Iceland is famous for its geothermic hot springs. In a land so rich with natural beauty, it makes a ton of sense - you go outside, enjoy the warmth that nature provides even if the outside is currently featuring sub-zero temperatures and insane wind gusts. Just dip down into the hot tub style natural spring and relax.
Sky Lagoon takes that natural spring experience to another level. While the Golden Circle is most popular for its all-natural appeal outside of Reykjavik, Sky Lagoon combines the hot spring experience with a luxury spa like atmosphere and a breathtaking visual - add in their seven-step ritual and it creates a perfect rejuvenating kick-start for your vacation, at a reasonable price.
Getting Started at Sky Lagoon
We had a group of 10 adults on our Icelandic adventures, so organizing the travel there was a big reason for us choosing Sky Lagoon over a more “Authentic” experience. For us the less people from Florida driving on snow and ice covered Icelandic roads the better. While it was convenient for Sky Lagoon to be just south of Reykjavik, getting there was a bit confusing. Getting off their highway, we found ourselves stuck between construction, barges and random piers - but at a certain point you just trust the GPS and continue on. Next thing we know, we turn a corner and a moss-covered modern building appeared out of nowhere that looked more in place on the LA mountainside than in blustering Iceland.
Once inside, the ambient lighting and chill background music hit you with relaxation immediately. Our group had booked the Sér pass which included the private changing rooms, and signing in was a breeze . Everyone was given wristbands tied to our lockers and payment types linked with who you wanted to be paired with - vital for a group featuring 4 different couples and everyone fighting for credit card points. Restaurants wish they their POS systems worked that flawlessly.
Once everyone had their wristbands, we were brought to the lockers where we were all able to shower and change out of our layers and winter coats and into our bathing suits. I have to admit - there is a certain calming effect to knowing that everyone going into the communal pool is showered and clean. The lockers providing security added a great excuse to disconnect from our phones in a major way to just enjoy the moment. Now that everyone is clean, changed and smelling like sandalwood and rock salt, it’s time for the moment everyone was waiting for - the first dip in the lagoon.
The First Dip In
Admittedly I had no idea what to really expect when we booked the Sky Lagoon experience. My wife Cheyenne had told me to book it, and book it I did. But being from Florida I assumed it would just be a warm version of the springs we have down there. You cannonball in, it’s freezing cold, and you get out whenever your toes start going numb.
I was very, very wrong.
Leaving the locker rooms and private showers you transition your way outside to the opening of a cave, with dimly lit warm lights emitting from below, and a low fog rising above the water welcoming you to gradually find your way in. As you descend down, it isn’t not like a hot tub where it’s a a little too hot and you can only stay for a little while. Instead it’s a perfect bathtub inviting you for a morning of relaxation. Going around the corner from the entrance, water halfway up your chest, you turn outward to see towering natural rocks on either side, protecting you from the city and barges and construction just outside of the lagoon. Looking outward past the lagoon you can see nothing but perfectly cloudy skies and the bay, seemingly nothing between you and the rest of the Atlantic.
The Seven Step Ritual
Included in our passes was the Seven Step Skjól Ritual, designed through the Icelandic bathing culture and built for revitalization. The ritual starts starts at the lagoon and you can go through once and then return.
The Seven Steps Are:
Step One - Laug (Enter the Lagoon)
Step Two - Kuldi (A Cold Plunge)
Step Three - Ylur (A Dry Sauna)
Step Four - Súld (A Cold Mist)
Step Five - Mýkt (A Body Scrub)
Step Six - Gufa (A Steam Room)
Step Seven - Saft (An Icelandic Elixir)
After the Ritual
Post-ritual we went back to the lagoon, where after enjoying all of the health benefits of Sky Lagoon we decided it was time to enjoy it more as a vacation, and as such we found the Gelmir Bar, a swim up bar inside of a cave wall. Iceland does not have a massive drinking culture, especially when compared to other European countries. In France, Spain and Portugal its normal to find a popup kiosk downtown and grab a glass of wine, but in Iceland we could not find a single place to buy a bottle of wine for our AirBnB because all of the grocery stores were closed for the holiday. That being said, it isn’t completely absent, and here we were welcomed by several different types of beer (including the local lager, Gull), wine and even an orange cocktail that my wife could not get enough of, and that is saying something.
At this point, we had been there for a couple of hours and the lagoon was starting to get VERY busy. Sky Lagoon opens at 10am every morning, but your ticket does not have a designated time frame on it other than when you can arrive, which causes crowds to form midday of people wanting to get their moneys worth. I would definitely recommend getting there early enough to enjoy the lagoon (and especially the other 6 steps) before it gets crowded. Just hanging out afterwards was fine, but for the ritual you will want to go at your own pace without feeling too rushed or the busyness taking away your experience.
As time went on and the drinks were (responsibly) flowing, the typical Icelandic sky got a bit gloomier and then magically, it started snowing! It clearly ruined the experience for many, as the mass of people started heading to the locker rooms, but the cold snowflakes above the water merged peacefully with the hot lagoon below and all of us had a blast. It could have been the Gull, but nevertheless it was phenomenal.
Would I Go Back?
Absolutely! Especially with our scenario of having a larger group, limited cars and wanting to experience a lagoon, it was perfect to make everyone happy and was a highlight for many on the trip. If it were just Cheyenne and I going back to Iceland, I could see us heading to the Golden Circle to experience the natural springs, but Sky Lagoon’s views alone would be hard to beat, not to mention a relaxing experience overall to be able to ease your body into vacation after the long flight.
