Unsung Hero: The Quiet Force Behind the Magic at Eleven Deplar Farm

Valdís – The Heart behind the Adventure at Eleven Deplar Farm

On Iceland's remote Troll Peninsula, where mountains rise sharply from the sea, and silence feels sacred, Eleven Deplar Farm offers something rare. Adventure with soul. Guests arrive for heli-skiing, geothermal soaks, and wide-open wilderness, but what they remember most is how effortlessly it all unfolds. That ease is no accident.

Much of it traces back to Valdís.

Valdís joined Eleven Deplar Farm in 2018, beginning in service before moving into the Experience Team, where our clients’ stays are shaped long before they ever arrive. Today, she works behind the scenes on the finance side, but her presence is still felt in nearly every corner of the lodge. Her understanding of how Deplar truly works comes from having lived it, guest by guest, moment by moment.

Originally from Reykjavík, Valdís and her husband traded city life for the far north when the opportunity at Deplar arose. They were drawn to the remoteness, the rhythm of life shaped by weather, light, and landscape. Here, adventure is not a feature; it is part of the daily fabric.

As an Experience Planner, Valdís helped design deeply personal journeys. She listened closely to what guests dreamed of, then quietly brought it to life. A perfect ski day, a hidden valley dinner by candlelight, or a pause in the schedule to breathe it all in. No two stays were ever the same, because no two guests were.

One moment still stands out for her. A mountaintop proposal, reached by helicopter, complete with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, framed by fresh snow and quiet skies. Everything aligned, weather included. "Those are the moments you never forget," she says. "Knowing you helped create a memory someone will carry forever."

Ask her colleagues about Valdís, and the word that comes up again and again is grounding. She has a rare ability to anticipate needs before they are spoken, to connect people, and to keep the energy calm even when conditions shift, as they always do in Iceland.

Today, Valdís balances spreadsheets more than ski plans, while raising her two young children nearby. But her philosophy remains unchanged. Take care of people. Stay flexible. Let the place work its magic.

At Deplar Farm, adventure draws you in. It is people like Valdís, thoughtful, intuitive, and quietly exceptional, who make it feel like home.