Deplar Farm

I just heard they've had 6 feet of snow in the last 10 days and are extending heli-skiing until June 5th — never considered Iceland for late-season skiing.

Getting this much snow this late in the season is incredible for Iceland. The fact that they can extend heli-skiing operations until early June opens up possibilities I never considered. Iceland as a late-season ski destination could be absolutely incredible with the right conditions.

Most Iceland luxury is 'chubby-ish' except for a couple spots like Deplar Farm — but those aren't the typical Iceland tour experience most want.

Deplar Farm and Retreat at Blue Lagoon are the true luxury exceptions in Iceland, but they're very specific vibes. While they're awesome properties, they're not necessarily delivering the classic 'Iceland tour' that most travelers are seeking. The country's accommodation landscape is generally more chubby-ish, so it's good to have realistic expectations about what luxury means in this destination.

This Telegraph expert review gives Deplar Farm 9 out of 10, calling it Iceland's most exclusive hotel in an old sheep farm setting.

The Telegraph's travel experts have awarded this property their highest rating, recognizing it as Iceland's most exclusive accommodation option. The transformation from working sheep farm to luxury lodge represents something truly special in the Icelandic hospitality landscape.

What makes this place 11 out of 10 is the staff — they genuinely become part of your family during your stay.

The staff here don't just provide service, they create genuine connections that make you feel like you're visiting family rather than staying at a hotel. Thank you for an absolutely amazing experience that I'll never forget.

If roughly $5,000 USD a night sounds reasonable to you, then you'll probably love it — but this isn't the Iceland experience I'm after.

The price point alone puts this completely out of reach for most travelers, and frankly doesn't align with what I want from an Iceland experience. This feels more like an exclusive club than connecting with the country's natural beauty and culture.

I can confidently say this is the best lodge in all of Iceland — proud of what they've accomplished here.

After experiencing properties across Iceland, nothing comes close to what Deplar Farm delivers. The combination of location, service, activities, and attention to detail sets it apart from everything else in the country.

As a travel agent obsessed with Iceland planning, I can tell you Deplar Farm is absolutely a must for any high-end Iceland itinerary.

I use high-end tour companies that work with travel agents exclusively, and they all live and work in destination rather than cookie-cutter experiences. Deplar Farm consistently delivers incredible experiences — activities depend on season but they have so much to offer. Most people never see the north and east side of Iceland, which is such a shame because it's incredibly cool. The combination of staying at Deplar with strategic high-end tours like Land Rover expeditions in Thorsmork and helicopter glacier access creates the absolute best Iceland trip possible.

I've stayed at luxury lodges around the world, but Deplar Farm transported us to what we jokingly called the Valley of the Gods.

From the moment we drove through that sweeping valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks, I knew this was extraordinary. Our personal guide Misa became the highlight — knowledgeable, enthusiastic, joining us on horseback rides with Icelandic horses, whale watching, e-biking to hidden waterfalls. The communal dining initially made us hesitant, but sharing stories with fellow travelers over spectacular meals became one of our favorite parts. That geothermal pool with the swim-up bar, surrounded by towering peaks while sipping expertly crafted cocktails — there really isn't anything like it.

I wasn't thrilled about the communal dining setup, but what really bothered me was paying $180 to eat privately when we're already spending this much.

The food was just okay, nothing special for what you're paying. Being forced to make small talk with strangers for two hours every night at that big communal table isn't my idea of a romantic getaway. When we asked for privacy, they wanted another $180 on top of the already astronomical room rate. That feels ridiculous when you're already paying premium prices for this place.

If there's one splurge worth making for your Iceland adventure, Deplar Farm is absolutely it — this is Chad Pike's premier property and it shows.

Only 16 rooms nestled perfectly in this valley surrounded by lakes, mountains, and glaciers. The all-inclusive approach means top-notch meals and most drinks included, with breakfast and dinner at a communal table for 32. Dinner is three-course prix fixe but you can preorder almost anything. The secret is enjoying lunch at both the Studio and Ghost House for very special experiences. With 75 employees taking care of guests, the service is exceptional as you'd expect. That beautiful spa with huge geothermal pool, sauna, steam, and outdoor cold plunge is unbelievable.

I've stayed at my top 5 lodges worldwide, and Deplar Farm absolutely makes that list — Chad Pike created something truly memorable here.

Only 16 rooms nestled in this valley surrounded by lakes, mountains, and glaciers, with 75 employees taking care of guests — the ratio is incredible. The all-inclusive approach works brilliantly: top-notch meals, most drinks included, your own personal guide for hiking and e-biking. I loved the communal dinner at 8pm with lamb, salmon, Arctic char paired with wine, though the secret is lunch at the Studio and Ghost House for special experiences. That geothermal pool, sauna, steam, and cold plunge are unbelievable. Even Chad's music obsession shows — there's a live band setup and full recording studio.

We came for our honeymoon and honestly didn't want to leave that cozy living room by the fire — rare for us since we're usually out exploring.

The staff's dry humor won me over immediately — when my husband joked about taking the axes and swords from the gym wall to play Vikings, they said fine, just take them outside since blood is messy to clean up. After I fell off a horse, they seamlessly offered low-impact alternatives to our scheduled snowmobiling. But what surprised me was how content we were just hanging in the lodge's living room reading by the fire, or in the media room watching movies with complimentary snacks. The private wine cellar dinners were much more intimate than the communal table. My husband doesn't drink, and their mocktails were genuinely impressive.

We've been twice now — both as a couple with strangers and as a private group — and loved it both times, though the wine upselling still bothers me.

The staff are brilliant, facilities beautiful, that pool and pool bar unbelievable. The spa and Viking experience are must-dos, plus games like ping pong and shuffle board. The guides are enthusiastic and fun, making every activity memorable. But I complained about the tacky wine upselling during our first visit and they didn't take it on board — even during our buyout visit with premium wines pre-ordered, they still tried this tactic. It's poor form and leaves a bitter taste.

As a luxury travel agency founder, I can honestly say this ranks with Aman resorts for service and attention, but with more of a family vibe.

This is my second time staying at Deplar — first was winter which was awesome too — and it's become one of my favorite remote luxury destinations. The service and attention to detail matches what you'd expect at Aman resorts, but there's this genuine 'you are part of the family' feeling that sets it apart. The fact that activities are included and the guides are all so exceptional makes it even more special.

Our personal guide met us at the airport and became the architect of our entire magical experience.

She took us for coffee at the Botanic Gardens on arrival, arranged helicopter rides to view volcanoes, guided us on hikes to beautiful waterfalls, set up private lunches at the small cabin on property, and organized our spa sessions. The way she wove together all these experiences made our trip something truly wonderful and special. The communal dining turned out to be fantastic — we learned so much from conversations with fellow world travelers from around the globe, all with fascinating tales to tell.

I'll definitely return, but they need to fix the food and wine situation — some dishes were delicious while others were completely bland.

The all-inclusive adventure focus works perfectly with the lodge layout and outposts. That heated outdoor pool is perfectly designed, great cocktails at the bar, nice vinyl collection to browse and listen to. But the food inconsistency is frustrating — they don't ask about preferences enough, and I got chopped lamb in an appetizer despite saying 'no lamb,' plus seafood soup twice when I'd specified 'no seafood.' The reserve wine pairing question at every dinner creates awkward moments for both staff and guests, especially since the reserve wines are also just average at best.