An immersive and traditional experience: The 7-step ritual at Sky Lagoon
Connect with Icelandic traditions. Relax your mind, body and soul. Try something new. Step out of your comfort zone. All this is possible with the Sky Lagoon Ritual, a truly unique journey that is at the heart of Iceland's newest geothermal experience.
This is what will leave you rejuvenated, transformed and connected to the elements. Here, we delve into each of the seven steps of the ritual.
Step 1: Slow down and relax in the lagoon.
Welcome! Enter the lagoon through the cave-like entrance. It's time to settle in. Step into the warm waters and relax. Breathe in the refreshing ocean air. Float through a breathtaking canyon and take in the view of Mount Keilir. On the other side, the rhythmic theatre of the ocean releases your breath. Step 1 is about the journey from the changing room to the edge of infinity. It is about gently entering a state of serenity and calm where you feel relaxed and open to what is to come. Take your time!
Step 2: Refresh yourself with the cold plunge
Next comes cold therapy, a deeply traditional step for Icelanders. The choice is yours! You can take a walk in the cool Icelandic air. Or if you're brave like a Viking, take a dip in the cold pool. This will boost your immune system, decrease the blood flow in your body and tighten your skin. It's also proven to boost your happiness - it's a natural high! We recommend 10 seconds to awaken your senses, but you can stay up to 30 seconds. If you're recovering from a long-haul flight or after a hike, you'll reap the benefits. Conquer your mind, invigorate your senses and wake up!
A person immersed in a pool of water.
Step 3: Relaxation with a view in the sauna
After waking up cold, head to the sauna for 5 to 10 minutes. Let the heat open your pores, flush out toxins and cleanse your skin. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean while the heat works its magic. With a huge window offering a breathtaking view of the ocean, this is the most amazing sauna in Iceland. Take 10 minutes to let the heat work its magic and increase your sense of well-being. The soft acoustics echo the sound of the ocean and create a sense of calm.
One person sits on a wooden bench.
Step 4: Cooling off in a cold fog
Next, balance out the heat of the sauna by walking slowly through our cold fog space. Take a deep breath here and refresh your senses! The cold mist rejuvenates the skin and helps you prepare for what's to come. It's stimulating - another natural high!
Step 5: The Sky Body Scrub
It's time to get invigorated. By applying our Sky body scrub, your skin will be exfoliated and glowing. The highlight of the Ritual, we have developed a unique sea salt scrub to leave your skin feeling soft and healthy. With its light and comforting spring scent, it will work wonders. Use slow circular motions to work the scrub into your skin.
A person rubs a scrub on their shoulder.
Step 6: The steam room
As your skin tingles from the Sky Body Scrub, the steam will open up your skin again. This is where the key therapeutic elements of the ritual are absorbed and the moisturizing benefits of the Sky Body Scrub are maximized.
Even with the scrub in progress, you'll find that the moisture and heat help you breathe deeply and easily. Relax. Clear your sinuses and feel the health in your lungs. The steam improves the overall functioning of your body. You will feel great!
Step 7: Shower and relax in the lagoon
Finally, rinse off the scrub in the shower. Then, head back into the warm geothermal lagoon. Lean back, close your eyes, breathe deeply, feel the results and enjoy the moment! Let yourself be immersed in all the benefits of this unique journey. You will feel every muscle in your body relaxed, rejuvenated and energized. When you're ready, head to the Lagoon Bar for a refreshing drink.
These seven steps, done in order and at a slow pace, can lead to deep relaxation and well-being. As Icelanders have done for centuries, discover the power of tradition and be inspired by this incredible environment.
Overall I give it a 3 out of 5 and there’s good things to highlight but also a couple of frustrating points.
We arrived at 9:40 am where the hours said it opened at 9 am, however the doors were locked until about 9:55… so we stood out in the cold windy morning without the proper clothes to wear since we had walked from our vehicle rental agency and weren’t prepared to stand outside. When we finally were let in there was not an explanation, just a massive line of people waiting and cold and impatiently ready to get checked in. When we got through the line to the check in counter the staff member was impolite and we had an awkward conversation about how I was making a certain face at him.. I didn’t really know what he meant I was just very cold and confused why we had to wait outside.
At any rate there are many positives as well, the view is very nice and the temperature was perfect. The cliff that envelopes the lagoon is very interesting and neat. The sparkling white wine was very tasty. Staff were dressed warmly and would clean glasses and the locker room pretty constantly where they could (but I only ever saw one staff inside the lagoon to ensure this area was clean). Locker rooms were constantly being cleaned which was impressive for how large the locker room area was.
When we first arrived there was a wet towel on a rock that had clearly been there overnight - since we were among the first to enter.. there was also gum shoved in between two rocks which was quite gross.
At the bar more staff were impolite (very abrupt and to the point - not friendly).. at a certain point I was made to feel as if we were being nickeled and dimed for an experience that other lagoons provide with base entry. Furthermore they were doing construction so the crane was visible from the lagoon even though it was not in use.
I wasn’t sure if I should book the ritual since other lagoons provided most of that for the same price as entrance, but it was the body scrub that made me want to try it. There is no scrub for the face like at the blue lagoon but this part was actually very amazing and I left with all but my face skin feeling very nice and rejuvenated. I was glad that I did book the ritual despite the amount of tourists who did not see it as a relaxation opportunity made it hard to fully experience the intention of the resort- several talking in the sauna despite being told it was a quiet room then in the steam bath no one could see due to the steam so folks entering were disoriented and loud about that… this is probably not as much the resorts fault but I chalked it up to the proximity to city center and how many people could fit in the lagoon since it’s pretty big size. Possibly also because their hours were later than posted so a rush of people came all at once first thing.
Something they could make more clear on the website is that The ritual can only be performed one time which is something that seems a way to make it seem exclusive but again most resorts did offer steam sauna cold bath and cold showers with the same price as entrance and unlimited access for all. My advice would be for the ritual to be included in the base pass and also not limited on access (maybe tourists would see it as more relaxing and less confused on what it actually is).. the exfoliating scrub could be an up charge as that is an expense beyond the lagoons operating cost….
If I were to return I would try to arrive on a quieter day but first I would try other places in the area. The photo I post with no people took a long time to get just the right timing of no one around. I do not like taking photos of strangers since I am uncomfortable when others do that to me (this will happen a lot at a busy day of tourists at sky lagoon).
Rushing to the facility within 30 minutes of the purchase, we were met with unhelpful staff who refused to refund or modify our purchase, citing a 24-hour advance notice policy for cancellations. Despite not using any of the facilities — we didn’t even enter the changing room and returned our wristbands immediately — our request for a refund was denied both in person and in subsequent email communications. The reason given was that by taking the wristbands, we had “participated” in the experience.
This policy feels incredibly unfair, especially since our intention to cancel was immediate and clear. We ended up leaving without using any services, essentially losing our money due to a simple mistake facilitated by their booking system. I hope this review helps others to be very cautious with the terms and conditions when booking at Sky Lagoon.
- Everyone with phones and cameras in the water, constant harassment.
- The ritual was super disappointing:
Despite instructions for quiet, noise in the sauna even after several warnings. Guests making fun of others when they complained.
Sauna door constantly open and cooled down. Too many people, dirty, uncomfortable feeling.
No space in the steam sauna.
The worst part: even guests without access entered through the back entrance and participated in the ritual, security didn't care.
Entrance and exit to the lagoon were dirty and musty.
The staff were very helpful, but couldn't change the overall experience. We won't be coming back and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Unfortunately...!