Nigel Thompson
Feels the heat in Norway’s finest saunas on water
Floating saunas are one of the hottest trends in Scandinavia – and Norway has some of the coolest new choices for recharging your batteries.
Locals, and visitors once we can travel again, can enjoy a warm sauna (“badstu” in Norwegian) experience combined with a refreshing dip in the chill waters below.
It’s all part of the Norwegian concept of kos – a rough equivalent of Denmark’s fabled hygge, with everyone “glowing with warmth, kindness, caring, togetherness and laughter’’.
Norway’s floating saunas are near rock formations, in cities and towns, on the majestic fjords and in the Arctic where the Northern Lights can dazzle or the midnight sun shimmers.
Some also offer compelling architecture that reflects their dreamy locations or urban vibes.
Here’s our pick of Norway’s floating sauna scene ....
Oslofjord, Oslo
Oslofjord Sauna offers
Stampen (tub), Maken (seagull), Skarven (cormorant), Anda (duck) and Havornen (sea eagle) near the Opera House.
■■ oslobadstuforening.no
Green Boats Saunas are located at Aker Brygge, close to restaurants, shops and a museum and offer Aufguss, which is a German-inspired sauna ritual that includes essential oil infused water, music and fanning.
■■
Salt is a nomadic art project currently residing close to the Opera House and has three
greenboats.no
giant saunas that host music and lectures. salted.no
Kok (it means boil) is a boat with a wood-fired sauna that sails the inner Oslofjord.
■■ kokoslo.no
Dalen, Telemark
Soria Moria is where sauna meets art as it glitters on Lake Bandak. It’s the first installation in a project called Tales of the Waterway, which focuses on artworks along the Telemark canal.
■■ feste.no/telemark-canalsoria-moria
Tromso
Pust (breathe) is one of the newest of Norway’s floating saunas – right in the middle of the Arctic city’s harbour – and is shaped like a traditional drying rack for fish.
■■ pust.io
Former fishing and whaling vessel Vulkana Spa Boat has been revamped to feature a sauna, hammam, saltwater tub, cold water pool, zen lounge, bar and dining area.
Activities include bathing under the Northern Lights or midnight sun, fjord cruises and “ski by boat” trips.
■■ vulkana.no
Hardangerfjord
Wood-fired Heit (red hot) Sorfjorden Sauna, just south of Lofthus, opens up views of the fjord and its surrounding mountains and glaciers.
Guests are greeted by a sauna master who ensures there’s a personal experience.
■■ heitsauna.com
‘‘
Guests can enjoy a Polar Bear experience before taking an icy plunge
Rjukan, Telemark
Located at the lake Kvitavatn with views towards Gaustatoppen