Best relaxing places

Landmannalaugar, Iceland
The astonishing landscape of Landmannalaugar, its mountains streaked in varying shades of orange and brown (and at times, blue and green), still feels remarkably off-the-beaten track in Iceland. Those that do make it here come for the hiking or – and more appropriate for those in search of relaxation – the hot springs. These are about as natural as they come – scalding water emerges from underneath lava to meet a cold water flow, creating the perfect, scenic conditions for a soak.

Ang Thong National Park, Thailand
Though Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan have plenty of perfect beaches for even the most weary of traveller, head to nearby Ang Thong National Park for a real sense of getting away from it all. This group of 42 small, lush islands boasts the kind of winning combination of sand and rainforest that millions of Western travellers have dreamt of since The Beach. Whether you dive among the coral reefs, seek out your own pristine bay or spot macaques in the rainforest, you’ll have left stresses of real life far behind you.