How much does a vacation in the blue lagoon cost? Blue Lagoon (Blue Lagoon) - the most famous spa complex in Iceland
No, these are not photoshop tricks: the water in the Blue Lagoon really has this color, milky blue, a delicate, unearthly shade that is rarely seen in nature. This color comes from the silicon dioxide contained in this water, which makes it incredibly beneficial for the skin. Add to this the pleasant temperature of 38-40 degrees, and you will understand how the Blue Lagoon has managed to become a major tourist attraction in Iceland.
This lake appeared after a geothermal power plant was built in the vicinity of Grindavik, known for its geothermal activity, and the underground steam condensate it produced was simply drained nearby. But silica clogged the pores of the lava fields, and water began to collect in a small lake, where local residents loved to swim. Now on the site of this lake there is the Blue Lagoon spa, although around it there are also plenty of reservoirs of various shapes filled with heavenly colored water.
Despite the fact that Iceland is cold in winter and not very hot in summer, visitors to the Blue Lagoon swim in the open air all year round. The reason for this is the water temperature, which does not allow you to freeze even in the winter cold (although snow and strong winds do not add comfort). The Blue Lagoon looks something like this, and by clicking on the photo below, you will open it in high resolution so you can see it in detail.
It is best not to come to the Blue Lagoon “from the street”, but to act smarter by going to the website of this complex www.bluelagoon.com in advance and booking a visit for a certain time. The ticket you purchased, depending on its type, may include the following additional options:
- face masks made from local clay and blue-green algae that live in the lagoon water;
- towel, robe and slippers;
- free drink at the lagoon bar, which is located right in the water;
- and other bonuses.
Once you have entered the Blue Lagoon, you can stay here all day, and then walk around the area and admire the quaint ponds with the same unusual water.
However, the Blue Lagoon is not a water park, and there is no particular point in staying here for more than two, or maximum three, hours. As additional entertainment, there is a sauna, a Turkish steam room and a grotto where you can hear the history of the lagoon, but people from all over the world still come here for the local water, which is considered miraculous.
In summer, the time difference between Moscow and Reykjavik is 3 hours, so it is wise to book a visit to the lagoon at 7 am, unless, of course, you came to Iceland to get a good night's sleep: this way you can be one of the first to start swimming, and you There will be another whole day to explore other attractions and other tourism.
The Blue Lagoon is located a few kilometers from the small town of Grindavik, not far from the airport. If you're staying in Reykjavik, you'll be driving for about 40 minutes through the extraordinary Martian landscape.
Children will not be interested in the Blue Lagoon. However, it seems to me that children, in principle, are not very interested in Iceland, unless they are accustomed to hiking and experience genuine pleasure from communicating with living and inanimate nature.
Adults here simply enjoy themselves, and also take selfies, enthusiastically smear themselves with clay, or soak in hot water with a glass of something cold. The main thing is not to forget that you should get out of the water from time to time, because 38 degrees is no joke. As a final touch, I’d like to note that, unlike, say, the Tbilisi sulfur baths, you come out of the water here cheerful and charged for success, it doesn’t make you sleepy - in general, another argument in favor of starting your day with the Blue lagoons.
There is no resort holiday, because this is a northern island with a harsh climate, although this opinion is wrong and in fact there are high-class resorts in Iceland, focused on both active and calm, relaxing holidays.
Indeed, there are no full-fledged and familiar ones on which you could sunbathe or swim in the sea. But other types of resort holidays are presented, for example, we are talking about alpine skiing or about.
What to do in Iceland?First of all, this country is suitable for active recreation, during which you will be able to admire the unique northern beauties.
Particularly popular among tourists are the natural attractions, which include: Reynisdrangar rocks, Nauthólsvik beach, Edlidavatn lake, Hvitserkur rock, and many others.
But we will dwell in more detail on a resort holiday in Iceland, especially since it is relatively inexpensive.
Ski resorts in Iceland
If the magnificent Iceland beckons you, the ski resorts will be a kind of cherry on the cake from all the other delights of this country.
There are no huge, by European standards, ski holiday centers here, but there are five very well-appointed and comfortable resorts that will satisfy the needs of not only beginners, but also experienced skiers and snowboarders.
It is noteworthy that when the season in Europe is already ending, in Iceland it is just reaching its peak. Modern tracks are equipped with lighting devices, which allows you to ride not only in daylight, but also in the evening.
Let us add that one ski pass, costing 120 euros (as of 2016), gives access to five ski resorts in the country, which we will discuss below. In this way, Icelanders attract tourists who still want to ride, but can no longer do it on the European mountain slopes that are familiar to them.
Saudarkrokur-Tindastoll
This resort is located near the town. First of all, it is recommended for family holidays, although fans of fast skiing will also be pleased. The resort attracts: picturesque landscapes, an effective snowmaking system, and modern snow parks.
Siglufjordur
This resort is located next to a small village whose inhabitants have long been engaged in fishing. However, it is here that the best ski slopes in all of Iceland are built.
The height of the route is 650 meters. A lift with comfortable seats takes you to the very top. By the way, from the top point of the route there is an amazing view of the Siglufjörder fjord.
Olafsfjordur
The resort got its name after the city where it is located. Nearby is one of the most beautiful fjords on the entire island called Eyja.
The many gentle but not long slopes are ideal for slalom skiing, although other skiing options are also possible.
This resort, like Saudarkrokur-Tindastoll, is located near Akureyri, although at a certain distance from other ski slopes.
It will delight you with a large number of slopes of varying difficulty levels, but the most interesting for skiers is the main route, the length of which exceeds 1200 meters.
Hlidarfjall
Hlidarfjall is also located in Akureyri. Hlidarfjall is one of the first ski slopes built and opened in Iceland. They first started riding it back in the seventies of the last century. From the top points of the ski slope there is a wonderful view of the Eyja fjord.
Thermal resorts
Iceland is a country of geysers and hot springs, of which there are an incredible variety. Even just among the mountains or valleys, you can come across springs with hot water, in which you can bathe all year round.
Naturally, there are also full-fledged resorts where the full range of tourist services is provided. So, the best thermal resorts are located in the following cities and regions of the country:
Let us immediately note that in Reykjavik there are not only thermal springs for swimming. Homes are heated with hot water from underground springs, and therefore there are no boiler houses or smoking pipes in the city, which makes the air incredibly clean!
Let us also note Kopavogur, where the largest pool with geothermal waters is located. It is comfortably located on the Borgarholt hill.
If we talk directly about resorts, then the best of them is in, known throughout the world. The resort is located in the southwest of Iceland and amazes with lakes created by nature in solidified lava, and the purest water, with amazingly beneficial and healing properties..
The Blue Lagoon is located just 30 kilometers from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. Natural pools are located in the open air, and the water temperature in them throughout the year is approximately +39 degrees.
Water has a positive effect on the skin, body condition, and relieves stress. The resort sells cosmetics that contain an abundance of minerals obtained from the local water.
How to get to Iceland?The best option is by plane. Although there are no direct flights from Moscow to Reykjavik. You will have to fly with one or two transfers. Travel time is from 6 and a half to 20 and a half hours, depending on the chosen route and the time of connections between flights.
You will have to travel around by ground transport. Firstly, the country itself is relatively small, and all the resorts are located close to each other. Secondly, it's cheaper.
The most popular place for tourists who come to Iceland is the Blue Lagoon, a unique thermal spring, the temperature of which varies from thirty-seven to forty degrees all year round. And being in warm, sky-blue water, when winter and cold are in full swing, creates indescribable sensations for which travelers cross half the world, coming to this cold northern country.
Visit Blue Lagoon of Iceland- one of the most important symbols of this country and its main attraction, what could be more beneficial for health and overall development?! This place is completely unique: a geothermal pool made of porous lava, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in southwest Iceland. There is a luxurious SPA complex of the highest class, with thermal baths, steam rooms, a bar, a restaurant, a relaxation area, a Blue Lagoon Clinic specializing in the treatment of skin diseases, and a store selling unique locally produced cosmetics.
In general, the history of the Blue Lagoon complex dates back to 1976, during the construction of “Svartsengi” - the world’s first geothermal station, thanks to which they decided to use the natural gift in the form of constantly hot water for the benefit of the island’s inhabitants. Continuing the topic, I would like to say that the station is functioning properly to this day, thus, the forces of nature provide heat and electricity to people. Time passed, and in 1990, local residents noticed a small lake with warm sky-blue water, next to a power plant. They started going here to swim, and the station employees did the same, until one of them, who had suffered from psoriasis for many years, realized that after several such baths, he was completely healed.
Doctors became interested in the composition of the water, conducted a lot of tests, and concluded that it was not only unique, but also healing for many skin ailments. The lagoon water is sixty-five percent seawater, thirty-five percent fresh, it is saturated with microelements such as quartz, silicon, and blue-green seaweed. By the way, thanks to the play of light on silicon particles, the water has a bluish-milky tint. It was found that bacteria do not survive in this water composition, but mineral salts have a beneficial effect on the human body. Therapeutic mud deeply cleanses and heals the skin, seaweed softens and nourishes. The bottom of the lagoon is covered with white clay, which also has numerous healing properties. Six million liters of the purest geothermal sea water undergoes a renewal cycle every forty hours. The complex's employees regularly take samples for water quality, showing that it does not need additional treatment. That is why, in 1999, a spa complex was built here, and later a clinic. In 2005, the private Blue Lagoon complex in Iceland was awarded the title of the best spa resort in the world.
The width of the lagoon is two hundred meters, its length is several kilometers, its depth is from one to three meters. Basically, the bottom of the lagoon is clay and smooth, but sometimes there are stones, so tread more carefully or wear special shoes. There are steam rooms on the shore. While standing in the water, it is recommended to coat yourself with white clay and wash it off after a few minutes. The best time to visit the Blue Lagoon SPA resort is cloudy and windy weather, the fact is that the water of the lake is hot, therefore, swimming in the heat is somewhat difficult. But in cool air temperatures, it’s very pleasant to plunge into hot water after freezing a little. It is necessary to pay attention to the places where the source waters exit, since the temperature near them can be from four hundred to nine hundred degrees. The lagoon is framed by the most picturesque fields of volcanic lava; over the years, overgrown with moss, among the frozen patches of lava you can sometimes see seething rivers of boiling water. Bathing in geothermal springs is extremely beneficial, as it improves body tone, treats skin diseases, provides complete relaxation, and relieves accumulated stress.
If you do not want to get to the complex at the very peak of visits, then come here early in the morning, when the tourists have not yet arrived, since it is very crowded here after lunch. There is no hotel at the spa complex, but you can rent housing or a hotel room in the neighboring town of Grindavik. In addition, you can rent a room at the clinic for several days. It is located within walking distance from the lake and looks like a small hotel with a restaurant, lobby bar, and gym. Entrance to the complex is paid, the price is approximately twenty euros, it includes the rental of a box for things. It is possible to rent a towel for five euros, and a robe for nine euros. Visitors are given a bracelet with a built-in electronic wallet, thanks to which they can take food and drinks from the bar without carrying a bag with a wallet or card, and pay for everything on the way out.
The Blue Lagoon is located a twenty-minute drive from Iceland's Keflavik Airport; you can drive from the capital in forty minutes; for example, a bus leaves from the main bus station in Reykjavik every half hour to the Blue Lagoon. If you come by car, there is a large free parking lot. In the building there is a luggage storage room, a free toilet, and an information stand.
I would like to give you some advice before visiting the thermal complex:
1. Prolonged stay in thermal water leads to dehydration of the body, so drink a lot during and after the procedures;
2. Although thermal water does not harm your hair, it dries it out, so use the hair conditioner that is in the shower;
3. To prevent water from ruining your jewelry - rings, chains, earrings, remove them;
4. Take off your glasses - they fog up, but if the day is sunny, then wear special sunglasses to avoid damaging your eyesight.
For the convenience of visitors, since 2015 it is possible to pre-book entrance tickets online. Prices for the thermal complex Blue Lagoon Iceland for 2016: children from 2 to 13 years old - free; children from 14 to 15 years old – 25 euros; disabled people – 25 euros; adults from 16 years and older - 40 euros, during the summer season - from the first of June to the thirty-first of August - 50 euros. When purchasing entrance tickets on the spot, without prior reservation, the price for all types of tickets increases by five euros compared to the indicated prices. The STANDARD entrance ticket does not limit the time of swimming, but, most often, a couple of hours is enough for complete relaxation and a feeling of complete bliss. It is for this reason that after visiting the Blue Lagoon complex, sleep is recommended, and not active recreation or excursions: a relaxed body cannot stand it. There are also more expensive tickets, the price of which includes additional services and bath accessories. If you do not want to take water procedures, then you can go inside to look and take photographs, which will cost 10 euros per person, the ticket is taken on the spot. You can buy a group introductory tour to the Blue Lagoon with an English-speaking guide. Within forty minutes you will be shown the most wonderful places of the complex, told its history, treated to canapés and cocktails, and given a small memorable gift. This tour costs 15 euros.
The Blue Lagoon is the most popular place to visit among travelers coming to Iceland. And it’s really worth any money, because in addition to improving your health, you get a lot of positive emotions and take great photos. The memory of visiting this thermal spring will definitely remain for life!
Iceland, Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a small city, the size of... I even find it difficult to compare it with. Reykjavik is probably the size of Morshansk. Well, northerners no longer inhabit Reykjavik. At least in the city center in the evening I saw tourists, Indians, Chinese and even a woman from Bulgaria.
The city of Reykjavik dies out around 22:00, when the program “Good night kids” ends. Although I’m afraid that I might be wrong about the time, here essentially the white nights continue and it’s not clear whether it’s late evening or early morning.
The city is completely uninteresting and not worth visiting. However, I had to stay there, since the hotel base offers the best deals in Reykjavik
We had an apartment in the very center. From the window I could see the cross of the central church or church (to be honest, I don’t know what denomination Iceland belongs to). Literally a few dozen steps away is the central shopping street with shops and restaurants, which, by the way, already close their kitchens at 21:00, and turn visitors out at 22:00. Also not far from our apartment hotel there was a sex shop with broken glass in the door - it looked like someone was in a hurry to buy porn and broke the glass with their forehead.
By the way, I read in the news that the Prime Minister of Iceland spoke in favor of severing relations between the sister cities Moscow and Reykjavik due to the fact that Moscow passed a law banning the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships. And the Prime Minister of Iceland is a lesbian woman, who also entered into a same-sex marriage...
By the way, some women in Iceland are of such a build that I would not be surprised to learn that the Vikings were women, and all those pictures that magazines and museums show are all an excuse and a lie. No, definitely Icelandic women were Vikings and kicked ass in the Nordic Seas. Including Britons
Having said goodbye to Reykjavik, we headed north towards the fjords, but the road in gray clouds that clung to the Hummer antenna and poured rain on the windshield was so annoying that we decided to limit ourselves to hunting fur seals on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It is 175 km from Reykjavik. By the way, I want to warn you that there are cameras on this section of Route 1 and it is not advisable to exceed the speed of 90.
The seals hid from the rain, so after hanging out in the towns of Olafsvik and Langanolt, we decided to turn back - we wanted to try the SPA in the Blue Lagoon, which is located near the town of Grindavik
From a distance of 5 km from the place, steam can be seen rising from the foot of the mountain, as if hundreds of bath attendants in this place are holding a symposium to exchange the custom of whipping naked bodies with brooms. The smell of hydrogen sulphide can be felt as soon as you leave the road to the airport.
The Blue Lagoon is a system of natural lagoons in volcanic lava filled with thermal waters, which in Iceland generate heat and electricity. The species in the system of reservoirs occupying an area the size of a football field is pale blue in color. This effect is enhanced by white deposits of clayey consistency. Several of the largest reservoirs are reserved for public baths. There is a large parking lot in front of the Blue Lagoon complex. Tourists - mother, don’t worry.
A dozen buses replace a dozen other buses. The bulk of visitors are tourists, of course. We were lucky enough to meet the Chinese delegation. We didn't go swimming, although we took flip-flops and clothes with us. We just decided to see what we get for 65 euros per person (entrance fee, changing room and towel). You can easily enter the bathhouse area in boots and walk over the heads of people sitting in the water
I'm not very impressed - I'll tell you straight. The experience of sitting in a tank of water that circulates naturally without being purified... Well, the sight of dirty foam on the sides with floating plant organic remains was enough for me: midges, someone's hair, dandruff, etc. In addition, I imagined how many people are now pissing here at the same time, and having multiplied the number of people per hour by the size of the bathhouse, I decisively went to the exit
Since today we have an early flight to Copenhagen, we booked accommodation closer to the airport. The place is called Gardur and it has good apartments. Essentially a house with four bedrooms for the price of a regular double. The owner recommended a restaurant, which is located 200 meters away, next to the lighthouse.
I can recommend it - expensive, but cooked and served well.
I ordered a whale steak.
I will say this - the sole of an army boot will be more edible. Therefore, I will not recommend experiments with a whale. Moreover, it was fried with blood... But what if you order a medium - it’s scary to stand in front of your teeth.
The Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, located in Iceland, is a true miracle of nature. Its water has healing properties. It can help cure serious diseases, strengthen the body and boost immunity. Guests of this unusual “hot spot” are promised an unforgettable experience.
In addition to the unusual landscapes, the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort has excellent healing properties. Visiting him improves the general condition of the body.
Enriched with minerals beneficial to the skin, water is perfect for various masks to nourish and cleanse the skin. It includes blue-green algae, quartz and sea salt. There are no harmful bacteria in the hot springs, and the lagoon is constantly renewed.
The turquoise color of the water is the result of high levels of silicon. Here it seems that Iceland itself is blue.
Thermal hot water itself is formed when ordinary water from the sea enters through the porous surface of lava. It is heated in underground tanks up to 200 ºС.
The Blue Lagoon is just 20 minutes from Keflavik International Airport (50 minutes from Reykjavik). You will be surprised by the facts about this place that you will learn about by reading this text.
1. Visiting can be expensive
During high season (June to the end of August), standard admission will cost you $54. According to the site, the most popular package of the four offered is the third level - Premium ($90), which includes admission, silica mud mask, towel, drink, algae mask, robe, slippers, optional reservation to Lava Restaurant, and a glass sparkling wine if you decide to have lunch.
This looks like the best option to get the most out of your investment!
2. Amazing spa amenities included in admission price
In addition to the free matte mud mask included in the standard package, you are given the opportunity to use special equipment. There are saunas, steam rooms, a waterfall and a relaxation area with soothing music, comfortable seating and stunning views.
If you really want the full treatment, Blue Lagoon also offers a relaxing water massage.
If you buy the Luxury package ($234), which includes everything Premium offers, you'll also receive a bundle of spa products and free access to an exclusive lounge.
Guests have access to a private shower and changing room, as well as free skin care products. The lounge features a fireplace, designer furniture and an outdoor terrace.
4. The hotel has a restaurant and cafe
The Lava restaurant is built on the left cliff. This is the ideal place to enjoy a relaxing lunch or a romantic gourmet dinner in the evening.
Blue Cafe's open space is perfect for grabbing a bite between meals or sipping coffee. It has a relaxed atmosphere. The cafe offers light snacks, fast food, sandwiches and healthy options. Seating is available both inside and outside.
5. You don't have to leave the lagoon to get a drink.
The Blue Lagoon Resort's floating bar serves cocktails, wine and beer. You don't even need to carry cash with you. Transfer funds to your entry card and pay before departure.
6. The lagoon isn't really a natural wonder.
You may not want to put your head in the water... Fact is that the lagoon was originally formed as a reservoir for runoff water from a geothermal power plant in 1974.
People noticed the healing properties of water and increasingly used it for bathing for skin diseases.
Although water is fantastically effective in treating psoriasis, it can seriously damage your hair. If you have them painted, the paint can come off easily. It is advisable to wear a shower cap.