Eleven Deplar Farm in Olafsfjordur

We had the absolute pleasure of staying at Deplar Farm, and it’s safe to say the experience far exceeded all expectations—by a long shot. From the moment we arrived, driving through a sweeping, secluded valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains, we knew we were somewhere truly special. The setting itself is breathtaking—so much so that we jokingly started calling it the Valley of the Gods, and honestly, it felt like an entirely different world. Deplar Farm is the kind of place that doesn’t just impress—it stays with you. From the outset, the level of service and attention to detail was flawless. The staff greeted us with warmth and genuine hospitality, immediately making us feel at home. Every part of the lodge is designed with comfort and experience in mind, from the beautifully designed rooms to thoughtful touches like lockers for hiking and sports gear, which made transitioning between adventure and relaxation seamless. One of the unexpected highlights was the communal dining experience. At first, we were a little unsure about the setup, but it quickly became one of our favorite aspects of the stay. Sitting down each evening with fellow travelers to share stories, laughter, and spectacular meals created a real sense of community. The food itself was phenomenal—local, fresh, and prepared with incredible care. The geothermal outdoor pool and swim-up bar were our go-to for unwinding after a day of exploring. Relaxing in warm waters, surrounded by towering peaks and sipping expertly crafted cocktails—there really isn’t anything quite like it. Each guest room is paired with a private guide, and we were incredibly lucky to have Misa as ours. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and a joy to spend time with. She joined us on a variety of unforgettable adventures—from horseback riding on stunning Icelandic horses, to whale watching, e-biking and hiking to hidden waterfalls. Her presence added so much value to the entire experience, and we truly appreciated her guidance and company. No words or review can truly do justice to what Deplar Farm offers. It’s not just a luxury lodge; it’s a place that connects you to nature and to others, a place of beauty, tranquility, and adventure all wrapped into one unforgettable journey. We left a piece of our hearts there—and we sincerely hope to return someday.

Fantastic visit. The property is fantastic - rooms are great, amenities are amazing, activities available to suit everyone's needs - they were great, and the people were fantastic. There are very few organizations that really get it right when hiring people - this is one. Everyone was genuinely great. Our guide, Nicco was fantastic, and the bartender, Robert also great. They really seemed to understand us and help make our visit fantastic - but that could be said for everyone. Food was also really good and well done. Can't wait to go back. Our only negative was kids - we don't like group dinners/meals (thankfully they accommodated us and gave us a great private meal each night), but I don't want to eat dinner when we're away as a couple with other people's kids, let alone little kids running around. Not our thing - but they were great in helping to make it work for us.

The property is peerless, set in a valley in northern Iceland, visitors are instantly transported into a winter wonderland. We visited in January 2022, when there was daylight only between approximately 11 AM and 4:30 PM and there were many periods of snow and overcast conditions day and night. Nevertheless, the beauty of the surroundings were undiminished. Without exception, the staff was attentive, knowledgeable and helpful. We engaged in horseback riding, fat tire biking, massage therapy and the iso-pod experience. We also spent a couple of quiet hours in the lake house (the ghost cottage was closed due to the road being inaccessible) and used the indoor/outdoor geothermal pool each day. The horseback riding at Langhus Farm (icelandhorse.is) was on a cold and very windy afternoon and, even while we were well-equipped for the conditions, was challenging. The Icelandic horses we rode were great. My wife is a much more experience rider, but this was easily the best riding experience I had ever had. I highly recommend it for novice and experienced riders young and old. The owner and her assistants were friendly and warm and provided a terrific experience that I cannot recommend more highly. The fat biking with one of the Deplar Farm experience managers was on a slightly warmer and much calmer day. The tires are studded and underinflated for greater stability, though my bike needed more inflation and it made my ride more difficult than it needed to be. We rode from the main complex to the lake house, which is a well-appointed small cabin that was perfect for a quiet afternoon. The facilities for wellness, including fitness, yoga, massage, isopod, etc. are also first rate. The massage therapists were terrific and the massage rooms were quiet and relaxing. My wife and I tried the iso-pods – isolation and flotation tanks. We were scheduled to be in for 60 minutes and we each lasted for about 35 minutes. Neither of us were able to get into the mental state of “nothingness” or letting go of thought. In the end, I was bored and instead of trying to get through the hour decided to just get out. It was worth doing it so that I know not to do it again. Deplar Farm has a large bar area with many separate seating areas and many choices of table games, as well as playing cards, ping pong, billiards, foosball, etc. Rail alcohol is free, premium liquor is additional. In the right crowd, it would be a terrific asset. I had one criticism about Deplar Farm and one major complaint about our stay. The criticism is that the meal selections, while healthy, are extremely limited and not especially tasty. Significant culinary upgrades are necessary for the prices charged by Deplar Farm. My major complaint, alluded to in the prior paragraph, relates to the guests in residence while we were there. The guests consisted of my wife and I, a couple from Finland who were friendly and gracious, and a self-described “super-group” made up of American musicians in their fortie

I’m already thinking of excuses to go back!, the hotel, service , food , the valley, the gym, the spa… everything is worth the trip and the money. Deplar simply exceeds expectations. The hotel rate already includes food , guided tours, drinks etc…

We were greeted at the airport by our personal guide who accompanied us and helped guide us throughout our stay. She was an excellent guide, taking us for coffee at the Botanic Gardens on our arrival, arranging for a helicopter ride to view the volcanoes, taking us on a hike to beautiful waterfalls, arranging a private lunch for us at a small cabin on property, and setting up our spa sessions. She made our trip something wonderful and very special. The restaurant food service was also outstanding with the staff catering to all special food and drink requests. Meals at the common table were the best as we got so much out of conversations with our fellow world travelers, a great mix of international folks with tales to tell. This comfortable and beautiful resort was a great surprise and pleasure.

Simply put a Spectacular place to visit! Our party of 11 all agreed that the food, abundance of activities and amazing views made this a trip of a lifetime! Our guides were very knowledgeable and fun to be around! Griff is top notch! We will certainly miss him and his stories!!

Amazing experience in all senses. Remote and spectacular location. Awesome food, design, style, staff, etc. It's so fantastic that doors have no lock!!!!!!!!!!!

Great place for a 3-4 day trip. We went in the summer and it was great for fly fishing(catch and release) or whale watching. All the staff were kind and thoughtful and there were plentiful activitys for anyone wanting to do basically anything.

I love it we went. Horseback riding white water rafting and more dinner was great the whole thing was Fabulous go to Deplar farm