Iceland Horses Connection, Hiking, Hot-springs

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

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

Join Women’s Quest for an immersive 8-day, 7-night journey into the heart of Iceland, a landscape brimming with stunning contrasts. Known as the Land of Fire and Ice, this is where glaciers meet volcanoes, rugged mountains frame cascading waterfalls, and the non-stop daylight of the “midnight sun” fuels endless adventure.

This is not a fast-paced tour. This is a “slow pace” retreat, giving us time to connect deeply with the land, the culture, and our herd of magnificent Icelandic horses.

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.

Riding highlights include:

• Two full days riding on the stunning Snaefellsness Peninsula beaches.
• Galloping through the surf and experiencing the power of the horses.
• A thrilling (and safe!) river crossing where the horses will swim.
• Changing horses along the way to keep both rider and horse fresh.

Connection & Comfort: A Slower Retreat Pace

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.

Your Iceland Adventure Highlights

• 7 nights at the beautiful Breiðabólsstaður farm guesthouse.
• 6 full days of guided horseback riding with a herd of 30+ Icelandic horses.
• Hike to Glymur, Iceland’s second-highest waterfall.
• Visit Deildartunguhver, the highest-flow hot spring in Europe.
• Explore Reykholt, a museum rich in saga history and the life of Snorri Sturluson.
• Daily centered riding, yoga, meditation, and Qigong practices.
• An evening of sound meditation to deepen your relaxation.
• Organic cooking class with our culinary expert, Birta.
• Daily visits to local geothermal pools and hot springs (entry fees separate).
• Connection with a community of like-minded women and lifelong friendships.

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 from KEF airport to Reykjavik (Flybus is recommended).
• Lodging in Reykjavik on July 16th (the night before the retreat starts).
• Your first day’s lunch (Glymur hike) and dinner (Hvammsvik hot spring).
• Entry fees for all swimming pools and hot springs (including Hvammsvik, Krauma, and Sky Lagoon).
• Tips for our wonderful guides and drivers.
• Travel insurance (highly recommended).

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

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).  

The retreat will formally begin on JULY 7th 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! 

Payment Policy

To secure your spot on a retreat, a non-refundable deposit is required:

• $500 for domestic retreats
• $1,000 for international retreats

Single room reservations may require an additional $200 deposit. Reservations cannot be held without a deposit.

Full payment is due 90 days prior to the retreat. If payment is not received by this deadline, you may lose your reservation. For bookings made within 90 days of the retreat, payment in full is required at the time of registration.

Payment Options:

• Avoid fees by paying via check or Zelle.  
• Payments via PayPal or Stripe incur a 4% processing fee.  

Cancellation Policy

• 91+ days before the retreat: Refund of payments (minus your deposit).
• 90 or fewer days before the retreat: Payments are non-refundable.

Women’s Quest reserves the right to cancel retreats with insufficient participant interest. In such cases, all payments will be refunded; however, Women’s Quest is not responsible for personal expenses, such as airline tickets, due to schedule changes or cancellations.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in case unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending or completing the retreat.

Travel insurance is particularly important in the event you:

• Need to cancel due to illness or injury (including testing positive for COVID-19).
• Require medical care during the retreat.
• Face trip interruptions, delays, or unexpected quarantine requirements.

We suggest a policy that covers:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Medical expenses
• Quarantine costs

For maximum flexibility, consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy, which provides additional peace of mind. While this type of coverage is more expensive, it offers the most protection for unforeseen changes.

To compare and purchase travel insurance, we recommend using Squaremouth, a trusted platform to find the best policy for your needs. https://www.squaremouth.com/22393

Before purchasing any policy, consult a travel insurance agent to ensure it meets your coverage expectations.

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