When Iceland first appeared on Instagram, it was all about waterfalls, lava fields, and neon-blue lagoons – accessible, adventurous, and packed with camera-toting travelers. But far from the Golden Circle tours and midnight-sun bus rides lies a version of Iceland reserved for those with private pilots and off-radar taste.

This is the Iceland HNIs whisper about, where wellness means geothermal solitude, accommodations are design-forward sanctuaries carved into mossy cliffs, and the only other guest you might meet is Elon Musk sipping volcanic gin in a candlelit cave bar.

Hello Mates, let’s have a look at Iceland’s five most exclusive hideaways. No crowds, no Instagram queues, just pure Nordic magic, privately poured.

1. Deplar Farm, Troll Peninsula 

Once a rugged sheep farm in the remote north, Deplar Farm has quietly transformed into Iceland’s best-kept luxury secret. Nestled between glacier-cut peaks on the Troll Peninsula, this Eleven Experience property became a magnet for in-the-know elites around 2015.

Helicopter in, and you’ll find a modern lodge with turf-roof charm and floor-to-ceiling glass that frames the Northern Lights like a painting. It’s 13 suites offer blackout silence, while amenities include a subterranean spa, geothermal pool, and a heli-ski launch pad steps from your room.

Guests have included tech billionaires seekinga  digital detox and wellness-savvy A-listers chasing privacy. Think Patagonia grit meets Swiss-level indulgence, but with Viking soul. Most tourists can’t even find it on the map.

2. The Retreat at Blue Lagoon 

Yes, the Blue Lagoon is tourist central, but buried in its basalt backbone is The Retreat: a private sanctuary opened in 2018 and fully claimed by HNIs by 2020. While day-trippers line up for selfies, The Retreat remains hidden behind lava walls, with just 62 suites carved into the volcanic rock.

Guests access a private section of the lagoon, a subterranean spa with silica rituals and in-water massages and Michelin-starred dining at Moss. Gwyneth Paltrow once posted a single candlelit tub photo here, then deleted it days later. Discretion is key.

Most guests arrive via private car from Reykjavík Airport or, more commonly, direct from the tarmac via Range Rover escort. It’s not just the hot water, it’s the heat of knowing you’ve outpaced the crowd.

3. Torfhús Retreat, Golden Circle

Somewhere along the well-worn Golden Circle, a tiny cluster of turf-roofed villas rose in secrecy. By 2021, Torfhús Retreat had become the secret detour of diplomats and discreet CEOs. Built to mimic Viking longhouses with reclaimed wood and moss-covered stone, the retreat is anything but primitive inside.

Each house includes a private basalt hot tub, full chef service, and interiors layered in sheepskin, copper, and Nordic noir aesthetics. The retreat’s ethos? Leave no trace. That includes social media—phones are optional, not encouraged. Celebs like Cate Blanchett and minimalist billionaires from Norway have checked in quietly, then disappeared into horseback rides through lava fields and glacial river safaris. It’s Iceland through a cinematic, elemental lens, shot entirely in peace.

4. Panorama Glass Lodge, Hvalfjörður

Imagine falling asleep under the Northern Lights, with nothing between you and the sky but crystal-clear glass. The Panorama Glass Lodge, originally designed as a romantic cabin experience in 2017, became a cult favorite among discreet HNIs by 2022.

Located near the silent fjords of Hvalfjörður, this ultra-secluded retreat has only a handful of luxury igloo-style lodges. Each is fitted with a Scandinavian king bed under a full glass dome, a private outdoor hot tub, and sweeping views of Iceland’s untouched coastline.

No staff, no lobby. Just remote access and luxury pre-arrival provisioning. Elon Musk reportedly stayed here during a Tesla climate scouting trip. It’s not just a hotel, it’s a telescope into the raw, luxurious unknown.

5. Hvammsvík Hot Springs & Private Estate

The newest jewel in Iceland’s secret HNI crown, Hvammsvík, was once a family estate, now reimagined as a private nature spa and boutique escape. Officially opened in 2023 with barely a press whisper, it’s built on a protected bay where geothermal waters meet the Atlantic.

Celebs and creatives flock here for its minimalist stone pools, private ocean access, and a lodge that fits no more than a dozen elite guests at a time. Beyoncé is rumored to have stopped here post-tour for a 48-hour retreat involving glacier bathing and private chef-foraged meals.

The estate can be booked exclusively and includes access to an old Icelandic army barracks-turned whiskey lounge. Hvammsvík is the future of Icelandic luxury, wild, whisper-quiet, and truly ungoogleable.

This isn’t the Iceland of tourist brochures. This is a land that breathes differently for those who know where to listen. For HNIs, luxury isn’t about chandeliers and white-glove service; it’s about space, silence, geothermal calm, and the profound privilege of privacy. These hideaways prove that the new luxury is not in what you see, but in what others can’t. So skip the tour bus. In Iceland’s true elite hideouts, there are no queues, only steam, silence, and sky.