Winter can be a challenging time for wellness, when the temptation is to hole up in a cosy corner with a box of chocolates rather than doing vigorous exercise in the cold. Eleven Life’s new Live Well Retreat at Eleven Deplar Farm has a counterintuitive approach, flying a select group of guests to the darkest reaches of Iceland for a taste of ‘sensory-driven’ Nordic adventure. ‘The time of year is very important in connecting people to place, and to themselves,’ explains Hannah Smith, the head of product development at Eleven.
The retreat is centred around four pillars of health: movement, breath, nourishment and connection. First on your agenda might be a yoga class, before you set off on horseback or cross-country skis to explore the Troll Peninsula, breaking for a lakeside lunch. (Deprivation is not on the menu: the delicious food is locally sourced, while the in-house chef, Gardar Gardarsson, was named Iceland’s finest in 2018.) The afternoon might see you undergo a Viking sauna ritual – which takes place on a hillock believed to be inhabited by elves – or a Tata Harper treatment in the 10,000-square-foot spa while, after a sea-to-table supper, a sound-healing session or a sleep-focused meditation class will prepare you for restorative slumber.
A former sheep farm, Deplar has been transformed into an oasis of pure luxury. The 13 bedrooms are furnished in a simple yet cosily elegant style – think open fires, hardwood furniture and underfloor heating in the bathrooms – while huge windows offer glorious views. There’s a media room to relax in, but the spa is the crowning glory. Alongside the sauna, steam-room, hot tubs, flotation tanks and treatment rooms, it is home to a geothermally heated indoor/outdoor pool with a swim-up bar. Sitting in the water, surrounded by clouds of steam while watching the Northern Lights glittering overhead, is a soul-nourishing experience guaranteed to reawaken the joy of living. “People always want a quick fix,” says Smith. “But this is about making little changes that have a big impact and long-term effects.”
Live Well Retreats at Eleven Deplar Farm cost from £7,572 a person for a three-night stay, including activities, necessary gear, pre-arrival planning with an Eleven experience manager, chef-prepared meals, drinks and an in-room minibar.