Winter on the water
When the lake falls quiet.
Cold air, a crackling wood stove and a view across calm water: SaaleSpa is here for you all year. On short days, the warmth on board becomes the best part of winter.
Choose a winter escapePrivate sauna boat in Thuringia Sauna warmth on the water, all to yourselves.
5.0 · 34 Google reviewsHohenwartestauseePortenschmiede · Thuringia
Your private boatFrom €2393 hours · 2–4 guests
Choose your escapeGuestsup to 10
Duration3–5 hrs
Pricefrom €239
Age6+
Seasonyear-round
Saunawood-fired
Season on the lake
Winter on board.
For the holidays
Put time under the tree.
A sauna boat voucher gives shared hours on the lake. Order online; once payment has arrived you receive the voucher to give away.
Give a voucher
New Year's Eve · only three slots
See the year out in the warmth.
On 31 December we open the sauna boat for three groups. In the evening from 8 pm to 1 am with sparkling wine and two infusions.
See New Year's EvePrivate on the water
The lake outside. The warmth within. Everything else can wait.
For three to five hours, the whole SaaleSpa is yours: a private sauna boat on Lake Hohenwarte with a wood-fired sauna, relaxation lounge and roof terrace. Book your sauna escape in Thuringia exclusively for your group of up to ten guests. The boat stays moored at the Portenschmiede jetty.
A sauna boat is a sauna that floats on the water. Ours was built in Sweden and is the first in Thuringia: the wood stove heats the sauna, the lake lies just outside, and between rounds the relaxation lounge and roof terrace are waiting. In autumn and winter especially, it feels wonderful to sit in the warmth right out on the water.
Your day on board
From the jetty to the roof.
This is what a visit with us looks like. You decide the order and how long you stay in each place.
Arriving at the jetty
Park in one of the two signposted spaces above the mooring and walk down to the jetty. We heat the sauna before you arrive.
The warmth of a wood fire
In the wood-fired sauna you look across the lake through large windows. How often you go back into the heat is entirely up to you.
A break in the lounge
Between sauna sessions, enjoy a cup of tea in the lounge and listen to your favourite music. For fresh air, head to the outdoor deck, where the hanging lounge sits just above the water.
Up on the roof
From the sofas and wicker chairs on the roof terrace, you have the lake right in front of you. The boat is yours alone for your stay and remains securely moored at the jetty.
Your way on board
From first glance to stepping aboard.
A gift of time together
Time to remember.
For a birthday, a thank you or simply because: give a SaaleSpa gift voucher for an amount or package of your choice. Your favourite people can choose their own date later.
Create a gift voucherGive an escape with a dateHow will you receive your voucher?
Without a date: after payment has been confirmed, you receive the activated voucher with its personal code as a PDF. No booking has been made at this stage.
With a date: choose a package and date. After full payment and confirmation, you receive a personal gift PDF for the booking. Already booked? Wena can also prepare the gift PDF afterwards.
Sauna boat in Thuringia
A sauna on the water. In the middle of the Thuringian Sea.
SaaleSpa is the first sauna boat in Thuringia. It is moored at the Portenschmiede jetty near Wilhelmsdorf, right on Lake Hohenwarte, which many call the Thuringian Sea.
The boat was built in Sweden. On board, a wood-fired stove heats the sauna with its panoramic view, alongside a lounge with a sound system for your music, an outer deck with a hanging lounge and a roof terrace with a jumping platform. Between sauna rounds, freshen up under the heated outdoor shower or use the permitted access points to the lake. Jumping into the water is permitted only after approval and a safety briefing by the team.
Unlike a spa resort, you share the sauna with no one. You book the whole boat for three to five hours, as a couple, with friends or with family, for up to ten guests. The boat can be used all year round: summer brings swimming in the lake, winter the quiet by the water, when the campsite is calmer too.
Lake Hohenwarte lies in the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Upper Saale nature park, between Pößneck, Schleiz and Bad Lobenstein. Our guests come from the region, from all over Germany and from further afield, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and even New Zealand.
Sauna boat questions
Quick answers.
What is a sauna boat?
A sauna boat is a sauna that floats on the water. SaaleSpa was built in Sweden and is the first sauna boat in Thuringia. During your stay it remains moored at the Portenschmiede jetty; a cruise is not part of the booking.
How much does the sauna boat cost?
The Classics package costs €239 for three hours and two to four guests, with €39 for each additional guest. Depending on package and length, prices range from €239 to €449. Extras such as bathrobes, a sauna infusion or a tiered platter can be added when you book.
How long can we stay, and at what times?
You can book three, four or five hours. Morning stays end at 2 pm at the latest, afternoon stays start from 3:30 pm. Six to ten hours are possible on request.
Who is the sauna boat suitable for?
For couples, groups of friends and families of up to ten guests. All guests must be at least six years old. Unfortunately, animals, including dogs, are not allowed on board.
Can we book the sauna boat all year round?
Yes, the sauna boat can be used all year. In summer many guests enjoy swimming in the lake, in winter the special calm by the water. The booking calendar shows which dates are available.
How do we book the sauna boat?
Bookings are made online only. Choose your package and an available date and enter all guests. You can pay by bank transfer or with PayPal. With a bank transfer, Wena confirms your date personally once the payment has arrived. If you are in a hurry, an instant transfer is the best choice: the money usually reaches us within seconds, so Wena can confirm your date sooner. With PayPal, your booking is confirmed straight away. To give the experience as a gift, choose a package or value voucher. Package vouchers can be paid by bank transfer or PayPal, value vouchers by bank transfer only.
AFTER YOUR TIME ON BOARD
From the lake to the table.
After the warmth on the water, it is only a short walk to the Schmiedehafen at Portenschmiede. Wena cooks for you there, and among the birch trunks you can let the day draw to a close.
Schmiedehafen opens on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 5 pm, and also at lunchtime on weekends and public holidays. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Kitchen hours and current visitor information will help you plan. Ask about sauna and restaurant together. Your reservations are confirmed separately.
Your preferred date
When will we see you by the lake?
Wena answers your questions personally.