If you’ve ever looked into visiting Iceland, then you know that The Blue Lagoon is one of the main attractions of the island. According to the official website, “The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 during operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. In the years that followed, people began to bathe in the unique water and apply the silica mud to their skin. Those with psoriasis noticed an incredible improvement in their condition. Over the years, Blue Lagoon has been innovative in harnessing this gift of nature to develop different spa services and products. Today, Blue Lagoon is recognized as one of the wonders of the world.” That being said, it’s no wonder why people travel from all over just to bathe in its warm, and healing waters and today I thought I’d share how my experience went down from my recent travels to Iceland.
My Experience
Since we were staying at the Silica Hotel, we had Premium admission to the Lagoon, which included: entrance to Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, use of towel, 1st drink of your choice, algae mask, use of bathrobe, slippers, reserved table at LAVA, sparkling wine at LAVA. For anyone not staying at the Silica, but still interested in this package, the cost is EUR 70 for adults. There are different packages offered, some at lower price points, but if you’re looking to spend a couple hours there, like we did, I would recommend opting for at least the Comfort or Premium package.
My Advice: Slather on the Conditioner
For any ladies, before entering the lagoon, be sure to slather your hair in conditioner. This is an absolute MUST DO. The silica in the lagoon water doesn’t permanently damage your hair, but leaves a residue which takes multiple washes to get rid of. I put a fair amount of conditioner (provided in the shower facilities) on to my hair, and it still took me 2-3 washes to get rid of the mattified feeling from my hair, so the more conditioner, the better!
Smoothies, Face Masks, and Massages
After initially entering the lagoon and wandering around a bit (it’s quite a large space) we headed to the face mask “bar” to get our silica mud mask. The silica mud mask is complimentary for all, regardless of which package you choose. The silica mask is said to “deep-cleanse and strengthen your skin, reduce the visibility of pores, and leave your skin fresh and clear.”
After countless selfies, we then headed over to the actual bar, which served various alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. We all opted for smoothies, made using Skyr, the typical Icelandic dairy product.
Next, we applied the algae mask. Different to the silica mud mask, the algae mask is “composed of unique Blue Lagoon algae, nourishes your skin from within, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and providing an immediate lift and youthful glow.” Obviously, it’s hard to say if after using I had a youthful glow, but I can say that it left my skin feeling incredibly soft and moisturized.
As my family is a bit into pampering, we also reserved spots for in-water massage treatments. While I am no stranger to massages and spa treatments, this was a completely new experience to me. You are submersed in the lagoon water during the entire massage! I found the treatment and overall experience to be very relaxing and fun, and if you’re worried about getting cold during it, there’s no need as you’re covered in special blankets and repeatedly dipped into the water throughout the massage. I had the 30 minute massage, but they have many other options and I recommend you have a look online and do your booking beforehand to ensure a spot. It wasn’t the best massage I’ve ever had, but definitely the most unique setting and completely different from anything I’d ever done before!
That pretty much sums up how I spent my time at the Blue Lagoon. If I remember correctly, we arrive around noon and left somewhere around 16:30. There’s no time limit to how long you can stay at the lagoon, but for the price you pay, I think it’s customary to spend a good few hours (if not the whole day) enjoying the experience. I would say that this is something you should definitely do if you’re planning to visit Iceland as I immensely enjoyed the experience myself.
Let me know if any of you have visited the Blue Lagoon and how your experience was while you were there!