Sauna bathing and cold plunging have roots that trace back thousands of years in Northern Europe. Nordic communities did not invent these rituals as wellness products; they built them into daily life, and because the landscape demanded it. Now, travelers chase them across continents, from volcanic Iceland to the Austrian Alps to the Canadian Rockies, and the destinations meeting that demand are multiplying.

Four Adirondack chairs face a steaming outdoor pool surrounded by trees, with sunlight streaming through mist in a forested setting.
Travelers are crossing continents to experience the therapies Vikings practiced daily. Photo credit: Jenn Allen.

Originally published on fooddrinklife.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

Recommended for you