Words by Christopher Rosa
Straddling the Eurasian and North America tectonic plates, Iceland has long been a hot bed of geothermal activity. Communal bathing in the volcanic hot springs has been part of Icelandic culture since the Vikings arrived here over a thousand years ago.
Opening in 2021, the Sky Lagoon might have a dramatic location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean but is located a mere 15-minute drive from Reykjavík city centre. With panoramic views of Reykjavík’s Harbour and the president of Iceland’s official residence, Sky Lagoon is described by locals as the biggest window in all of Iceland.
When we visited, the ash cloud from the recent volcanic eruption of Litli Hrútur was quietly but menacingly hanging in the middle atmosphere to the west. Come the long dark days and nights of deep winter, the Sky Lagoon’s unique location on the edge of the horizon makes it a vaunted vantage point to see the Aurora Borealis.
The Sky Lagoon experience
The Sky Lagoon is a celebration of both Nordic bathing culture and Nordic design. The large open air pool is surrounded by craggy volcanic rocks which is nestled into a turf landscape. After showering with the Sky Lagoon’s very own Vor product line, you enter the steaming waters through a long cave, the air heavy with warm mist. Geothermal energy constantly keeps the water warm at a steady 79 degrees C (174 F) even on the coldest, windiest winter days.
The centrepiece of the Sky Lagoon is the Norse Turf Bathing house that leads to the sauna, scrub room and showers. Before heading to the sauna you can relax in the water at the Sky Lagoon’s swim-up bar where you can order champagne, local brews or, if you are feeling adventurous, Collab seltzers with Icelandic marine collagen.
Before heading to the sauna, we took a dip in a cold pool to get the blood flowing. The cold pool is the second part of the Sky Lagoon’s Seven Step Pure Ritual, the first being the soothing waters of the geothermal pool. The cold pool certainly awakened our senses and works to stimulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.
The sauna is large with amphitheatre style seating facing an impressive floor to ceiling window, the largest in the country, with stunning views over the tempestuous North Atlantic Ocean. This part of the ritual opens your pore, removes toxins and cleanses your skin. Stepping out of the sauna, the next part of the ritual is the energising cold mist shower that falls from a dramatic vaulted wooden tower above you.
This is followed by a sea salt scrub, which exfoliates your skin using the Sky Lagoon’s own scrub with ingredients including Icelandic salt, coconut and sesame oil treatment. The fragrant scrub is served individually to you in askar bowls, originally used by the Vikings, and is applied before you enter the steam room, where the steam amplifies the hydrating benefits of the scrub. The final part is showering off in the pure warm Icelandic glacial water. Despite being busy on the day of our visit at no time did we feel rushed during the ritual.
Food and drink
After enjoying the aquatherapy treatment in the lagoon you can finish your visit with a trip to the Smakk Bar, a cosy, wood panelled retreat inside the main building. You can have a drink by the stonewall fireplace or feast on pastries by local bakers Sandholt or indulge in the delicious platters of Icelandic fayre on offer.
We chose a large Sky Platter to share which came with Auður cheese, organic bilberry jam, meaty local reindeer, pork and wild goose game pâté with red onion jam, salmon gravlax with home-made mustard and dill sauce. We had just enough room for a dessert of deliciously tangy rhubarb pie.
In a nutshell
The Sky Lagoon is a stunningly designed pool and spa that is a superb place to unwind in the heart of the Icelandic capital.
Factbox
Prices for the Seven Step Pure Ritual are from £59pp and bookable via the Sky Lagoon’s website.
Address: Vesturvör 44-48, Kópavogur, Iceland
Phone: 00354 527 6800
Email: info@skylagoon.is
Website: skylagoon.com
