Eleven Deplar Farm is Iceland's most exclusive lodge: a converted sheep farm in a remote valley on the Troll Peninsula of North Iceland, with just 13 rooms, a glass-walled spa and a geothermally heated pool with a swim-up bar. It is famous for heli-skiing in spring, but for a honeymoon it shines in summer and winter, when the lodge runs guided adventures by day and quiet evenings under the midnight sun or the northern lights.
Everything is taken care of. Chef-prepared meals, snacks and soft drinks, activity gear, guides for the listed activities and airport transfers from Akureyri are included. You choose each morning between hiking, sea kayaking, whale watching, surfing, snowshoeing or simply staying in the spa.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. Rates for an individual double room start at several thousand dollars a night, with a three-night minimum. In return, you get a level of privacy and personal attention that very few places in the world can offer, in one of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. Condé Nast Traveler has named it among the best hotels in the world. It suits active couples who want adventure and comfort in equal measure.
Highlights at a glance
- Only 13 rooms in a remote valley
- Geothermal pool with a swim-up bar
- 5,000-square-foot glass-walled spa
- All meals, guides and transfers included
- Aurora in winter, midnight sun in summer
Why Couples Love Deplar Farm
The setting is wild in the best sense. The lodge sits alone in the Fljót valley, with mountains on all sides and the Arctic Ocean a short drive away. There are no other hotels, no crowds and very little light pollution, which makes winter aurora viewing exceptional.
The lodge itself balances rugged and refined. The farmhouse structure has been reworked with turf roofs, timber and big windows and the interiors are warm and Nordic.
Above all, the experience is personal. With only 13 rooms, guides and staff shape each day around you. If one of you wants a hard hike and the other prefers a massage and a book, that is easy. In the evening, you meet in the pool with a drink from the swim-up bar.
Rooms to Book
The lodge has 13 rooms: ten king rooms, five of which have sleeping lofts, two queen rooms and one bunk room. For a honeymoon, book a king room. The loft rooms are designed for families or friends sharing, so a standard king usually suits a couple best.
Rooms are understated and comfortable, with natural materials and views over the valley. Ask for a room with the best mountain outlook when you book.
The lodge also offers private buyouts for up to 34 guests and half-lodge buyouts during heli-ski season. These are popular with groups, so check whether a buyout is planned for your dates if you prefer a quieter stay with other couples rather than a large party. Arrival is between late morning and afternoon, so plan flights accordingly.
Food, Drink and the Spa
All meals are included and prepared by the lodge's chefs: breakfast, lunch, après and dinner. Expect Icelandic ingredients like lamb, Arctic char and local dairy, cooked with care. In-room snacks and soft drinks are included too.
The spa is one of the finest in Iceland. Covering about 5,000 square feet behind glass walls, it has an indoor sauna and steam room, an outdoor Viking sauna, cold plunges, three treatment rooms and a sound bathing studio. Two flotation tanks offer a quiet hour of weightlessness.
The geothermally heated indoor and outdoor pool, with its swim-up bar, is the social heart of the lodge. On a clear winter night, floating there while the aurora moves overhead is the moment many couples come for.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Activities change with the seasons and guides are included for those listed.
- Winter, October to late February: northern lights, snowshoeing, fat biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and whale watching.
- Heli-ski season, late February to early June: guided heli-skiing from the lodge's two helipads, included in the higher heli-ski rates, plus ski touring and sea kayaking.
- Summer, June to September: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing and whale watching under the midnight sun.
Akureyri, North Iceland's main town, is within reach for a day out. Further east, Lake Mývatn, the Mývatn Nature Baths and the waterfall Goðafoss can be combined on a longer stay or an extension after the lodge.
Getting There
Fly into Keflavík (KEF), then take a domestic flight from Reykjavík (RKV) to Akureyri (AEY), about 45 minutes. Private charters can also land at Akureyri. From there, the lodge's scheduled shuttle takes about 90 to 120 minutes and round-trip transfers are included.
Arrival is between late morning and mid-afternoon and departure between early morning and noon, so plan your domestic flights around those windows. Many couples spend a night or two in Reykjavík first to recover from the flight.
The lodge runs three seasons: winter from October, heli-ski from late February and summer from June. A three-night minimum applies. Dress in layers and bring good waterproofs in any season; the lodge provides activity gear.
Is It Worth It?
For couples with the budget, Deplar Farm is one of the most remarkable honeymoon experiences in Europe. Individual double rooms start at roughly four thousand dollars a night in winter, more in summer and considerably more in heli-ski season, with a three-night minimum. These figures are approximate starting rates and change by season.
It makes most sense for active couples who will use the guided adventures every day. If you mainly want to rest, a smaller hotel near Mývatn or Akureyri will cost a fraction of the price.
Those who choose it rarely regret it. The combination of isolation, design, food, spa and guides is hard to find anywhere else and the aurora or midnight sun makes it special.
Insider tips
- Choose winter for aurora or summer for hiking; heli-ski season costs much more.
- Book a king room rather than a loft room.
- Spend a night in Reykjavík before the domestic flight north.
- Ask whether a private buyout overlaps your dates.
