Earth Sauna Ritual in the Steam Valley

Hveragerði sits directly on a geothermal field, and our sauna is built the old way: turf roof, stone floor, heat straight from the ground. It is a different heat from an electric sauna — softer, wetter, smelling faintly of earth and minerals. The three-hour ritual alternates earth-sauna rounds with dips in the stream that runs past the door, closing with skyr, rye bread and honey on the grass. You will learn enough about Icelandic bathing culture to be insufferable at dinner parties.