12 Temple & Hot Spring Days Around the World Worth Flying For

1.Chiang Rai Temples, Karen Tribe and Hot Springs

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,401 reviews · 11 hours - 810 minutes · from $35Our pick

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with an English-speaking guide such as Benz, Ruby, Kwan, or Ann. Visit Mae Kachan Hot Springs, a Karen long-neck village, Wat Rong Khun, Wat Rong Suea Ten, and Huay Pla Kang Temple. Bring earphones for the multilingual audio guide and allow a full, tiring day.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip despite it being a proper 12 hour trip. The guide, Alex was such a funny guy and he taught us some basic Thai phrases we could use. I liked listening to him share some personal stories of his and in all honesty, he seems like a wise man. All his stories had a lesson to it. It felt like he was imparting wisdom to the tourists. The highlight would be me visiting the hill tribes people to learn how they live their lives.”

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2.Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool and Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,616 reviews · 9 hours - 570 minutes · from $59

Spend nine hours exploring Krabi’s Emerald Pool, Blue Lagoon, hot springs, and Tiger Cave Temple in a small group of up to nine. Expect an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, included entry fees, glass-bottled water, and a demanding climb of roughly 1,200 stairs.

“Excellent day, top notch organization, very entertaining guide and amazing scenery. What else can you expect? I do recommend this tour for all”

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3.Chiangmai to Chiangrai: 3 Temples, Hot Springs& Lalitta Cafe

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 659 reviews

Spend a full day traveling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with an English-speaking guide such as Puma, Aom, or Joe. See modern Buddhist art at the White and Blue Temples, add the Red Temple and Karen Village if selected, stop at Mae Khachan hot springs, and relax at Lalitta Cafe.

“PUMA was an excellent guide! The temples are modern. The white one is the most impressive. I have mixed feelings about the Longneck village. Lalitta Café did not dissapoint. Take into account Chiang Rai is 3 hrs away from Chiang Mai.”

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4.Lake Vouliagmeni Thermal Spa And Temple Of Poseidon Private Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 578 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $171Top rated

Travel privately from Athens to Lake Vouliagmeni and Cape Sounion in six to seven hours. Swim in mineral-rich water, enjoy a Greek culinary gift, stop for seafood, and explore the Temple of Poseidon with drivers such as George, Theo, Melina, or Jason.

“Our services with Theo was nothing less than spectacular. He was super friendly, knowledgeable, attentive to our special dietary needs and showed the utmost care as a host, driver and tour guide. So glad to have met him. He became one of the highlights of our time in Athens Greece. Book this tour. (;”

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5.Ao Nang: Hot Spring, Emerald Pool & Tiger Cave Temple Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 576 reviews · 9 hours · from $48

Join an English-speaking guide such as Mimi, Bass or Sun for a nine-hour trip from Ao Nang to Krabi’s hot springs, Emerald Pool and Tiger Cave Temple. You’ll soak, swim, eat a Thai lunch and tackle 1,260 steps for a superb viewpoint. Extra entrance fees apply.

“Our guide Mimi was really amazing and really took care of the group while providing great insights about the places we visited with a lot of humor 😊 I loved the tiger cave temple and hot springs but The emerald pool itself was not for me but that had nothing to do with the guide or tour.”

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6.Rila Monastery UNESCO Site & Outdoor Mineral Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 400 reviews · 9 hours · from $42

Travel from Sofia to Rila Monastery with an English-speaking guide and multilingual audio guide, then spend about two hours at Aqua Club Kotvata in Sapareva Banya. Expect mountain views, free time for mekitsi and lunch, outdoor thermal pools, saunas, and extra costs for spa entry, towels, and lockers.

“Good day trip from Sofia. We struggled a bit finding the location (didn’t realise a giant bus was the meeting point). This was one downside: while the description said 8-18 people, we were in a group of 50, which was not what we thought we’d signed up for. Anyhow, the tour guide was super! Very kind and informative. It was good to have the audio guide on our phones. Rila monastery is a must see. Cafes there are good for Bulgarian breaky. The baths were as described by others, nice addition but a bit rundown. Was an extra 20€ per person, plus cash for deposits. Make sure you bring cash…”

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7.Nadi: Garden Village Hot Spring & Temple Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 339 reviews · 6 hours · from $75

Spend six hours exploring Nadi with an English-speaking guide such as Bobby, Anand, or Deo. Visit the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, local markets, Viseisei Village, a school, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, and Sabeto Hot Springs. Hotel pickup, entry fees, and mud pools are included.

“We had the pleasure of Deo and Raj as our tour guide and driver. They were so informative and excellent day trip. Bus was comfy and had AC and answered any questions we had”

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8.All day Krabi Jungle Tour (Hot Spring Water, Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 323 reviews · from $71

Spend a full day inland from Krabi with a small group, soaking in Namtok Ron’s hot pools, walking the rainforest trail to Emerald Pool, eating a generous Thai lunch, and tackling Tiger Cave Temple’s steep 1,200-plus steps. Guides such as Mimi and Abhi are known for friendly service and useful help.

“We had a very pleasant day. Everything ran nice and smoothly into time. Our guide Be Abhi was funny, informative and led us on a good day. The lunch provided was delicious. Stopped at each place for just long enough to enjoy and miss the crowds.”

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9.Discover Krabi – Emerald Pool, Hot Springs & Tiger Cave Temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 296 reviews · from $37

Spend about eight hours visiting Krabi’s Emerald Pool, Blue Lagoon, Namtok Ron hot springs, and Tiger Cave Temple. Guides such as Otto, Timm, Tookey, and AD have led this outing. Expect air-conditioned transport, extra entrance fees, forest walking, and a demanding 1,260-step climb.

“A great way of seeing nature in Krabi! We expected a group tour but ended up being just us, the guide Otto and driver Leo which was great. Otto and Leo were amazing and knew how to get everywhere when it wasn’t busy so we avoided the crowds. The emerald pool and area are beautiful (we were the first people there!) and the hot springs really relaxing to sit in for half an hour. Beware of the tiger cave temple though - there was an extremely aggressive pack of monkeys at the top guarding the stairs. They ripped the backpack off my back and stole my camera (luckily I got…”

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10.Tiger Temple, Hot Springs & Crystal Pool Jungle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 287 reviews · 7 hours · from $56

You’ll visit Krabi’s Emerald Pool, Blue Pool, hot springs, and Tiger Cave Temple with hotel pickup, lunch, water, and a guide. Guides such as Bee, Henry, Palm, and Bam have been praised for friendly help. Expect long transfers, crowds, and a steep 1,200-step climb.

“The trip was lovely and well executed. The emerald pools are beautiful and a must see. Going early in the morning ensured that there weren't too many people and it wasn't too hot. The hot springs were a lovely way to relax. The tiger temple is really worth seeing and walking up the stairs is such an experience. If you are fit and love nature then this will be a great trip.”

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11.Rila Monastery and Optional Museum, Cave or Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 270 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $35

Travel from Sofia into the Rila Mountains, tour Bulgaria’s grandest monastery, and choose a second stop: the National History Museum, monastery museum, Saint John’s Cave, or mineral hot springs. English speaking guides such as Antonio, Yani, Toni, and Ceco have led this small group tour.

“Excursion was fantastic. Very good transport. Excelent guider named CECO, who tells very interesting stories about every stage of trip. CECO knows many langauges and is very communicative. Good food and cafe in fine restaurant. Monastery is impressive, located in mountains. In return trip stop over in Bojana Crkva - XI century church. I am very glad of this trip.”

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12.Jungle Tour to Emerald Pool, Krabi Hot Spring and Tiger Cave Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 182 reviews · from $50

Spend about seven hours visiting Krabi’s hot spring waterfall, Emerald Pool, and Tiger Cave Temple. A guide such as Apple, Por, AB, or Fatin may lead your small group of up to 15. Lunch, fruit, water, hotel pickup, and accident insurance are included, but entrance fees cost extra.

“Beautiful crystal waters and blue pools topped off with a challenging but extremely rewarding vertical hike! Thanks for an awesome day!”

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