The only luxury hotel on Iceland’s famed Blue Lagoon opened in April with some major “wow” amenities. The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland has a subterranean spa, a geothermal lagoon, a restaurant and 62 suites. It’s built into an 800-year-old lava flow on the south shore of the lagoon, tapping into the same volcanic aquifer of geothermal saltwater.
Upon arrival to the Retreat, guests are welcomed by their individual hosts, who serves as a guide and attendant, managing itineraries, confirming tours, providing insight to local culture or informing guests of the arrival of the Northern Lights.
In addition to unlimited access to the Blue Lagoon facility, guests have access to morning yoga, guided hikes and an 18-hole course. The Retreat can also arrange an array of private excursions such as touring the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula, experiencing Iceland from a private helicopter tour, riding an ATV across black sand beaches, hiking lava fields and extinct volcanoes and more.
Each of the suites has minimalist design, floor-to-ceiling windows and either a balcony or terrace; the Lagoon Suites even have direct access to the lagoon. Note: There are no televisions on property.
A top feature at the hotel is the Retreat Spa, which has a steam room built into the lava rock, a cold well, in-water massages and a spa restaurant. The signature treatment is the Blue Lagoon Ritual, which takes place in “a spacious sanctuary of interconnected chambers” with ingredients — silica, algae and minerals — coming from the lagoon’s geothermal seawater. The Retreat Spa will also allow guests to access the Retreat Lagoon, a new Blue Lagoon experience where the mineral-rich water flows around The Retreat through a terraced concourse of lava.
The Moss Restaurant is billed as a foodie destination, highlighting the country’s culinary heritage. There will also be a 10-seat Chef’s Table, made of lava rock that was quarried on-site, and a Wine Cellar, which was built into multi-hued lava. Tip: For a taste of Icelandic tradition, afternoon coffee and freshly baked goods are served each afternoon in the lounge.
Art lovers will love the rotating exhibition of a 1,600-piece ceramics collection from the Icelandic Museum of Design & Applied Art. Contact Hulda Stefánsdóttir ([email protected]), director of sales.
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