Iceland Horses Connection, Hot-springs

PLUS: Ride with the herd, Yoga and more!!

“This truly is the land of soul-enriching, breath-taking, and life-affirming natural sights!”

Experience the enchantment of Iceland through 7 unforgettable days of riding across the Icelandic countryside, combined with gentle horse connection and equine-assisted learning during our final two days at Breiðabólsstaður Farm. This journey is about far more than riding—it’s about presence, partnership, joy, and belonging.

Each day unfolds with time in the saddle, time with the herd, and time to come home to yourself. Along the way, you’ll nourish your body and spirit with daily yoga and Qigong, soak in healing hot springs, swim in pristine pools, eat incredibly well, and form deep connections—with one another and with the Icelandic horses who will travel beside us.

Many women arrive as individuals and leave feeling like part of a tribe—connected through laughter, adventure, and the shared magic of riding together across wide open land.

Your Iceland Journey — Beach to Reykholt

We start with two glorious days riding on the black sand beach, tölting along the waves — it’s honestly one of the most magical feelings in the world.

Then we head inland and ride across Iceland for five more days.
This part is EPIC:

•  glacial rivers
•  mossy lava fields
•  rolling green farmland
•  Icelandic horses singing under you
• steam rising from the earth
• mountains that look like they’ve been painted in watercolor
• long stretches of smooth tölting and playful canters
• and the herd energy… oh my gosh, the herd energy

Riding homeward with the herd is something you never forget. They know the land, they know the way, and they move with this happy, “we’re going home!” energy that is so contagious. I call them the “Jolly Rancher horses” because they are so so JOLLY!

It’s wild, ancient, alive — and it fills your entire soul. This is going to be life changing for you and it will upgrade your horse riding to a whole new level because we are in the saddle every single day for at least 4 to 6 hours (sometimes more and sometimes less) but we get off every 2 hours, rest up and eat, switch horses and then off we go again. But… I have to tell you that it is not like riding 4 hours on a normal horse. These horses are so smooth!! You will feel like you are floating or flying!

The Riding Experience: For the Intermediate Rider

This journey is designed for the intermediate rider. You should be confident and comfortable at all paces (walk, trot, canter) and ready to spend full days in the saddle.

Our adventure is centered around Oli’s incredible herd of over 30 majestic Icelandic horses. For six days, we’ll explore the untamed countryside, riding through mountains, across rivers, and along stunning beaches. You will experience the thrill of riding with the herd and mastering the “tölt,” the famous four-beat gait of the Icelandic horse that is so smooth it feels like flying.

Highlights

• 7 nights lodging at Breiðabólsstaður Farm, surrounded by Icelandic countryside
• Healthy, organic meals prepared with care and intention
• 7 days of guided horseback riding, including:
  • 2 days riding on the beach
  • The unforgettable experience of riding with the HERD
• Horse Connection and Awareness
• Equine-Assisted FUN—learning through presence, play, and partnership
• Connection with a community of like-minded women and lifelong friendships.

Pre-Retreat: Arrive Early to Reset & Restore

July 15 – Reykjavik
Ease your body and mind after travel with a Sky Lagoon Hot Spring experience at 4:pm and time for shopping and exploring the city.

We will visit a beautiful shop KIRSUBERJATRÉÐ (www.kirs.is), a beautiful hidden gem in Reykjavik.
The shop is owned by Arndís Jóhannsdóttir and is a cooperative of 11 female artists, all creating and selling handmade Icelandic art and crafts.

July 16 – Optional Golden Circle Tour
An opportunity to visit the Golden Circle (additional cost).

Food & Lodging

Unlike a typical tour, we don’t move every night. We will settle in for all 7 nights at our cozy home: the Breiðabólsstaður farm guesthouse.

This “slow pace” approach allows us to truly unwind and immerse ourselves. Each morning begins with gentle Qi-Gong, yoga for centered riding, and meditation, followed by a delicious Icelandic breakfast.

Our evenings are spent connecting. Our culinary expert, Berta, will prepare amazing organic, locally-sourced meals using medicinal herbs. She will even host a cooking class to teach us how to bake the best sourdough rye bread on earth! After our rides, we’ll visit local swimming pools and geothermal hot springs to soak our muscles, unwind, and heal in Iceland’s famous waters.

Daily Rhythm 

Every morning we’ll wake up our bodies with:

• Qigong
• Yoga
• Centered Riding
• “Awakening the Senses” fun
• Intention setting

Just to make sure your body is in that open, flowing state before we climb into the saddle.

The Last Two Days — Horse Love & Healing

We’ll spend time with the herd in a deeper, more intimate way because we will have the herd at the guesthouse. So we will get up and be with them for some playtime before we ride…

• lying down with the horses
• being in their energy
• learning from their calm presence
• connecting heart-to-heart

These days are always the favorites — full of softness, laughter, and magic.

Evenings — Pure Icelandic Bliss

Every night we’ll soak in either:

• the Borgarnes pool, or
• the famous Krauma Hot Springs, which is like sitting inside the earth’s warm heartbeat.

Both are AMAZING after a big day of riding.

Included in the Price:

• Lodging: 7 nights, 8 days at Breiðabólsstaður farm.
• Meals: All meals are included (healthy, nourishing, and delicious!) with sack lunches for our rides. (Note: Two lunches/dinners are on your own during the Glymur hike and Hvammsvik hot spring visit).
• Riding: 6 days of professionally guided horseback riding.
• Activities: Guided hike to Glymur, guided tour of Reykholt, cooking lesson, and sound meditation.
• Wellness: Daily yoga, Qigong, and centered riding instruction.
• Transport: All ground transportation during the retreat, including pickup in Reykjavik (July 17th, 9 am) and drop-off in Reykjavik (July 24th).

What’s Not Included:

• Airfare to/from Iceland (KEF).
• Transportation to Reykjavik on July 16th. There is the Flybus available. 
• Tips for our wonderful guides and drivers.
• Travel insurance (highly recommended).
• 1 lunch on your own.
• 1 dinner on your own.
• Entry in to the Pools and Hot Springs after every ride, and entry into Krauma Hot Spring and Hvanmsvík Hot Spring
• Entry into the Sky Lagoon on July 15th
• lodging on July 15th and 16th, the night before the retreat starts
• Transportation back to the airport with Oli on July 24th.  It is $50.

Ready to ride the Land of Fire and Ice? Join Colleen Cannon and our superhero guide Oli for an unforgettable journey.

What are the accommodations?

7 nights at Breiðabólsstaður farm.

Breiðabólsstaður farm will be our home near Snaefellsnes for our horseback riding adventures. Family owned and operated, this is a great place for us to experience the local culture! We are staying on this farm with Oli and Beta. We will overtake the whole place and we get to be immersed in Icelandic home culture. The best part is that Beta is an amazing chef and will lead us in a cooking class prepared with fresh medicinal herbs and veggies from her garden.

What airport do I fly in to?

Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), KEF stands for Keflavik which is about 30 minutes south of Reykjavik

July 17th: 9:00 am: Pick up at the City Center in Reykjavik
July 24th: We will end the tour in Reykjavik with a final soak. Please have your flight leave after 4 PM on July 24th. We can hire a car to take people to the airport from our soaking destination. You will arrive back to the airport at 1 PM

 Pre-Retreat Option: Golden Circle Adventure

We are organizing a Golden Circle tour on July 16, so we’d recommend coming on the 15th if you can.

Travel Options:

 You will fly into Kelflavik International Airport KEF. Please arrange to arrive on the 16th in the morning, we will walk around that day and go to the Sky Lagoon at 5pm (price not included).  If you will like to participate in the Golden Circle tour on July 16, please arrive o July 15th.

The retreat will formally begin on JULY 17th at 9:00 am, we will leave at 9 am for our hike to Glymur on the way to our guesthouse.

There is a shuttle service that runs to and from the airport to most hotels and guesthouses at a cost of ~$39 one way. You can book online here: www.re.is/flybus. If you don’t see your hotel you will need to contact your hotel and ask them if they can assist you in finding the nearest drop location.
The retreat will conclude after breakfast and final horse connection time on the 15th.

We return to Reykjavik on July 14th and you will have two options:

• stay an extra night in Reykjavik and fly out on the 16th
• We will be going to the Blue Lagoon or a special floating experience, we have to pay Oli the airport transfer fee of around $50 per person for going back from the Blue Lagoon to the airport

In Keflavik you need 3 hours before your flight departs.

Important to note that we pick up and drop off in Reykjavik,  we will help arrange transportation! 

Women’s Quest Cancellation & Travel Insurance Policy

Cancellation Policy

Because our vendors and partners require advance commitments we must adhere to the following cancellation terms.  If you have to cance your retreat

• 91 or more days before the retreat start date
You will receive a refund of all payments minus your deposit which is non-refundable.

• 90 days or fewer before the retreat start date
All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Women’s Quest reserves the right to cancel a retreat due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, all retreat payments will be refunded. However, Women’s Quest is not responsible for any additional expenses you may have incurred, including (but not limited to) airfare, lodging, or other travel costs.

Travel Insurance

To protect your investment, Women’s Quest strongly recommneds all participants purchase travel insurance. This ensures you are covered if something unexpected arises before or during your retreat.

Travel insurance is especially important if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to:

• Illness or injury (including testing positive for COVID-19)
• Family or personal emergencies
• Travel delays or interruptions
• Medical treatment while traveling
• Emergency evacuation or trip interruption

We recommend a policy that includes coverage for:
• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Medical expenses
• Emergency evacuation

For maximum peace of mind, consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy. While more expensive, this option offers the greatest flexibility if your plans change.

For all trips to Iceland involving horses (riding or otherwise), it is mandatory you secure travel insurnce that includes coverage for emergency evacuation and return to your home country.  

To compare policies, we suggest using Squaremouth, the travel insurance comparison platform:
https://www.squaremouth.com/22393

Before purchasing, please review your policy carefully and consult a travel insurance agent if you have any questions about coverage.

Are you ready to join Women’s Quest on our Icelandic horseback riding retreat? Sign up today!