Laugarás Lagoon offers many quiet corners and ever-changing views. A swim-up bar sits at the center of the lagoon, surrounded by hot tubs and steam baths.
mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
“In the old days there used to be a small shop, a little store, and a gas station here in Laugarás. It was more of a stopping place then. In recent years, Slakki has been the main stopover, but I think that could increase greatly. The environment allows for more development,” says Bryndís Björnsdóttir, managing director of Laugarás Lagoon, which opened this week.
The owners of the bathing lagoon say that guests there get a holistic experience for body and soul. The lagoon covers about 1,000 square meters and includes various secluded areas, as well as a steam bath and hot tubs. The lagoon was designed by T.ark Architects in collaboration with Anthony Bacigalupo.
Björnsdóttir says that great emphasis was placed on creating a connection with the surrounding nature. This can be seen, among other things, in the design of the building, which blends harmoniously into the landscape and was placed on the edge of the property so as to minimize disturbance to the existing vegetation and trees.
Skincare products made from local herbs
Laugarás Lagoon sells a special line of skincare products called Rjóður, developed in collaboration with Sonja Bent of Nordic Angan. The line includes shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and hand soap, all sharing the same natural scent.
“The fragrance reflects the unique natural connection with Laugarás. Together with Sonja Bent, we identified all the herbs growing in the area, and she created three proposed scents based on those herbs. We chose the one that we felt best captures what it’s like to be a bather out here in nature.”
Vörðufell provides shelter
From Laugarás Lagoon there is a beautiful view over the Hvítá River, Vörðufell Mountain, and the surrounding countryside. In one of the hot tubs, guests can literally sit within a grove of trees. Bryndís points out that the site is particularly sheltered from wind, which is ideal for operating a bathing facility. “Locals say that Vörðufell protects this place,” says the managing director, who has a personal connection to Laugarás — her grandparents built a summer cottage there decades ago, and it is still owned by the family.
In recent years, the number of bathing lagoons in Iceland has grown rapidly, but Bryndís says she is not worried about attracting visitors to Laugarás. “The bathing-lagoon market is still very strong, both among locals and tourists, and I think there’s still room for more. Everyone in the field is doing their best, but we chose our own approach — to connect deeply with the place we’re in.
We also felt there was room to expand the range of culinary experiences in the area. We have great faith in our restaurant, both for locals and travelers,” says Bryndís. As previously reported, the popular chef Gísli Matthías Auðunsson runs the lagoon’s restaurant, Ylja.
Excitement among the locals
“The people in the community came out in force last weekend, and it’s wonderful to see how enthusiastic they are to be part of this,” Bryndís says. “As for tourists, we know that day trips along the Golden Circle are the most popular. The great thing about the Golden Circle is that you can make it your own — even though there are fixed stops along the route, you can decide where to begin and end; there are many possible paths. And since so many people are traveling, it’s good to have more options available.”
Guests can choose from three types of entry to Laugarás Lagoon. Standard admission costs ISK 6,900, while the Comfort package costs ISK 9,400 and includes a towel and one drink served in the lagoon. The Premium package costs ISK 15,900 and adds a two-course meal at the restaurant.