Badstuer på Hurdalsjøen Hotell & Spa

The mist hung low over Hurdalsjøen as I pulled up to the hotel in Hurdal. It was a crisp morning in Akershus, with the lake stretching out like a quiet mirror under the eastern Norwegian sky. I had booked a stay to try the saunas, drawn by the promise of something new on the water. After checking in at the front desk, I headed straight to the spa area. The air carried a faint herbal note even before I stepped inside.

The indoor scented sauna welcomed me first. At 65 degrees, it felt gentle, and I lay back on the bench, breathing in lavender that day. The view through the window framed the hotel's herb garden and the lake beyond. It was a calm start, letting the warmth ease into my muscles while I watched birds skim the water.

Next door, the classic Finnish sauna ran hotter at 80 degrees. I sat there for a bit, feeling the dry heat build. A small steam bath caught my eye too, just big enough for two, but I skipped it this time, eager to explore outside.

The real draw was the new floating sauna from summer 2023. I walked down to the lakeside, where it bobbed gently on Hurdalsjøen. Inside, the electric heat warmed the space, and large windows let in the full view of the water. I settled in, watching the ripples outside as the temperature rose.

After a good sweat, I stepped out to the balcony. A set of stairs and a ramp led right into the lake. The water was chilly, even in late spring, but I took the plunge. It shocked my skin, then left me refreshed as I climbed back up. There was even a terrace on the roof, where I sat for a moment, drying off in the breeze.

Not far along the shore, a wood-fired barrel sauna waited. I fired it up with some logs and let the heat from the fire take over. Smoke curled up, mixing with the lake air. From there, it was easy to slip back into the water for another cool-down.

With my skin still tingling, I wandered back through the hotel grounds. They had bikes and paddleboards available for guests, so I grabbed a kayak for a quick paddle on the lake. The water felt different from out there, calm and wide.

Later, I stopped at the A la Carte restaurant, AX Mat & Vin, for a meal. I had called ahead to book a table at 63 95 96 00, and the food paired well with the day's relaxation. As evening fell, I thought about the mix of indoor comforts and outdoor dips. It all tied back to the lake, making the visit feel connected to the place.

If I returned, I'd email post@hurdalsjoen.no to check on the floating setup again. The whole spot in Hurdal offered that blend of sauna warmth and fresh water chills.