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Iceland Horse Adventure Retreat
Reykjavik, Iceland
July 14-21, 2024
Pre-Retreat July 12-14
Cost: $4850
Hello and Welcome to the Iceland Horse Adventure retreat for Intermediate and Advanced riders!
This eight-day, seven-night retreat is an adventure-packed journey through Iceland’s awe-inspiring landscapes. You’ll gallop through the untamed countryside on the back of our majestic Icelandic horses, taking in breathtaking vistas at every turn.
Experience the thrill of exploring Iceland’s natural wonders as you hike to stunning waterfalls and soak in geothermal hot springs. Discover the charm of quaint villages and connect with the warm and welcoming local community and artisans.
Join Colleen Cannon, a true master of her craft, and our superhero guide Oli (along with other knowledgeable Icelandic guides) on this unforgettable journey. Oli’s herd of magnificent Icelandic horses will carry you through the rugged terrain and leave you in awe of their grace and beauty.
Don’t miss your opportunity to discover the wonders of Iceland in the company of kindred spirits.
“The cure for exhaustion is not necessarily rest, it is wholeheartedness” (Brother David Sendall-Rast).
What to Expect at the Iceland Adventure Retreat
Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! Each morning, we’ll wake up to breathtaking views from our guesthouse, where we’ll begin our day with a gentle Qi-Gong, yoga, and centered riding practice, followed by a delicious and nutritious Icelandic breakfast.
On the first day of our retreat, we’ll hike to the top of Glymur waterfall, Iceland’s second-tallest waterfall. For the next six days, we’ll embark on thrilling horseback rides through mountains, rivers, and streams alongside a herd of 30 Icelandic horses. With their smooth four-beat gait known as the tölt, we’ll enjoy an almost bounce-free ride, making for a comfortable and exhilarating experience.
Our adventure will take us from Breiðabólsstaður farm to the Snaefellsness Peninsula covering over 6 + hours of riding through the Icelandic countryside each day. We’ll even get to change horses along the way! We’ll also make stops at various attractions, including swimming pools and hot springs, where we can soak in geothermal waters and take in the stunning surroundings.
We will spend our last two days riding along the beach, enjoying the stunning coastal views and the thrill of galloping through the surf and even crossing a river where the horses will swim.
Please note that advanced riding experience is required to participate in this adventure. Get ready for a week of invigorating experiences, unforgettable sights, and an immersion in Icelandic culture that you won’t soon forget!
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 will the food be like?
The food is the BEST PART!
Amazing culturally and locally sourced meals at Breiðabólsstaður farm with cooking class by our gourmet chef, Birta. We will learn how to make the best bread on earth! The Iceland bread is a highlight and even if you are gluten free you can eat this bread.
Throughout the retreat we will experience Icelandic cuisine based on locally sourced ingredients. Seafood, lamb and dairy are very common in Icelandic meals, so please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. We make sure the food is VERY GOOD!
What is a typical day?
Each day will be magical but not very typical.
We will start each day with our “Awakening the Senses” Yoga for centered riding. We will then have a hearty breakfast and pack our lunch for the riding adventure. We will ride with the herd from Reykolt to Syaefellsness and each night the horses stay at a different barns along the way, but we drive back. After our FANTASTIC rides we will be stopping on the way home at different hot springs to soak and swim. Great way to end the day!!
We will be hiking:
• We will be hiking Glymur, the second highest waterfall in Iceland on our way to the farm on our first day,
* If anyone would like to come in early you can spend a day exploring the capital Reykjavik on July 8th, learning about the culture and maybe stopping to grab a world famous hot dog for lunch. We will all planning to visit the Sky Lagoon at 5 pm for a hot spring soak and stay. We will have a Whats App group and we will all connect in Reykjavik to head over to the Sky Lagoon
We will be horseback-riding:
* 6 beautiful days of guided horseback rides. We will ride 6 hours or more a day.
We will ride with the herd each day crossing mountains, rivers and streams and experience Iceland by horseback. our first two days will be riding on the beach towards Snaefellsness Peninsula Riding experience is necessary. Riding in Iceland is at the TOP OF THE BUCKET LIST!!!
* Yoga and Qi Gong practice for centered riding will be woven into our daily activities, plus a sound gong bath healing, fairy realm circle with Bjork and other special guests.
Highlights:
- 7 nights lodging at Breiðabólsstaður farm with healthy, organic food and 6 days of guided horseback rides
- Private showing at Kirsuberjatréð July 8th, Vesturgötu 4 www.kirs.is. Arndís Jóhannsdóttir, is the owner of this magnificent hidden jewel in Reykjavik. This is a co-op of 11 female artists which handmade amazing local arts and crafts
- Daily relaxation practices including yoga for centered riding, meditation, and Qigong, designed to relax and empower
- Hiking Glymur, the second highest waterfall in Iceland
- Visit the highest-flow hot spring Europe: Deildartunguhver
- Tour of Reykholt where we will visit Borgarfjörður, which is a museum, rich in the culture and history of the sagas, music, geology, and the life story of Snorri Sturluson that lived in the valley near our farm
- An evening of sound meditation
- Amazing organic, locally sourced meals and cooking class with Birta, our culinary expert for the week at Breiðabólsstaður farm. All food will be made with local Icelandic ingredients and medicinal herbs. Birta prepares delicious food at every meal with sack lunches for our horse rides. She will even teach us how to bake the BEST BREAD ON EARTH!
- Transportation during the week
- Lifelong friendships and unforgettable experiences
- Professional instruction and guidance
Included in the Price:
- Lodging for 7 nights
- Delicious food at every meal with sack lunches for our horse rides. one lunch is on your own
- Hiking Glymur with the second highest waterfall in Iceland
- 6 days of guided horseback trips
- Organized a cooking lesson with Birta at Breiðabólsstaður farm with local Icelandic ingredients and medicinal herbs.
- Evening of sound meditation
- “Awakening the Senses Yoga” for centered riding each day
* Airfare, shuttle to and from the airport, swimming pool fees, and one lunch is not included in the cost