The understated lobby of this one-time working sheep farm gives little indication of the opulent, immersive experience you’re about to have. As the scent of a wood-burning fire welcomes you in, you’ll notice the huge glass panels that frame the stunning surrounding landscape and bring the towering snow-dusted mountains and scenic lake inside. Thick sheepskin rugs lining the floors hint at the luxurious transformation, cosiness and creature comforts to come.
From your stylish, spacious room decorated in contemporary Scandinavian style you can lounge in a hammock-for-two and gaze out on the lunar landscape framed by the windows or look for the first rays of sunshine from your comfortable bed, strewn with super-soft reindeer skin covers.
By day strike out into the wilderness. Your excursions will be planned in advance in the guide room and all the necessary kit and equipment will be provided for you to hike, horse ride or play with the Farm’s grown up toys – take your pick from snowmobiles, snowshoes and a tricked-out Arctic Sno-Cat for off-road exploration. Seasonal adventures might include salmon fishing, sea kayaking, mountain biking and archery in the summer and dog sledding or heli-skiing in the winter. You can try your hand at cold water surfing and swimming with puffins (thick wetsuits provided, naturally) but if that sounds too bold, there’s always the option of relaxing in a hot spring in a stunning location instead. Take the chance too to venture out to sea in search of pods of whales.
Then shake off the snow and cosy up by the fire. Or float in the geothermally heated indoor-outdoor pool. Take a turn in the steam room and spa, where there’s a skilled masseuse on hand, or book a session in the turf-mound sauna. Make the short dash to the unheated plunge pool to send shivers tingling up your spine. There are total-sensory immersion salt water floatation tanks too to help you completely disconnect. Hit the books in the library to learn more about Iceland or discover how to catch perfect pictures of the Northern Lights before heading to the bar, with its panoramic windows and wraparound deck for a perfectly prepared cocktail or shot of Icelandic Schnapps.
Get to know your fellow guests over dinner at the family-style table where farm-to-fork fare comes from local fishermen, farmers and craft brewers. Let the sommelier suggest wines to pair the dishes with from Deplar’s extensive cellar. For a more private, romantic dining experience have the hotel set up a table in a secluded spot or ask to eat adjacent to the living room fireplace.
When you’ve had your fill of Arctic salmon, char and fine cuts of locally reared meat, retire to the bar for a nightcap – try the signature cocktail, the Artisan, conjured up from hard Icelandic liquor. Alternatively, end the evening with a soak in the open-air hot tub under the midnight sun in summer or stargaze on long winter nights, waiting for the Northern Lights to appear and shimmer across the sky – we don’t think star gazing gets much better than this.