The hottest bathing trend is all about cold water. You may have heard the numerous health benefits of cold plunges and icy soaks being touted by extreme athlete, speaker and headline maker Wim Hof, aka The Ice Man. Hof isn’t alone in his convictions; in Fjord Norway, ice bathing is an honored tradition, with all ages participating. And, it turns out plunging into frigid waters is good for you.

© Solstrand Hotel & Bad/Montag

“Among ice bathers, higher levels of several protective factors in the blood have been measured, factors that protect against infections, and this corresponds to the fact that ice bathers have a fewer respiratory infections [sic] than others,” said Professor Maja-Lisa Løchen at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway.

© Solstrand Hotel & Bad/Montag

Ready to take the plunge? Cold-water swims in Norway are generally followed by a warming sauna session. Try the tradition yourself at one of numerous locations to bring you closer to nature, including Elva Hotel in the district of Voss, where cold plunges can be followed by a wood-fired sauna; Nausta floating sauna in Molde, next to the waters of Moldefjord; Luster Fjord Spa in Luster; Solstrand Hotel & Bad near Bergen; or Damp Sauna Hinna, close to Stavanger, where bathing comes with views of the Gandsfjord (an extensive list of ice-bathing locations is available on the Fjord Norway website).

And be ready for the rewards. “When you come out of the water, a strong feeling of warmth comes over the body, and I almost feel a bit euphoric,” said Tove Reisegg Jacobsen, a member of a group of older ladies who regularly swim at Voss Hotel in Norway’s icy, sparkling fjord waters. “Afterwards, the conversation flows easily, endorphins bubble and it is very social.”