07 Feb Soaking Up the Thermal Cycle at Siberia Station Spa

We are always fans of relaxing in hot tubs—we’ve soaked in steamy hot pools in Japan, Iceland, Canada, Slovenia, Colorado, Alaska, and more. Canada seems to be filled with fabulous places to get your spa on. So, when we decided we were heading to Quebec City, we knew we couldn’t leave without a nice, rejuvenating soak. Before heading to Hotel de Glace, our icy accommodations for the night, we figured an afternoon at the Siberia Station Spa was a wonderful idea.

Siberia Station Spa is a Nordic spa that encourages visitors to partake in the thermal cycle of hot, cold, and rest. Rotating through this circuit several times is a great way to unwind and wash your cares away. It was a similar concept to one of our favorite spas in Winnipeg, Canada, called Thermea.

When we arrived at Sibera Station Spa, we checked in at the front desk. We were given a quick overview of the facilities, and received an electronic wristband for a locker, a towel, water bottle, and robe (which does cost extra). Sibera Station Spa also offers a wide range of massage treatments.

Once we got the low down on the property, we made our way to the locker rooms to change. Then, it was time to get relaxin’. There are two sections onsite: a whisper zone and a silent zone. We started out our afternoon in silence, and gradually worked our way up to whispers. We loved how the spa was intertwined with the surrounding nature, especially since snow covered the property during our chilly winter visit. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but in reality, we were only about eight miles from the heart of downtown Quebec City.

Heat Zones:

The first step in the cycle is to immerse yourself in a heat zone. When you start out your circuit with heat, your muscles loosen and start to relax, the pores of your skin dilate, and toxins leave your body.

The heat zones consist of a variety of eight hot tubs and three saunas. The hot tubs are spread throughout the property—most are on the small side and enveloped in nature, which gives them a peaceful, secluded feel. The saunas consist of one steam bath with eucalyptus oil infused in the air, one dry sauna, and one infrared sauna. Each sauna offers different benefits for your body, and it was fun to test them all out.

Cold Zones:

Next up, the cold zones will activate your nervous system, renew your vitality, and heighten your senses.

The cold zones are made up of cold baths and the Yellow River. Each of the cold baths have an icy waterfall running into the pool. If you’d like to go for a dip in the river, there is a platform over the water where you can walk right in. Or if you visit in the winter on a nice 0°F (-17°C) day like we did, walking from one station to the next could almost be considered your cold stop! Due to the cold, we weren’t too brave with these stations, but I did decide to test out the river station. I intended to go all the way in, but I only had the guts to step in with my feet—it was freezing!

Rest Zones:

To round out the circuit, the warm rest zones will calm your heart and provide a tranquil environment to decompress.

There are an abundance of rest areas throughout the property. The Siberian Yurt is filled with hammocks placed around a warm fireplace. The lodge is covered in wood with cushioned benches and displays of nature scenes with soft music on video. The Üpé Pavilion almost looks like an igloo dome with views of the river. Inside you will find hammocks, Adirondack chairs, and a fireplace. On the second floor inside the Siberia Spa Café, there is a large room with bean bags, bunk beds, and cozy nooks to relax in. The giant window at the front of the room makes you feel like you are completely engulfed in the natural beauty of the area. Some of the other rest areas consist of outdoor fireplaces and a relaxation room with books and magazines.

Café:

The Siberia Café was built inside of an old chapel, and they serve healthy cuisine, coffee, tea and other beverages. The menu consists of soups, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods.  All guests are welcome to enjoy the first floor of the facility, and the second floor is reserved for spa guests. We ordered coffee and sat on the second level for a relaxing end to our afternoon. The giant windows gave us a nice view of the spa and nature surrounding it.

FAQs:

• Most people spend around 2-4 hours at the spa, but if you are receiving a massage, plan for a longer visit.
• You can purchase all day admission (from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.), or evening admission (from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at a reduced cost.
• Don’t forget to bring sandals with you. They are required when walking around the property. If you don’t have a pair with you, you can purchase them onsite at the front desk.
• You are welcome to bring your own robe to the spa, but you can also rent one at the front desk. Alternatively, you can just use your towel, as well.
• You can exchange wet towels for dry ones at the front desk at any time during your visit.
• Nothing can be brought in the spa area except for the water bottle that is provided during check in. That means no glass containers and no bags can be carried around.
• Your wristband can be preloaded with funds in case you’d like to purchase something at the café, but you are also welcome to use cash or card if you prefer.

All in all, we spent around 4 hours at the Siberian Station Spa, and I wasn’t quite ready to leave. I had to try out all of the stations (minus a couple of the cold baths), and I think one of my favorites was the relaxing warm yurt with hammocks and a fireplace. We loved repeatedly rotating through the cycles of hot, cold, rest. It was such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon, especially before heading to the ice hotel for an overnight stay!

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