The Kaldvell recreation area, a few kilometres east of Lillesand town centre, is one of the most popular natural gathering spots in the Agder region — a sheltered bay with clear water, a nature reserve backdrop, and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. The addition of Badstuflåten Lillesandkogen brought a new centrepiece to the bay: a floating sauna raft moored in the calm water, combining traditional steam bathing with the gentle pleasures of the southern Norwegian summer coast.
Floating Sauna and Hot Tub
The raft offers both a proper sauna cabin and a hot tub, allowing guests to alternate between the intense heat of the sauna and the warm soak of the tub before taking to the sea. The combination is ideal for families and groups who want to pace the experience at their own speed. Children are welcome, and the shallow, calm water at Kaldvell makes it one of the more child-appropriate floating sauna venues in the region.
What sets Badstuflåten Lillesandkogen apart from many floating saunas is the presence of a dedicated sauna master who leads guided Aufguss rituals. The Aufguss — a ceremony involving the rhythmic waving of towels to circulate steam infused with essential oils — turns the sauna session into a structured, immersive experience rather than simply a hot room. Sessions are bookable for private groups as well as through the regular public schedule.
Kaldvell and the Lillesand Skjærgård
Lillesand is celebrated as one of the whitest, most picturesque harbour towns on the Skagerrak coast, and the countryside around Kaldvell reflects the same qualities: pale granite skerries, pine-fringed shores, and water that warms quickly in a good summer. The floating sauna sits within easy reach of the town by car or bicycle, and the wider Kaldvell area offers hiking trails, open-air bathing spots, and calm conditions for paddleboarding and kayaking.
For a full southern Norway summer day, it is hard to beat a morning swim at Kaldvell followed by an Aufguss session and a long afternoon on the rocks.
