Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - An Oasis Amid Frozen Beauty

Tucked away in Iceland's remote northwest peninsula lies Deplar Farm, a striking new luxury hotel that seems almost like a mirage amid the rugged, frozen beauty of the arctic tundra. After a scenic 4-hour drive from Reykjavik, past cascading waterfalls and mossy lava fields, you'll arrive at this unexpected oasis – a place of comfort and indulgence surrounded by untamed natural splendor.

The juxtaposition is jarring, in the best way. One moment you're gazing at majestic snow-capped mountains reflecting off glassy lakes, the next you're sinking into a fluffy robe and slippers as a fire crackles nearby. Deplar Farm embraces its dramatic setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing breathtaking vistas of roaming sheep and bright green northern lights dancing across the inky night sky.

Stay in one of the property's 13 cabins, tailored for two to four guests and outfitted with premium linens, deep-soaking tubs, and private outdoor hot pots under the stars. The cabins exemplify laid-back luxury, evoking rustic chic through natural wood finishes and cozy touches like sheepskin throws. And they provide an intimate, secluded basecamp from which to explore Iceland's raw natural beauty each day via guided snowmobiling, ice climbing, horseback riding, and more.

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - Discover Natural Hot Springs and Dramatic Landscapes

Iceland is renowned for its diverse and dramatic landscapes, from icy glaciers and glittering waterfalls, to bubbling hot springs and moss-covered lava fields. Deplar Farm allows guests to immerse themselves in the raw majesty of Iceland's untamed wilderness.

One of the property's most alluring features is its proximity to Mývatn Nature Baths – a geothermal lagoon renowned for its restorative blue waters and stunning scenery. The volcanic landscape surrounding the Nature Baths looks almost prehistoric, with its sulfuric vents billowing steam into the crisp air. As you soak in the 35-40°C waters, take in panoramic views of Lake Mývatn and the surrounding peaks. The soothing minerals revitalize skin and relax muscles after days spent exploring Iceland's rugged terrain.

Deplar Farm also offers snowmobile tours along the Troll Peninsula, transporting adventure seekers to remote reaches of the arctic tundra. Zoom across dazzling white snowfields with guides who are experts on the area's icy landscapes and thriving wildlife. See reindeer grazing and arctic foxes camouflaged in the snow. Stop at vantage points overlooking striking scenes of frozen lakes and valleys. The clean, crisp air fills your lungs with new energy.

For those craving some geothermal therapy, the Laugarvatn Fontana wellness center is just an hour's drive from Deplar Farm. Visitors soak in naturally heated mineral pools situated directly over a hot spring. Try the invigorating steam baths infused with aromatic herbs like eucalyptus. The geothermal springs here have been valued since medieval times for their healing properties.

After a day outdoors, Deplar Farm's own spa soothes body and mind. Treatments incorporate locally-sourced, natural ingredients like native herbs and minerals. Therapists knead away tension with hot stones gathered from nearby rivers. Or unwind in the spa's own geo-thermal hot pool as the Northern Lights dance overhead.

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - Indulge in Luxury While Surrounded by Untamed Nature

After a day spent dogsledding across remote glaciers or snowmobiling through the arctic tundra, you'll return to the cozy confines of your private cabin to find a crackling fire and a deep-soaking tub drawn. Slip into the steaming water, pop open a bottle of Icelandic beer, and gaze out the window at the jagged mountains silhouetted against the evening sky.

The cabins exude rustic luxury, with natural wood finishes, premium linens, and sheepskin throws warming the beds. Large windows seamlessly connect the indoors with the outdoors, framing stunning vistas where wild horses roam and ice-blue streams cut through the valley below.

At night, you can soak in your private outdoor hot tub, steaming under the stars with a glass of wine in hand. Let the radiant hues of the Northern Lights dance across the sky, lighting up the darkness in shimmering streaks of green. Few places allow you to witness this celestial wonder so intimately.

The locally-sourced Icelandic cuisine also epitomizes rustic luxury. Dishes showcase regional ingredients like wild-caught arctic char, organic lamb, foraged berries, and herbs picked from the tundra just steps from the kitchen door. Savor rack of lamb with huckleberry sauce or plokkfiskur, a traditional fish stew brimming with flaky whitefish, sweet onions, and potatoes. Local beers and spirits accompany each meal.

The spa treatments also harness Iceland's natural bounty, with therapists massaging away hiking pains using heated stones from a nearby river. Soak in geo-thermal pools or opt for a blue lagoon ritual, with minerals and algae cocooning your skin. treatments restore and revitalize after days spent exploring Iceland's raw, exhilarating landscapes.

Through it all, floor-to-ceiling windows in the spa, restaurant, and bar areas ensure the wild arctic beauty is always on display. Iceland's rugged glory remains center stage. Guest blogger Torsten Eriksson described Deplar Farm as the perfect juxtaposition of untamed nature and luxury: "I felt like an arctic explorer retired to the drawing room with a cigar and brandy."

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - Experience the Northern Lights from Your Private Cabin

Gazing up at the dazzling dance of the Northern Lights is an experience like no other, and Deplar Farm offers a uniquely intimate way to take in this celestial wonder. From the cozy confines of your private cabin, witness the aurora borealis swirling overhead through expansive windows or from a steaming outdoor hot tub. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in the magic of the lights without the crowds of a packed northern lights tour.

As night falls, keep watch for the first glow tingeing the horizon. Greens and pinks ripple across the sky as if some mythical being waved its paintbrush overhead. Shapes seem to swirl and reform as bands of light streak across the vast canvas of stars. It's mesmerizing yet ephemeral - the lights appear, dance, and vanish in a matter of minutes leaving you awestruck. The winter nights at Deplar Farm are long, giving ample opportunity to catch the auroras, but their unpredictability only adds to the enchantment when they do materialize.

"We were absolutely spellbound seeing the Northern Lights from our outdoor hot tub at Deplar Farm," said Alicia S., a recent guest. "The sky was bursting with vibrant greens and purples unlike anything I've ever seen. It was so quiet and still, we could hear the crackling and hissing as the lights flickered and darted. Definitely a 'pinch me' moment!"

Michael R. described it as a "front row seat to nature's most dazzling show." He said, "Watching the Northern Lights appear directly above our cabin, with shooting stars dashing across the sky, was literally a dream come true. We even saw hints of red and blue mixed in with the usual green - absolutely jaw-dropping."

The remote setting of Deplar Farm far from major cities allows excellent views by reducing light pollution. And Iceland's location just below the Arctic Circle makes it an ideal place to catch the auroras during winter. By providing such intimate experiences right from your cabin window, Deplar Farm makes witnessing this natural phenomenon easy and profoundly moving.

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - Savor Gourmet Cuisine Using Local Ingredients

The locally-sourced Icelandic cuisine at Deplar Farm epitomizes rustic luxury. Dishes showcase regional ingredients like wild-caught arctic char, organic lamb, foraged berries, and herbs picked from the tundra just steps from the kitchen door. You'll savor rack of lamb with huckleberry sauce or plokkfiskur, a traditional fish stew brimming with flaky whitefish, sweet onions, and potatoes. Local craft beers and spirits like Brennivín schnapps accompany each meal.

The restaurant's ingredients are plucked fresh daily from the surrounding untamed landscape, capturing its wild essence on the plate. The river near the property brims with Arctic char, a rare salmonid prized for its velvety orange flesh. You'll taste its delicate smokiness enhanced by herbs foraged from the tundra. Lamb grazes on open pastures visible through the dining room windows. Their meat carries subtle grassy notes amplified through slow roasting. Cloudberries gathered by hand add tart sweetness to sauces and desserts. This proximity between farm, river, and table is evident in every bite.

"Dining at Deplar Farm feels like an intimate experience with the land itself," said Alicia S., a recent guest. "The arctic char melted in my mouth like butter, and I could almost taste the cold fresh waters it came from. The chefs capture Iceland's wild spirit in an incredible way."

Michael R. said the cuisine "tells a story with every dish," adding: "Nothing is shipped in. It's all sourced steps from the kitchen. The chefs know where the lambs graze and which steam carries the sweetest wild trout. There's a beautiful bond between this hotel's setting and cuisine."

The restaurant also offers cooking classes using locally foraged ingredients. Learn how to pick fragrant wild herbs for seasoning and brew beer with native bog myrtle. Discover edible plants like crowberries and angelica stalks. Guests can even fish for arctic char in the river and then learn recipes to prepare their catch after a morning of fly casting.

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - Embark on Thrilling Snowmobile and Dogsledding Excursions

Of all the adventures Deplar Farm offers, snowmobiling across Iceland’s icy tundra might just provide the biggest adrenaline rush. “The freedom of zigzagging up mountain passes and zooming across frozen lakes was exhilarating,” said Michael R., a recent guest. “With the wind in your face and snow spraying up behind, you feel truly immersed in the icy vastness of this landscape.” Deplar Farm provides top-of-the-line snowmobiles along with expert guides to lead the way, ensuring both fun and safety. Tours take place on Deplar Farm’s private land or venture out to the Troll Peninsula's sprawling snowy vistas. Guides adjust routes based on guests' riding experience, and scenic photo stops let novices rest their arms. “I hadn’t been on a snowmobile since I was a kid, but they made sure I felt comfortable,” said Alicia S. “Our guide Brad was so knowledgeable and clearly loved sharing this rugged wilderness.”

After a day zooming through powder, dogsledding provides a more tranquil way to glide across the icy landscape. Curled up under a blanket in the sled, you'll be whisked through the winter wonderland by a pack of eager huskies. “Having the dogs pull us along ancient Viking trails was magical,” said Michael R. “Their excitement was contagious - we couldn't help howling along like kids.” Guides will teach you commands to manage the team, let you pet the friendly pups, and share tales of life among man’s best friend. Back at Deplar Farm, the huskies retire to their spacious pens to eagerly await their next frosty adventure. “You can just tell how much those dogs live for pulling that sled,” said Alicia S. “Their energy and enthusiasm made the experience so special.”

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - Relax in the Spa After a Day Exploring the Wilderness

After snowmobiling across the icy tundra or dogsledding through snowy forests with a pack of eager huskies, the Deplar Farm spa provides the perfect place to unwind and soothe both body and mind. The spa specializes in harnessing Iceland’s stunning natural bounty to craft revitalizing treatments that melt away aches from days spent exploring the untamed wilderness.

“My shoulders were so sore from gripping the sled that I could barely lift my arms, but the therapist used river rocks to knead the tension right out,” said Alicia S., a recent guest. “Somehow those smooth local stones made all the difference - after the treatment I felt like a new woman.” The river stones are heated before the therapist uses Swedish massage techniques to promote deep relaxation. The pressure and warmth penetrates into tight, overworked muscles helping them release long-held knots.

Soaking in the spa’s own geothermal pool lets sore legs and feet float nearly weightlessly while the warm mineral waters work their magic. As you gaze up at streaks of green dancing across the night sky, the radiant hues of the Northern Lights seem to infuse your body and spirit with their energy. “We floated there, feeling both utterly relaxed and totally recharged,” said Michael R. “Our weary muscles appreciated the break while our minds felt elevated and inspired.” The age-old geothermal waters have long been prized by Icelanders for their renewing effects.

The spa also offers blue lagoon rituals designed to mimic the restorative experience of bathing in Iceland’s famed geothermal lake. A therapist begins by exfoliating your skin using minerals and lava sand gathered from nearby volcanic craters. Then a mineral-rich algae mask and clay from Iceland’s nutrient-dense soil detoxify and nourish the newly revealed layer of fresh skin. As you soak in a geo-thermal bath infused with the lagoon’s minerals, any last hints of tension wash away. Alicia S. said, “I came out feeling like a grounded, zen version of myself - ready to take on the wilds again.”

Into the Icelandic Wild: New Luxury Hotel Brings Comfort to a Rugged Winter Wonderland - The Perfect Winter Getaway for Adventure and Relaxation

For those craving outdoor escapades mixed with indulgent pampering, a stay at Deplar Farm offers the best of both worlds. Its remote location allows intimate access to Iceland’s untamed wilderness and dazzling celestial wonders. Meanwhile, the property spoils guests with locally-inspired spa treatments, private outdoor hot springs, and fireside relaxation. Several recent guests testified that Deplar Farm made their perfect winter getaway come to life.

Michael R. said, "We wanted the full arctic experience - dogsledding, snowmobiling, and hopefully seeing the Northern Lights. But we also hoped to retreat to some serious comfort and pampering after all that frosty fun. Deplar Farm delivered this flawlessly." He praised the property for offering "the ideal balance between exhilaration and indulgence." Each day brought new outdoor adventures ranging from ice caving to fat biking across the moon-like landscape. Then they'd return to the cozy cabin for a long soak followed by tender rack of lamb paired with foraged berries. For Michael and his wife, it was a "dream vacation."

Similarly, Alicia S. said Deplar Farm allowed her family to "fully embrace the extremes of Iceland" from the thrills of snowmobiling across glaciers to utter relaxation in the spa's geo-thermal pools. During the day, they embarked on guided snowshoeing excursions to remote ice caves illuminated in eerie blue light. In the evenings, they bundled up to witness the dazzling dance of the Northern Lights then warmed up with mulled wine by the lodge's crackling fire. Alicia said the kids loved racing the eager huskies while she and her husband enjoyed stolen moments in the outdoor hot springs. "Deplar Farm let us create special family memories while also reconnecting as a couple - a delicate balance to strike."