Come explore with us this November

November 2-8, 2026 | Southern Iceland

Get ready for a 7-day bathing expedition into the essence of Icelandic wellness. Together we’ll indulge in a real, embodied, and unforgettable adventure as you soak, swim, and play in Iceland’s geothermal waters.

DO LESS, BATHE MORE
DO LESS, BATHE MORE

Highlights include:

  • Spend 7-nights in an exclusive 10 bed/9 bath waterfront home on Iceland's south coast.

  • Indulge in 5+ Icelandic bathing experiences ranging from lagoon spas and wild geothermal pools, to mobile saunas and the newly emerging Icelandic “Gusa” culture

  • Enjoy daily opportunities to explore Icelandic culture and landscapes including a tour of wild Thórsmörk and a visit to the iconic Friðheimar greenhouses.

  • Choose your own adventures at our home base: immersive sound bath experience, rejuvenating Yoga Nidra, and Icelandic inspired cooking class.

Group of people in swimwear standing in water by rocks, with a large body of water and sky in the background.
Five women in swimsuits holding hands, walking into a lake from a rocky shore during daytime.
People relaxing in a hot spring surrounded by mountains and grassy terrain under a clear blue sky.
A vintage camper decorated with string lights and a sign that says 'Welcome to Our Happy Place' in a natural outdoor setting under a full moon and a starry night sky.
A geothermal hot spring resort with multiple pools, surrounded by moss-covered rocks and green landscapes, featuring arched geothermal chambers in a foggy environment.
Person relaxing in a hot tub overlooking a body of water with a hill in the background under a clear blue sky.
A woman sitting on a wooden bench inside a sauna room, looking out through a large open window at a body of water and distant shoreline. The room has wooden walls and ceiling, with built-in seating and a heater in the center.
Night scene showing small wooden huts on a grassy area under a sky illuminated by the Northern Lights with stars visible.
Three people enjoying a hot spring outdoors in a snowy landscape with mountains and blue sky in the background.
People bathing in a hot spring pool with a rocky hillside and cloudy sky in the background.
People swimming in an ocean pool with rocky formations and caves, under a cloudy sky.
A woman relaxing in a hot spring with steaming water in a scenic green mountainous landscape with grassy slopes, rocks, and yellow wildflowers.
People enjoying a geothermal bathing pool with rocky surroundings and a small wooden structure, under a partly cloudy blue sky.

What Can You Expect?

This is a sensory adventure through ancient waters and the healing power of heat. As explorers we will navigate the raw, elemental medicine of the land- soaking in geothermal rivers, moving through intentional thermal circuits, and grounding ourselves in the contrast of volcanic grit and silken water. Led by my own journey from corporate burnout to bathing curator and sauna host, we will engage our senses through rugged landscapes, private chef-prepared meals, and a collective commitment to slow down, stop doing and start being.

Explorers Wanted

Designed for the adventurous, the curious, the tired-but-still-reaching, the sauna lovers, bathing industry professionals, thermal bathing junkies, wellness travelers, solo explorers, couples, and friends.

You don’t need any special skills, just a willingness to immerse, explore, and engage your senses. If you crave meaningful travel unique cultural encounters, and a deeper, more embodied way of knowing a place, you’ll feel right at home here.

DO LESS, BATHE MORE
DO LESS, BATHE MORE

Our Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival + Geothermal Sky Lagoon

  • Arrival

  • Experience the 7-step Skjól Ritual at Sky Lagoon

  • Dinner + Welcome

Day 2: Hike, Bathe + Explore Iceland’s Hot Rivers

  • Breakfast

  • Reykjadalur Hot River Bathing + Packed Lunch

  • Free Time

  • Dinner + Connection + Relaxation Time

Day 3: Reykjavic Day Trip + SaunaRave

  • Breakfast

  • Reykjavic Day Trip

  • SaunaRave + Fjord Dipping

  • Dinner Out in Reykjavic

Day 4: Relax Day + Mobile Saunagus

  • Breakfast

  • Cooking Class with Chef Abbey

  • Lunch

  • Mobile Saunagus Experience

  • Dinner + Connection + Relaxation Time

  • Icelandic Soundbath / Yoga Nidra

Day 5: Exploring Wild Thórsmörk

  • Breakfast

  • Super Jeep Tour of Thórsmörk + Icelandic Lunch

  • Free Time

  • Dinner + Connection + Relaxation Time

Day 6: Swim + Soak at Laugaras Lagoon

  • Breakfast

  • Friðheimar with Greenhouse Tour + Lunch

  • Visit to Laugaras Lagoon

  • Dinner + Goodbyes

Day 7: Departure Day

  • Breakfast

  • Packing + Goodbyes, but no crying allowed ;)

  • Guest Transportation + Drop-off to Airport

I'M READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE
I'M READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE

Only 10 spots for you to join us!

Accommodations

Nestled on a secluded peninsula along the waters of Lake Gíslholtsvatn, our Iceland home is a private waterfront retreat blending old-world Scandinavian charm with modern Nordic architecture. Inside, you’ll find a library with a wood-burning stove, a south-facing dining room overlooking the lake, a fireside living room, a full kitchen, and peaceful bedrooms that invite slow mornings and deep rest. And just steps from your door, the lakeside geothermal soaking pool awaits.

BE SOMEONE WHO INVESTS IN THEMSELVES
BE SOMEONE WHO INVESTS IN THEMSELVES

A soft landing for every style of explorer

  • A cozy attic bedroom with two white beds, each with beige pillows and navy blankets, flanking a window with a triangular top, overlooking a rural landscape. There are two small wooden side tables with potted plants and adjustable reading lamps.

    Shared Room with Shared Bath (Double Occupancy)

    $6,600.00 USD (6 installments of $1,099)

    Located in the Scandinavian style lodge, this double-occupancy room in the main house is on the 2nd floor. This shared room has two twin beds and shares two 1st floor bathrooms with showers.

    RESERVE ROOM
  • A cozy bedroom iwith white paneled walls and ceiling, featuring a large bed with gray bedding and pillows, two circular bedside lamps, a small wooden side table on each side, a light blue dresser with candles, and a triangular window showing a scenic outdoor view of trees and sky.

    Private Room with Shared Bath (Single Occupancy)

    $7,200.00 USD (6 installments of $1,199)

    Located in the Scandinavian style lodge, this single occupancy room in the main house is on the 2nd floor. This is a private room with a king bed and shares two, 1st floor bathrooms with showers.

    RESERVE ROOM
  • A bedroom with sloped ceiling walls. The bed has white sheets, gray and blue pillows, and navy bedding. Towels are folded on the bed. The room has a built-in gray cabinet under a small rectangular window with decorative items on the windowsill.

    Private Room with Ensuite (Single Occupancy)

    $7,800.00 USD (6 installments of $1,299)

    Located in the newest building addition also home to the Yoga Shala, this guest room includes a king bed and a private bathroom with a shower.

    Each room offers a small desk workstation, as well
    as a fridge, coffee maker, hot water kettle, dishes, glasses and cutlery.

    RESERVE ROOM
  • A cozy bedroom with a large window overlooking a lake and green landscape, with dark curtains on either side, a bed with pillows and a folded towel, and a drying rack in the corner.

    Private Guest House with Ensuite + Lake View

    $8,400.00 USD (6 installments of $1,399)

    This Scandi-style A-frame guest house has a king bed, ensuite bathroom with shower, and kitchenette as well as a private stargazing patio.

    In addition, each guest house is outfitted with a fridge, a coffee maker, tea kettle, dishes, glasses, cutlery and speakers.

    RESERVE ROOM
Modern house with a steep A-frame roof, large glass windows, and an outdoor deck, set in a green landscape with trees and a partly cloudy sky.
Three modern A-frame glass houses on a grassy hillside with dry shrubs, under a blue sky with light clouds.
A modern house with black exterior and large windows situated on a green hillside by a body of water, with trees and open land in the background.
Aerial A-frame tiny house with glass doors, outdoor wooden deck, two chairs, and potted plants in a natural landscape.
Modern dark wooden house with large glass windows on a grassy hill with trees in the background and a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a coastal property with multiple buildings, a large house, and surrounding greenery.
Modern house with a steeply pitched roof on a grassy landscape with trees, near a lake, under a clear blue sky.
A modern black house with large glass windows and a steep roof, situated on a grassy hillside with leafless trees in the background and rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.
Sunlit room with a large window showing a scenic view of a lake and hills. Inside, a gray armchair with a blue pillow, a small side table with a Buddha statue, a candle, and a throw blanket. There is a wooden floor, striped rug, and a bookshelf with
Interior view of a living room with a black bookshelf, gray armchair, wood floor, and fireplace, seen through a doorway from a small corner with a wooden stool and mounted map of Iceland.
Three dessert parfaits in glasses topped with strawberries, blueberries, and chocolate shavings, arranged on a wooden board with additional berries around.
The interior of a modern restaurant or cafe with wooden bar stools along a counter, dark wooden chairs around a dining table, and a window in the background with greenery outside.
Living room with a wood storage bench with pillows, a small statue, a modern fireplace, and part of a gray sofa.
Interior of a modern kitchen bar area with four wooden stools, black and white cabinetry, pendant lights, and a wooden floor.
A well-set dining table decorated with floral centerpieces, wine glasses, candles, and plates, illuminated by natural light from large windows showing an outdoor view.
Person kneading dough on a kitchen countertop with fresh herbs, with a loaf of bread on a tray nearby.
Living room with large window and view of snowy landscape, mountains, and water outside. Furniture includes chairs, a sofa, and small tables with candles and decorative items.
Cozy living room with large glass doors opening to an outdoor wooden deck, overlooking a scenic landscape of a lake and hills under a blue sky, decorated with a Buddha statue, armchair with a throw blanket, and bookshelf with plants.
Yoga mats arranged on a wooden floor in a room with large windows overlooking a natural landscape, with meditation cushions and a gong in the corner.

What’s Included?

✔︎All Excursions & Guides

We are passionate about providing a once in a lifetime expedition into Icelandic bathing culture. We have hand picked the absolute best excursions and guides for our time together.

✔︎ All Bathing Experiences & Rituals

We have specially curated a variety of unique bathing experiences and rituals, ranging from ancient to modern, each a glimpse into the essence of Icelandic wellness.

✔︎ Accommodations

Our home away from home for the week will be in a lakefront chalet nestled in the rugged landscapes of Southern Iceland.

✔︎ All Meals

If there is anything we love just as much as thermal bathing, it’s food. Rest assured your plate is always covered on this journey. All meals are included so you can sink fully into the adventure.

✔︎ Private Chef

Allergies and dietary restrictions are easily accommodated by our incredible Chef Abbey, who will have you savoring every bite.

✔︎ Community

Join our wolfpack of courageous sauna-lovers, thermal bathing junkies, bathing-curious, wellness travelers and those looking for a sensorial exploration of Icelandic wellness.

✔︎ Airport Transfers

Transportation is provided to and from Keflavík International Airport (KEF) near Reykjavík

✔︎ In-Country Group Transportation

Group transportation provided to and from every single excursion and bathing activity.

✔︎ Expert Travel Assistance

We will help you find and book the cheapest flight possible, purchase the most affordable travel insurance that suits your needs and guarantees every unexpected cancellation is fully covered.

I'M READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE
I'M READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE

Meet Your Hosts

  • A woman with long wavy brown hair smiling and standing in the doorway of a wooden cabin with vertical wood paneling and a small window.

    ALISA CARDENAS

    Experience Host, Bathing Culture Explorer & Founder of Howl at the Moon Sauna Co.

    In 2024, Alisa started her sauna venture that began as a spark of personal healing and ignited into a mission to bring authentic sauna culture to West Michigan. In 2021, after experiencing profound corporate burnout, she set out to tear down her life as she knew it. and reconstruct it with intention, choosing passion, family, and community. Sauna became the passion that helped her cross that threshold.

    Alisa’s journey has expanded beyond her local sauna community. Today, in addition to operating Howl at the Moon Sauna Co., her love of exploration, travel, and obsession of sauna and bathing, has naturally led her to curate immersive thermal bathing experiences to share with others. These are expeditions into places where thermic bathing is woven into the land, the people, and their rituals. These experiences are sensorial, place-rooted, and crafted to awaken connection: to oneself, to each other, and to the global bathing renaissance reshaping how we gather, rest, and rediscover what matters.

  • A woman with short curly hair wearing a green sweater and pants, smiling while sitting in front of a gallery wall filled with framed artwork and photographs, including landscapes and mountain scenes.

    ANNA VANAGTMAEL

    Travel Designer & Founder of Wandering Roots

    Anna is a passionate retreat host and travel designer dedicated to helping people reclaim joy, clarity, and courage through unforgettable, stress-free adventures. After a life-altering car accident pushed her far outside her comfort zone, Anna rebuilt her world with intention, choosing a life that sparks joy. Wandering Roots is all about inspiring you to go after whatever weird thing or goal it is that you want while also pausing long enough to celebrate and feel how incredible life can be when you get out of your own way.

    That transformation became the foundation of Wandering Roots, where Anna curates effortless, soul-stirring getaways that make people feel alive again. When she’s not leading retreats, she mentors aspiring hosts in creating meaningful experiences of their own, helping them avoid the painful lessons she learned firsthand. Her work centers around one truth: stepping beyond your comfort zone is where all the magic begins.

  • Person mid-jump in front of a black door with the sign 'ABBey' above, wearing glasses, a red plaid shirt, black pants, and black boots, with a playful expression.

    ABBEY HUNTER

    Chef Extraordinaire & Artist

    Abbey brings a cooking style shaped by travel, curiosity, and a deep respect for place. While she loves the comfort foods of her upbringing (fried porksteak, gołąbki, pasties), her culinary voice is equally influenced by the comida típica of Mexico, Costa Rica, Ireland, Iceland, and Sicily. Abbey’s food is soulful, bold, and intentional, rooted in tradition while remaining playfully experimental.

    A natural teacher and collaborator, Abbey thrives leading hands-on experiences and cooking to nourish connection. She believes food should be both grounding and joyful and has taught everything from ravioli-making and sushi to kimchi fermentation, always weaving technique with story, humor, and a get-your-hands-dirty approach that invites people fully into the experience.

    For Iceland, Abbey brings all of this with her: reverence for the land, a love of ritual and warmth, and meals designed to deepen the experience of the journey itself.

Rest Assured, Your Investment is Covered*

Being seasoned travelers and experience hosts, we get it. Sometimes life happens and plans need to be cancelled.

Sign up for a retreat and you will receive a welcome email with what to expect over the coming months. Included in this email is a link to purchase travel insurance.

We have partnered with two companies to provide you with extensive coverage at very affordable rates.

If you follow through with your end of the work and purchase travel insurance, you will be covered during your retreat or your investment will be reimbursed if you can no longer attend your retreat.

Basically, we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you’re over-the-moon happy whether or not you can join us for the retreat.

Group of people posing in front of a large white off-road vehicle on a rocky landscape with mountains in the background.
Book a FREE Consult with Alisa
Book a FREE Consult with Alisa

Immerse yourself in the raw beauty, flavors and geothermal heartbeat of Iceland without the responsibility and stress of planning a single thing.

We host it. You enjoy it.

Book a FREE Consult with Alisa
Book a FREE Consult with Alisa

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

  • Yes! Depending on when you register, we standarly offer all participants a 6-payment plan split evenly across the following dates: At registration, April, June, August, September & October.

    This option is designed to make the experience more accessible while still keeping things simple and transparent.

  • While we’ve done most of the hard work for you, there are a few things that are not included in this experience:

    • Airfare to/from Keflavik Airport (KEF)

    • Passport/visa and travel documentation

    • Transportation from Keflavik to Sky Lagoon on day of arrival

  • We specialize in creating a guilt-free culture. Our “choose your own adventure” system requires nothing from you and encourages you to opt-out of any offering that does not serve you in the present moment. Whether you participate in everything or nothing - we are here for you.

  • Our private chef can not only handle any food allergy or dietary restriction that you throw her way, she will seamlessly accommodate the pickiest of eaters as well. She finds pleasure in curating a menu that is authentic to the area and welcomes any challenge. She has served dozens of guests and we are yet to find someone that hasn’t fallen deeply in love with her made-from-scratch meals.

  • Perfect! We love solo retreaters and believe it’s the best way to meet people and make new friends! We pinky promise that every single guest (and host) is nervous about showing up and being loved and accepted for who they are and not someone they are trying to be. You are not alone in this and you will be in the best company. We have perfected the art of creating besties out of strangers.

  • We are committed to making each guest feel comfortable and safe. We have a section on the registration form for you to share any injuries or concerns. If you prefer to discuss in detail, please reach out to Alisa (howlatthemoonsaunaco@gmail.com) to create a plan to address your individual needs!

  • A suggested list of items to bring will be provided once registration is completed. But permission granted to buy a new swimsuit if you’ve been looking for an excuse. ;)

  • That is dependent on the experience. Normally we host between 10 and 15 guests and have 3-5 hosts.

  • We know that most wellness experiences have a reputation for being alcohol free. We never impose strict guidelines. We truly believe that wellness looks differently for everyone. We always allow guests to bring their own and sometimes we have complimentary drinks. Whatever your preference, it’s never an issue.

  • Yes, but it may be limited. Depending on your cell service, there may be areas of the lodging or excursions where you will have limited services. Wifi is available in the common areas and in each room.

  • Yes, totally normal! This experience is co-hosted by Wandering Roots and Howl at the Moon Sauna Co.

    All bookings and payments are securely processed through the Wandering Roots website, and all invoices will come directly from them.

  • We know plans can change, and we want to be transparent from the start. All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Because of this, we strongly encourage you to purchase comprehensive travel insurance (including “cancel for any reason” coverage) for peace of mind.

    While we’re not responsible for losses related to cancellation, we will help to provide documentation to support an insurance claim if needed.

  • A few important things to note before reserving your spot:

    • All retreat participants must be 18 years of age or older

    • You are responsible for obtaining travel insurance

    • If traveling internationally, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the trip end date

    • A liability waiver is required and must be signed prior to participation

    These policies help ensure a safe, smooth, and well-supported experience for everyone.

Phew! That’s a lot. Got Questions or Unsure if it’s a fit? Let’s FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER.

E-mail Alisa with a Question
E-mail Alisa with a Question
Book a FREE Consult with Alisa
Book a FREE Consult with Alisa
Two red off-road vehicles crossing a rocky river with mountainous landscape in the background.
A red off-road vehicle driving on a snow-covered landscape with a sunset sky in the background.
Northern lights over a snow-covered mountain at night with stars in the sky.
A wide view of Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland, with powerful cascading water, snow patches on the ground, and a winding road along the rugged landscape, under cloudy skies.
Lush green moss-covered hills and mountains under cloudy sky, with patches of snow, a small river flowing through the valley, and sheep grazing on the plains.
Snow-capped mountain with a waterfall, frozen lake, and cloudy sky.
A red SUV driving through a shallow river with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A fjord landscape with moss-covered cliffs, a winding river, and a rocky foreground.
Small wooden and stone bridge crossing a narrow stream in a lush green landscape with grass and yellow flowers.
Aerial view of a uniquely designed outdoor swimming pool shaped like a sea creature, situated next to a rocky shoreline with water. The pool has multiple sections, including some with underwater sculptures resembling sea animals.
A geothermal hot spring with steaming water, surrounded by a paved area and a black fence, with green hills and cloudy sky in the background.
Aerial view of a valley with braided river channels, green hills, and rocky formations under a cloudy sky.