Discovering Bliss: The Retreat Experience at Blue Lagoon Iceland
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon is the newest addition to the Blue Lagoon facilities.
Opening its doors in 2019, it quickly became one of the most luxurious and popular retreat locations for celebrities, royalties, and the wealthy.
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon is a 5-star hotel and spa establishment. This 5-star experience starts with booking when the spa can arrange all kinds of stay-related personalisations. From the size of the bathrobe to the arrangement of special occasions.
On arrival, you will be greeted by the valet and porter, who will take care of your luggage and vehicle (if you are driving there on your own). Walking into the reception, you will be welcomed by the vast lobby, which has a fireplace and a huge window with a view of the retreat lagoon and its blue waters.
The check-in process is as seamless as it can be. While the staff at the reception is taking care of your check-in, you can relax by the fireplace and enjoy a glass of welcome champagne.
After check-in, the staff will escort you to your room, where your luggage will already be waiting for you.
The suites at the Retreat are everything you can ask for in a retreat hotel: a super comfy luxury king-size bed, lounge area, private balcony, bathtub with a view, and a complimentary minibar with a good selection of champagne, wine, beer, and juices.
After check-in, you can use the rest of the day to enjoy the spa facilities or check out the library, where an honest whiskey bar and an interesting read await.
There is complimentary teatime at 16:00 every day, during which you will be served delicious pastries and savouries alongside your choice of coffee or tea.
There are three restaurants within the Blue Lagoon facilities: the Lava restaurant in the main public lagoon area, the Moss restaurant in the Retreat Hotel, and the Spa restaurant in the Retreat Spa.
The Lava restaurant is a casual fine-dining restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. It offers an a la carte menu, a set menu, and a tasting menu.
The spa restaurant is more like finger food, a tiny bit of place. A place to grab a quick bit while enjoying yourself at the spa.
The Moss restaurant is a fine dining restaurant serving only a 7-course tasting menu, which changes according to the season. There are classic and premium wine pairing options to go along with each plate, which is specially designed and created by a
Michelin chef. Each dish brings you to a different place in Iceland, from the presentation to the taste. From the moss field to the ocean to the mountains. This culinary journey created for you by Moss restaurant is a very memorable one.
The Retreat Spa
The Retreat spa is a part of the Retreat Hotel. All hotel guests have complimentary access to the Retreat spa during their stay.
The Retreat Spa is where one can easily spend a whole day. If you are not a hotel guest, you can buy a 5-hour spa access.
When you enter the facility, you are walking into an alternative dimension.
The Retreat Lagoon first greets you. This milky blue geothermal water, full of silica and algae, is good for the skin. Just soaking and relaxing in the water already makes the skin very smooth.
Along the lagoon is a bar where you can get some drinks to enjoy while relaxing in the geothermal waters.
The warm geothermal water is the first step to the spa experience. After you are all warmed up and relaxed, the next step is to head to the ritual.
The ritual takes about an hour or so. I recommend taking the time to pamper yourself and your skin. The first step of the ritual is the salt scrubs.
There is a mineral salt scrub for the face and a lava salt scrub for the body. These salt scrubs are unavailable for sale, so you can only use them at the Retreat Spa.
I love these salt scrubs. They exfoliate the skin, leaving it smooth like a baby’s skin.
The next step is the silica mask for the face and body. In the central public lagoon at Blue Lagoon, the silica masks are only offered in small amounts for the face, but at the Retreat Spa, you are given enough for your entire body.
The silica mask is so suitable to cleanse the skin and pores.
The next step is the algae mask, which you should apply to the entire body. This algae mask offered in the spa has a different formula than that sold in the mask tubes by Blue Lagoon.
This algae mask in the spa is more concentrated and purer. It moisturises the skin and has excellent anti-ageing properties. Splurge on your face and all your body. Your skin will love you afterwards.
The last and final step of the ritual is the oils—argon oil for the face and the body. Leave them on for at least 20 minutes to allow the skin to absorb them completely.
There is a fireplace lounge where you can relax while waiting. You can also relax on the swinging chair by the lagoon.
You can return to the lagoon after checking out the sauna or steam room or challenge the cold bath.
The Retreat Spa is every girl’s dream spa. It has everything a girl needs and wants to pamper herself and bring out the princess within. You can also book various treatments at the spa, from facials to massages.
The Retreat Spa also has a secret place. It is called the Lava Cove. It is a secluded and private area that can be booked (at an additional cost) if you prefer to be away from everybody else, enjoy all the facilities, and relax alone. The Lava Cove can accommodate groups of up to 6 people.
