After an experience across the Nordics where wellness is redefined? These spa destinations with luxury saunas are very much the ones to consider as 2026 takes hold. www.offhemap.travel
Across the UK, a quiet wellness revolution is gathering steam. From urban bathhouses and coastal wild-swim saunas to members’ clubs and design-led pop-ups, sauna culture has firmly entered the mainstream as a social ritual and antidote to modern life. Yet long before the UK rediscovered the restorative power of heat and cold, the Nordics were perfecting it. In Scandinavia and Iceland, the sauna is not an add-on or indulgence, but a way of life. From subterranean steam rooms carved into rock, to architect-led floating saunas drifting across Arctic waters, the region is redefining wellness in ways that feel both ancient and modern. Here’s a selection of where to discover and why.
Design Led
The Arctic Bath Indulgence is a floating circular sauna and spa moored on Sweden’s Lule River. Your three-night retreat includes use of multiple saunas, cold plunge pool, hot baths, and open-air spaces designed for stargazing or Northern Lights viewing. As well as your stay in a luxurious cabin – six perched on the water and six nestled on land – you’ll dine on gourmet Nordic meals, as well as a choice of spa rituals, from lava-rock massages to guided cold-water immersions inspired by Arctic bathing traditions. Optional activities like yoga, meditation, forest bathing, and wildlife watching are there to complement your relaxation, ideal for those seeking a geothermal spa retreat, or bespoke Nordic wellness escape amid Lapland landscapes.
Floating Wellness
Another floating experience comes via summer when the Nordics float. Here The Floating Safari Camp introduces a roaming experience, drifting across water by day and anchoring by night. Comfort is ensured with two Safari-style tents and twin room, featuring stylish interiors and river views. Over the course of three nights indulge in sauna sessions, activities including canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and fishing, while dining includes four course dinners and evening boat trip for a BBQ feast. And, if you don’t want your experience to end, extend your stay here or in another location, such as Stockholm city or travelling further into the forests of Swedish Lapland. Whether you wish to tweak the pace, or deepen your culinary immersion, an experienced team are on hand to design your perfect trip from scratch.
A Remote Forest
Further North, the Logger’s Lodge sauna offers something more intimate. Situated in the Arctic wilderness, the Arctic Escape: Body, Mind & Soul four-night retreat includes wood-fired saunas, open-fire cooking, daily yoga classes, and meditation to deepen your connection with nature. Expert-led workshops explore Sami healing traditions and rituals, while also embracing snowshoeing and forest bathing. Enjoy nourishing cuisine rich in local, seasonal ingredients, with evenings dedicated to silent contemplation, acoustic performances by the fire, and barefoot walks under the Northern Lights – an unparalleled way to reconnect – while your tastefully designed log-built cabin boasts panoramic views and private sauna.
On A Glacier
Norway’s Isbreen The Glacier retreat sees heat and cold collide, as guests warm in Finnish saunas and outdoor hot tubs after walks and Arctic swims. This three-night retreat is a collection of luxury thanks to its geodesic igloos nestled beneath the Finnmark Alps. Each is designed for comfort, with views of the fjord and surrounding peaks. Days are filled with privately guided activities, including snowmobiling across frozen wilderness, cross-country skiing or ski touring with local guides, and snowshoeing under the night sky in search of the Northern Lights. Afternoons are reserved for relaxation, with seasonal cuisine prepared by an on-site chef. Evenings are then spent dining in the main lodge, sharing stories with fellow travellers or retreating to your igloo to watch the Aurora.
Geothermal
This Luxury Icelandic Spa Retreat blends lagoons with lesser-known thermal sanctuaries, from milky blue waters to steamy pools tucked into lava field. A four-night wellness escape combining geothermal luxury and Icelandic elegance, begin and end in Reykjavík, staying in beautifully designed rooms. Each day begins with an immersive bathing ritual in private geothermal pools and saunas, followed by gourmet, locally sourced meals and wellness treatments tailored to your preferences – think lava rock massage, seaweed wraps, or guided yoga. Optional excursions include guided hikes through lava fields, waterfall visits, and hidden hot springs. Evenings are spent in tranquil settings, with the chance to see the Northern Lights in clear skies.
Heading Underground
In Sweden, wellness goes underground courtesy of the Savouring Swedish Serenity itinerary. Hidden beneath the forest floor, guests can descend into a candlelit sauna chamber carved into rock, before emerging to icy plunge pools, guided forest bathing, yoga sessions, and meditation workshops. Their three-night stay is crafted for relaxation, with each wellness lodge set amid forest and meadows designed to soothe the senses. Meals focus on locally sourced, slow-cooked dishes, with optional activities including lakeside walks and journaling by the fire – while evenings convene in communal spaces lit by candles. It’s a deeply Scandinavian kind of luxury – minimalist, grounding, and entirely about calm, connection, and simplicity.
