Health Update: Taking the plunge with ‘Viking wellness’ – What Experts Say

If the term “Viking wellness” conjures up images of burly bearded blokes discarding their helmets and chainmail to soak in a steamy hot tub while sipping on spinach smoothies, you’d be at least partly on the right track.

There may well be a hot tub involved ­– but also cold water. As in, icy cold, and possibly surrounded by snow. Beards are optional.

Condé Nast Traveller named Viking wellness as one of the top travel trends of 2026, noting that the ritual practices it incorporates are now not only available at hotels and resorts in Scandinavian countries, but have spread to the UK and even “unexpected hotspots” like the Caribbean.

“Scandi-inspired wellness, from hot-cold therapy to hygge (cosiness), is now de rigueur,” it reported.

“But Viking wellness takes this a step further, with a focus on raw, elemental experiences.”

At Deplar Farm retreat in Iceland, alongside activities such as cross-county skiing, hiking and viewing the Northern Lights, visitors can partake in a Viking Sauna Ritual ­– a “transitional hot-to-cold immersion therapy” incorporating sauna sessions, cold plunges and guided breath work.

“Ideal for after demanding ski days, this ritual eliminates toxins, reduces fatigue, and improves mental vitality,” states the resort’s website.

Elaborating further, Deplar Farm general manager Kurt Berman told CN Traveller: “Guests breathe the same bracing Icelandic air and drink the same clear water that sustained the Vikings, emerging grounded and connected to an ancient practice.”

Piggybacking on the sauna, winter-sea swimming, and hot and cold immersion traditions in Nordic countries such as Iceland, Finland, Norway, so-called Viking wellness experiences are largely centred around “contrast therapy” ­– a practice that involves alternating between hot (saunas, spas) and cold (an icy plunge).

Proponents of contrast therapy claim it brings benefits ranging from relaxation and improved mental wellbeing, to better circulation and overall physical health.

According to a recent BBC article, the fast-growing Viking wellness trend often sees the hot-cold experiences paired with nature-based activities like barefoot walking and forest bathing.

Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik offers an “Icelandic bathing ritual” that begins with a soak in a geothermal lagoon heated to 38 to 40 degrees, followed by a plunge in a “cold but energising” pool that is just 5 degrees, then a “warm and ethereal” sauna.

Managing director Helga María Albertsdóttir told the BBC that all the elements of such rituals come from traditional culture.

“Bathing in early Iceland wasn’t a wellness ritual – it was about survival,” she said.

“The tradition of hot and cold bathing for us began with people settling on this harsh island and finding pools of geothermal water that could keep us warm and, later, heat our houses.”

@skylagoonis Would you walk into the cold plunge or the warm lagoon? #spa #coldplunge #lagoon ♬ son original – Sam★

The Nordic-inspired wellness trend could be emerging as an antidote to burnout culture, Insight Trends website has suggested.

“Viking wellness is emerging as a powerful response to a world exhausted by digital overload, chronic stress, and hyper indoor lifestyles, reframing ancient Nordic practices –sauna, cold water immersion, open-air bathing, and nature rituals – as modern tools for resilience, grounding, and identity,” it said.

Social media videos showing people “plunging into icy lakes, emerging from smoke filled saunas, or bathing in geothermal pools” have helped fuel the trend, according to the website.

At the same time, “Viking-coded language” – including words such as “ritual”, “warrior” and “resilience” – are being used to market retreats and spa experiences.

While the term Viking wellness doesn’t appear to have gained any traction in Australia, the wellness sector has certainly embraced both ice baths and contrast therapy.

One resort on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island offers a two-hour contrast therapy ritual that includes a steam sauna, an icy cold plunge and wood-fired hot tub – all within a native pine forest.

Another retreat in Victoria opened a new open-air contrast therapy space last year, inviting guests into “the elemental ritual of heat, cold and rest”.

But before going full Viking in the name of wellness, take heed that health experts warn both ice baths and contrast therapy can be dangerous for some people, especially if you stay in the freezing water too long.