Iceland, Japan, New Zealand & Chile
The World's Warmest Waters
Ker & Downey has assembled all of the planet’s most tantalizing thermal waters and packed them into a single, month-long adventure uncovering the best hot springs around the world. From Iceland to Japan and New Zealand to Chile, experience Mother Earth’s healing hot spots in the utmost luxury. All you need to do is slip into the inviting waters… Ker & Downey will handle the rest.
Our trip to visit the hot springs around the world kicks off in the “Land of Fire and Ice”, where Iceland’s volcanic laboratory awaits with its gushing geysers, gurgling mudpots, and countless geothermal hot spots. Your five days in Iceland will lead you into the magma chamber of the Þríhnúkagígur volcano, grant you exclusive lounge access at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, and allow you to bathe in the untouched natural hot streams of Reykjadalur (Steam Valley) under the Northern Lights. You will also enjoy a guided tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle landmarks and Fjallabak Nature Reserve and a private helicopter flightseeing tour around the landscapes of Mývatn, with memorable stops along the way for soaks in the Secret Lagoon, the Mývatn Lagoon bath resort, and the Landmannalaugar hot springs.
Next, your Hot Springs Around the World adventure takes you to the easternmost hem of the Silk Road to the legendary onsen of Japan. Here between the shadows of Mt. Haku and the waters of the Japan Sea reside the serene gardens and forest hills of Kanazawa and Kaga—two of the country’s foremost hot spring regions.
Your six-day luxury ryokan experience in the village of Yamanaka at Kayotei, savoring traditional kaiseki cuisine and soothing moments in the restorative onsen. You will then transfer to the mountains of Ishikawa to stay at one of the most established ryokans amid the Yamashiro onsen, Araya Totoan. In addition to your private bath, you will also have access to three public baths in different natural settings, as well as unique visits to the Kutani porcelain museum, Echizen’s temples and shrines, and the Tojimbo basaltic cliffs.
Your third thermal destination rests amid the Polynesian flair of New Zealand’s Rotorua, the country’s geothermal hot spot and cradle of Maori culture. Your accommodations only enhance the tranquility of its volcanic lake setting and serve as the perfect springboard for your five day journey through the region.
An entire day is devoted to exploring the geothermal landscape of Mount Tarawera via private helicopter. Another is set aside for bathing in the natural thermal waters across Lake Tarawera and learning about the Maori’s ingenious use of geothermal energy for cooking, bathing, and heating.
The final stop on your Hot Springs Around the World tour is Chile, where you will spend eight relaxing nights. This last leg of your journey epitomizes elegance as defined by nature within southern Patagonia’s uncharted ancient forests and enriching hot springs. Chile’s Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa is a fount of luxury pampering guests with floating Watsu massages and soaks in the thermal pools nestled throughout the property, forests, and beaches. When not relaxing in the lap of indulgence, embark on explorations of the surrounding Aysén Region’s fjords, ice fields, glaciers, national parks, lagoons, and mountain ranges.
Your Hot Springs Around the World itinerary finally concludes at the part high-end hotel, part working hacienda of andBeyond Vira Vira, whose lakeside Mapuche setting, bespoke adventures, and indigenous cuisine are the definition of rustic luxury. Here, you are invited to engage in this slice of paradise and its iconic Volcano Villarica and spoil yourself with evening baths in the property’s spring-fed hot tubs, listening to the sounds of the Liucura River with Pisco Sour in hand.