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Luxury hotels are constantly competing to create the
world's most beautiful infinity pool - with millpond-still water,
glistening in the sunshine, seemingly stretching out to infinity and
beyond. No resort in the Maldives, Bora Bora and Tahiti is worth their
salt if they don't boast an incredible infinity-edge pool that dreamily
melds into the azure sea. But as beautiful as these man-made pools are,
it is hard to compete with one that nature has created. From travertine
terraces in Turkey to waterfall pools with a 355-foot drop, these are
the world's most beautiful natural infinity pools, as compiled by Conde
Nast Traveler.
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Travertine Terraces - Pamukkale, Turkey
These formations created by the carbonate minerals in flowing water look
otherworldly - and contain hot springs that can reach up to 100°C.
As a Unesco World Heritage Site, most of the pools are protected, with
just a few remaining open for the public to enjoy. |
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Devil's Pool - Victoria Falls, Zambia
Devil's Pool is not for the faint-hearted! Put a foot wrong, and you're
facing a 355-foot drop into the thunderous roar of Victoria Falls. The
shallow pool is directly adjacent to the waterfall, however a stone wall
below the surface of the water protects swimmers from getting swept over
the edge.
The pools are only safe to swim in during the dry season when water
levels are lower, between August and January. |
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Kuang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang, Laos
The Kuang Si falls are a beautiful three-tiered waterfall near Luang
Prabang. The waterfall emerges from shallow pools which lead to a 60
metre drop.
Like in Pamukkale, travertine terraces have been created by flowing
water over the years. |
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Ponta di Ferreira - São Miguel, Portugal
There are a number of natural tidal pools in the Azores Archipelago. At
Ponta di Ferreira, natural hot springs feed into the sea, creating a
warm natural pool.
Swimmers have to negotiate jagged black lava rocks to reach the pool,
but the cosy swim makes it well worth the effort. |
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Top Ponds, Valley View Hot Springs - Villa Grove,
Colorado
An easy hike will land visitors at Valley View Hot Springs, and another
1/4 mile higher up will take them to the Top Ponds, a series of three
ponds that flow into each other.
The undeveloped hot springs are surrounded by beautiful wildlife, and
naturally cleaned and heated.
While the ponds further down the trail are a comfortable 'womb
temperature', the top ponds can reach 40°C.
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Coogee Beach Tidal Pools - Sydney, Australia
Sydney is home to dozens of tidal pools along the coast, but McIvors
Pool and Wylie's Baths at Coogee Beach is arguably the most beautiful.
At hide tide, when the sea washes over the edge of the walls, it is hard
to tell where the rock pool ends and the ocean begins.
While most of Sydney's pools started out as natural rock pools, many
have been developed for bathers' comfort, with ladders, reinforced
concrete walls, and railings at some.
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Caldeira Velha - São Miguel, Portugal
Also in Azores, these geothermal springs are hidden away down a path in
the rainforest. A warm water waterfall cascades into a tepid creek.
The rock wall has been turned to a rust colour because of the mineral
content of the water.
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