Time

anitagoldenbeauty at Chaeson

Relax time Lampang way 💕 #onsentime #lampang #thailand #dvicioexclusiveth #love #friends

As the Thai soaking season is well and truly behind us, what are the pictures popping up on instagram concerning Siam's soaking haunts?  And no, not those of the most popular soaks. well, maybe ...

Setting the tone, above a delightful typical Thai setting, soaking with the extended family (and friends?), a great way to start this photographical tour.

Going south, Ranong has one of Thailand's best hot springs: Porn Rong, a number of larger tubs located in a forest with a babling brook along side. 
The photo following this is probably the lesser appealing of this blog entry, but beggars are no choosers ...

dekyingkae555

 PornRung #hotspring 🔥🌫🌋💦🌫🔥อยากแช่มั้งเนาะแต่ต้องไปทำงานแล่ว😢

mairinfo 

Shortly after our luxurious bathe in the hot springs, this field trip full of school children arrived. They were so excited to jump right in, much to the amusement of the remaining adult bathers who came for a relaxing soak. #school #fieldtrip #children #allsmiles #purejoy #hotsprings #soak #mineralwater #thailand #krabi #seetheworld #natgeotravel

Stylish

nunnycosci staying at River Kwai Resotel and heading to Rock Valley hot springs

#หมูบุรินอินไทยแลนด์แปร๊นแปร๊น #kanjanaburi #working #บันทึกไทย #ThailandRecords #thailand #socool #feedgood #travelingram #traveling #travel #traveladdict #ilovetravel #hotspring #onsen #thaistyal #outdoor #canon #canon60d #canonthailand

Further up the isthmus brings to Khanchanabri (above) and of course Bangkok where fake Japanese style bathing places seem all the rage.

aomzaa_phakkasupat at Let's Relax Onsen and Spa Thonglor

Onsen Onsen สบายจาย

#ถ่ายรายการ #RogerWu

#TVB #HongKong

#Onsen #LetsRelax

#Spa #Thonglor

Lovers

nacklouis at Maejok, Phrae province

ออนเซ็น @แพร่ คือดีนะ

ไม่ต้องไปไกล.สบายตัวมาก

#onsen #phrae #phraeonsen #onsentime #แช่น้ำพุร้อน

Unfortunately many of Thailand's hot springs are locked up in unappealing cells. Above it says Maejok, but could be anywhere in the country. 

Following this, are more appealing hot springs of north Thailand, including another (spruced up) cell. 

Rounding this blog entry off is another from Pai's Sai Ngam hot / hot spring. 

 

kwang_litter, just out of Mae Hong Son town enjoying a soak at Pha Bong hot spring.

 #naturelovers #meahongson #hotspring

khunmamui at Sippa hot spring resort (near Sankamphaeng) with the transcript 'as hot as the water!'

ร้อนๆเยี่ยงนี้ แช่น้ำร้อนสิครับบบ 😂😂😂 #Hotspring #Chiangmai

too_badz86 at Pha soet (?) hot spring

Life is so much easier when you just relax.

#holiday #chiangraitrip #Thailand #hotspring

peter_morcos 

#Thailand #Pai #hotspring #a7s2

Welcome to the jungle

yy_aannee 

ได้ตื่นตอนเช้าเช้ามานั่งแช่น้ำพุร้อนแบบนี้ทุกทุกวันก็คงจะดี.. #สิปปาฮอทสปริง #ที่พักดี #มีบ่อน้ำพุร้อน #บอกต่อ #เที่ยวเมืองไทยไม่ไปไม่รู้ววว!!

Against expectations of little change, I've set out to compile the last 12 months most popular hot springs of Thailand. 

Were there little changes? No doubt.

As always I tampered with the points system; after all the way we use internet changes constantly as well. 

The major changes were adding Instagram counts for locations, while Tumblr was discarded. 

The former proved to be difficult to achieve a significant difference between the most popular soaks. Problem is, Instagram has no count function for locations (as opposed to tags). Let's just say after counting 300 photo's each I gave the three most popular soaks the same number of points .... Mentionable is that this change allowed for more influence of Thai speaking posters, something which has been difficult to overcome in the past.

The latter was discarded as the Tumblr search function does not work as previously; there's precious little number of searches coming up with a result.

These changes resulted in more prominence for Instagram which attributed to f.i. the hot springs of Betong and Wiang Pa Pao moving up the charts.

I also afforded more prominence to Facebook which helped the no. 1 hot spring to stay where it was, but also boosted Rock Valley hot springs; Facebook in general seems to assist the business owned soaks.

So where does this leave us? 

Points were awarded to relative standings on Instagram concerning tags (i.e. #fanghotsprings), Instagram location, Google search (of the last 12 months), Google search (based on % of the first 100 results), Twitter (number of hashtags/last 12 months), Flickr/Youtube finds, Tripadvisor (number of comments) and Facebook (likes). 

I also looked at the locations themselves and concluded that we need to differ the votes for Pai, as they are now distinctly different; without splitting the votes between Sai Ngam and Pai, what was previously known as Pai would have been top of the batch. As such both are now ex-aequo no. 6. It also signifies how the rambling Sai Ngam soak is heading upwards ...:

blondebritchick 

Welcome to the jungle 🌴💦 #hotspring #pai #thailand #travel #gopro #goprohero4

Consummation

Out side the top 10, it's worth mentioning the significance of Krabi's Saline hot springs, definitely a contender for top 10 next year. 

Biggest loser was Lampang's Chaeson hot spring which would dropped from ninth position last year to 17 this year.

The top 10 for 2016

1. (2015: 1) Sankampaeng (Chiang Mai; see also lead photo)

2. (4) Fang (Chiang Mai)

3. (6) Rock Valley (Kanchanaburi; photo below)

4. (3) Hin Dad (Kanchanaburi)

5. (5) Klong Thom (Krabi)

6. (-) Sai Ngam (Mae Hong Son)

    (2)Tha pai (Mae Hong Son)

8. (-) Betong (Yala)

9. (-)Wiang Pa Pao (Chiang Rai)

10. (7) Wareerak (Krabi)

boombmz 

โบกมือลาส่งยิ้มให้ สุขกับความอ้างว้างต่อไป.

What I do find surprising is that less and less of what's considered top soaking  sites of Siam are actually non-consumed: there's more thrill in the notion of naturally occurring hot spring waters than in actually taking the chance to bathe. 

I illustrate this by using only Instagram tags: the top 3 above only have a total of 8 photo's of persons enjoying the waters by immersing themselves. This contrasts with Hin Dad (28 photo's) and Sai Ngam (35 photo's), where the only emphasis is on soaking ...

Possibly it's due to the privateness, but maybe soaking is not so popular with the mainstream ...

Passion

A larger tub located in Nong Sai Phrao, Chiang Mai province. Translation of the Thai article reveals that temperatures are 50-60°C at source (source).

A couple of picca's and a few quotes, that's what makes up this entry.

Starting off with a link to a video by Bangkok Post (Jan. 24) on (off-topic) sand bathing:

'People visit the Black Sand Beach in Trat and cover their bodies with the sand. They believe it helps reduce fatigue and symptoms of paralysis'.

Krabi, source

While in the area the Bangkok Post (Feb. 1) also visits nearby Krabi:

'From the bay, we cruise through the dense mangrove forest and turn into Sikao Canal. Hundreds of fiddle crabs rush back to their holes when Banjong jumps onto the bank. Just steps from the crabs' home is a saltwater hot spring, of which crystal clear water runs directly into the canal.

"The hot spring sits on the canal's bed, yet not many know about it until the canal changes its course and a mud deposit fills up the bank; at this point, the hot spring emerges," said Banjong. It may not be such a good idea to take a dip in this hot spring which is filled with fiddle crabs. 

Luckily, if you go a bit north into neighbouring Krabi province, you'll find the Wareerak Hot Spring Spa which is highly recommended. Wareerak is different from other spas. It has its own hot spring well hidden in huge tropical garden. Guests can take a dip in outdoor pools and get some sleep during their massages. 

"Our hot spring has warm water at 42C. It's ready to use. After getting your body checked up in traditional Thai style by a doctor, guests will enjoy a body scrub and dip in the hot spring," said Chantima Channam, the resort manager of Wareerak, describing her award-winning hydrotherapy programme'.

Now we’re having a coffee at that nice little cafe I posted not too long ago and taking our time to relax and think about amazing time we had so far! In about ten days we will leave Thailand for Laos, so need to soak up every last bit of this amazing country!

#hotspring #gopro #pai #thailand #asia #vsco #vscocam #travel #traveling #vscoadventure #adventure #lonelyplanet #tripadvisor #goworld #travelingourplanet #backpacking #igerstravel #river (bij Sai Ngam Hot Spring)

Source: yeahhright

Elevation
Less natural Kashikiri Soda Onsen and Spa is a wellness "resort" in central Bangkok which itself notes:

'Our passion for spa onsen in Japan, happened to be the 1st and the only private spa in Thailand'. 

There's no word on the origins of it's waters but it does also note:

'Elevating the onsen spa services, we strive to deliver the best minerals essence from the top sources of hot springs in Japan. The premier essence powder are imported especially from Beppu and Kusatsu directly into our baht tub ...'.

No word yet from tripadvisor ...

 

Indulge yourself with the treasure of enrich minerals from Japan hot prings and volcanic essence#privateonsen #beautifulplace #bangkok #thonglor #bts #spa #relaxing #healthylife #goodhealth #bodyandsoul #chic #skin #kashikirisodaonsenandspa #kashikiri49 #kashikirionsenbkk #kashikiri

source

Then to wrap this up, back north for two photo's , the first from Chiang mai province, the second  of Phu Klon mud, Mae Hon Song province.

  

ไคแตงโมเหลือง เอ็ดดี้ที่รัก เพพเพ่สไปซี่ดัค

Chiang Dao's cement rings, source

 

#mudmasks from 280000 year old mud #beauty #health #hotsprings #chiangmai #ITMschool #thailand

  source

Chronicled

Enjoying Thailands hot springs from south to north.

Starting off with little known Kuan Kang hot spring in Trang province:

บ่อน้ำร้อน แช่สบายเลออ แต่ลงแค่ขานะ ร้อนโฮกก #trang #hotspring

source

temperatura da água: 35° #hotwaterfall #thailand

North of Trang comes Krabi's Klong Thom, always popular, source

 

只要10銖的野溪溫泉 #kanchanaburi #sylvietraveling #hotspring #taiwaneseinthailand

Hin Dad hot spring, Khanchanaburi, source

 

18+ #onsen #thailand

Or elsewhere in Khanchanaburi, Rock Valley's hot spring, source

Not really a natural hot spring, though it does claim to use natural mineral water, Yunomori Onsen & Spa in Bangkok:

ยามว่าง ถ่ายนู๊ดเล่น 555555555 แอบหมั่นอิคนหลังอะ ที่สวยกว่า #FotoRus #yunomori #onsen #hotspring

source

Beauty

Taking a bath in natural hot springs #chaeson #nationalpark #hottub #hotspring #natural #lampang #thailand #travelling #wanderlust #beauty #life #friends

Chaeson (Jason) hot springs, Lampang province, well and truly northern Thailand, source

2. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

Chiang Mai province, source

And then two from what is fastly becoming a favourite soak for all those luckily enough to end in Mae Hong Son's town of Pai: 

 

Mineral bath 🚿 #hotsprings #36degrees #bath #pai #chroniclesofsiania

source

 

#InstaSize #tochkarazborki #travel #thai #thailand #picoftheday #instagood #instamood #vsco #pai #hotsprings 

source

A real treat

Just a few photo's to celebrate the passing of the old year.

Starting off with Krabi and a cheeky byline:

 Natural hot springs #skinnydippers #nudestspa #hotspring

source

One might intentionally take this top be true, but the following reveals [not] the dress code of Krabi's Klong Thom hot spring:

Note the difference in soaking styles, from the travelleur

Up north in Pai hot spring, Mae Hong Son province:

#tochkarazborki #Pai #Thailand #hotsprings #источники

source

Not far away, but different province:

ที่อาบน้ำแร่ #HotSpring #PongDued

Chiang Mai province, source

Then a not often mentioned soaking place, Mae Umlong Luang hot spring, 13 km from Mae Saraing, Mae Hong Son:

'And finally...A real treat for the legs, they deserve it after all the ascents of late. None of the sulfur smell that usually accompanies such places the water was crystal clear'.

source

Finally, near to Bangkok, this photo captures the soaking life of Hin Dad hot spring, Khanchanaburi:

 source

#naturally

Wow, no updates for ages. Here's a quick tour of Thailand: 

Free spa from a natural hot spring in #chiangdao.#hotspring #chiangdaohotspring #nature #asean #amazingthailand 

Chiangdao hot spring, Chiang Mai, source

Hot springs with these babes #hotsprings #Chiangmai #spellyonameltc #fnez

Pong Dued, Chaing Mai, source

#kanchanaburi#onsen#hotspring#family

Rock Valley, Kanchanaburi, source

#hotsprings #pai #hotspringspai 39degree natural spring 

Pai hot springs, Mae Hong Son, source

"Natural Hot Spring" 

Mae Klong, Umhang, Tak, source

 

Betong, source

오늘은 #핫스프링 #투어 #hotspring #krabi #끄라비 

source