Scandinave Spa Whistler

We love the Scandinave Spa and visit each time we’re in Whistler. Relaxing in the pools, enjoying being outdoors, and seeing the spectacular mountains is so rejuvenating!
It’s great that the guests must be silent. It makes the experience even more relaxing. Be sure to give yourself at least a couple of hours to enjoy. You won’t want to leave!

I really didn’t know what to expect. Everyone I mentioned about going here all said oh it’s amazing. They were right! I knew the pool concept with the hot and cold and that sort of thing but wow! I went and everyone was silent which totally helped the experience. But the various hot, cold and relaxation «stations» they have are great. You start in a hot setting which includes steam room, sauna or hot tub (they have hot tubs with different temps too). Then after 10 – 15 min you soak in a cold experience — cold pool or under a cold waterfall! Then relaxing in a solarium looking at the mountain view or outside around the fire. Then repeat. But the best part you can repeat the entire experience a number of times before ever getting bored! Add a massage in there and you’re golden. I used the pools pre and post massage so ended up staying nearly 3 hrs! I couldn’t believe how the time flew by. All I knew when I left was, I kind of don’t want to keep telling people how amazing this is because I want to keep it all for myself!

Did a couples massage. Searching at other locations in Whistler for a massage it was around the same price so only made sense to go here where you can spend extra time in the tranquility of the baths.

Very good spa to spend 3 – 4 hours in the afternoon. There is a good variety of hot tubs, sauna and steam rooms to relax in, then rinse in a cold bath, followed by a relaxing rest in the many places to sit or lie down for nap. There is two of each. One of the hot tubs has a waterfall of warm water. As well, there is a outdoor seating by a fire and hammocks up the hill from the hot tubs. The setting is very peaceful surrounded by trees and mountain views. If you have a BCAA membership, you get 15% off. They just expanded to a new building with another sauna, steamroom and a place to do yoga if you are into that. There is an excellent café serving very healthy foods from a company in Pemberton.

Bath and treatment service are a 4 star but had very awkward unprofessional interaction with front desk (Jamie) upon departure. Just did not appear to be interesting in providing customer service. Hence the 2 stars. Would be great if all areas of the spa matched to ensure a totally enjoyable experience to the customer.

Unsanitary!
I have been here several times, it is a great beautiful, relaxing place, but sadly, this last visit on Monday has left me with hot tub folliculitis!
In addition to the bacterial infection, (diagnosed by my dermatologist on Wednesday) I had been given two towels, like everyone else, with a lock, but the second towel I was going to use had a huge orangish stain on it– I returned it to management at the front desk and they kindly gave me a second one– but this second one ALSO had a stain — this time a black one. The third towel was appearing clean and I used that one after my time in the baths.
This hasn’t happened before and I have been here several times in the last year alone– Scandinavia Spa please clean up your act!

I love how this spa had a silence policy. I go there 2 – 3 times a year and always have a RMT massage. I enjoy relaxing with the mountains in the background, and dipping myself in the hot and cold baths, along with the sauna and steam room. My favourite is the steam room — it smells nice and so relaxing. However, when I went there in November 2015 and January 2016 and they had construction and it was very disruptive and not peaceful at all. I went again in April 2016 and the construction was over and they opened a new dry sauna, steam room and upstairs had a quiet lounge area with a fireplace. The new steam smells like a wet gym with no steam. I like the new dry sauna but didn’t find the new steam room had enough steam. I still preferred the old steam room. They also had giant queen ants all over the spa and the pools were filled with dead inspects. When I went there last year in April 2015, we didn’t experience the issue and it was the perfect experience. Perhaps things are going downhill so I hope that’s not the case. This place is good for a weekend getaway from Vancouver. I hope this spa doesn’t lose its integrity and quality. It’s a great spot to relax and unwind.

The only tiny, yet bothersome issue with this fabulous outdoor temple to feelgoodness is the «silence rule». And that’s only because my dear friend Kare and I do this-​sort-​of-​thing together, and we spend a great deal of time laughing and talking when we have the opportunity to hang together. Also. Its easier to just coo quietly in the hot wet sauna, the dry sauna and the warm pools, but containing squealed gasps, while maintaining a composed heart rate, in the cold pools is just plain, and simply, untenable.
We did the entire pools and saunas circuit.
So good.
Its not Pemberton, which is truly more my style. But all the mountain nature divas are present here for you if you are attuned. Plus there are thick white towels and robes and all the classy pampery spa sweet things you know you want, and deserve, at least once in awhile.
We totally came away shiny and new, and refreshed for the next adventure of the day.

Relaxing, beautiful setting and great facilities. Good value especially if you buy a Costco gift card and get $ 100 for $ 80. Give yourself 2 – 3 hours bring a book and enjoy.

Came here 2 days in a row after snowboarding and it was so well worth it! The 3 step process, hot, cold, relax, was truly refreshing and relaxing after a long day on the slopes. At first I was hesitant about the complete silence, but it definitely added to the entire experience.
I also booked the 60 min swedish massage for 160 CAD. The massage was soothing and it helped me unwind.
I bought some wayspa giftcards on the costco website for additional savings, but make sure to buy it the day before otherwise they may not be activated in time!

I scheduled a massage first thing in the morning and when I was done, the baths would be open. First off, the massage was really great. I had Robert and he did a fantastic job! Afterwards I headed to the baths and that’s when it started to go downhill for me. It started off okay but at one point I purposely moved away from the crowds to take a couple of pictures to use in the travel blog post I was planning to write about my experience here. Out of nowhere an employee approached me and told me I’d have to put the phone back in the locker room. Out of respect for the «silence» rule, I made sure no one was around me, no person would’ve been in the photos, I wasn’t talking on it, I wasn’t texting, it was completely silenced and after explaining this and why I was taking a couple of pics he, in a nutshell, told me my blog post was unimportant to them and then stood over me until I physically got up to go put the phone back in the locker room. The kicker, when I was entering back into the building someone held the door for me and in my regular voice I said «thank you very much», at which point I was reprimanded again for not observing the silence rule. That was it for me! I went to the locker room, got dressed and left. I’m all for quiet relaxation but walking on eggshells about what rule I might break next isn’t very relaxing.
And a tip, when I checked in for my 9am massage it was relatively quiet, only a couple of people in line. However, when I left just before noon, it was crazy busy. The line must have been 20 people deep. If you have the ability to book an early slot, do it.

Hands down the best, most relaxing experience I’ve ever had. I booked a deep tissue massage for 10:15 am. I recommend booking as early as possible. It was packed by noon and the baths were full when I left.
My therapist was Brooke. She was super awesome and gave me the best massage I’ve ever had.
The baths were wonderful. Next time I’m dragging my husband.
My only complaint is that the check in area was slow and they told me to check in at the café. The woman didn’t give me very good directions. I noticed everyone bought flip flops and I was never given that option. I would have liked to have some. I had to go barefoot. I also had no idea what waiting room to go to. It all worked out but more direction would have been nice.

Enjoy the silence! You’re not supposed to talk once you leave the locker room, and it was nice to find that people actually respected the rule. The idea is to create this serene environment in which to immerse yourself in the art of Nordic bathing. First you sweat it out in the hot tub, sauna or steam room, then immediately (and quickly) rinse with cold water, and then relax for at least 15 minutes before starting again.
From what I understand of the heritage of my people, the sauna/​cold immersion/​relax cycle can be quite social, maybe even involving scarfing some meatballs, herring and aquavit between rounds. But here at the spa, the code of silence means not having to listen to some stranger yammering on while you’re trying to get a good sweat happening in the sauna.
And what a sauna! As much as I dreaded the inevitable cold pool (the icy waterfall shower was a little better), Spa Scandinave must have the best sauna ever. It’s in a log cabin in the centre of the complex, with windows looking out onto the snowy alpine scenery. Every 10 to 15 minutes or so, an attendant came in to add a little water to the lava rocks, releasing not only steam but also the most heavenly woodsy scent.
I had the hardest time with the «just relax» portion of the program, but liked the outdoor fireplace area the best (the hammock deck wasn’t open). In the silence, you end up hearing every little sound in the solariums — recliners creaking a little as people get adjusted, etc. Definitely bring a book or magazine — although make it one you can stand getting a bit damp unless you plan to go back and forth to the locker. I also wished I brought some sandals, but the pathways are heated, so it’s actually not too bad with walking around in bare feet in winter! And there’s hot tea available if you get chilly.
Nordic alpine spas like this are all over the place in Quebec, I’ve heard, but Spa Scandinave is one of a kind in B.C. If you’re going to Whistler, it’s definitely something to experience. Shhh.

I am having a hard time giving a higher overall rating but want to say that Susan, who gave me a massage, was great. I’d highly recommend her for massage.
I paid $ 155 for the massage and waters package and my partner paid $ 173 for the RMT massage and waters package. Our massages were booked for 8pm and we arrived at 6:25. We waited for 20 minutes in a 12 person line to check in. The lobby was packed with people — I think relaxing before leaving. While we waited I hunted down the beverages (water and hot tea) I drained the rest of the tea into the two tiny paper cups and there was no infused water left. Note: they don’t offer rubber flip flops as part of the «package». You get a lock, a robe and two towels. My feet were constantly freezing during the circuit. The water circuit spa that I go to in Toronto offers all of that and flip flops.
The water circuit was nice enough but in –5 I didn’t feel the need to use any of the cold plunges. The sauna was so packed full of inconsiderate people laying down that you had to squeeze into a small spot to sit. Or leave. The steam room was packed and so were the relaxation solariums. There was a group in one of the hot pools talking loudly. Overall, it felt over capacity — not at all how I want to feel when spending this much to «relax». This became more evident after my massage when I went back to the locker room for a shower and the line up to shower was 7 women deep. I gave up and just got dressed and left. All in all, it wasn’t a fantastic experience worth the $$$. I’d rather pay my RMT at the clinic in Toronto $ 150 for a two hour massage than the same for an hour and the waters here. Also note — if you plan on claiming an RMT massage from here, you won’t receive the full $ 173 from your insurer. They put a max on an hour and that’s usually the clinic rate of around $ 100.
I can’t say I’ll be back to this location or any of their others.

When in Whistler, this spa is a MUST! We were between the spa at the four season or the Scandinave spa. Due to some research we decided to try out the Scandinavia for its unique experience. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Being able to do the hot cold therapy while having a nice scene of snow on beautiful trees was something out of a story book. ABSOLUTELY amazing.
My husband and i got a deep tissue massage which we loved! And let me tell you, the staff was AMAZING. I wish i got their names but there was a tall male and female that were KIND enough to take the time to call a few restaurants for us in whistler for dinner. Talk about customer service!
If in Whistler or even in Vancouver, make the stop… you will not REGRET IT

Scandinave was the highlight of our entire vacation in Vancouver and Whistler. My husband and I truly enjoyed the beautiful mountain-​view setting. There were several signs reminding patrons of the rules to be silent, and this made the experience very peaceful and also made the spa feel less crowded.
There are a number of different features to enjoy at the spa, and it was fun to go from hot to cold as you pleased. You can walk up stairs and lounge in a hammock or chair to see views from the highest point. The steam room had a eucalyptus scent, a solarium with reclining chairs and a mountain view was next to it. There were several hot and cold pools from which to choose. One of the cold plunges had a waterfall to stand under if you’re brave. The hot tub also had waterfalls which felt like a massage in themselves. A different solarium had mats to rest upon and there was a wood-​burning sauna. The steam room and sauna were large, each had 3 levels. One of the pools also had a Nordic shower (pool shower with very cold water). There was a nice outdoor patio with circular fireplace and a lounge area with hot tea. Some of the buildings had flowers and plants landscaped on the roof. The locker room was spacious and had wood floors. 3 floor massage building and waterfall. creek that feeds the waterfall.
We had lovely massages with expert aestheticians. This was one of the nicest and most interesting spas I’ve ever visited. I wish we lived closer so we could go often!

I tried Scandinave Spa during a recent girls’ weekend, upon high recommendations from a friend. The Spa facilities are indeed very nice, and to me the hot tubs are at a perfect 38C which is very comfortable and relaxing.
I did bring a book but unfortunately as dusk settles (early this time of year) it becomes impossible to read anything after 4:00 pm and at this time all the indoor solarium spaces are packed as well. So as a previous reviewer stated you do end up sort of sitting awkwardly staring into the darkness in case you’ve already spent too much time in the hot tub/​steam room/​sauna.
Most people adhered pretty well to the silent rule and I only heard occasional murmurs from some groups of people; there was one lady who let out a little scream when she went into the cold pool (16C) but I can’t blame her since I myself was biting my mouth down to keep from doing the same thing!
Similar to other reviews I do agree that there need to be more hooks on the fences for hanging towels and robes (and perhaps not so low to the ground; one of my towels was collecting dirt throughout the day), and I do wish the bathrobe rental was included in the $ 60 admission fee as it often is with other spas.
I would recommend going at an off-​peak time (weekdays) to avoid the crowd; parking is limited and in the winter it really is nice to be able to snag a seat inside the solariums rather than huddling around the outdoor fireplace in a damp towel/​robe.

I’m going to say something totally sacrilegious to SS peeps, I’m sure.
I freaking hate the cold plunge. Every part of me hates it. But the truth is, there is something to it. The relaxed muscles to complete muscle clench leaves every muscle relaxed by the end of your time.
The site is beautiful with plenty of options. Things I wish I’d brought with me:
1. A hair brush (they provide blow dryers)
2. A paperback book. The relax component is grossly underrated and I was jealous of those with books (since tech is not allowed)
Really will be back… Very much enjoyed it for our anniversary, and will enjoy it all the more after a day of riding.
(Cons: no real restaurant if you hadn’t planned ahead, people making out — come on now… That can wait!)

OK, so let me be clear, I WILL come back here. it is simply too amazing. i love it. but there were a few things that need some checkin).
Silence — this place is SILENT. so STOP TALKING PEOPLE! last time i was here the staff were very quick to tell people who engaged in even soft conversation that it is a silent retreat. they were also quick to tell the few aholes, i mean people, who brought their cell phones in to take selfies that it was strictly forbidden. this time not so much… was annoyed by several people talking and observed a group of 3 taking selfies by one of the pools. I cannot iterate how important the SILENCE part of this spa makes the experience. Next time i would appreciate the staff being slightly more aggressive about letting people know the rules.
Change rooms — The change rooms are spacious and last time, were super immaculate. but this time, people had left garbage (paper towels, paper cups) all over the place. This is probably a reflection of the customers more than the spa, but the change rooms should be checked more often. Also, the towel situation was a bit out of control. they had been left all over and the bins were overflowing.
Construction — so they are building an extension. just so you know. they were very clear that there was construction noise and were offering a 20% discount. we arrived at around 2pm and the workers were leaving at 4pm so we didn’t think it was a huge deal. it wasn’t really. but be aware.
but as i said before, i still LOVE this place and wish we had more places in the world where silence was the focus.

We bought the gift cards at Costco ($ 79.99 for $ 100 worth) and it also comes with a dining coupon for WildWood Pacific Bistro but we didn’t end up using it.
We made appointments ahead of time for a duo swedish massage and if you go regularly then you can totally request certain certain massage therapists if they are available.
We arrived about 45 minutes earlier than our massage appointment and headed for the baths right away. They give you a lock and key for a locker attached to a beaded bracelet so you can take it with you everywhere you go. When you enter the property you will drive along a small pathway and cross a little bridge — it’s only one lane so you have to wait until the light tells you to go. Be careful if you’re driving in the dark — pay attention to signs.
The main office is really nice, the front desk will check you in for appointments and that’s also where you get your robe and towels.
I read some older reviews on TripAdvisor that said they’re stingy about replacing wet towels and stuff but I didn’t experience that. At one point during our 5 hour visit I had put my robe down to go to the washroom and someone came in and cleaned up the locker room and took by robe so I had to walk out to the front to ask for a new one and she was really nice about it.
The massage was good for me, Rick really enjoyed his which he says can be attributed to the fact that his massage therapist was better than mine but who knows. He also has back problems and I don’t really. This was my first massage ever so it’s hard for me to judge comparatively. Our massage therapists were really nice, it was a very quiet massage I’m pretty sure I could hear Rick snoring at one point but he denies it lol. They left us to get changed before and after so I could put my bikini top back on. They reminded us to drink lots of water after the massage. I was honestly dreading the oils/​lotion but it wasn’t even that bad! not excessively greasy.
We went back to the baths — Rick actually managed to do the cold baths… I managed to get just one foot in and said forget it. I know I obviously didn’t do it right you’re supposed to do Hot — Cold — Relax I basically just stuck to my own routine of Hot– Relax — Hot — Relax. I enjoyed the solariums too those were really relaxing. I think the next time we go back we should try it in the summer, being 110 lbs I get cold very easily so I felt cold even in the solarium.
Being quiet was very difficult for me and it proves to be pretty challenging when you need to communicate with the person you’re with if you’re going through the stages together. Everyone either whispers very quietly or makes funny hand signals to communicate — not a huge fan of the complete silence part.
They have a snack bar area in the main office if you need a break and something to munch on. We went there for a bit just to take a break from the baths. The reason for 4 star is the price — I think it’s a great experience but quite a steep price point.