Published 28th Jun. 2021
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Our wonderful planet is made up of over 70% water, meaning finding the perfect spot for a dip is (understatement of the century alert) something of a challenge. Lucky for you, our team of experts have scoured the globe for the most scenic soaks going. It's time to dig out the swimsuit, dust off the snorkel, sit back and read our list of the planet's most delightful dunks. Just don't forget your pink flamingo float...
Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is home to unique, crystal-clear natural limestone sinkholes known as cenotes. These magical pools can be found in cave systems throughout the peninsula, but a great base from which to explore these natural mineral rich swimming pools is Tulum (where the beaches aren't half bad either). Keen divers can explore this underwater world further by exploring the labyrinth of subaquatic caverns from below the surface.
Iceland is home to one of the greatest natural geothermal pools in the world, the Blue Lagoon. This natural spa is set in the middle of a huge lava field and is fed by mineral-rich, geothermal sea water. The uniquely coloured milky-blue warm water has amazing revitalising properties, and to top it off we can arrange for you to have a mud mask, bathrobe, slippers and sparkling wine for a spa-centric soak.
No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to the beach bum paradise that is Bondi and its infamous Bondi Icebergs pool. This ocean-filled saltwater pool is dramatically perched on the southern end of Bondi Beach's rocks and is continually re-filled by the Pacific waves crashing into the pool. Although it's extremely difficult to become an exclusive 'Iceberg' member, day guest passes are thankfully available to give visitors a chance to experience this iconic soaking spot.
For a truly unique and salty soak, head to the lowest point on Earth's surface in Jordan's Dead Sea. At 1,400 feet below sea level where the Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea, the water's extreme salinity (which means nothing can live here - hence the name) allows you to float on its warm and soothing surface with ease. You can even coat yourself in the lake's therapeutic black mud, which is famed for its rejuvenating qualities. Lay back, relax and enjoy this natural phenomenon.
Nestled in the Surat Thani province of southern Thailand is the dramatic scenery of Khao Sok National Park. Home to an abundance of wildlife, rainforest and jagged karst landscapes, this national park is a haven of natural beauty. In terms of having a good soak, the park's central focus is the beautiful 60 square mile man-made Cheow Lan Lake which is surrounded by limestone peaks, rising over 3,000ft in height, and ancient rainforest. Take a dip in the refreshing lake and take in the beautiful surroundings before retreating up a ladder to your floating home.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
Southeast Asia is a favourite for first-time travellers – safe, welcoming and easy to explore. Yet all too often, Cambodia is the casualty of the Indochina loop, with many simply dropping in to see the (admittedly awe-inspiring) Angkor before moving swiftly on. On my first visit, I was guilty as charged. But my return visit changed everything. Cambodia, I realised, has come of age. It’s no longer the ‘add-on’ destination, but a country that demands time, rewards curiosity and offers depth, warmth and discovery at every turn.
29th October 2025 - Cambodia Travel Inspiration
This article originally featured in the first edition of our magazine, Original Traveller. The world’s first tourist destination; Egypt has attracted the great and the good for more than four millennia. Tom Holland charts the ebb and flow of the country’s time travel. Egypt is where tourism began. Perhaps this is hardly surprising. By the 5th century BC, when the first tourist guide to Egypt was written, pharaonic civilisation was already more than two and a half millennia old.
29th October 2025 - Egypt Travel Inspiration
For those of us who don’t have to adhere to the constraints of the school holidays, we have a wide choice when it comes to choosing what season to travel in. Though the summer remains a top choice, thanks to the good weather across much of the Northern Hemisphere and the general societal norm of treating ourselves to a break at this time, the so-called ‘shoulder season’ is becoming ever-more popular.
28th October 2025 - Travel Inspiration
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