The entrance to Iceland’s Secret Lagoon may not be the most inspiring – a parking lot followed by a long gravel path – but don’t be put off as it underlies one of Iceland’s most authentic bathing experiences: the Secret Lagoon. Calling it a secret nowadays is a misnomer. Located in Hverahólmi, a geothermal area near Flúðir, far from undercover and on the Golden Circle Road. It is known locally as “Gamla Laugin” which means “The Old Pool” – a more appropriate name given that this is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. It was built in 1891 but the site had been used for bathing for centuries before that thanks to the rich natural resources of the area’s hot springs. Perhaps surprisingly, the pool is no longer so popular and deserted in 1947; It wasn’t until 2005 when the idea of bringing it back to life was born. Secret Lagoon reopened in June 2014 – more comfortable than it was in the previous century but still true to its roots as an authentic bathing experience. Important note: If you are reading this article anywhere other than a luxury travel blog, it is possible that this content was stolen without permission. Please note the web address above and contact A Luxury Travel Blog to report this issue to them. Thank you for your help in combating content theft. You’ll want to spend most of your time relaxing and enjoying a hot shower but take a moment to walk around the perimeter of the pool. If you look carefully, you can even spot some álfhól (small wooden houses) that were built for the benefit of the elves. Up to 54% of Icelanders believe in elves or say they likely exist. You will also see a number of hot saunas. Vaðmálahver, Básahver and Litli Geysir provide 100% of the lake’s water supply. Litli Geysir removes bubbles with hot water, releasing a lot of steam. In the old days, people used Vaðmálahver to wash clothes. The pool water is flowing continuously, and a complete replacement appears to take only 24 hours. This clean, warm water is rich in sulfur and stays at 38-40 ° C all year round. Secret Lagoon isn’t quite as glamorous as the likes of the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, but there is a certain magic about its natural simplicity that you’ll want to include in your itinerary for a true Icelandic experience. Planning a trip to Iceland on your own? You can watch a video from our trip to Iceland here. Screenshots of the Secret Lagoon from 3m 40s to 3m 44s can be seen: Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Secret Lagoon. Our trip to Iceland was also sponsored by Helly Hansen.
