Steaming under an open sky. Gathering around the table. Exploring Iceland through water, warmth, and connection. A private lakefront home, an intentionally small group, six nights. The real thing, not a hotel-and-bus tour.
A free 30-minute call with Alisa. No pressure, every question welcome.
Nov 2–8, 2026 · Intentionally small · From $6,600 · Payment plans available
Book a free consultMost people visit Iceland and see waterfalls, glaciers, and hot springs. We experience it through its bathing culture.
For seven days, we follow a rhythm that has shaped life here for generations: heat, cold, water, conversation, and time outdoors. We’ll soak in geothermal lagoons, historic pools, hidden bathing spots, and mobile saunas, the gathering places where Icelanders have connected through water for centuries.
Not as spectators. As participants. Something shifts when you spend a week at the pace of nature instead of the pace of your inbox. The noise quiets, conversations deepen, and your senses wake up.
By the end, you’ll have seen remarkable places. But what stays with most people isn’t the places. It’s the feeling of being fully present inside them, and the sense that life doesn’t have to feel so rushed when you get home.
There’s something that happens when you stop checking the time and start paying attention to how you feel. The warmth softens you. The cold wakes you up. The quiet in between unwinds you, inviting you to stay a little longer.
On the shores of a private lake in southern Iceland, we’ll gather with an experienced sauna host and settle into a rhythm of heat, cold water, rest, and connection. No rush, no distractions, just space to slow down, reconnect with your senses, and experience Iceland the way many locals do: through water, warmth, and time spent outdoors.
Simple practices. Beautiful surroundings. And remembering how good it feels to be fully present.
Land at Keflavík and ease in at Sky Lagoon, an oceanfront soak with a 70-meter infinity edge that looks like it pours into the Atlantic. Settle into the lake house; welcome dinner.
The Secret Lagoon, the oldest pool in Iceland, from 1891, with a little geyser erupting beside you, then wild hot springs out in the countryside.
Free time in Reykjavík, then Saekot, the seaside sauna at the heart of Iceland’s sauna revival, and home of the modern Gúsa ritual.
A wood-fired sauna pulled right to our own lakeshore; a cooking class with Chef Abbey; an evening sound bath.
A super jeep fords glacial rivers into Þórsmörk, a hidden valley under snow-dusted peaks, then a soak at Seljavallalaug, a 1923 pool tucked into a mountain valley.
Lunch among the vines at the Friðheimar tomato greenhouse, then Laugarás Lagoon, one of Iceland’s newest baths, that hardly anyone knows is there yet; final dinner.
Breakfast, goodbyes, airport transfer.
Our route through southern Iceland, all within day-trip reach of one private lake.
The experience lasts seven days. What stays with you lasts far beyond that.
You’ll bring home a way of moving through the day that feels less rushed and more rooted. What it feels like to wake up rested, eat slowly, pay attention, and be fully present in your own life.
The rituals of bathing, heat, cold, rest, and connection, don’t belong to Iceland. They’re simple practices you can return to long after the trip is over. Practices, not souvenirs.
You’ll experience an Iceland most visitors never encounter. Not just its landscapes, but the traditions, gathering places, and bathing culture that shape everyday life.
There’s something about sharing adventures, meals, and meaningful experiences that brings people together. Don’t be surprised if the people you meet remain part of your life long after the journey ends.
Our week lands in the dark half of the lunar cycle: a waning crescent thinning to a new moon the day we fly home. That means almost no moonlight to wash out the sky, right in the heart of northern-lights season.
We can’t promise the sky will perform, but the timing is about as good as it gets.
It’s designed for community: rather than packing and unpacking each night, you settle into one beautiful property on a private lake for the whole expedition.
A library with a wood-burning stove, a south-facing dining room over the lake, a fireside living room, a full kitchen, quiet bedrooms made for slow mornings, a sauna with a lake view and picture windows, and a lakeside geothermal soaking pool steps from the door.
On a secluded peninsula on Lake Gíslholtsvatn in southern Iceland sits a private waterfront home that blends old-world Scandinavian charm with modern Nordic design.
See photos and room options →
★★★★★ Howl at the Moon Sauna Co. holds 65 five-star reviews and climbing
From Alisa’s own sauna guests and co-host Anna’s past retreats, the same hands behind Iceland, including Chef Abbey.
Such an amazing experience, every detail down to the minted water was curated for comfort and wellness. The sauna was immaculate and the hosts were warm, welcoming and professional.
★★★★★ · Nicole WinninghamThis trip changed my life! It nourished my body, soul, and spirit.
★★★★★ · JG · Wandering Roots retreatThe food Abbey made blew me away. I left with my cup overflowing.
★★★★★ · HM · Wandering Roots retreatThe attention to detail made the entire experience unforgettable and invigorating!
★★★★★ · Howl at the Moon sauna guest
Heat isn’t the only thing that brings people together. Each evening, after a day spent exploring, soaking, and moving through the Icelandic landscape, we gather around the table to share stories, laughter, and good food made by our private chef from fresh, seasonal ingredients.
The meals are nourishing, but they’re about more than what’s on the plate. These dinners become part of the rhythm of the week, another place to connect, reflect, and savor where you are before tomorrow’s adventure begins.
Between Alisa, Anna, and Abbey this isn’t a first-timer’s guess. It’s a team that has done the trip and the bathing, both.
We’ve hand-picked the absolute best excursions and guides for our time together, a once-in-a-lifetime expedition into Icelandic bathing culture.
A specially curated variety of unique bathing experiences and rituals, ancient to modern, each a glimpse into the essence of Icelandic wellness.
Our home away from home for the week: a lakefront chalet nestled in the rugged landscapes of southern Iceland.
If there’s anything we love as much as thermal bathing, it’s food. Every meal is included so you can sink fully into the adventure.
Allergies and dietary restrictions are easily accommodated by our incredible Chef Abbey, who will have you savoring every bite.
Join our wolfpack of sauna-lovers, thermal-bathing junkies, the bathing-curious, and wellness travelers after a sensorial exploration of Icelandic wellness.
Transportation is provided to and from Keflavík International Airport (KEF) near Reykjavík.
Group transportation to and from every single excursion and bathing activity.
We help you find and book the cheapest flight possible and purchase travel insurance that suits your needs, so every unexpected cancellation is fully covered.
Not included: airfare, passport/visa, travel insurance, and the arrival-day transfer from Keflavík to Sky Lagoon. Payment plans available.
All-inclusive once you land: lodging, nearly every meal, bathing, transfers. Flexible payment plans available; airfare and insurance separate.
Your spot, protected: a free consult before you commit, payment plans, and we help you set up cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance.
★★★★★ 65 five-star reviews for Howl at the Moon Sauna Co.
Being seasoned travelers and experience hosts, we get it. Sometimes plans need to be cancelled. When you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome email with what to expect over the coming months, including a link to purchase travel insurance.
We’ve partnered with two companies to provide extensive coverage at very affordable rates. If you follow through on your end and purchase travel insurance, you’ll be covered during your retreat, or your investment will be reimbursed if you can no longer attend.
Basically, we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you’re over-the-moon happy, whether or not you can join us.
Every room is part of the same private home. A $999 deposit secures your booking; monthly payment plans available. Booking is co-hosted with Wandering Roots and all reservations are processed securely through them.
In the Scandinavian-style lodge, 2nd floor of the main house. Two twin beds; shares two 1st-floor bathrooms with showers.
Reserve room
In the Scandinavian-style lodge, 2nd floor of the main house. King bed; shares two 1st-floor bathrooms with showers.
Reserve room
In the newest building, home to the Yoga Shala. King bed, private bathroom with shower, desk workstation, plus fridge, coffee maker, kettle, and dishware.
Reserve room
A Scandi-style A-frame guest house: king bed, ensuite bathroom with shower, kitchenette, and a private stargazing patio. Fridge, coffee maker, kettle, dishware, and speakers.
Reserve roomYes. Depending on when you register, we standardly offer a 6-payment plan split evenly across the following dates: at registration, April, June, August, September, and October. It’s designed to make the experience more accessible while keeping things simple and transparent.
We’ve done most of the hard work for you, but a few things are not included: airfare to and from Keflavík Airport (KEF); passport/visa and travel documentation; and transportation from Keflavík to Sky Lagoon on the day of arrival.
We specialize in a guilt-free culture. Our choose-your-own-adventure system requires nothing from you and encourages you to opt out of any offering that doesn’t serve you in the present moment. Whether you participate in everything or nothing, we’re here for you.
Our private chef can handle any food allergy or dietary restriction you throw her way, and will seamlessly accommodate the pickiest of eaters. She finds pleasure in curating a menu authentic to the area and welcomes any challenge. We’re yet to find someone who hasn’t fallen deeply in love with her made-from-scratch meals.
Perfect. We love solo retreaters and believe it’s the best way to meet people and make new friends. Every single guest (and host) is nervous about showing up and being loved and accepted for who they are. You are not alone in this, and you’ll be in the best company. We have perfected the art of creating besties out of strangers.
We’re committed to making each guest feel comfortable and safe. There’s a section on the registration form to share any injuries or concerns. If you prefer to discuss in detail, reach out to Alisa at howlatthemoonsaunaco@gmail.com to create a plan for your individual needs.
A suggested list of items to bring will be provided once registration is complete. But permission granted to buy a new swimsuit if you’ve been looking for an excuse.
That depends on the experience. Normally we host between 10 and 15 guests, with 3 to 5 hosts.
Most wellness experiences have a reputation for being alcohol-free, but we never impose strict guidelines. Wellness looks different for everyone. We always allow guests to bring their own, and sometimes we have complimentary drinks. Whatever your preference, it’s never an issue.
Yes, but it may be limited. Depending on your cell service, there may be areas of the lodging or excursions with limited service. Wi-Fi is available in the common areas and in each room.
Yes, totally normal. This experience is co-hosted by Wandering Roots and Howl at the Moon Sauna Co. All bookings and payments are securely processed through the Wandering Roots website, and all invoices come directly from them.
We want to be transparent from the start. All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Because of this, we strongly encourage comprehensive travel insurance, including cancel-for-any-reason coverage, for peace of mind. While we’re not responsible for losses related to cancellation, we’ll help provide documentation to support an insurance claim if needed.
A few important things before reserving: all participants must be 18 years or older; you are responsible for obtaining travel insurance; if traveling internationally, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the trip end date; and a liability waiver is required and must be signed prior to participation.
Book a free, no-pressure consult with Alisa, or take the full itinerary home and sit with it.
