13 Spa & Hot Springs Day Trips Worth the Early Start

1.Chiang Mai: 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, Kwan, Ruby, or Dee. Visit Mae Kachan Hot Springs, a Karen long-neck village, Wat Rong Khun, Wat Rong Suea Ten, and Huay Pla Kang Temple. Bring your own earphones for the 41-language audio guide.

“Great value for money, really good day trip. It’s long but you see everything you need to in one day. Each temple is well worth the visit. Thank you Kawee for being a fantastic guide.”

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2.From Marrakech: Camel Ride, Quad Bike & Spa Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 473 reviews · 7 hours · from $97

Leave Marrakech for a small-group day of camel riding, quad biking, mint tea, and a traditional hammam. You’ll ride for an hour on camelback, spend 1 hour 45 minutes on a quad, then receive a black-soap scrub and argan oil massage. Drivers such as Mohammed and Brahim are praised for friendly, careful service.

“this is one of the best excursions l have made. Everything was well organized from the transport to the spa. lf you wanna do something great go then on this trip.”

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3.Osaka: Nara and Uji Day Trip with Deer Park and Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 302 reviews · 10 hours · from $57

Travel from Osaka to Nara and Uji with a multilingual guide such as Etta, Lucia, or Nick Lee. Feed deer, visit Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, sample matcha in Uji, then relax at Genji no Yu. Admission fees, meals, and drinks cost extra.

“I really loved the deer park and visiting the temples. I only wish we could have stayed at each destination longer - but am aware there are time constraints! 😊”

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4.Materuni waterfalls coffee tour & Chemka hot springs Day trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · from $95Top rated

Start with a hike to Materuni Waterfalls, then learn to roast and prepare local coffee in a Chagga village before swimming at Chemka hot springs. Owen is one guide named in the feedback. Expect a private tour, hotel pickup, a bumpy road, and a full day that may run longer than advertised.

“Had a great time, everything is really nice and the coffee tour was fun and interesting. Owen is a great guide and always made sure that I was having a good time.”

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5.Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai Famous Temples & Hot Springs Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 129 reviews · 13 hours · from $24Best value

Travel from Chiang Mai in a shared van for a full day of Chiang Rai highlights. Stop at Mae Kachan Hot Spring, the White, Blue, and Black or Red Temples, Baan Dam Museum, Lalitta Café, and Huay Pla Kang Temple. Expect limited time at each stop and a long drive.

“From the outset, the transport was completely unsuitable. The bus was extremely cramped, with no air conditioning. My partner is currently recovering from a broken leg and had absolutely no space or support during the journey. The entire trip was uncomfortably hot, overcrowded, and caused significant discomfort. The buffet lunch was equally unacceptable. The venue was overcrowded, food was either stone cold, not heated properly, or had completely run out. As a result, I was unable to eat anything at all. When raising this with the tour guide, they were unhelpful and showed little concern. We were also disappointed with what was described as a “snack,” which consisted only of…”

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6.Tokyo: Mount Fuji 5th Station & Onsen Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 75 reviews · 1 day · from $50

Travel from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, or Shinkurayama Asama Park outside the climbing season. Visit Oshino Hakkai’s clear ponds, then choose a weekday onsen visit or Gotemba shopping. English and Chinese guides lead the day, with Lin Tian Anna praised for clear organization.

“Let me preface this review by saying that the low rating is in no way related to the tour itself, nor is it about the events itself that prevented us from going on this tour, but the poor communication on the part of the driver. We got delayed getting to the meeting point, and I informed our driver that we’d be 10 minutes late to which he said “ok” and send us directions. 5 minutes later he said that he has to go to another meeting point, which is fair, and send us directions there. We said that we meet him there and rushed through half the Tokyo to get…”

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7.From Ponta Delgada: Lagoa do Fogo & Hot Springs Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 71 reviews · 8 hours · from $82

Spend eight hours exploring São Miguel with a small group of up to eight people. Visit Cerâmica Vieira, Lagoa do Fogo, Gorreana Tea Factory, coastal viewpoints, and Caldeira Velha. Guides such as Mario, Andre, Miguel, and Nano add local context, while hot spring entry and lunch cost extra.

“I absolutely loved it. The guide was genuine and very helpful.”

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8.Tokyo: Onsen, Arts, and Nature Day Trip to Fuji and Hakone

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · from $316

Spend 10 hours with a private guide such as Elie, Lenny, or Oli, traveling from Tokyo to Hakone and Mount Fuji. Expect quiet viewpoints, Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine, Tenzan Onsen, authentic Japanese food, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum, with room to adjust the day to your interests.

“Lenny was an awesome guide. The car was beautiful and comfortable. We saw several views of Mt Fuji and had a break at an authentic tea house.. Love how this private tour can be customized to individual timing and interests. The Shinto Shrine was amazing and Lenny was very knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the Onsen and the recommended Shabu Shabu meal. Great day out of Tokyo!”

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9.From Arequipa: Salinas Lagoon Full-Day Trip with Hot Springs

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 62 reviews · from $49

Spend 12 hours from Arequipa visiting Chiguata, Salinas Lagoon, and Lojen Hot Springs. An English or Spanish-speaking guide leads the route, with time for flamingos, vicuñas, volcano views, local meals, and a swim. Herbert is one guide praised for his passion and helpful photos.

“The trip was very nice except no one mentioned anything regarding the altitude we would be exposed to. Some of us had really bad headaches because we were not prepared. The driver was ok. Had some issues with the pick but everything else was ok”

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10.From Mexico City: Tolantongo Hot Springs Day Trip with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 46 reviews · 14 hours · from $132

Leave Mexico City at 5:30 am for Tolantongo with Amigo Tours LATAM. A bilingual guide leads you through the caves, warm waterfalls, river, pools, and hot springs, followed by free time to swim, hike, shop, and eat. The day costs $132 and lasts about 14 hours.

“It is a wonderful experience and it is highly recommended to do with Amigo tours. You will able to explore the area with the guide and give you certain time to enjoy the spring, river and caves.”

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11.Sabah: Kota Kinabalu Park and Hot Spring Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 29 reviews · from $94

Spend a full day from Kota Kinabalu visiting Nabalu Market, Kinabalu Park, Desa Cattle Farm, and Poring Hot Spring. An English-speaking guide such as Jeff leads the day, with a guided park walk, lunch, milk tasting, sulfur baths, and an optional canopy walk.

“My friend and I both said this was the highlight of our trip in KK!! The landscapes were so beautiful, comfortable transport and yummy food after a well worthy canopy walk!! Thank you handsome Jeff and driver for the great tour!!”

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12.Krabi: Emerald Pool and Hot Springs Waterfall Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 26 reviews · from $43

Travel from Krabi or Ao Nang to the Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve with an English or Thai-speaking guide. Swim in the Emerald Pool, soak at a hot spring waterfall, and walk among old forest trees. Expect shared-van transfers, a 600 THB adult park fee, and limited time if traffic slows the route.

“I booked the half day that did not include lunch or Kayaking. I was in the van for nearly 2.5hrs in the morning, and two hours after the Pool experience. Even though you book half day you are made to wait while the full day trip people eat and get dropped off for Kayaking. The can also took people not part of our group and dropped them off to ATV. This was an expensive trip and was spoiled by sitting on the van for most of the time travelling to pick or drop off people. The pools themselves were very busy. I would not recommend the half day trip to…”

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13.Seven Rila Lakes Day Trip from Sofia Guided Hike Lunch & Spa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 8 hours · from $116

Join guides Simeon or Vera for an eight-hour Sofia day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes. Ride the chairlift, hike snowy or alpine trails with supplied spikes and poles, eat Bulgarian food at a mountain hut, then visit Sapareva Banya’s 103°C geyser and optional thermal spa.

“Semplicemente un posto meraviglioso. Le due guide super gentili e disponibili. Attrezzatura ottima, cibo delizioso . La Spa una vera chicca , super rilassante dopo una giornata in montagna .”

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