The Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Quebec: North America's Largest Spa Awaits

The Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Quebec is the largest spa in North America. It offers its fair share of amenities, accommodations and experiences and is the ultimate wellness retreat destination. This blog post guides you through how to get the most out of your visit to this world-renowned spa near Ottawa.

Places like Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Quebec are so vitally important in our quest for separation and relaxation. Burnout is rampant, and a large part of that is the inability for people to truly disconnect.

If you already find yourself spending time cycling around the gorgeous Outaouais region, visiting some of the quaint neighbouring small towns, or planning a luxury cabin getaway in the area, then a visit to Nordik Spa-Nature during your trip is an absolute must.

I felt like a kid coming down the stairs on Christmas morning at this spa in Quebec. I don’t think I’d ever been so excited to simply relax, which in retrospect, was probably my body and mind telling me that this visit was about more than just “treating myself.”

I’m not very good at relaxing. If I have an off-switch, I haven’t yet been able to find it—but hanging out at a place like le Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea is probably as close as I’ll ever come to embracing relaxation. The calming, meditative music has a way of putting you into the right place and mindset to let go for a moment.

Not to mention, as a travel writer, I was keen to be able to say that I’d spent some time at the largest spa on the continent. Surprisingly, it wasn’t overwhelmingly large, as much as it was a wondrous buffet of offerings that ensured that I was going to leave this establishment feeling like a brand new person.

And that’s precisely what happened.

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The Location and Amenities at Chelsea’s Nordik Spa-Nature

The first thing that I want to mention here is that Nordik Spa Nature Chelsea is not located far from Gatineau or Ottawa at all. In fact, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, a favourite hotel of mine in central Ottawa, is less than 15 minutes away. That makes a stop here much easier than most people assume, since the pictures make it seem like it must be hours outside any city centre. And, well, that’s the point—it’s supposed to feel that way.

It opened back in 2005, with an explicit goal:

“To improve the health and well-being of our guests by providing a stimulating and rejuvenating experience with the benefits of thermotherapy and massage therapy, in perfect symbiosis with nature.”

In total, the property has 10 outdoor baths, 9 unique saunas, dedicated relaxation areas (both indoors and outdoors), an infinity pool, a room for yoga and meditation, a saltwater floatation pool, massage pavilions, lounges, restaurants, and even a beer garden.

It’s worth noting that these pools and saunas are of varying temperatures and that’s done explicitly because of their emphasis on Thermotherapy. This is a circuit that involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures, always followed by a rest period.

As I learned when living in Oslo, Norway, this is a tradition that stretches back thousands of years in Nordic countries. It’s so nice to see such an accurately represented Nordic spa in Quebec.

Accommodations to Stay at Near this Spa in Chelsea

Since the Nordik Spa Nature is so conveniently close to Ottawa, staying at a hotel in the Nation’s Capital would be fitting. As I’ve already mentioned, the Chateau Laurier is a fan favourite, but there are several other great hotels Bri and I love to stay at in Ottawa, like the Andaz Hotel, the Westin, or the Metcalfe Hotel.

If you’re looking to dive a little more completely into the local culture of the beautiful town of Chelsea, Lofts du Village in the heart of town is a short drive from the spa with spectacular rooms. A little further from Chelsea is the Wakefield Mill and Spa, which is another gem in a neighbouring small and historic town in the Outaouais Region.

Finally, if you’re looking to soak in everything (see what I did there?) that this Quebec spa has to offer, they have cottage rentals on site, as well at their Alpina Lodge and Nordik Lodge.

Nordik Spa-Nature Experiences to Prioritize On Your Visit

Map of Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Quebec — A map of Nordik Spa-Nature, the largest spa in North America. Photo Credit: Nordik Spa Nature Chelsea.

Of course, part of the fun of a visit here is dancing to the beat of your own drum, so to speak, and happening upon things organically, but there are a few unique offerings at this Nordic spa in Chelsea that I think are worth knowing about before your visit.

Källa: The Saltwater Floatation Pool

This was probably the highlight of my visit. It’s an enormous saltwater floatation pool that’s dug 15 feet down into the rock, and has 10 tonnes of epsom salt in 1200 cubic feet of water. Strangely enough, it kind of reminded me of the Basilica Cistern from when I lived in Istanbul.

They carefully monitor how many people are allowed in the space at any given time, so it’s a nice excuse to remove yourself from the rest of the property and just have a moment of deep reflection.

I haven’t been to the Dead Sea yet, but I’m told it’s meant to replicate an experience floating there. The staff at Nordik Spa-Nature let me know that this is only the second pool like this ever established on the planet, and the only one on the North American continent.

The Källa room at Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea.

The Aufguss Ritual

Le Nordik Chelsea offers three rituals here that are based on the traditional German ritual—Discovery Aufguss (a little shorter than the classic), Classic Aufguss and Arboreal Aufguss (inspired by the Canadian Boreal forest).

Basically, there’ll be a “Ritual Artisan” who will lead an intense thermal cycle. The cycle features water enriched with natural essential oils. Water and snow will be poured onto heated stones to release the oils into the room, and then the Ritual Artisan will use choreographed movements with a towel to create an enrapturing “breeze” which you’ll ultimately be enveloped in.

If you’re unsure if this is for you, then certainly start with the Discovery Aufguss. Having done this, I would say that it’s very much worth being part of it, as the whole process feels quite impactful and transformative.

Where to Eat at the Nordik Spa-Nature

Given how many experiences there are to take in at this Nordic spa in Chelsea, I’d highly recommend planning to spend a full day here. There are so many areas to visit, relaxing pools and rooms to take in, and places to eat that it feels like a complete resort experience.

A big part of spending the whole day at Nordik Spa-Nature is planning to have all of your meals at the spa. There are four restaurants, including a beer garden at the spa, so it’s worth knowing which restaurants are best for which times during the day.

MËZZ | CAFÉ

This cafe is a great place to stop on your way in or out of the spa, or if you’re looking for a delicious pick-me-up during your relaxing day. It is located near the main entrance of the spa, and has a beautiful terrace overlooking the central waterfall and main pools at Spa Nordik Chelsea.

They offer herbal and regular teas, coffee, espresso, hot chocolate and more. They also have a selection of fresh pastries and muffins to enjoy on your coffee or tea break.

PANORAMA LOUNGE

The Panorama Lounge is the ideal place to come for a sit-down lunch. They have a large indoor/outdoor seating environment, with comfortable couches, fireplaces for the wintertime and nice spaces to sit at with a group. In the summertime they also have a sheltered patio to dine in.

They offer a great selection of cheese boards and dips, healthy sandwiches, soups, power bowls, and some sweet treats. There are also several signature cocktails that you can sample with your meal at this lounge, too.

BIËRGARDEN & SHACK

This section of the spa is perfect to visit throughout the day, in the afternoons or during the evenings at Spa Nordik-Nature Chelsea. It’s a grab-and-go bar that has been set up near the large pool at the back of the spa, with a panoramic view of Chelsea and the Gatineau Hills below.

The Biërgarden & Shack offers many delicious foods like pizzas, burgers, tacos, and chips and salsa. They of course offer several local craft beers on tap, along with a few other cocktails.

Depending on the time of year, the Biërgarden is also the location for DJs, who sometimes come to play at the spa into the night on weekends.

RESTÖ

The most indulgent of the restaurants at Spa Nordik is Restö. It’s a self-proclaimed intimate, elevated dining experience, which is ideal for dinner or a late lunch at the spa.

Their curated chef’s menu features an array of local ingredients and Canadian vegetarian, meat and fish entrees to wrap up a well-deserved day at the spa on a delicious note. Restö also offers an expansive wine selection, for the wine enthusiasts.

Final Things to Know Before You Go to Nordik Spa-Nature

Personally, I’d recommend bringing a water bottle. I never travel without my Nalgene with me, so I was happy that they have areas to fill your water all over the property, including cold lemon water. I loved bringing this into hot saunas. I felt I was able to stay a little longer in particular rooms, whereas some people were leaving because they were thirsty. You’ll also want to bring a bathing suit and sandals.
They do offer a variety of massages if that’s something that you are keen on. You can find out more information about that right here. The “Massage in Nature” is a popular experience. Body care is also something that they pride themselves on, so you can check out their treatments which vary from a standard face detox all the way to Himalayan Salt Treatments.
When you enter, you’ll be given an electronic wristband. This is what you’ll use to make any purchases while you’re experiencing the Nordik Spa Nature Chelsea, and that’s so you don’t have to carry your wallet around with you. It’s also what you’ll use to get in and out of your locker.
As of right now, hours of operation are from 9am - 11pm Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 8:30am - 11pm on Sunday. It’s definitely worth planning to come and spend the whole day at the spa during your visit.
You can come here during all four seasons. In the summer, the cold tubs may be a little more enticing, and in the winter it’ll be the opposite, but it’s always going to be a memorable experience.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article, and that this has encouraged you to consider adding a little relaxation time to your next trip to the beautiful National Capital Region!

I want to humbly thank Tourisme Outaouais for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own.

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