I have been excited to write about our visit to Deplar Farm ever since we first stepped foot inside the hotel. I almost made it the very first Iceland blog post, but my minor OCD could not handle the posts being out of order. I have been to many places around the world, but we have never been anywhere as special as Deplar Farm, and if we could stay there for a month then we would have happily done so. If you’re looking for luxury in Iceland, look no further than Deplar Farm. It is owned by Eleven Experience, which has several properties around the world that focus on adventurous outdoor activities outside and ultimate comfort and luxury inside. It is primarily a ski lodge, with it’s most popular outdoor activity being skiing and heli-skiing.
I won’t beat around the bush – Deplar Farm is a splurge and can be extremely pricey depending on the package you choose. The heli-skiing packages can cost up to 5 figures, whereas the other packages are much less expensive but still not cheap. No matter which package you choose, they are all all-inclusive. Your package includes all meals, activities such as horseback riding, hiking, clay disk shooting, and more. Deplar Farm is in northern Iceland on the Troll Peninsula, about 40 minutes southwest of Siglufjörður and 90 minutes northwest of Akureyri, located in a beautiful valley surrounded by snow covered mountains. It was the perfect, isolated place to call home for the next few days.
Day 1
We arrived at Deplar Farm on Halloween. Since the only other guests were two families with young (and ADORABLE) children also staying on the property (there’s only 13 rooms total at the hotel), the staff had decorated the hotel with Halloween decor and provided costumes for the kids to dress up in. From the decor (Halloween decor included), the incredibly scented candles throughout the property giving off the coziest of scents, and the inviting welcome from the staff, we immediately felt like we were guests in someone’s home. It did not feel like a hotel at all, and so it feels weird to even call Deplar Farm a hotel.
Not long after checking in, we were escorted to the grand lounge where we were introduced to our guide, Alan. One thing that happens when you book activities at an Eleven Experience property is a guide gets assigned to you. That was actually something we didn’t know, so when we met Alan we were ecstatic! He would be around to take us out for whatever activity we were up for (with some advanced notice, of course). It was mid-afternoon and we were feeling ready for a hike, so we all suited up in warm clothes, jumped in one of Deplar Farm’s trucks, and drove about 20 minutes out to a mountainous valley overlooking the Arctic.
Hiking Outfit
The North Face coat (old, similar here and here) // Patagonia sweater jacket // Splendid turtleneck (old, similar here) // Madewell jeans // Barneys hat (old, similar here and here) // Danner boots (on sale, also available here)
Before dinner, Tor and I headed to the lounge for a drink. This was where we met two more of our favorite staff at Deplar Farm – Raven our bartender and Kristinn. We also met the two families also staying at the property during our first night by having drinks with the parents while the kids played fuse-ball and attempted to play pool. Usually at Deplar Farm, guests all dine at the one long table in the dining room. Since the families would be eating in the dining room, the staff arranged for Tor and I to have dinner at a private table in the lounge by the massive fireplace and large floor to ceiling windows.
Day 2
The next morning, we all woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground. Since EVERYONE at Deplar Farm knew I was anxious for it to snow, they all came running over to me at breakfast to see my reaction at the dusting outside. I told them I was a bit disappointed, only because the weather forecast said 5 inches of snow and we only got a dusting. They laughed and told me to just wait since more snow was on the way.
After breakfast, Tor and I went outside to shoot our Christmas pictures as well as watch the young families we befriended to depart. One family was departing via helicopter back to Reykjavik (talk about traveling in style!), so we all waved them off. After that, it was just Tor and I and the Deplar Farm staff, so we did some exploring around the hotel.
Outdoor Outfit
Gloverall coat (last seen here, similar here and here) // Barneys hat (old, similar here and here) // Vero Moda turtleneck (old, similar here) // J Brand jeans // Sorel boots c/o
One thing the staff encourages you to do is to make the hotel feel like home, so that’s what we did. Our room didn’t even have a key, since why would you have a key to your own bedroom in your own home? One indoor activity I was anxious to do was curl up in the library with a hot chocolate and a book, so that’s what I did. Around 1 pm, we were informed lunch was ready to be served and so we were escorted back to our dining table in the lounge to eat. We had a gorgeous view of the snow dusted valley and mountains as we dined on a delicious spicy chicken risotto cooked by our new favorite chef.
At the end of our meal, Alan came by to ask if we were ready to go horseback riding, so we jumped to our feet and donned our coats. This was our second time horse riding in Iceland. Once again, it was one of our favorite rides. Our super friendly guide took me, Tor, and Alan on a lovely scenic route through the valley underneath snow capped mountains. It was a crystal clear day, which made the winter landscape look even more breathtaking. We got several good rides in before calling it a day as the sun began to set and the chilly wind began to come in.
Day 3
The next day, we slept in a bit as the wind roared outside. And when I say roared, I mean ROARED. It’s actually a good thing we decided to stay an extra day because the winds were pretty dangerous. After lunch, which consisted of a perfect roasted tomato soup, Alan asked us if we wanted to head out to Deplar Farm’s other property – Ghost Farm. Always up for an adventure, we hopped into one of their heavy duty trucks and drove 20 minutes to Ghost Farm. In warmer months, you can actually hike from Deplar Farm over the mountain to Ghost Farm (takes about 4 hours).
It’s a bit of an adventure to get there in a truck too, as you need to drive through streams, rocks, and some mud to get up to the little cabin. But once we arrived, we remarked on just how quaint the property is. Our guides Alan and Tim set up fruit, cheese, bread, and wine in the cabin’s living room while Tor played guitar. There’s a bedroom for those who want to stay, but since the cabin is a bit isolated and difficult to get to, I don’t think I would be able to stay there. But I can imagine if the weather was nicer, we could have sat outside in the chairs in the grass and looked up to watch the Northern Lights.
Ghost Farm Outfit
Ellen Tracy coat (old, similar here and here) // ASOS fair isle sweater (old, similar here and here) // Barneys hat (old, similar here and here) // Madewell jeans // Sorel boots
That evening, we had the honor of having drinks in the lounge by the fireplace with two lovely couples who had just checked in earlier that day. One of them happened to be the mayor of nearby Dalvik, and when we explained what our purpose in Iceland was, they all began giving us suggestions on where we should go and where we should stay. They were really excited to hear we had a genuine interest in seeing Iceland and learning more about the Icelandic culture. During dinner, we dined on yet more delicious seafood and wine just in time for it to begin snowing outside. Tor and I immediately put on swimsuits and ran to the pool where we swam in the warm water as the snowflakes began to dance around us. The other couples liked our plan that they ended up joining us too. We spent some time in the water before feeling a bit tired and heading to bed.
Day 4
The next morning, we woke up to a beautiful sight – it finally snowed! Tor opened the curtains and smiled, knowing that I would be ecstatic when I looked out the window. There it was – several inches of fresh powder all over the valley and the mountains. It was completely white outside and so incredibly gorgeous.
After a quick breakfast of eggs and Icelandic pancakes, we put on our coats and ran outside to frolic in the snow. I never stopped smiling – this was exactly what I had wanted! Everyone at Deplar Farm laughed as I squealed like a little girl. They all probably thought I was nuts, but I live in a city where it never snows so I was so happy to get my fix!
Snow Day Outfit
Vero Moda faux fur coat (old, similar here and here) // Leith sweater (similar here) // ASOS earmuffs (similar here and here) // Madewell jeans // Frye boots (also available here)
The only bummer was we couldn’t spend all day there (actually, the real bummer was we couldn’t spend all year there!). Sadly, we had to check out and drive 7 hours out towards the Eastfjords. Since we stayed an extra day, we lost a day in the Eastfjords and we needed to catch up with our itinerary. Tor and I have never been more reluctant to leave a place before. I could have happily moved into Deplar Farm with my cats. It’s probably the most exclusive, luxurious, comfortable, and friendliest place we have ever visited, and we can’t believe we found it in Iceland.
When people travel to Iceland, not many consider traveling to the north. They stick to the south coast because it’s close to Reykjavik and the airport. But if you want an adventure, northern Iceland is the place for you and Deplar Farm is your perfect home away from home. I’m glad I got a romantic experience at Deplar Farm with Tor, but we both agreed that the next time we make our way back (oh yes, we are already talking about going back!), we need to bring our friends. It’s just that perfect place that works for families, couples, and friends.
Watch our vlog below highlighting our entire stay at Deplar Farm!
Thank you to Deplar Farm and Eleven Experience for hosting us and partnering with us on this post. Although we were invited media guests of Deplar Farm, all opinions and experiences are my own.
Photos by Torrance Coombs and myself.
I think your outfit with your faux fur coat is one of my favorite looks on you, you look so pretty! And I am definitely checking Deplar Farm for a possible future trip to Iceland! I have to say, we’re lucky to have your honest opinions and to get to know so many beautiful and interesting places before planning anything, so a massive thank you!
Aww thanks Victoria! And yes, you need to check out Deplar Farm! It’s incredible!
I’m speechless! I’ve just finished to read this post and I fell in love with this place, even if I haven’t been there! Deplar Farm looks so good and the pictures of you and Torrance in the snow are beautiful. Thank you for sharing this experience with us ❤ (have you finished “The Crown” book?)
Thank you Francesca! We are in love with Deplar Farm, too! And no, I haven’t finished the book yet but almost!