Visiting the lagoon will be an ideal add on for Golden Circle tourist packages / photo: Laugaras Lagoon
Contrast bathing and fine-dining are two standout features of an upcoming geothermal wellness destination that’s strategically positioned on Iceland’s Golden Circle – a popular tourist route close to the capital of Reykjavik.
Due to open in Q3 this year, Laugarás Lagoon is a two-storey geothermal lagoon on the banks of the Hvitá River, which is designed to allow visitors to descend from an upper pool to a lower pool through a passage under the water’s surface, emerging through a waterfall.
The 1,000sq m bathing area will include a cold pool for contrast bathing, using glacial water from the nearby river, as well as two saunas, relaxation spaces, two swim-up bars, a 6.6-metre waterfall and a secluded grotto with seating.
Ylja, its 280sq m restaurant, is headed up by well-known Icelandic chef Gísli Matt. The seasonal menu will offer ingredients from nearby farms, fisheries and greenhouses.
“Our location, architecture, nature and culinary expertise are what sets us apart,” managing director, Bryndís Björnsdóttir, tells Spa Business. “The area is attractive to both locals and tourists and we believe it truly deserves a wider range of activities.”
Investment and pricing Real estate company Norverk bought the plot in 2015 and appointed development firm Mannverk.
Architects T.ARK, engineering firm Efla and lighting design studio Hildiberg are also working on the project.
The modern architecture incorporates glass panels that offer sweeping views of the Hvitá River, mountains and woodland. Locally sourced materials have been combined with Iceland’s abundant geothermal energy to create the lagoon.
Hjalti Gylfason, one of the partners at Mannverk, told local media last year that the construction cost was estimated to be around ISK2 billion (US$15.6 million, €13.7 million, £11.6 million).
Laugarás Lagoon, which has the capacity for around 200 bathers, is looking to attract up to 180,000 visitors a year and will offer three packages starting at ISK 6,900 (US$54, €47, £40).
Target markets Björnsdóttir says local residents, summerhouse owners and those living in Reykjavik will be offered membership cards for frequent visits. It will also be partnering with many tour operators to offer packages which combine a Golden Circle trip and a visit to Laugarás Lagoon.
She adds: “Our proximity to the Golden Circle is significant as guests can include a visit to Laugarás before or after marvelling at Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir National Park and the Geysir [geothermal area].”
Iceland is becoming known for its geothermal bathing destinations, which include the original Blue Lagoon and the more recent Sky Lagoon and Forest Lagoon.
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Spa people: Peter Attia
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Millennials and Gen Zers are redefining the wellness landscape according to new research by McKinsey
News report: Double vision
Fresh data from RLA Global reveals that hotels delivering wellness earn twice as much as those that don’t
Project preview: Laugarás Lagoon
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Interview: Suzanne Holbrook
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Ask an expert: Vagus nerve
Insider insights into why this critical nerve is a key to wellbeing and how supportive treatments are set to shake up spa menus. Kath Hudson reports
Research: Marginally speaking
CBRE’s latest numbers show that spa revenues in US hotels have edged upward, profits have slipped slightly and costs are down
Investigation: Dealing with death
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Visiting the lagoon will be an ideal add on for Golden Circle tourist packages / photo: Laugaras Lagoon
Contrast bathing and fine-dining are two standout features of an upcoming geothermal wellness destination that’s strategically positioned on Iceland’s Golden Circle – a popular tourist route close to the capital of Reykjavik.
Due to open in Q3 this year, Laugarás Lagoon is a two-storey geothermal lagoon on the banks of the Hvitá River, which is designed to allow visitors to descend from an upper pool to a lower pool through a passage under the water’s surface, emerging through a waterfall.
The 1,000sq m bathing area will include a cold pool for contrast bathing, using glacial water from the nearby river, as well as two saunas, relaxation spaces, two swim-up bars, a 6.6-metre waterfall and a secluded grotto with seating.
Ylja, its 280sq m restaurant, is headed up by well-known Icelandic chef Gísli Matt. The seasonal menu will offer ingredients from nearby farms, fisheries and greenhouses.
“Our location, architecture, nature and culinary expertise are what sets us apart,” managing director, Bryndís Björnsdóttir, tells Spa Business. “The area is attractive to both locals and tourists and we believe it truly deserves a wider range of activities.”
Investment and pricing Real estate company Norverk bought the plot in 2015 and appointed development firm Mannverk.
Architects T.ARK, engineering firm Efla and lighting design studio Hildiberg are also working on the project.
The modern architecture incorporates glass panels that offer sweeping views of the Hvitá River, mountains and woodland. Locally sourced materials have been combined with Iceland’s abundant geothermal energy to create the lagoon.
Hjalti Gylfason, one of the partners at Mannverk, told local media last year that the construction cost was estimated to be around ISK2 billion (US$15.6 million, €13.7 million, £11.6 million).
Laugarás Lagoon, which has the capacity for around 200 bathers, is looking to attract up to 180,000 visitors a year and will offer three packages starting at ISK 6,900 (US$54, €47, £40).
Target markets Björnsdóttir says local residents, summerhouse owners and those living in Reykjavik will be offered membership cards for frequent visits. It will also be partnering with many tour operators to offer packages which combine a Golden Circle trip and a visit to Laugarás Lagoon.
She adds: “Our proximity to the Golden Circle is significant as guests can include a visit to Laugarás before or after marvelling at Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir National Park and the Geysir [geothermal area].”
Iceland is becoming known for its geothermal bathing destinations, which include the original Blue Lagoon and the more recent Sky Lagoon and Forest Lagoon.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2025 issue 2
Editor’s letter: The Gen Z effect
With young adults reshaping our industry, affordable, community-based models are thriving, while traditional spas risk being left behind
Spa people: Novak Djokovic
Game, set, spa. The tennis star is poised to launch a biohacking pod while also entering a multi-year ambassador partnership with Aman
Spa people: Peter Attia
One of the most respected names in longevity medicine has co-founded preventative health clinic, Biograph
Spa people: Alexis Dean
The founder of Soak is on a mission to deliver social wellness without the hefty price tag across Australia
News report: Young influencers
Millennials and Gen Zers are redefining the wellness landscape according to new research by McKinsey
News report: Double vision
Fresh data from RLA Global reveals that hotels delivering wellness earn twice as much as those that don’t
Project preview: Laugarás Lagoon
Contrast bathing and fine dining are two USPs of a new geothermal destination in Iceland’s Golden Circle
Interview: Suzanne Holbrook
Marriott’s new global leader of spa, fitness and wellness talks candidly to Katie Barnes about her plans for the world’s largest hotel spa portfolio
Ask an expert: Vagus nerve
Insider insights into why this critical nerve is a key to wellbeing and how supportive treatments are set to shake up spa menus. Kath Hudson reports
Research: Marginally speaking
CBRE’s latest numbers show that spa revenues in US hotels have edged upward, profits have slipped slightly and costs are down
Investigation: Dealing with death
With a new openness emerging around the subject of end-of-life care, Julie Cramer investigates whether spas could offer death doula services
Trend: Head first
Judy Chapman tries out brain mapping at Gwinganna to see why it’s become so popular
First person: Relaxation rebooted
Does AI massage have a place in luxury spas? Cassandra Cavanah heads to The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara to find out
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
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our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
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We Work Well Inc In 2019 Monica Helmstetter and Lucy Hugo founded the American hosted buyer event company We Work Wel [more...]
