Floating sauna opens its doors in Victoria’s Inner Harbour

Victoria’s Inner Harbour is about to get steamy.

HAVN, the brand-new floating Nordic sauna, is celebrating its grand opening Thursday.

HAVN is a three-deck barge that features saunas, cold water pools, outdoor seating, and a new view of Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

The primary focus of the sauna is hydrotherapy, an embodiment practice that involves going between hot and cold water.

With Island Health giving the final approval Wednesday, just 24 hours prior to opening, it’s full steam ahead.

The barge docked in Victoria back in April, following a rezoning of the area and several months of work to build the retreat.

READ MORE: Floating spa proposed for Victoria’s Inner Harbour goes to public hearing Thursday

“We’ve created a space where you can easily be present and hang out for an evening,” said Nicholas Van Buren, CEO and co-founder of HAVN.

“Where you’re not being distracted by the internet or going to the bar, doing something else so it’s just a healthy way to get out and enjoy Victoria in a new and unique way.”

Originally built in 1943, when it was used as a floating wartime workshop, the vessel has been repurposed into a multi-deck facility that’ll offer cold pools, hot saunas, and a new tourist attraction in downtown Victoria.

With a view of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, the new attraction will make a splash for locals and millions of visitors who come to the region annually. Offering a “hydrotherapy circuit,” it’ll include saunas, cold pools, hot tubs, outdoor showers, a green space on the deck and more.

Bookings for Thursday are entirely sold out, but tickets can be purchased online — starting at $75.

The Nordic sauna is open every day, except Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.

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