Can you go winter swimming and ice swimming in Sälen?

Ice bathing in the mountains has gone from being an unusual pastime to one of winter’s most sought-after experiences, and Sälen is an almost perfect spot for it. The combination of a strong sauna culture, cold winters and mountain lakes just around the corner ensures that the contrast between hot and ice-cold is exactly as striking as it should be. This guide explains how winter swimming works, where it’s practically possible at Sälen, and what you need to know before taking the plunge. The easiest way to do it is in a Cottage with sauna and spa in Sälen – then you’ll have the warmth inside and the cold outside the door.

If you’d like to see which of our properties have a sauna and relaxation area, we’ve listed them in the guide on which cottages have a sauna. This is all about the bath itself.

Short answer: yes – ice bathing in the mountains usually takes place after a sauna

In practice, winter swimming in Sälen almost always takes place in conjunction with a sauna. This is partly due to tradition, and partly because a warmed-up body and a warm place to return to are what make the experience pleasant rather than unpleasant. The forms vary: a dip in a mountain lake or river, a cold-water bath or hot tub, an outdoor shower, or simply rolling around in the snow – which is the most accessible option and, for many, perfectly adequate. The organised activities on offer vary between seasons and organisers, so check what’s available during the week you’re here. One thing that can always be arranged is a sauna in your own cottage, followed by snow, a cold shower or the fresh air.

Sauna first, then a cold shower – that’s how it works

The sequence is the whole point. You start by getting properly warm in the sauna – not just lukewarm, but really thoroughly warm. Then you go outside, dip yourself in the water or roll around in the snow, and go back inside. The cold feels intense for the first few seconds and then gives way to something that feels most like exhilaration. After a few minutes back in the warmth, you can repeat the process. Most people do two or three rounds and finish off in the warmth. Breathe calmly and in a controlled manner – that reflexive, sharp intake of breath when the cold hits is the body’s natural reaction, and you can calm it down with a few deep breaths before you go in. Walk in calmly, never jump, and stay in for only a short time. If you’re not used to this, count the seconds, not the minutes.

Where can you go winter swimming in Sälen?

The options fall into two categories. The first is organised bathing – at facilities, spa centres or activity providers that have prepared pools, tubs or designated bathing areas with secured edges and staff on site. This is the safest option and the one we recommend for anyone who isn’t used to it. The other category is your own holiday cottage: a sauna, snow and, perhaps, a cold-water bath. The range of organised winter bathing options on offer varies from season to season, so ask the tourist office or check directly with the venues ahead of your week’s stay. We strongly advise against cutting a hole in the ice of a mountain lake on your own – this requires knowledge of the ice that few visitors possess.

Safety: ice, cold weather and never swimming alone

This is the part you mustn’t skip. Ice on lakes and watercourses is never to be trusted – its strength varies depending on currents, snow cover, inflows and temperature fluctuations, and can differ significantly even within the same lake. Therefore, only use ice holes that have been prepared and are supervised by someone with local knowledge. Never go for a swim alone: always have someone on shore who can see you and help you out. Have a ladder, a rope or a secured edge, as well as dry clothes, readily available. Cold water puts a strain on the heart and circulation, and anyone with heart or vascular disease, high blood pressure, who is pregnant or on medication should speak to their doctor first. Alcohol and cold bathing do not mix. If anyone becomes severely chilled – confused, shaking uncontrollably – stop the activity, warm them up slowly and seek medical attention. We can never promise that an ice bath is risk-free; it is an activity you undertake at your own risk and with respect.

The opposite of summer – swimming in a mountain lake in July

If you want to experience the same water in a much more pleasant way, July is the month for it. By then, the mountain lakes have warmed up to swimming temperatures, and a dip after a hike is one of the finest moments of summer in Sälen – though without anyone having to count the seconds. We’ve put together a list of places and practical tips in the guide on swim in Sälen in the summer. Interestingly, many people who have tried both say that the experience is surprisingly similar: the same silence, the same mountain water, the same feeling afterwards – with just a few degrees’ difference. If you want to combine sauna culture with swimming all year round, a house with its own sauna is what makes all the difference.

Cottages with a sauna and relaxation area

Having your own sauna is the single most important factor in ensuring that winter swimming becomes a habit rather than a one-off experience. With a sauna in the house, you can bathe every evening, at your own pace and without having to book – and the combination of a day on the slopes or out snowshoeing followed by a sauna and snow is hard to beat. In addition to a sauna, several of our houses also feature a relaxation area, a hot tub or an outdoor shower, opening up more options for cold-water bathing. Our themed page on Relaxation and spa in the mountains They’ve put together a selection of houses where that particular aspect has been carefully thought through. A tip before you book: check there’s space to dry and hang things up – sauna evenings produce a lot of wet towels.

Summary – Ice bathing in the mountains with respect

A brief guide to ice bathing in the mountains around Sälen:

• Winter swimming almost always takes place after a sauna – make sure you’re properly warmed up first.
• The methods vary: staying awake, taking a cold bath, a hot tub, an outdoor shower or rolling around in the snow.
• Only use ice that has been checked by someone with local knowledge – never trust the ice on your own.
• Never go swimming on your own, have dry clothes ready, and walk in calmly rather than jumping in.
• Consult a doctor if you have a heart or circulatory condition, high blood pressure, are pregnant or are taking medication.
• Having your own sauna at home is what turns a cold bath into a daily habit rather than a one-off experience.

When done with respect, the cold bath is the experience that leaves the strongest impression of the whole week in the mountains – and the only one that has the same effect every single time.