A novel eye-tracking study has revealed the world’s most visually striking spas, showing how setting and design can shape the way we relax just as much as the treatments themselves.
A dreamy spa isn’t just about the treatments – it’s about the setting, too.
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From jungle retreats to lakeside sanctuaries, surroundings can shape the entire experience of spa-goers who really need to unwind.
A study from the University of Oxford revealed that visually stimulating environments can enhance other sensory experiences. In spa terms, that means that an attractive setting can mean visitors can feel more relaxed – and even increase the benefit of treatments and experiences while there.
Now, new research using eye-tracking technology has ranked the world’s most visually striking spas, which offer glorious views or sumptuous interiors – or both.
SpaSeekers, a UK-based online spa booking service, put together a list of 50 spas from across the globe, all known for their stand-out beauty.
The company then asked 200 international participants to look at a series of images of the spas. Next, their visual engagement with each location was measured using eye-tracking technology and two key metrics.
In order to give each spa a score out of 100, locations were marked on how quickly their appearance captured attention, and how long it was able to hold it.
In the end, SpaSeekers whittled the list down to a top 20 most beautiful spas, featuring spots across five continents.
The top five are particularly visually arresting.
The Lost Spring, New Zealand
New Zealand is world famous for its stunning landscapes, so it’s little surprise that many of its spas are especially beautiful.
In the heart of the Coromandel Peninsula, on the North Island, The Lost Spring achieved a score of 96.2 out of 100, making it the most attractive spa in this ranking.
That’s thanks to its 16,000-year-old geothermal waters, lush tropical gardens, exquisite rock formations and treatment rooms with views over the greenery.
The Lost Spring was one of three spas in New Zealand to make the top 20 globally, meaning it’s very much a country to visit if relaxation is your thing.
Peninsula Hot Springs, Australia
In second place is a spa in the neighbouring country of Australia.
Set on Victoria’s picturesque Mornington Peninsula, Peninsula Hot Springs is a laid-back thermal retreat built around natural geothermal waters.
Less than 90 minutes from Melbourne, it feels a world away from the city’s hustle and bustle, with open-air pools, hilltop soaking spots and sweeping views creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
The spa received a SpaSeekers score of 88.7 out of 100, and is made even more appealing by its offerings of cave bathing, reflexology walks, a Scandinavian-inspired barrel bath and Turkish hammam treatments.
COMO Shambhala Estate, Indonesia
Deep in the green jungles of the popular holiday island of Bali, you’ll find COMO Shambhala Estate, third in SpaSeekers’ ranking, with a score of 88.4 out of 100.
This striking location is well known for offering a combination of luxury wellness, with a modern twist, and almost unbelievably beautiful surroundings.
The spa takes a holistic approach to wellbeing, and the environment here is deliberately immersive, with nature used as part of the experience rather than just a backdrop.
Chena Hot Springs Resort and Spa, USA
With a score of 87.7 out of 100, Chena Hot Springs Resort and Spa is one of three USA-based spas in the ranking – but this one is particularly special.
Located in far-flung Alaska, the locale is best known for its natural rock lake flanked by miles of wilderness.
Standing out for both its rugged setting and naturally heated mineral waters, it’s a spa for all seasons.
In the summer, it’s a peaceful and remote wellness escape, and in the winter, guests can soak in outdoor pools surrounded by snow, and the very real possibility of seeing the Northern Lights overhead.
Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Italy
Perched in the hills above Italy’s magnificent Lake Garda, Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda is the only European entry in SpaSeekers’ top five – but it really earns its place.
Scoring 83.8 out of 100 in the ranking, it boasts panoramic saunas, saltwater whirlpools and infinity pools – all topped off with views across one of the country’s most prized landscapes.
It’s a stylish, design-led venue, with clean lines, glass and local stone used to maximise the natural beauty beyond.
Here, as with the other spas in this list, the landscape is as central to the experience as the treatments.
The top 20 spas according to SpaSeekers
- The Lost Spring, New Zealand: 96.2
- Peninsula Hot Springs, Australia: 88.7
- COMO Shambhala Estate, Indonesia: 88.4
- Chena Hot Springs Spa, USA: 87.7
- Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Italy: 83.8
- Santani Wellness Kandy, Sri Lanka: 82.3
- Polynesian Spa, New Zealand: 82.1
- Mandarin Oriental, Thailand: 82
- Shanti Maurice, Mauritius: 81.7
- Hoar Cross Hall Spa Hotel, UK 80.2
- Cap Rocat Spa, Spain: 79.4
- Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley, Australia: 77.8
- Wairakei Terraces & Thermal Health Spa, New Zealand: 76.4
- Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa, South Africa: 75.6
- Carden Park Hotel Spa, UK: 73.6
- Oyster Box, Durban Spa, South Africa: 72.6
- Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa, USA: 71.7
- Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand: 70.5
- Gaia Retreat & Spa, Australia: 69.8
- Quinn’s Hot Springs Spa, USA: 69.1
