Island
Springs - Iceland Spa and Wellness
ABTA Magazine, Iceland Supplement
Anyone who returns from Iceland and says they haven't had a
spa holiday probably isn't being entirely truthful. UK visitors
stay on average just four days in the destination, touring the
highpoints of the epic landscape, and though they may not be
focused on spa, most will incorporate at least a couple of hours
in the Blue Lagoon into their sightseeing itinerary.
Icelandair Holidays product development coordinator Linda Izasars
says: "Roughly 80% of all visitors to Iceland go to the Blue
Lagoon. The natural environment, fresh air and amazing lunar
landscape make this a unique experience."
It is certainly the best known of Iceland's spa experiences
and its facilities have just doubled in size with a new restaurant,
bar and lounge and more changing rooms opened in November.
The manmade lagoon is set amid dramatic black lava fields and
handily located just off the main road between Reykjavik and
its international airport. Its geothermal seawater, which is
replenished every 40 hours, comes from 2,000 metres below the
earth's surface. The trademark creamy blue appearance is a result
of the reputedly anti-ageing silica mud and algae it contains.
As you relax in the lagoon's 38°C waters you can slap on
your own white mud face mask or get a therapist to give you
a treatment. This is one spa where you'll really get that floating
feeling as mud and oil massages, mineral salt scrubs and algae
wraps are carried out while you lie on a mattress on the water,
partially covered in blankets. With a dermatologist's referral,
psoriasis patients can receive special bathing and light therapies
in the lagoon's clinic, which also has accommodation.
The Blue Lagoon is partly behind a new fitness centre and spa
just opened in Reykjavik. In early summer it will also begin
running a spa at the refurbished natural steam bath at lake
Laugavatn.
An experience similar to the Blue Lagoon is offered at Lake
Myvatn in Iceland's North East. Since Viking times people have
been bathing in the mineral-rich waters of the area and in 2004
the tradition was formalised when a complex with steam baths
and a creamy pool opened as Myvatn Nature Baths. Massages are
available and, like the Blue Lagoon, the spa has its own nature-based
products for sale. In the almost perpetual daylight of summer
the baths are open until midnight while on winter evenings you
can sit and watch the dramatic northern lights as you soak.
Not every geothermal bathing opportunity in Iceland is officially
managed. "In every area you can find a little place where you
can take a natural bath, the most famous is at Landmannalaugar"
explains Sigrun Hlin Sigurdardottir, the Icelandic Tourist Board's
UK marketing manager. But she stresses it's best to seek local
advice before lowering yourself into any inviting-looking steam
holes.
Tourists often stop at Hveragerdi, about 30 minutes drive from
Reykjavik, to take at look at its geothermally heated greenhouses.
Few, however know about the Health and Rehabilitation Clinic
run by the Nature Health Association of Iceland in the same
town. Founded in 1955, this is the oldest sanatorium in the
country and combines modern day medical science with natural
health traditions like massage, mud and herbal baths and acupuncture.
Rather than a place for pampering, the clinic aims to ease arthritis
and rheumatism, back and neck injuries and heart problems and
to aid recovery from illness. Treatment packages of from one
to five days are available with accommodation offered on site
but clients wishing to use the clinic's facilities should get
a referral from their doctor.
Even when they are visiting a spa for pleasure Icelanders take
the health benefits of their natural resources seriously. The
most commonly encountered are:
Thermal water:
the deep heat relaxes muscles and helps relieve rheumatism
and muscle and joint pain.
Sulphur: said to help ease asthma and other respiratory
problems.
Silica mud: good for smoothing the skin, said to be
anti-ageing and, along with thermal waters, beneficial for the
treatment of psoriasis and eczema.
Despite the country's abundance of health-enhancing natural
ingredients, the luxury spa experience is not as developed in
Iceland as some other European destinations. Hotels offering
a menu of treatments are currently thin on the ground, particularly
outside of Reykjavik, though many properties offer naturally-heated
outdoor hot tubs for guests. "I'm sure that spa will be one
of our growth factors," says Sigurdardottir, "All new hotels
are likely to try to do this."
In the meantime, The easiest way to get a bit of health-boosting
geothermal action throughout Iceland is to join the locals in
one of the country's many naturally-heated swimming pools. There
are over 120 such pools across the country, 16 in the greater
Reykjavik area alone, and Icelanders of all ages tend to visit
one at least weekly. Most are open air and feature whirlpools,
hot tubs (locally called hot pots) and slides. You can get a
massage at larger pool complexes like Laugar in Laugardalur
Valley.
As they are less heavily chlorinated than elsewhere, hygiene
is taken particularly seriously at Icelandic pools. Prudish
Brits should be aware this means bathers are required to wash
naked, often in communal showers. Signs are even displayed indicating
the parts of the body where you must use soap. Jewellery should
be removed before entering natural pools as the sulphur content
can discolour silver and copper. You might also want to warn
clients about the faint rotten egg smell that can result from
the sulphur in pool and hotel water.
Icelanders swim outdoors year-round in their steamy pools but
only particularly hardy souls would swim in the sea - except,
that is, at the family-friendly Nautholsvik Thermal Beach in
Reykjavik. Here geothermal water not only fills a pool but is
cleverly fed into the shallows during the summer, making the
sea warm enough for swimming. There's even a man-made sandy
beach with refreshment kiosks.
Luxury Spa Resorts
Radisson SAS, Saga Hotel, Reykjavik
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Modern four-star with 209 guest rooms. |
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Short walk from city centre, 45 minutes from airport. |
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Egyptian themed Mecca Spa and Health Centre with seawater
whirlpool bath, sauna and steam room plus a gym. |
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Spa treatments include lava massages and facials and
Icelandic hot stone massage. |
+ 354 525 9920/9900 www.saga.reykjavik.radissonsas.com.
www.meccaspa.is
Hotel Selfoss, Selfoss
New luxury Northern Light Spa will open in early 2008. Icelandic
nature and the northern lights will be reflected in spa décor.
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Modern 99 room four-star on banks of Olfus
river. |
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180-seat cinema within hotel. |
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Spa facilities will include a steam room, sauna, hot
pool, relaxation room, vitamin bar and four treatment
rooms. |
+ 354 480 2500 www.selfosshotel.is
101 Hotel, Reykjavik
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A four-star Design Hotels member. |
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38 simple, style-conscious rooms including five suites. |
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Collection of contemporary art on display. |
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Leisure facilities include gym, steam bath and whirlpool
bath. |
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In-room massages are bookable through reception. |
+ 354 5800 101 www.101hotel.is
Top 5 Selling tips
From Vikki Beale, tours manager, Iceland and Greenland Department,
Regent Holidays.
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The 4 Star Hilton Reykjavik Nordica provides
a soothing sanctuary for a hotel-based spa experience.
|
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The famed Blue Lagoon is just 15 minutes' drive from
Iceland's International Airport. |
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Iceland's newest geothermal spa, Myvatn Nature Baths,
is set in a stunningly beautiful area. |
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Complement a sightseeing itinerary by bathing in a hot
pool at Landmannalaugar surrounded by colourful rhyolite
mountains. |
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Hveravellir and its hot pools are accessible by 4x4
or scheduled bus in summer months. |
Sample packages
Icelandair Holidays has a special offer of £429 per person
for three nights' bed and breakfast at the Hilton Reykjavik
Nordica, one entry to the Nordica Spa's sauna and whirlpool
facilities (treatments cost extra) and a Blue Lagoon excursion.
The price, based on two sharing, includes flights and Flybus
transfers. Valid for travel from Jan 5 to March 31.
Scantours's Iceland's Natural Wonders fly-drive tour, available
April to September, incorporates the scenic South coast, Gulfoss,
Geysir and the natural spa areas of Blue Lagoon and Lake Myvatn.
Prices (yet to be finalised) will start from around £1,065,
including flights, eight nights' twin-share bed and breakfast
accommodation and six days' car rental.
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