SAGA SAUNA

The road to Inderøy wound through quiet farmland, with the fjord coming into view as I neared Sundsøya. It was a crisp afternoon in Trøndelag, the kind where the air carries a hint of salt from the water. I had booked a drop-in spot online through Hoopla, paying 220 kroner for two hours that included a towel and some shower soap. The sauna sits right by Borgenfjorden, part of the SAGA Hotell and a photography center, open to both locals and visitors like me.

I brought my swimwear as required and arrived just as the session was starting. A small group of us, no more than six, gathered outside the wooden structure. It was a mixed session that day, with folks chatting softly in Norwegian before we stepped in.

The sauna was handmade in Estonia by Iglucraft, a rounded wooden pod that felt solid and welcoming. An electric stove from HUUM heated the space steadily, the warmth building without any rush. I settled on one of the benches, letting the heat seep into my skin as steam rose gently.

We took turns adding water to the stones, and the air filled with a clean, woody scent. Conversations drifted from local spots in Inderøy to the fjord's changing tides. After about an hour, I stepped out for a break, grabbing a local beer from the menu for 120 kroner. It paired well with some cured meats I had pre-ordered, part of the sauna's food options starting at 110 kroner for salts or sweets.

Back inside, the heat felt deeper, pulling sweat from every pore. The group kept things relaxed, no one pushing the pace.

With time left in the two-hour slot, I decided to try the fjord. The water lapped at the shore just steps from the sauna, cold and clear under the gray sky. I waded in up to my waist, the chill biting sharp against the heat still in my body.

It woke me right up, that contrast of fire and ice. Back on the rocks, I dried off with the provided towel and slipped back into the warmth for the final stretch. A few others joined for their own dips, laughing as they emerged shivering.

As the session wrapped, I rinsed off with the shower soap and gathered my things. The whole visit left me refreshed, ready to explore more of Trøndelag's coast.