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Skálakot Manor Hotel

Skálakot Manor Hotel

South Coast, Iceland

Set at the foot of the glacier-capped Eyjafjallajökull volcano and close to south Iceland’s wealth of rolling green hills, deep valleys, black beaches, waterfalls, and dramatic peaks, this working farm turned luxury boutique hotel has been owned by the same family for seven generations. There’s just 14 individually designed rooms and suites, all with a glamorous Art Deco meets countryside decor scheme, soothing olive green and dark gray hues, wooden parquet flooring, black ceiling beams, pendant lighting, and sophisticated soft furnishings. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi access, tea and coffee-making facilities, hair dryers, and small tiled bathrooms with large rain showers.

Elsewhere, there’s a restaurant for Icelandic cuisine created with fresh and local ingredients, a relaxed lounge for anytime drinks, an outdoor terrace for summer barbecues, and on-site stables for a wealth of guided horse riding tours to a variety of destinations. You’ll also be spoiled for choice when it comes to activities, including hiking, fishing, bathing in geothermal pools, visiting the remote seaside village of Vík in the Mýrdalur Valley, and learning about Icelandic rural life at the excellent Skógar Folk Museum. There’s also a team of helpful staff who can assist with booking snowmobiling and jeep adventures.

OUR OPINION:

Not only is this working farm turned luxury boutique hotel a scenic base from which to explore the south of Iceland, but it also hits the mark with glamorous design, attentive service, and on-site stables.

OUR RATING: First Class

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Rooms

There’s a glamorous Art Deco meets countryside decor theme in the 14 individually designed and spacious rooms, all of which feature soothing olive green and dark gray hues, wooden parquet flooring, black ceiling beams, pendant lighting, and sophisticated soft furnishings. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi access, tea and coffee-making facilities, and small tiled bathrooms with large rain showers and bathrobes. Some of the Grand rooms have balconies while the larger Mini Suite has a separate living room. The luxurious Master Suite has a balcony, wood burning stove, freestanding bathtub in the bedroom, and — in clear weather — views across the sea to the Westman Islands.

Location

You’ll be staying in the rural heart of south Iceland, within easy driving distance of natural attractions such as black beaches, lava fields, waterfalls, hiking trails, and the glacier-capped volcano of Eyjafjallajökull. You’ll also be just 40 minutes from Vík, the remote seaside village in the scenic Mýrdalur Valley. Reykjavík is around a two-hour drive from the hotel.

Food and drink

Open daily for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that draw focus on Icelandic cuisine created with fresh and local ingredients, the hotel’s restaurant offers glamorous and rustic decor, parquet flooring, wooden tables, Art Deco pendant lighting, and a traditional pub atmosphere. Coffee and cakes are available every afternoon. There is also an outdoor terrace for barbecues in the summer months.

Facilities and activities

Given the on-site stables, there’s a wealth of guided horse riding tours available for exploring nearby beaches, mountains, and glaciers. Further activities include hiking, jogging, bathing in geothermal pools, and fishing for salmon, sea trout and Arctic char in the nearby Rimhúsaáll River. The helpful staff can also book sightseeing tours and advise on the best natural landscapes to visit.

Accessibility

Please note that the hotel does not have an elevator and most rooms are accessed by stairs. If needed, staff will be happy to help carry your luggage. 

Tour ideas in South Coast

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Skálakot Manor Hotel as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.

    • Hotel Rangá, Hvolsvöllur
      Responsible Choice

      Hotel Rangá

      South Coast
      Medium

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you’re staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident’s eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area’s inhabitants.

    • Full day Þórsmörk private Superjeep tour with BBQ lunch
      Þórsmörk Nature Reserve

      Full day Þórsmörk private Superjeep tour with BBQ lunch

      Full day Þórsmörk private Superjeep tour with BBQ lunch

      Formed by thousands of years of volcanic and glacial activity, Þórsmörk is one of Iceland’s most dramatic hiking and off-roading destinations, where braided rivers weave through black sands and rugged peaks and glaciers lord over a sweeping valley.

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    • Small group glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier
      Glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier

      Small group glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier

      Small group glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier

      This three-hour hike takes you up onto Sólheimajökull to learn about its formation and see the dramatic ice sculptures, ridges and crevasses on its surface. En route, you’ll learn about its structure and get sweeping views of the surrounding wilderness.

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    • Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier
      Glacier tracks

      Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier

      Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier

      Explore Mýrdalsjökull, one of Iceland’s most renowned glaciers, by snowmobile as part of a small-group tour. From the mountain top, you can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and coast and a close-up view of the glacier’s structure.

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    South Coast and nearby places