Named one of the 2023 Best Hotels in the World on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List, Eleven Deplar Farm is located in one of Iceland’s wildest and most exquisite corners. Deplar Farm offers guests an array of unique adventures on the mountainous Troll Peninsula, ranging from heli-skiing to surfing and sea kayaking. It’s also an ideal location for viewing the Aurora Borealis. The 13-bedroom property provides 10 king suites, two queen suites, and a bunk room that sleeps four. Eleven Deplar Farm offers an inclusive experience, not just a place to sleep. Included in your stay are chef-prepared meals, house alcoholic beverages, trip planning with our Experience Team, guided adventures which vary by season (see below), and use of the property's amenities, which include a geothermal pool with a swim-up bar, sauna, steam room, premium spa facilities, media room, bar and lounge, games, band loft, gym, yoga room, and much more. During our winter season (November through February), your stay includes guided activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking, ice fishing, snow sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, group whale watching, sea kayaking, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and more. During our heli-ski season (March through June), your stay includes guided heli skiing in the surrounding mountains of the Troll Peninsula and other activities including hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking, ice fishing, snow sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, group whale watching, sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, morning movement classes, and more. During our summer season (June through October), your stay includes guided activities such as surfing, hiking, mountain biking, e-biking, lake fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, group whale watching, and more.
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.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Weather can have a major impact on your time here.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deplar is certainly a splurge, and so we were a little anxious that it wouldn't be able to live up to our high expectations coming in, but it really blew us away. From the time we were picked up from the airport to when we were dropped back off, we felt completely taken care of and pampered.
The property and location are gorgeous. The pool in particular is really spectacular. The rooms with the loft above ended up being perfect for us, and the loft space and second bed were much larger than expected and very cozy. We visited during one of the quietest times of the year, so it almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves and were just staying at a beautiful family home in the mountains (but one with an amazing chef and bartender and activities). We only had a couple other people staying at the same time so this may not be true of busier seasons, but it felt like you could take advantage of all of the amenities almost on a whim. The day we arrived we decided we wanted to book spa treatments, and they were immediately booked for the next day. We asked the following morning if we could try the 6-course dinner in the wine cellar, and the whole thing was prepared for us that day with included cocktail pairings. Due to the timing of our trip, we had a little trouble with available activities due to weather/ amount of snow, but our guide was awesome and helped us figure out how to make the most of our (too!) short time there. We were already planning our trip back to the Farm on the day we arrived. It's worth the splurge and journey!
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent a great couple of days at Deplar. The all inclusive nature and the activity focus work really well with the layout of the lodge and the outposts. Great wellness area with a perfectly designed heated outdoor pool. Nice Bar, great cocktails.
Great music, also a nice vinyl collection you can browse and listen to in the bar. They should manage music better though, if you don’t actively tell them what to play they play one single playlist, that repeats every couple of hours, every single day and wherever you are. We listened to Billy Joels Vienna more than 10 times during our stay (Great song though, it‘s still stuck in my head).
We will definitely be back.
The area with substantial room for improvement is food and wine: Food: They could do a better job at asking what type of food your party likes and adjust a bit more. For example some people like a larger lunch and a smaller dinner. Here you only get soup and salad for lunch, if you don’t actively tell them otherwise. In general food was soso: some dishes were delicious while others were bland and uninspiring. Overall not a foodie place. They also made multiple mistakes regarding our stated food preference (chopped lamb sausage in an appetizer, despite a ‚no lamb‘, two times seafood soup for someone who stated ‚no seafood‘ etc.)
Wine: Understandably- given the restrictions in Iceland - The wine pairing with dinner are challenging. The wines are substantially below average, but given that they make great cocktails, it’s not really an issue.
I would also get rid of the ‚reserve pairing’: The question at each dinner if you want the included wine or the additionally charged ‚reserve‘ pairing were just very awkward. Especially given that the reserve wines are also average at best - just get rid of the reserve pairing it’s useless and makes the staff and guest uncomfortable.
If they manage to improve food and wine, this place will be very close to perfection!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
With our first call with Cody Scott we had a seamless booking. He patiently answered our many questions and helped us on two other occasions. He is an excellent ambassador for Eleven Experience.
Our pick up at the Akureri airport was by Nico, who was to be our guide for our stay. He was all around just great. We’re in our 70s, but helped us get on spikes for the ice, get our one-piece outfits on to stay warm. He is an excellent driver in the ice and snow, and cooked us a delicious pasta lunch at the Lake House after our horseback ride.
If you want to stay in a visually spectacular place with over the top service and food, go to Deplar. We splurged for a big birthday, and it was well worth it.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Spend at least 2 full days at deplar.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, wow, wow. This was an all-around tremendous vacation. Our guide, Meg, was terrific and very tuned in to what our family likes to do. The weather cooperated. The food and accommodations are (as the company name suggests) 11 on a scale of 10.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited Deplar Farm in the summer of 2021 and loved it so much that we decided to try a winter visit. We really enjoyed the very relaxed winter rhythm here. The hours of daylight are limited, but we still managed to be very active. And the lodge is super cozy in the winter. We had hoped to see the northern lights. They didn’t cooperate, but we did see some very unusual clouds, which the locals said are quite rare (see my photos). Visit. It’s expensive, but you won’t regret what you pay.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Travel to Deplar is unpredictable in winter. We were delayed a day arriving because the airports...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You need to experience Deplar Farm. Still coming down from the most amazing trip of a lifetime! Everything at this resort is world class. Loved the trips and spa treatments Horse riding, hiking, whale watching, cross country skiing. Thank you to all the staff for organising everyday for me and my friends. Just incredible !
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife, our kids, and I have travelled a lot over the last 10-15 years years, with a focus on many stunning adventure lodges. Deplar beats them all. The location, the rooms, the meals. Most of all, the terrific staff and guides. Eleven has outdone itself.
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Date of stay: September 2017
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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 forties of whom neither my wife, I, nor the Finns had ever heard, their manager, support crew, videographers, etc. They were loud, self-important, and inconsiderate of others. For example, the Finnish couple and we had to move our meals to other locations and times from the one communal dining table because the band was so loud. In the later evening, the band also tended to dominate the bar and geothermal pools. The staff did try to accommodate us, but there seemed to be limits to their authority. Apparently, the management/ownership of Deplar Farms are music aficionados and have constructed a recording studio, in which they hope to have others record in the future. I highly recommend that anyone making a reservation confirm whether the dates they are booking coincide with musician or other large (e.g., family) groups because Deplar Farm does not seem to have the systems to manage such situations.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Each room is unique, so assuming availability and budget you can choose a room to fit you room...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Olafsfjordur area.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Eleven Experience - Deplar Farm
LOCATION
IcelandNortheast RegionOlafsfjordur
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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