From Zimbabwe to Laos, here are seven of the best places to take the plunge.

The coast is often the first port of call for people seeking out beautiful bodies of water. But, frankly, when you’ve seen one beach, you’ve seen them all. The real action is inland – the waterfalls. As well as the awe-striking nature of a bit of crashing water, they’ll also seduce you with their calm pools, deafen you with their thunderous noises and give you psychedelic experiences with the spectacle of rainbows emerging from the surrounding mist. Here’s our guide to some of the best around the globe, and where to stay when you get there.

The Waterfall of the Gods in the north of the island is by no means one of the biggest in the world, but its fanned shape and the gorgeous glacial blue of the water make up for it. Statues of Norse gods may well be lying on the water bed. Folklore has it that in the year 1000, a lawspeaker, Mr Thorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, made Christianity Iceland’s official religion and threw the icons into the waterfall. Stay at the architecturally impressive ION Adventure Hotel, which isn’t exactly close, but is a great launch pad for trekking ancient glaciers, seeing the Northern Lights and checking out the Thingvellir National Park, too. Its award-winning bar, Lava Spa and highly Instagrammable aesthetic make it an unrivalled place to rest up. The heated outdoor pool is rather nice, too, even in the depths of winter.

Where to stay: Ion Adventure Hotel

Croatia has established itself as a mainstay of Mediterranean summer holidays – and a wild festival destination – but few people travel inland. The Plitvice Lake National Park and its magical, multi-spray waterfalls might change that. The park, its 16 inter-connected lakes and multiple falls are roughly halfway between capital city Zagreb and Zadar on the coast. It’s been a Unesco World Heritage site since 1979 and it’s beautifully preserved. It gets busier in peak summer, so spring or late summer are the best times to go, but it’s still beautiful in autumn (thanks to the park’s rich colours) and winter (thanks to the snow and ice). Stay at the Meneghetti, a rural estate in southern Istria that was once a refuge for Austro-Hungarian soldiers and is now a beautiful mansion with a range of rooms and suites. This polished hotel is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and is just 7.5 miles from the ancient Monkodonja fort and 10 miles from the Church of St Euphemia.

Where to stay: Meneghetti

The Iguazu Falls that border Brazil and Argentina are a South American must-do, whether you’re coming from Rio, São Paulo or Buenos Aires. They lay claim to being the largest waterfall system in the world, but then so do Victoria Falls. The river predominantly flows through Brazil, but the most impressive waterfalls are on the Argentinian side. Book yourself in to the peachy-pink Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, the only hotel within Iguazu National Park in Brazil, and a spot from which to gain privileged access to the spectacular sights, but without the crowds. The buildings have recently been restored to their 1950s hacienda glory and the gardens are brimful with tropical flowers and have howler monkeys roaming the grounds. You can’t swim in the dangerous river waters, but you can get your strokes and relaxation in in its elegant pool.

Where to stay: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Morocco is best-known for its souks and deserts, but two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Marrakech, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, are the 110m-high Ouzoud Waterfalls, the highest in north Africa. The water has cut into the red rock to create multiple tiers and impressive cascades. What’s great about these is that everyday life goes on around the falls, too. There are salt mines still in use. Meet the local monkeys and look out over green valleys, olive groves and the gorges of the El Abid River. There are nearby hotels, but the falls are a great day trip from the city, so stay at the divine El Fenn, an unparalleled, 28-room house with multiple pools, terraces and courtyards and buzzy evening restaurant.

Where to stay: El Fenn

The shallow pools of the Kuang Si Falls are what make them so special. Unlike at monstrously big, world-renowned falls such as Niagara, you can come here and dive and swim in the gorgeous, refreshingly cold turquoise waters. So prepared are they for swimmers that there are even wooden changing huts to swap from your hiking gear into your trunks. As well as the falls, look out over the rice fields and buy hand-woven crafts from the local villages. Stay at Amantaka and join Dior menswear artistic director Mr Kim Jones in the ranks of the Amanajunkies, people who are totally dedicated to the exquisite luxury hotel group and travel the world ticking off their stays. There are 24 low-key chic suites, plus a spa, pool, fitness studio, tennis courts and restaurants that serve local and French food.

Where to stay: Amantaka

The low-lying Cascata do Laboreiro is a white foamy waterfall on the Homem River and is beautiful up close, or seen from the ruins of the Castle of Castro Laboreiro, just above the village. The area is also dotted with Roman and medieval bridges to cross the river. Make Porto your base – it’s just a two-hour drive away – and shack up at the Rosa Et Al Townhouse, a seven-suite, brother-and-sister-run hotel that’s an appealing mix of traditional architecture and mid-century design. Eat stacks of pancakes for breakfast to fuel up for a trip to the falls, and then when you get back, have a sundowner and a locally sourced dinner in the garden courtyard.

Where to stay: Rosa Et Al Townhouse

Victoria Falls, The Smoke That Thunders or The Place of the Rainbow isn’t the highest or widest waterfall in the world, but it is classed as the largest because it is essentially two in one. Admire it from afar or, if you’re feeling particularly ballsy, swim in the Armchair or Devil’s Pool, although there is the not-so-slight risk of plunging over the edge. The most impressive time to visit is between February and May, after the summer’s rains (October to November, after the driest season, means the water will be lower and the falls less impressive). Stay just 45 minutes down river at the new Matetsi Victoria Falls, a chic 18-suite camp on the banks of the Zambezi that’s designed to be sympathetic to its environment. Live semi-open air, take dips in your private plunge pool and head to the king-size bed to sleep off all the adventures.

Where to stay: Matetsi Victoria Falls

For more travel recommendations, go to MR PORTER’s Style Council