Jun 28 to Jul 5, 2025
What to expect
4 days of riding for all abilities (some horse experience is preferred) and a unique opportunity to connect with yourself, nature and your horses on a deep level. Plus 3 days of hiking the Icelandic countryside. Led by Colleen.
Highlights
5 nights lodging at the farm with healthy, organic food and 4 days of guided horseback rides
2 nights at the guesthouse
4 and a half days of HORSES~HORSES~HORSES! (We will ride for 2 to 4 hours each day depending on your ability), plus Guided Equine Awareness sessions, IFS Internal Family Systems coach, Yoga and Healing with the horses.
July 6th: going to Kirsuberjatréð 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
Sky Lagoon on July 6th, (extra cost)
3 incredible hikes
Hike to the famous Reykjadalur Hot springs thermal river and soak in the HOT RIVER!
Hiking Glymur, the second highest waterfall in Iceland
Hike the Skogafoss Waterfall and FIMMVÖRÐUHÁLS hike – one of Iceland’s most iconic hikes passing up to 26 waterfalls
Walk behind the waterfall – Seljalandsfoss Iceland
Incredible lobster dinner at a quaint little restaurant on the beach – Fjorubordid Stokkseyri
2 hour kayak adventure exploring the small winding tributaries in the wetlands
Daily relaxation practices including yoga for centered riding, meditation, and Qigong, designed to relax and empower each day for the horse riding and hiking
Last morning magical soak experience with Unnar who invented the FLOAT experience.
Krauma Hot Spring and Spa which is next to our guesthouse for soaking *extra fee
Hvammsvik Hot Spring. Hvammsvik.com *extra fee
Exploring the HESPA wool shop, where our friend and artist GUÐRÚN BJARNADOTTIR will introduce us to the ancient Icelandic tradition of dyeing wool using plants
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
Honoring our fairy friends with Bjork who will guide us in a mystical experience with the other worldly beings.
Amazing locally sourced meals and cooking class with Beta, our culinary expert for the week at Breiðabólsstaður farm. All food will be made with local Icelandic ingredients and medicinal herbs. Beta 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. Pick up in Reykjavik on July 7th and Drop off in Selfoss on July 14th.
Lifelong friendships and unforgettable experiences
Professional instruction and guidance
We provide enriching and rejuvenating adventure retreats to renew the spirit and strengthen the body. A unique and powerful approach to creating vibrant health and personal empowerment deals for women of any age, background, or athletic ability. Programs targeting the mind, body, and spirit have been developed and refined over 16 years by world champion triathlete Colleen.
YES! Because women of all ages, backgrounds, and athletic abilities attend the retreats there is a strong sense of support and camaraderie. Participants are inspired to overcome their limitations, celebrate their bodies, and refresh their spirits. Whether you have just started a fitness walking program and want to learn new wellness tools, or are a competitive athlete looking for your next adventure, Activ Retreats invites you to comfortably challenge yourself with fun and adventure.—whether that means a long hike or speedy bike ride down a trail, or giving yourself quiet time to sit on a rock and stretch. You will be encouraged to playfully explore at your own pace.
The ability levels are always varied: The staff provides expert technical instruction for all ability levels and we really have fun teaching the advanced as well as the beginners. We want to help you achieve your goals and fulfill your expectations, whether that means learning or perfecting cycling, hiking a 14,000 ft peak, surfing or doing yoga for the first time. We keep the groups small so that everyone gets individual attention.
Backgrounds range from:
*Business professionals who want a fit and fun vacation with everything planned
*Mom’s that really need to talk to someone their own age and refresh from the Inside-Out!
*Empty Nesters that are finally FREE to PLAY
*Women that did not have the chance to learn sports as children and they want a safe place to learn
*Girlfriends that want a fun getaway to laugh and celebrate life
*Athletic women that want to learn from the Pro’s and learn their training secrets
*Single women that want to travel and find adventure. The majority of the women who attend our retreats come by themselves. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends!
*Mother/Daughters, single, married WOMEN!
You see…everyone is a Quester!!
We have had questers as young as 8, and as old as 82 but the bulk of our participants range from 30-65.
Activ Retreats has always had the balance of the Mind/Body. We were doing it before it was cool because Colleen realized from her coach Phil Maffetone, that it was important to be Healthy as well as Fit and Healthy was balancing the Body, Mind and Spirit. The retreats offer a mixture of traditional and alternative methods to give you the powerful tools for personal discovery and transformation. For each of the physical activities, you will receive expert, and often individual, instruction. You also will be introduced to a variety of mind/body exercises and inspirational lectures to help nurture balance and encourage you to voice and follow your life’s dream.
Have you ever had an experience that really changed your life? Many of us have had a few magical, poignant moments that made us see things in an entirely new way – bringing what we value most into sharp focus. These experiences encourage us to step beyond our limitations and discover our power and passion. Activ Retreats retreats invite these sorts of special memories. In the company of supportive and inspirational women, you will experience moments of laughter, excitement, and reflection that you will treasure for a lifetime.
Activ Retreats invites you on a journey to find balance in you life—a quest for INTEGRATION, PASSION, and VITALITY of mind, body, and spirit. You will develop the tools and motivation needed to realize your unique potential and create a plan for what you want to create with your “one wild and precious life.” Our participants report profound and lasting change as a result of their retreat experience.
Our adventure retreats for women are held at resorts in spectacular and inspirational places such as the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Vermont, Sonoma Wine Country, Hawaii, Tuscany, Italy, Costa Rica, Croatia, Peru and Bali The splendor of the natural environment invites women to reflect upon their own innate beauty and experience their relationship with the natural world. Serene forests, singing streams and glorious wildflowers will be your wise companions on the journey. Accommodations, gear, and healthy, delicious food are included in every retreat.
No! All activities and outings are optional. This is YOUR retreat. We encourage you to do what feels most nurturing and right for you. You will be fully supported in doing as much or as little as you choose. All of our activities will be guided by expert staff, and instruction and support will be offered for every activity according to your experience level.