(
Wellness on IceLake Salonkijärvi, Finland
If you think an igloo with a frozen lake for a floor is cool, picture one boasting more than just an icy interior.
This ice-brick structure by Rukan Salonki Chalets conceals a steamy sauna right on top of Lake Salonkijärvi in the heart of Finland.
Illuminated by the reflection of sunlight and ice and heated by a stove, which is only brought inside when guests are there to avoid melting the walls, the ice sauna is one of the most unusual ways you’ll ever get a sweat on.
Warmed to a soft but steamy 60°C, the ice sauna offers more benefits to a spa date than your average steam room. The heat is less aggressive but the humidity is high, causing your body to perspire as soon as you enter. It also promises relief to those with breathing issues and colds.
Up to 10 people can enter the igloo at once, and when it’s time to simmer down, custom dictates you plunge into a hole in the ice for a shrivelling winter swim.
Ready to go?
Get Inspired In Print
While you're here
Strap yourself in for a voyage to one of the earth’s most remote frontiers...
Strap yourself in for a voyage to one of the earth’s most remote frontiers aboard a...
In the depths of Helsinki, you can meet Jackie, a real Finish beauty. She has...
In the depths of Helsinki, you can meet Jackie, a real Finish beauty. She has a moody...
Are there two things more inherently Finnish than saunas and drinking?...
Are there two things more inherently Finnish than saunas and drinking? Absolutely not,...
Huskies adore running, and their incredible power and skill has been utilised...
Huskies adore running, and their incredible power and skill has been utilised for...