I finally made my first trip to Thermea Spa Village in Whitby, and I am already excited to go back. I've heard friends of mine talk about how relaxing and transformative it is, but nothing quite prepares you for the experience until you’re actually there. It felt like I was on vacation, without having to do all of the planning.

The Thermal Cycle

One of the things that makes the Spa Village really stand out to me is their focus on the thermal cycle, the traditional hot-cold-rest ritual that they encourage. It’s surprisingly intuitive and brings your body into a deep relaxation mode. The idea is to start by heating up your body in one of their many saunas or steam rooms, then move into a cold plunge or a waterfall shower, and finish with some time to just rest and recover in one of their many relaxation areas.

Here’s a fun fact I had no idea about before going: The Logga sauna at Thermea Spa Village is the largest event sauna in North America. I stepped into it during one of their guided Aufguss rituals, which is a wellness experience where water and essential oils are poured over hot stones and then circulated in the air by an Artisan using big towel movements. It felt very meditative and was a unique experience.

The Rhassoul Experience Plus

Another highlight for me was the Rhassoul experience, which I booked not really knowing what to expect. It ended up being a full-body, instructor-led clay ritual in a private steam room, and it was amazing. We started with a natural scrub to exfoliate the skin, which was followed by applying two different types of mineral-rich clay. One for the face, and one for the body. Between the steam and heat in the room, the lovely scent of the clays, and the sensation of scrubbing and rinsing everything away, it was both earthy and totally luxurious. My skin felt the softest it has ever been.

The Spa Village

Of course, one of the best parts about Thermea Spa Village is just wandering because there are so many amenities there. There are multiple baths of various temperatures and sizes scattered across the grounds, from warm thermal baths to cold plunges.

All day, you can sauna-hop to your heart’s content. Each sauna has its own feel, from dry heat to essential oil infused steam and glowing salt rock walls. The salt rock sauna in particular was a standout for me. It had this beautiful, warm amber glow from the Himalayan salt bricks, and the air felt light and clean. It was quiet, peaceful, and deeply relaxing. I had never been in a sauna like it before! It’s really beautiful, as you can see.

For a first visit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m already planning my next one and I want to bring along all my friends. The Spa Village to me is about reconnecting with your body, clearing your mind, and giving yourself actual space to slow down. It makes it easy. And the fact that there are restaurants on-site means you don’t even have to leave to grab a great meal in the middle of all that unwinding.

Trust me, you should go, take your time, and let yourself unplug. You won’t regret it. It’s really important to make time to slow down in a world that is so fast-paced.