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The best luxury saunas, spas and icy plunges
Restore your mind and body with luxury saunas and icy plunges, from the world's first ice hotel to an Arctic bath indulgence and an aromatic hay sauna
Each year, Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden, is created afresh from the ice and snow of the nearby River Torne. It has recently opened its doors for this winter. Guests arrive at Icehotel 36 in the 30-metre-long main hall, Cathedral Grove, home to a glistening forest of icy treetops stretching to the ceiling. In the ceremony hall, Echo, betrothed couples can say “I do”, while visitors are welcome to admire the majestic frozen artworks in the daytime. Among the most impressive this year is the full-scale and functioning grand piano carved out of ice, while in one of the art suites, British and French stonemason duo Peter Hobbs and Coralie Quincey have produced a wonderful work of art called Soap Bubbles.
If Swedish Lapland is a little too far to travel, the Icebar by Icehotel will soon be coming to London.
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Hotel Nesslerhof is a family-run, five-star luxury spa and ski retreat in the picturesque Alpine valley of Großarl in Austria. Here, the mountains form the serene backdrop for Hotel Nesslerhof’s transformative three-day ice-bathing and breath-work experience, led by expert Edith Aigner. It aims to “unlock a calmer mind, a stronger body and a deeper sense of presence”. Under expert guidance, guests will step into crystal-clear 6°C mountain water and harness the invigorating power of cold exposure, which is said to boost immunity, sharpen focus and strengthen resilience to stress. Guests will also engage in breath-work, mindful movement and yoga sessions inspired by the Wim Hof Method to reset the mind and body from the inside out.
From €942 per person for the two-night ice bathing and breath-work retreat, nesslerhof.at/en.
3. Arctic Bath, Swedish Lapland
(Image credit: Arctic Bath)
Arctic Bath is an architecturally stunning floating sanctuary on the River Lule in Swedish Lapland, with six stylish cabins perched on the water and six on land. The hub of the retreat is the circular spa, which has multiple saunas, a cold plunge pool, hot baths and open-air relaxation spaces designed for stargazing or admiring the Northern Lights. Off the Map offers a three-night “Arctic Bath Indulgence” package that allows guests to take full advantage of the amenities to truly recuperate in both mind and body this winter. It includes private transfers, a floating cabin, gourmet Nordic dining and a choice of spa treatments – from lava-rock massages to guided cold-water immersions inspired by Arctic bathing traditions.
Gáldu Hotel & Spa is a new family-owned boutique retreat that has just opened in Finnish Lapland. The hotel is built to a traditional log-frame design, situated on the edge of the tranquil Urho Kekkonen National Park and minutes from the Saariselkä ski resort. Guests can enjoy elevated, treetop views of the surrounding forest from Gáldu’s two Signature suites, while all of the 29 rooms enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows, designed to make the most of the Arctic light. At the warm heart of the hotel lies Gáldu Spa, named after the Sámi word for “cold spring”. It is an authentic Arctic wellness sanctuary featuring three saunas, a warm pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, and the signature cold plunge pool, after which the spa is named. Afterwards, guests can continue to unwind in the fireside bar.
Saltus is a holistic sanctuary in the Dolomite mountains above Bolzano in Italy that is focused on wellness. The Alpine Hay Sauna is the centrepiece of its Forest Spa. Here, sun-dried mountain hay, rich in coumarin, a natural compound, releases a gentle, calming aroma that eases inflammation, relaxes muscles and deepens wellbeing. As the sauna warms, the scent of high-altitude meadows creates a sense of tranquillity. For those wishing to extend the experience, “hay beds” offer an inviting space to unwind and recharge. Alternate between the hay sauna, steam room, forest-view relaxation rooms and the outdoor infinity sky pool filled with mountain water.
Skýra Retreat in Finnish Lapland recently welcomed its first guests to the shores of Lake Norvajärvi, outside Rovaniemi. The Grande Suites are to be found in the restored 1950s village schoolhouse, surrounded by forest. Each has a private sauna and freestanding bathtub. Meanwhile, the spa is an open-air sanctuary inspired by the Finnish thermal cycle of heat, cold and rest. For a taste of Finnish culture, the Private Folklore Sauna treatment session is guided by a “sauna host”, weaving in traditional incantations, the ritual of greeting the löyly (steam), and ancient practices such as birch-whisking.
€1,452.50 per person, per night for the three-night Heart of Winter retreat from 9-16 February, skyraretreat.com
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