Iceland is a place that is truly one of a kind. The views, the drives, the wildlife, and the out of this world landscapes. But something you may not know about Iceland is their culture of wellness and rituals. A tradition that goes deep into their cultural roots. Taking part in specific rituals utilizing the natural environment and capabilities of the land to the best of their ability. They have not only created a culture around wellness for the locals, but also for tourists. So if you have ever thought of traveling to Iceland, listen up, because this wellness and health experience is not something that you want to miss.
Before I get into the specifics of my wellness experience there, let’s dive a little deeper into the culture around wellness there. The Icelandic people have a long relationship with the geothermal environment and water on the island. With so much internal energy being put out and used, they also have a plethora of geothermal pools and rivers that provide relaxation and wellness for people to use right there. The bathing culture and use of this geothermal water dates back to Viking times. This was a form of relaxation but also socialization. People would gather in the geothermal pools and it soon became a ritual and a deeply engraved part of their culture and traditions.
They have a popular therapy around the country known as hot cold therapy. Alternating between hot pools fueled by the energy of the underground, and then cold plunges afterward. Utilizing the natural pools still allowed for fresh air circulating. These pools were historically accessible to all genders and all generations. These were intentional practices that became a big part of the country.
While traveling in Iceland, we booked an experience at Sky Lagoon. The Sky Lagoon is a way to enjoy and practice these rituals in a more luxurious experience. The Sky Lagoon is meant to be a modern version of the traditional Icelandic bathing culture. The main focus and point of the place is the infinity edge geothermal pool that looks out over the ocean and the dramatic landscapes. There are mountains in the background, beautiful sounds of the ocean, and the Icelandic breeze.
On top of that, they have what is known as the 7 step ritual. This is a curated wellness experience rooted in these Icelandic traditions that were built around hot cold therapy. The 7 steps look like this:
Step 1: Warm geothermal soak 38 to 40 Celsius (Laug)
Step 2: Cold plunge outside 5 Celsius (Kuldi)
Step 3: Sauna with an insane ocean view 80 to 90 Celsius (Ylur)
Step 4: Cold mist room minus 5 Celsius (Suld)
Step 5: Natural body scrub for exfoliation (Mykt)
Step 6: Steam room and rinse 46 Celsius (Gufa)
Step 7: Crowberry shot (Saft)
This whole ritual process is designed to reset the nervous system. Each step is a special part of the process. It is designed to ensure relaxation, opening of the pores, and a cleanse through each step. Carefully curated to mimic hot cold cycles of tradition and slow everything down.
This place is absolutely incredible from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. The facilities are incredible. Everything feels incredibly clean, luxurious, and relaxing. The place is so grounding and beautiful and sets the scene for the experience.
Inside the facility they have many other amenities. There are well equipped bathrooms and locker rooms. There are lockers to use, showers to use, bathrooms, and towels. On top of that, there are places to eat there as well, shops to purchase wellness things like scrub, lotion, soap, etc. There is also a fully equipped bar outside in the lagoon. You can swim up to the bar and get alcoholic beverages, sodas, and other drinks. You pay with your bracelet and then pay for it all at the end. It really adds to the experience after doing the ritual. We grabbed alcoholic mixes with the crowberries and it was delicious.
This experience is truly amazing and offers everything I was wanting from a ritual experience. This has become extremely popular for tourists who come through the country. It is even a place where people head to on a quick layover to get this Icelandic ritual experience on just a short trip in the country.
Now in Iceland, there are other ways of enjoying these geothermal pools and Icelandic traditions.
One of the most popular ways to enjoy this is the Blue Lagoon. This is an iconic one because of the views and the colors. This is famous for having a rich milky blue water in the lagoon. This experience is more resort like and has spa treatments. It is also a larger, more commercial and busier facility than Sky Lagoon. The biggest differences between these two are the level of luxury, the intimacy, and the amount of people.
Other popular lagoon resorts include the Secret Lagoon, Vok Baths, and GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths.
Outside of these more luxurious and structured experiences, there are also public geothermal pools and natural hot springs. They are found in so many towns around the country. The public pools are more structured, whereas the natural hot springs are more rugged and nature immersed experiences.
When attending any of these places, it is always important to follow the cultural etiquette and ritual norms. Remember this is something that has come from deep cultural traditions and is closely tied to the people of Iceland. Be respectful always. Things to remember or always do:
– Mandatory showering before entering the pools
– Staying quiet and having respect for the shared space
– Slow down and do not rush. Enjoy the experience and sink into the moment. Do not rush the process or experience.
Connecting wellness to cultural experiences and travel is a super unique way to travel and experience. You get to see firsthand how and why the locals do what they do, and utilize the environment around them. The country is full of unique places, insane landscapes, but the experience offers cultural understanding, and a beautifully relaxing experience.
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