A new sauna concept is arriving in Ibiza this autumn, bringing together sauna culture, wild swimming, guided aufgus sessions and a strong focus on community.

Aether Sauna, a Bristol-based wellness project founded by Johnny Palmer, has brought its latest mobile sauna to the island and is using its first days in Ibiza for a series of informal pop-up experiences before settling into a fixed winter location.

The company says the sauna has already been taken to several locations around Ibiza, including Cala Nova, Cala Salada and Playa Niu Blau, as part of its arrival on the island.

From Bristol to Ibiza

Aether Sauna was developed in the UK around Palmer's interest in wild swimming, sauna culture and guided aufgus.

The company currently operates its original sauna at Warleigh Weir in the UK, where its sessions combine sauna heat with guided aufgus and access to the river for those taking part in cold-water swimming. Aether describes the concept as bringing together sauna, nature and community.

The new Ibiza unit represents a move outside the company's established UK operation.

Palmer has previously described the Ibiza project as Aether's first international location, with the new sauna designed to bring the company's approach to a different environment.

A Sauna With an Ibiza Tour

Rather than moving directly from transport to a permanent location, the company has been using the arrival period to explore Ibiza.

According to Aether Sauna, the mobile unit has been taken to Cala Nova, Cala Salada and Playa Niu Blau for sunrise and sunset experiences.

The idea is to introduce the sauna concept around the island before establishing its regular winter base.

Winter Base Planned at Playa Niu Blau

From October, Aether Sauna plans to operate from a fixed location next to Santa Marta at Playa Niu Blau.

The company says it initially intends to operate on Fridays and Saturdays, with additional opening days possible when demand is strong.

Santa Marta is located at Playa Niu Blau on Ibiza's east coast, giving the planned sauna location direct access to a beachfront setting. The restaurant's own website confirms its Playa Niu Blau location.

First Week Planned as Free Sessions

Aether Sauna says the first weekend of its Ibiza operation will be offered free of charge.

The company describes the decision as a way of allowing people to experience the concept before paid sessions begin.

Palmer has said he wants to “show, don't tell” and gauge the response from local residents and visitors before determining how extensively the Ibiza operation should run through the winter.

What Happens During a Session?

After the launch period, standard sessions are planned to last 90 minutes.

Aether says each session will include an aufgus, a guided sauna ritual lasting approximately 10 to 12 minutes.

The company describes its aufgus sessions as combining music, scent, light meditation and breathwork.

Aether's existing UK programme similarly places guided aufgus at the centre of its sauna experience, with trained Gusmeisters leading sessions for guests.

More Than Heat Alone

The Ibiza concept is designed around more than simply sitting inside a hot sauna.

The company combines the sauna experience with the possibility of cold-water immersion, social interaction and time outdoors.

For some guests, Aether says the guided aufgus will be the main attraction. Others may be more interested in the communal aspect of the sessions or the contrast between heat and cold.

The company also promotes the simple pleasure of relaxing together and enjoying drinks such as coffee as part of the experience.

The Aufgus Tradition

Aufgus is a guided sauna ritual in which a sauna practitioner uses heat, scent, music and towel or fan movements during defined sauna rounds.

Johnny Palmer began practising aufgus in 2024 and subsequently developed it into a major part of Aether Sauna's identity. The company's biography describes his sessions as incorporating music, scent, mindfulness and movement.

Aether has also developed dedicated Gusmeister training, with courses covering sauna traditions, safety, aromatherapy, music, lighting, towel techniques and session design.

A Project Built Around Wild Swimming

The Ibiza sauna has its roots in Palmer's long-standing interest in wild swimming.

Aether's story began around Warleigh Weir, a river island in the Cotswolds where the original Aether Sauna now operates.

The company's founder describes his connection with rivers and outdoor swimming as one of the foundations of the project, later combining that interest with sauna and aufgus culture.

That same connection between heat, cold water and nature is now being brought to Ibiza.

Built by a Bristol Team

The new sauna was produced in Bristol by the engineering team behind the project.

Aether describes its saunas as being designed and built in-house, while Palmer's wider businesses include engineering and development companies based in Bristol.

The new Ibiza unit forms part of a growing Aether Sauna fleet, following the company's original installation at Warleigh Weir and additional sauna projects in the UK.

The UK Story Behind Aether Sauna

Aether Sauna launched its first sauna at Warleigh Weir in 2025.

The operation was developed as a combination of wellness, wild swimming and community activity, with the river setting forming an important part of the experience.

The company says its broader ambition is to create social spaces around sauna culture rather than simply traditional spa environments.

Ibiza Marks a New Chapter

The Ibiza project represents a new stage for Aether Sauna.

Palmer has previously announced the planned opening of Aether Ibiza on the island's east coast, with the company targeting October 15, 2026 for the launch.

The planned winter operation means the sauna is being introduced at a time when Ibiza's summer season is winding down.

Rather than focusing exclusively on the island's peak tourism months, the concept is intended to continue through the cooler season.

A Different Winter Experience for Ibiza

Ibiza already has an extensive wellness sector, ranging from spas and yoga to retreats, fitness and outdoor activities.

A mobile sauna offers a different format, particularly because the experience can be connected to the island's beaches and outdoor environment.

The planned Playa Niu Blau location also creates the possibility of combining sauna sessions with time beside the sea.

Community at the Centre

Community is one of the themes Aether Sauna emphasises across its existing operation.

The company's own description of the brand refers to health, connection and community, while its UK sauna has been developed as a place where people can meet through shared experiences in nature.

That approach is also being brought to Ibiza.

The company says it wants to see how the local community responds before deciding how frequently to operate during the winter.

Friday and Saturday Winter Sessions

The initial plan for Ibiza is straightforward.

From October, Aether Sauna intends to operate at Playa Niu Blau on Fridays and Saturdays.

The company says additional days may be added when demand is sufficient, meaning the schedule could expand according to interest during the winter season.

The exact session timetable and booking arrangements will be announced through Aether's own channels.

An Early Introduction to Ibiza

The first pop-ups have effectively served as an introduction.

Taking the sauna to different points around the island has allowed the company to experiment with sunrise and sunset settings and introduce the concept to potential guests before the fixed winter operation begins.

That approach also fits the mobile nature of the Aether Sauna project, which was designed around bringing the experience into different natural environments.

What Makes the Ibiza Project Different?

The combination of an outdoor setting, a mobile sauna and guided aufgus gives the Ibiza project a format that differs from a conventional hotel spa.

Guests are not simply booking access to a heated room.

The concept is built around a session, with music, scent, guided rituals and the possibility of moving between hot and cold environments.

For Ibiza, the connection with the sea and outdoor landscape is likely to be an important part of the experience.

A New Addition to Ibiza's Wellness Scene

The arrival of Aether Sauna adds another option to Ibiza's expanding year-round wellness offer.

The island has increasingly developed experiences aimed at residents and visitors outside the traditional summer nightlife season, and a winter sauna concept fits naturally into that broader shift.

For Aether, Ibiza also provides an opportunity to test its approach in an international market while keeping the operation deliberately small and community-focused.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is on the transition from the island's introductory pop-ups to the planned fixed winter location at Playa Niu Blau.

Aether Sauna says the first sessions will be free, followed by 90-minute paid sessions incorporating guided aufgus.

The company is planning Friday and Saturday operation initially, with additional days possible depending on demand.

The launch is expected to take place in October, with October 15 previously announced by the company as the target date for Aether Ibiza.

Aether Sauna Comes to Ibiza

From its origins at Warleigh Weir in the UK to its new project in the Balearics, Aether Sauna is bringing a combination of sauna, wild swimming, guided aufgus and community to a new setting.

The Ibiza unit has already been introduced through a series of pop-up visits around the island, with Cala Nova, Cala Salada and Playa Niu Blau among the locations highlighted by the company.

From October, the plan is for the sauna to settle beside Santa Marta at Playa Niu Blau for regular Friday and Saturday sessions through the winter.

For Ibiza residents and visitors looking for a new way to experience wellness outside the summer season, Aether Sauna is preparing to offer something distinctly different: heat, cold, music, scent and time together by the sea.