!

 White icebergs of Iceland.

5. Emerald Lake, Canada

The mesmerizing emerald jewel shimmers and murmurs in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. The water here marvels with rare peaceful beauty of blue and emerald shades dotted with sparkles of light. The unique color results from fine particles of glacial sediment, also referred to as rock flour, suspended in the water. This nature gem stone, with its pine and cedar wooded slopes, is enclosed by the President Range, Mount Burgess and Wapta Mountain of rugged peaks and makes a perfect hideaway for those yearning for some unwinding treatment of cross country hiking and canoeing.

  Emerald Lake, Canada.

6. Heather Ilkley Moor, England

Serene and brimming with charm,  the Ilkley Moor carpets your walks along the countryside with a thick lush rug of purple heather. Nothing is more relaxing than a leisurely stroll along the moorland's winding pathways with a palette of those amazing violets, greens and browns spreading under your feet. On your way, look out for The Cow and The Calf, also known as Hangingstone Rocks, a rock formation consisting of large boulders resembling the animals and Ilkley Tarn, a lake to give you endless tranquil walks around. And why don't you hum the  popular Yorkshire anthem 'On Ilkley Moor Baht'at' which was inspired by the moorland scenery? That will make the picture complete.

  Heather Ilkley Moor, England.

7. Fiery Monument Valley, Arizona

Fiery red and surreal, the Monument Valley on the Arizona and Utah border will take  you through a hell of reds and flames of orange. The site, bristling with free standing sandstone rock forms rising majestically up to 1,000 feet, creates a magical desert landscape. One which is an epitome of truly western America and famed backdrop of a number of Cowboys-and-Indians shots. The isolated red mesas and buttes surrounded by an arid sandy desert provide not only pic-ready dramatic vistas but also outstanding hiking and vehicle tours to make your tires burn for the most of unforgettable adventures. Hellish awesome!

Fiery Monument Valley, Arizona. 

Keep alert for the natural born color seeker never gives up his or her hunt for hues, shades and tones! Let the photos inspire you and feel free to add destination choices of your own. May the Color be with you! :)

The Remotest Places For Lonely Traveler

Isolated, lonely, remote and hard to get to - such destinations have always tempted travelers with their beauty, magic and inaccessibility. Infinite steppes of Siberia or eternal glaciers of Greenland, though majestic looking, become less seductive when you picture living there permanently.

 

5. Siberia.

 Lake Baikal. Siberia. 

Siberia, the land of endless steppes, is one on the last unspoiled tourist destinations in Asia. Geographically it is bounded to the west by the Ural Mountains and to the east by the Pacific and Arctic drainage basins. Its northern border is the Arctic Ocean and it extends to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China in the south.

Although it makes up about 77% of Russia's territory, it accounts for only 25% of Russia's population. There are about 36 million people living in on an area of 13.1 million sq km (5.1 million square miles), so its population density is really low.

Siberia. 

Baikal Lake 

Winter in Siberia. 

 4. The Pitcairn Islands.

Astronaut Photography of Pitcairn. By NASA

Lost in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, the Pitcairn Islands are four volcanic sisters named Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno. They are located about midway between Peru and New Zealand and the nearest (30 hours by boat) island where people can be found is Mangareva in French Polynesia. There are 48 people living permanently on Pitcairn, while the other three islands are uninhabited. According to Lonely Planet it is one of the remotest places on earth.

Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands. 

Pictarin Island 

3. Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego.

The remoteness of Tierra del Fuego is fascinating. This beautiful archipelago shared by Argentina and Chile sits on the tip of the South American continent. Ushuaia, the archipelago's biggest city, holds the title of the World's Most Southerly City. The  subpolar oceanic climate in the region, with long winters and short chilly summers is pretty unfriendly, but there are always some travelers around eager to reach the end of the world.

The lighthouse in the Beagle channel. 

Tierra del Fuego. 

Tierra del Fuego. 

2. Greenland.

Greenland's Glacier. 

Greenland is the world's largest and truly far-away island, situated between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic. Around 80% of its territory is covered with ice, so the little space left for people is inhabited by only 57,600 people - the island has the world's lowest population. The dramatic beauty and breathtaking alien-looking landscape of eternal glaciers make Greenland a totally unique, though a bit lonely destination.

Oqaatsut village, Greenland.

Greenland's glacier. 

Kulusuk, Greenland.

1. Tristan da Cunha.

Tristan da Cunha.

Last but not least, Tristan da Cunha is the most tucked away and isolated inhabited archipelago in the world. The group of volcanic islands (Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale Islands, Inaccessible Island and Gough Island) is situated 2,816 kilometers (1,750 mi) from South Africa, and 3,360 kilometers (2,090 mi) from South America. Tristan da Cunha, which is the only inhabited island of the archipelago, has no airport, so it can be reached only by boat. The little society on the island comprises 271 people who live mainly in the Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, the island's main settlement.

Tristan da Cunha houses.

Tristan da Cuhna.

 Tristan da Cunha. 

 In the long run loneliness can be heartbreaking, but a day or two of complete isolation in those places must be a lifetime experience. What do you say?

Most Amazing Caves and Grottos

Used for shelter or as religious sites by ancient people, today caves surprise us with exceptional beauty and absolutely unique features. From glacier caves formed by ice and water, to limestone formations of thousand of shapes and sizes, the world's caverns are truly amazing microcosms. 

Here are some of the most stunning images of the world's grottoes and caves:

Hamilton Pool

This amazing natural grotto pool in Texas was created thousands of years ago due to the collapse of the dome of an underground river. Among the most striking features of this beautiful pool is a 14 m (45 ft) waterfall, spilling from the dome.

Hamilton Pool.

Škocjan Caves
Slovenia is home to impressive Škocjan Caves, one of the world's largest canyon hidden deep underground. This outstanding formation is considered a natural phenomenon of global significance, ranking side by side with the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, or the Galapagos Islands. 

 Underground Pools in Škocjan Caves.

Patagonia's Glacier Caves
Far at the southern tip of Argentina, Patagonia is home to amazing Parque Nacional Los Glaciares , where the world's most impressive glaciers can be found. Among one of the most stunning ice formation are the glacier caves that have been formed by water running through or under the glacier. Such caves can also be seen in Iceland, Alaska, Norway and New Zealand.

Lehman Caves
Delicate rare limestone formations make the Lehman Caves one of the most wonderful underground chambers on the globe. Located in the Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA, the cave was discovered in 1885 by Absalom Lehman.

Batu Caves
Only 13 km from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, there are Batu Caves, an outstanding complex of chambers and grottoes housing Hindu temples. The caves are formed by limestone which is believed to be 400 million years old. The main feature of the complex is a 100 m high open vault called the Cathedral Cave.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves
The tiny creatures inhabiting Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand are the complex's main tourist magnet. These unique glittering cave animals called Arachnocampa luminosa lit up the interior of the limestone complex, making it an absolutely extraordinary location.

Reed Flute Cave
Located in Guilin City in China, the Reed Flute Cave, also called the Palace of Natural Arts, is 240 m long cave network discovered some 1,200 years ago. This scenic complex of karst caves is filled with amazing stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillar formations of many different shapes and sizes, which, enhanced by multicolored lighting, form a one-of-a-kind underground world.

Hang Sung Sot
Hang Sung Sot, or the Cave of the Surprises, is one of the most amazing caves in Halong Bay in Vietnam. The two chambers that form this amazing grotto are decorated with thousands of spectacular stalactite and stalagmite forms. The cave was discovered by the French in 1901.