Friday, April 4, 2014

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Well, you can't go to Iceland without visiting the famous Blue Lagoon.
Which is just what we did after touring Reykjavik in the morning.

This was one time when we didn't use the car.
I wanted Matt to have a chance to relax and not worry about driving,
so we booked a transfer with BusTravel Iceland.  They picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel. 
The price was about £13 each which does not include admission to the Blue Lagoon.
They offer loads of other Icelandic Tours, too.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

The Blue Lagoon has to be one of the most unusual places I've ever visited.
It's located in an otherworldly lava field next to a power plant.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Blue Lagoon Iceland

The lagoon is fed from the runoff of the geothermal plant and renews every two days.
Once the lava-heated water has done its job of generating energy,
it energizes the thousands of visitors to the spa.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Blue Lagoon Iceland

 We opted for the Comfort Experience (about £50 each) so after picking up our wristband, towels and robes
it was time for me to navigate the Ladies Changing Room.

Now this is the part that I stressed about the most.  
As I mentioned before, when going to a spa in Iceland you are asked to bathe in the nude
(usually in a gender-segregated communal shower) before entering. 

I realize that for most people this isn't a big deal, but as an American,
I've been trained since high school gym class to avoid being "nekkid" in public at all costs.
Maneuvers include erecting an elaborate pup-tent of towels and the classic removal of the bra through the sleeves.

Let me tell you, there were naked women everywhere in that dressing room.
I wish I had that confidence, but I just can't do it.
So I figured out an elaborate system to avoid the public nakedness.

Sure Matt had to wait an extra 30 minutes for me to exit the dressing rooms,
but whatever.  Old habits die hard.  If you would like to know my system
just send me an email.  I've got you "covered."  (See what I did there?)
 
Blue Lagoon Iceland

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Eventually, we went outside, hung up our robes and got into the water as quickly as possible.
February in Iceland, it was obviously freezing outside.
 B
But oh, that water, so warm!  It's a milky color and full of minerals
Good for the skin, but not so great on the hair.
I covered mine with conditioner as advised and didn't get it wet.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

The water isn't that deep so you end up duck-walking around.
I kept imagining if you took the water away and just had hundreds of people
duck walking around this lava field.  Can't you just picture it?  No?  Just me?  

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Another thing I was worried about was camera logistics.  I left my camera in my locker until we were about to leave then I went and grabbed it for some photos.  I wouldn't leave anything valuable hanging up outside.
My robe got nicked which was pretty aggravating.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Can you spot Matt?

Blue Lagoon Iceland

The bottom of the pools is covered in a silt-like substance, kind of slimy on your toes.
The lava rocks around the edges have gone all white from the minerals in the water.
We expected it to be slimy, too, but it wasn't at all.  The minerals have hardened into a white shell. 

Blue Lagoon Iceland

It's a really big space, so after grabbing a beer at the little bar, we duck-walked from one hot spot to the next.
The water varies from about 98 to 102 degrees, the hottest spots are just wonderful.
There are  boxes where you can grab some of the mineral mud to smear on your skin.
I put a little bit on my face, but it started itching so I quickly washed it off.

It did feel like we were on a different planet.
The blue sky, black rocks, white silt and the wispy steam.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Blue Lagoon Iceland

This is the little bar where you can grab beer, wine or a smoothie.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

There was a staff member walking around that took a photo with an ipad and emailed it to us.
He kept dipping his freezing fingers into the hot water to thaw them out,
The staff was really great.  The facilities are terrific and the water is so wonderfully warm.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

The experience was completely different from our time at the Laugarvatn Fontana.

If I lived in Iceland, I'm not sure I would go there regularly to relax,
but it was a once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn't have missed for anything.

What did you think the Blue Lagoon Iceland?


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  *Our transfer was provided by BusTravel  and we were the guests of Blue Lagoon Iceland for the purposes of review.
 All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. 

41 comments:

  1. What an experience! That looks like so much fun!! Had to laugh at the change room shenanigans as I am equally prudish!! And when you have your toddler commanding attention from everyone while you are sneakily trying to pull your undies up your wet legs underneath your towel... Oi, oh to have Icelandic confidence!!! xx

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  2. So cool! I didn't realize it was part of a power plant! It is so chilly and gray this morning....I would love to be in there right now! I probably could stay in there all day....did they advise against this?

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  3. Wonderful pictures!! And I'd love to go there but I'd rather go very early in the morning so that there aren't that many people around. I'm not a big fan of pools because of the people there - couples licking each other's faces and children screaming, no thanks! And the showering nude thing would also not be mine and I'm not even American ;) Nevertheless I guess it's just something you have to experience when in Iceland so I would definitely give it a try ;)

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  4. What a great experience! I laughed about the changing room logistics. For awhile, I was a member of a gym here, and it was such a different experience in the ladies locker room. In the US, the logic would be shower, get dressed, and then socialize, blow dry hair, apply makeup etc. Here it was shower, do all the other items listed above, and THEN get dressed. Lots of nekkid ladies! ha, ha

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  5. I am loving seeing Iceland through your pictures. The Blue Lagoon is amazing but as someone that lives here it is a place I would only go to with visitors. I prefer the smaller local pools and hot springs!

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  6. Fantastic photos. I've got you "covered." Come on you've got to tell us.

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  7. Did you have issues with your hair at all? Or did you manage to keep it dry? We went but I couldn't go in because I was pregnant, it was pretty though!

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  8. The Blue Lagoon, as you said, is an odd experience. And I so know what you mean about the dressing room, I was a little freaked out too. I actually just skipped the whole showering process and went straight out as the masses of naked women in there all over was a little overwhelming :(

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  9. I can't wait to go to Iceland now! I'm planning on going next spring. I'm loving all your posts. Did you contact the people in Iceland to let them know you were coming or did you go because you were offered to review the places? I'm always interested to know!

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  10. The Blue Lagoon is definitely at the top of my "must-see" places in Iceland. I actually read a blog post about it a few months ago, and The Blue Lagoon was what changed my mind about wanting to visit Iceland. :)


    Brittny
    www.awrittenjourney.com

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  11. ablondearoundtheworldApril 5, 2014 at 4:46 PM

    These pics are fantastic!!! Blue lagoon has been on my bucket list since forever!!! Hopefully one day I'll get there! :)

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  12. One Mom pulled her son through with her. He was about 9 and his eyes were popping out of his head! And why would anyone need to blow dry their hair in the nude?

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  13. They didn't really specify. But, it definitely drains you. We were in there for less then two hours & when we got out I was famished and dehydrated. Loved the warm spots!

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  14. Definitely must be done. I have heard that mornings are much better and less crowded.

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  15. I just can't do it. lol At least put a towel around you! Even when I was skinny and 20, I didn't have that confidence.

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  16. Our two spa experiences were so different. I would love to be able to go to the smaller pools all of the time. So relaxing.

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  17. There was this whole logistical thing where I went from locker to bathroom to locker to shower to bathroom to locker. But nobody saw my boobies, so it was a success. And they do have some showers with doors.

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  18. I covered it with conditioner and kept it out of the water. I saw many people with their heads immersed and thought "Oh, dear." I rinsed it out and had no problems.

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  19. I found a shower with a door, but it was a bit daunting.

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  20. I contacted Visit Iceland. They didn't have the budget to sponsor our trip, but they were nice enough to share some great contacts. I was able to email various places and get some complimentary access for the purposes of review. It helped with the cost immensely but we still ended up spending quite a bit. It's a more expensive destination.

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  21. You have to get to Iceland. It's really fantastic! And Blue Lagoon is a must see, just because it's so different.

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  22. Thanks so much! It was such a great afternoon. Iceland should be top three on everyone's bucket list.

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  23. I have just discovered your blog and absolutely love it! http://finestprocrastination.blogspot.co.uk/

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  24. I've always wanted to do something like this since I saw a joke ad on TV as a child. It just looks like so much fun, even in the freezing cold :)

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  25. I can't wait to visit the Blue Lagoon when I'm in Iceland! :) Your pictures are wonderful - it looks so beautiful with all the mist coming up!

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  26. I want to go so badly! You're like the fourth person I know to mention it and it looks so cool. I loved the hot spring in New Zealand, we used to just go on a night to relax even though it was a bit over half an hour away.

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  27. O... M.... this looks like heaven!
    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  28. Wow...very unique experience. I love they have the little bar :)

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  29. I'm thinking it will probably make the travel list for next year. We're fitting in Prague, Ireland, Italy, Denmark and a trip home this year!


    Brittny
    www.awrittenjourney.com

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  30. Globetrotter PostcardsApril 16, 2014 at 11:41 AM

    I absolutely loved the blue lagoon. I wanted to stay there forever. I ended up changing in a loo, not gutsy enough to do it out in the open. Definately memorable, icecream in the lagoon...bliss!

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  31. I guess it's definitely a place that you have to visit if you are there, it looks beautiful and surreal, but I would be hiding my nekkidness along with you :)

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  32. Blue Lagoon is definitely everyone should visit at least once. It was so different from what I expected. But we loved it.

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  33. Melanie, are you back from Iceland yet? What did you think of the Lagoon??

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  34. I can't imagine living so close to a spring that you could just pop in anytime. That must be wonderful!!

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  35. Never seen anything like it. They were offering some smoothies that looked pretty yummy, too.

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  36. It was hard to leave that lovely, warm water!

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  37. I was the most worried about the public nekkidness. It's tough enough in a swimsuit but just waltzing around in the buff is not for me.

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  38. I'm back from Iceland already and it was wonderful! Loved the Lagoon, but we also went to some other (free) hot pools around the country that I loved even more! :)

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Thanks for commenting. I love to hear from you!