Wintery soaks

isabellakiriy 

Incredible hidden pool in the mountains of Iceland❄️
#iceland#icelandic#mood#icelandair#icelandtravel#visiticeland#iceland_tourist
#scandinaviaclub#vscocam#vsco#winter#swim#pool#wanderlust#travel
#neverstopexploring#naturelovers#nature#mountains#livefree#liveauthentic
#liveoutdoors#liveauthentic#honeyhanyjewelry#hotsprings#explore#wendolieb
#everydayiceland#olympus_ru#olympusnorge#adventuretime

To me, winter is the best time of the year for soaking. No better way than to heat oneself up by enjoying a hot spring in the secluded daylight or dark starry nights.

But oddly enough from the many ways in which I gather photo's of hot springs, it seems that most soakers visit hot springs during the summer. And it's not only that, f.i. many of Southern Europe's bathing establishments are only open in the summer. As if soaking is not a year round thing to enjoy.

Soaking in nature can be easily done in winter. Okay, there's less daylight, lower ambient temperatures, possibly some access issues, but with the lack of less dedicated soakers, winter visits reward premier experiences away from the crowds.

We all know that natural soaks are far and few between in Europe, so how can I bring the joys of winter soaking to your attention? 
What follows are many Icelandic soaks, the odd soak elsewhere as well as some more soaks which are to be enjoyed indoors.

We started off this entry with Icelands Seljavallalaug (above), probably not the best hot spring to have a winter sleep in. With water temperatures below 30°C, most probably your swim won't last long, certainly not in snow and ice conditions depicted. Though it does provide great backdrops, it's wee walk along a river and in snow there's nothing more photogenic ...
 

What also provides (early) winter soaking opportunities are dropping levels in dammed reservoirs. 
Below is the lakeside soak of Bande (Galicia, Spain), but also Tiermas (Navarra) is another fine example of a soak available for winter soaking, not there in spring or summer.

gaby_maga 

Una escapadita a las termas en España... #termas #españa #atardecer #afterbirthday

Mother

saraanneoneill 

Because spontaneous trips are the best 🏞

Spain has more natural soaks to warm up to.  
Above are those of Santa Fe (Andalusia). Nearby Alhama de Grenada (below) where the soaking community actually profits with the nearby bathing institution closing for the winter, leaving more water for free soakers to enjoy,

Rounding off Spain's natural winter baths, again Galicia, with the wild soaks of Prexigueiro.

thefizzyrascal 

Spending New Years Day in natural hot springs #takemeback #spain #hotsprings #travelling #sunnydays #alhama #granada #landscape #winter #thefizzyrascal

hugartist 

Mother nature #termas #ourense

Happy lovers

dogalielif 

too hot and too cold at the same time like life. 

Out of the way, north Bosnia's Banja Luka (Republika Srpska) is given as the above location; it seems more likely nearby Srpske Toplice.

Remaining in Central Europe, one can also opt for the indoors of Germany's exclusive Baden-baden ...., ummm baths.

alexis.stinson 

Goodlife with babe ❤️ #therme #badenbaden #privateroom #whirlpool #goodlife #russia #polska #onlylike #baby #love #timeforlove #fitness #back #swim #realex #champ #kisses #hugs #top #feelgood #you #follow #like

dimitraalexandraki1 

Good morning #lovers ! Just arrived here .. #peace #relax #iamatikaloutra #crazydriver around #Europe my last destination the most beautiful country in the world 🇬🇷 GREECE 🇬🇷 Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα πιο όμορφο από την ομορφιά της μητέρας φύσης .. Νιώθεις την απίστευτη ενέργεια της γης ! Απίθανο μέρος .. #pure #natural #water #Loutra #Pozar 💧💦💧💦

Remaining indoors, we're now in northern Greece, Loutra Pozar (above right) where you should note that the outdoor situation is way superior. 
Below right the hot spring of Thermes, situated close to the Bulgarian border, while the last indoor feature (left) comes from Georgia's sulphur baths in the country's capital of Tiblisi.

sahsine_gkiritli 

Thermes

sahsine_gkiritli#warmwater #loutra #happy #lovethat

anna_jentgen

Mermaids finally getting a very much needed thermal spa 🇬🇪💙 @kikkene @inese6

Go

madalen 

Bajar de pistas y unas termas?? Why not? #apresski #naturelovers, #valdaran,#piriloco, #livinglavidaloca, #relax, #goodvibes, #aguitacalentita, #hotwater, #arties, #banhsdarties, #valdaranphotos, #relaxtime,#capitanfin, #wild, #outdoors.

In France's Pyrenees is probably the prime of continental Europe's soaks, a good excuse to publish two photo's of the same soak. 

mirenss 

Relax 😌

#fontpedrouse #bains #termalbath #natural #banystermals #nature #mountain #scape #itscoldoutside #france #pyrenees #pirineus #relax #feelinggood #water #igersfrance #intothewild #autumn

Finally one can try to escape the winter albeit on São Miguel (Azores, Portugal) one may not have to cope with lower temperatures, but the weather can be very incinclement.

theblondeseyeview 

"No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself." -Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own.

#travelfervor #travelslifee #naturegeography #justgoshoot #peoplescreatives #explorertocreate #theoutbound #lifeofadventure #bestvacations #worldtravelbook #livetravelchannel #hotsprings #theblondeseyeview #passionpassport #instatravel #worlderlust #wanderlust #travel #luxurytravel #secretplaces #romanticplaces #amazingearth #nature_perfection #freshair #globetrotter #justgosomewhere #paradise #awesomeglobe #tourtheplanet #explorerbabes

Tan

christinekoko 

Day 1: Sveitarfélagið ölfus

When the water is warm, the surroundings are cold and you take the opportunity of being alone in nature to treasure it with everything. I'll never forget this day.

With @keeterly

_______________________________________________________________

#vsco #vscocam #love #Iceland #wheninkef #travel #nature #naturephotography #art #inspire #minimalist #aesthetic #minimal #photography #letsgosomewhere #adventure #wanderlust #justgoshoot #500px #exploretocreate #monochrome #explore #nature #optoutside #thepeoplescreatives #visualsoflife #smoke #lifeisbeautiful #hotsprings

Finally rounding off with Iceland where even a winter soak is to be had in summer, if you're so lucky! 

Here just a couple of samples. 
 

aaalia 

In the land of fire and ice wanderlust consumed her; foreign hearts and exotic minds compelled her.

She has a gypsy soul and a vibrant hope for the unknown 🇮🇸🌋❄️. #fireandice #Iceland #wanderlust #adventures #geothermal #secretswimminghole #natureswhirlpool

tice_is_nice 

We did it! Finally made it to some natural thermal #hotsprings. The view was amazing. Mountains to our right and the #atlantic to our left. We even saw whales breaching on our drive in. Big #shoutout to our #suzuki #bjork for keeping us #safeandsound. #lifeisgood

#theisdoeseurope #iceland #roadtrip #backpackers #eurotrip #dudegetatan