At Hotel Rangá, winter wellness begins with embracing Iceland rather than retreating from it. Set in the countryside near Hella, the lodge provides a base for exploring some of southern Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes, from glaciers, waterfalls and ice caves to the East Rangá River. The hotel’s Live Like an Icelander experience introduces guests to local approaches to wellbeing and longevity, while more invigorating pursuits include cold plunges in the river before returning to the warmth of the hotel’s geothermal outdoor hot tubs.

Winter’s darker skies add another dimension to the experience. A Northern Lights wake-up call gives guests the chance to step outside when the aurora appears, while the property’s observatory offers nighttime stargazing with a resident astronomer. Inside, individually themed suites inspired by different continents provide a cozy retreat, and Rangá Restaurant serves Nordic cuisine to round out a day spent immersed in the landscape.

The Curated Take: The most compelling aspect of Hotel Rangá’s winter program is that wellness isn’t treated as an indoor escape from the elements. Cold water, geothermal heat, darkness, fresh air and time outdoors are all part of the experience, reflecting a distinctly Icelandic relationship with the environment. For travelers interested in wellness with a genuine sense of place, that makes the landscape itself part of the retreat.