Description

Luxe Wellness Yoga Retreat in Iceland

Experience an out of this world yoga and wellness retreat in Iceland. You will spend 5 nights in award-winning luxury design hotels exploring various locations and landscapes of Iceland’s southwest region.

Explore the land of fire and ice with other Solo Female Travelers on this exclusive luxury wellness and wilderness tour that will take you to the country’s most stunning sites.

All excursions and activities are planned out for you including the Golden Circle (Thingvellir National Park, Skógafoss and Gullfoss waterfalls, geysers), northern lights, Icelandic horses, see lava flowing at Fagradalsfjall,  a premium pass at Blue Lagoon, Seljalandsfoss waterfall and Reynisdrangar black beach.

We will have a photographer onboard who will take photos of the group and guests as a memento of this once in a lifetime trip.

Your Retreat Hosts

This trip will be hosted by Tea Huntress Sarah Scarborough and Mar Pages, Co-Founder of Solo Female Travelers.

Sarah Scarborough travels the world in search of wellness and the traditions of rituals found in various practices of cultures around the globe.

For twenty years she has studied under masters of ritual and ceremony, especially in the world of tea and tea practice. As a registered yoga teacher, she offers yin, restorative and vinyasa classes and mixes these in a seamless practice with meditations and lessons on how to infuse daily ritual into your life.

Mar is a former telecoms management consultant and xGoogler turned content creator and online entrepreneur. She is the Editor of Once in a Lifetime Journey and the Co-Founder of Solo Female Travelers.

She has lived in 8 countries, visited 120, 40 of those on her own, and spent 5 years working across Eastern and Southern Africa and 10 across Asia.

Accommodation

We will split our retreat between two lovely boutique hotels – both in and outside of the city centre of Reykjavik. That way we can experience the various landscapes and cultures of this amazing country.

We’ll start out our time in the heart of downtown Reykjavik at the brand new Centerhotel Miðgarður, a well-appointed hotel located in the city centre, next to the main shopping and site streets of this compact city. There’s an on-site spa and restaurant, and comfortable, newly-appointed, modern rooms.

Then after our time in the city, we’ll head to the countryside to one of Iceland’s most prized and talked-about design hotels: the Ion Adventure Hotel.

“Nestled in the magical lava landscapes of the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, this unique design hotel is constructed very much with nature in mind. It features a slick restaurant and bar, an outdoor hot tub and spa, and comfortable, high-end rooms.” —Telegraph

Fire and ice. Hot and cold. An abandoned inn turned boutique hotel in Iceland. Ion Adventure Hotel is where modern design meets Iceland’s incomparable natural landscape. Situated in the south-western town of Selfoss – near a national crossroad, making the hotel accessible to various parts of the country – Ion is conveniently located to offer guests the best of Iceland.

From the volcanic marvels of Mount Hengill to the urban sophistication of Reykjavik nearby, the unique landscape plays a pivotal role in the rich design of the hotel, which leans heavily on sustainable practices and the natural features of the island.

In the guest rooms, one can expect a mellow mix of concrete chic and earthy ambiance, combined with the warm accents of locally salvaged driftwood and lava, all deftly handled by design studio Minarc. Beyond this, the farm-fresh cuisine at Silfra Restaurant & Bar, view-heavy Northern Lights Bar, and partially exposed Lava Spa all ensure that visitors have the ultimate Icelandic experience before even stepping foot outside.

Yoga

Daily meditation and yoga will be offered in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and more vigorous vinyasa flow and ashtanga styles.

Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students’ needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalised attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. Depending on each retreat location, classes will be held in a dedicated indoor yoga space and some also offer outdoor options as well for us to use if the weather is agreeable.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

Cuisine

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfast and dinner daily, as well as selected lunches. Seafood options are also offered on specific meals during this sea-focused location.

We’ve carefully chosen delicious and fresh meals from renowned restaurants and chefs which will give guests an expansive experience of the cuisine. Our dinners will include a few multi-course tasting menus at each hotel’s restaurant, emphasising honest, healthy, and delicious Icelandic food, as well as various meals out in town and on our day trips.

Retreat Schedule

Day 1 : Arrive in Reykjavik
Arrive on your own time and make your way from the airport to the hotel which is located right in the middle of the city within walking distance of all main sights.

If you arrive early in the day and your hotel room is not yet ready, you will be able to store your baggage at the hotel and go explore.

We will start the trip with a guided meditation session before our signature welcome dinner and drink at a special location in the city.

We will be staying at the Center Hotels Plaza which we like because it is a well-appointed modern hotel in the city center, next to the main shopping and sightseeing so you can literally open the lobby door and be where you need to be.

Slap bang in the middle of downtown Reykjavik, the hotel overlooks the city’s oldest square, the central venue for cultural events and performances.

Surrounded by shops, restaurants and the harbor, when you stay at Plaza, the buzz of central Reykjavik is always on your doorstep. The modern yet simple Icelandic guest rooms feature wooden floors, a minibar and satellite TV. Some also include a seating area and views over the city.

Inclusions: Welcome pre-dinner guided yoga / meditation session, dinner and drinks. Guests need to make their own way to the hotel from the airport. Pick up can be organized upon request.

Day 2 : Active volcano & Blue Lagoon
We will start the day with a morning meditation or yoga class at the hotel to set the right intention and mindset for the amazing day ahead.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel before departing for Fagradalsfjall, Iceland’s latest volcanic eruption and possibly one of the smallest in decades.

The eruption has been called Geldingadalsgos and started on March 19th, 2021 with follow up eruptions in the weeks after.

Fagradalsfjall is on a fissure of about 500-700 metres long (1,640-2,300ft) and is located on the Reykjanes peninsula, not too far from Reykjavik.

The last eruption there was some 800 years ago and experts believe that this is a shield eruption that may continue for years to come. On this trip, you will be one of the first to see it!

Luckily for us, this is a volcano which did not spew ash (like the 2021 eruption that brought Europe’s air space to a halt) and that is easily accessible and just under 400m high and about 3.5km from the parking. This means we can get up close, take a seat on the rugged floor and marvel at the flowing lava and this incredible feat of nature.

Note: Like with everything that has to do with Iceland, this activity is weather dependent and could be inaccessible if the toxic fumes call for the authorities to close access. In that case, we would visit a cave nearby.

After the volcano, we will enjoy lunch nearby or at a fishing village and head to iconic Blue Lagoon, your chance to ease into this wellness escape and relax after your travels.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal pool of seawater born in volcanic aquifers 2,000 meters underground where freshwater and ocean water converge in a tectonic realm of searing heat and immense pressure.

Endowed with silica, algae, and minerals, the water cleanses, heals, rejuvenates, and undoes the effects of time, bringing radiance, in all its forms, to the mind and body.

The water temperature is generally between 37°C and 40°C even as the snow falls down, creating the enchanting and incredible views that have made it famous.

The lagoon’s seawater is naturally renewed every 40 hours and because of its composition, chlorine is not needed. In essence, the lagoon is a self-cleaning ecosystem.

Our Premium Blue Lagoon package comes with a few added goodies:

• Entrance to the Blue Lagoon
• Silica mud mask
• Use of towel
• 1st drink of your choice from the In-water Bar
• Second mask of choice from the In-water Mask Bar
• Slippers
• Use of bathrobe

Spend the afternoon exploring the lagoon, relaxing and trying out the two masks that come with the Premium package as you take it all in.

After a shower and change of clothes, we will head to the Blue Lagoon’s Lava Restaurant, built into a magnificent lava cliff on the western shore of the Blue Lagoon, where we will end the day.

The restaurant combines stunning views through the double-height, floor-to-ceiling windows, organic architecture, and Icelandic cuisine made from fresh, local, seasonal ingredients.

After an incredible day, we will return to Reykjavik and overnight at Center Hotels Plaza.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, morning yoga class, entry ticket to Blue Lagoon with Premium Package, gourmet coursed dinner at Lava Restaurant in the Blue Lagoon including welcome sparkling wine, transportation, English speaking driver and guide-host.

Day 3 : South Shore
The day will start with a meditation / yoga class at the hotel before a hearty breakfast that will energise us for the long and fulfilling day ahead.

Today we will road trip to explore Iceland’s South Shore and some of its most famous waterfalls and landscapes. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the view through your window, as traveling across Iceland is as much about the journey as it is about the destination!

We will stop at Seljalandsfoss, the famous waterfall that often appears on brochures about Iceland because it is one of the few which can be encircled thanks to its narrow and tall fall and the caverns located behind it.

This waterfall is part of the river Seljalandsá and originates in the Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano, that’s right, the volcano that erupted in 2010 and caused havoc across Europe.

When you admire the waterfall, know that this is where the sea was in Iceland before.

Fun fact: This waterfall was featured in Justin Bieber’s “I’ll show you” music video.

After Seljalandsfoss we will continue to another famous waterfall in Iceland, Skógafoss. This massive 60m waterfall will make you feel tiny in comparison and will show you the true power of nature. If we are lucky and the sun takes a peek, we will no doubt see a rainbow thanks to the water spray that is permanently there (pack a rain-jacket for the spray).

Nearby, we will find the open-air Skógafoss Folk Museum where we can observe the picturesque turf houses (torfbaeir in Icelandic) that are so typical of this part of the world.

The turf houses here have been moved from other parts of Iceland for preservation and admiration, so they are original. Turf houses were built for maximum isolation from the cold by the Vikings who knew a thing or two about surviving in extreme climates and had ran out of trees to use as wood to build their houses.

On our way to our lunch, we will make a pit stop at an eerie location: the site of abandoned DC plane on the black beach at Sólheimasandur.

This Instagram-famous plane wreck is the remains of a 1973 US Navy DC that crashed when it ran out of fuel and since there is nothing else around, it makes for surreal pictures against a desolate and very Star Wars landscape.

We will continue our road trip to Reynisfjara, a stunning black beach that is located in front of Reynisdrangar, three famous basalt cliffs.

Popular legends tell the story of two trolls who dragged a ship to the beach and were petrified when the morning sun came. The rock formations were featured in Season 7 of Game of Thrones.

Fun fact: From May to August, the mountain above the black beach, Mt. Reynisfjall, sees a large amount of puffin birds which are not afraid of humans and will let those fit enough to walk up the mountain photograph them from nearby.

The basalt cliffs and beach are located near the village of Vík where we will make a stop for lunch at one of the small restaurants and enjoy some free time.

We will then drive back to Reykjavik and enjoy dinner en route at one of the many fishing villages and overnight at Center Hotels Plaza.

Note: The order of the stops during the day may vary.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, morning yoga class, transportation, English speaking driver and guide-host, dinner.

Day 4 : Thingvellir National Park
This stunning national park and UNESCO listed Heritage Site in Iceland was the site of the annual Parliament from the 10th century until the end of the 18th century and is a fantastic place for a leisurely and pleasant stroll along the well marked and maintained paths.

From a geological perspective, the park is located on a rift valley at the meeting of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates and is relatively green and flat.

The park has a visitor center where you can get more information about the historical importance of the area and several hiking trails to explore.

After exploring the park, we will drive to the  ION Adventure Hotel, which is nearby and enjoy free time to explore the area, go hiking around, enjoy the outdoor thermal pool, book a massage or any other optional activity.

Trust us, once you check into ION Adventure Hotel, you won’t want to leave! We will enjoy a group dinner at the hotel’s Silfra Restaurant and will then be invited to watch the sky from the Northern Lights Observatory.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, morning yoga class, transportation, English speaking driver and guide-host, dinner at Adventure Ion Hotel.

If the hotel’s design and location weren’t enough, guests are treated to optional nightly wake-up calls if the Auroras come out to play. And you don’t even need to get dressed to Iceland’s sub-zero temperatures because ION has its own indoor Northern Lights viewing lounge from where you can admire them against the dark sky.

Note: The Northern Lights are only visible from September to March and sightings are never guaranteed.

Day 5 : Golden Circle
Our trip wouldn’t be complete without a tour through Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, a visit we started on Day 4 at Thingvellir National Park.

After waking up in the most bewildering of landscapes at ION Adventure Hotel and enjoying an amazing yoga / meditation class, we will indulge with the hotel’s incredible breakfast and get ready for some of Iceland’s most famous sites.

We will stop at Gullfoss (meaning “golden falls”) Waterfall, perhaps the most photographed site in Iceland. This stunning waterfall travels from the Langjökull glacier and then drops through rapids and a narrow canyon, down 11m first and then another 21m further down.

Unlike other waterfalls in Iceland which can be seen from the bottom, Gullfoss has several suspended paths at the top of the waterfall so you see it from around and above because at the bottom is the canyon and the continuation of the river.

Besides being a popular stop on the Golden Circle tour, Gullfoss is a historical place in Iceland for being the site of the first environmentalist fight in the country, between the daughter of a farmer who owned the land and a British businessman who wanted to profit from its might and power.

The legal battle to nullify a contract signed by her father made Sigríður a famous Icelandic and her lawyer, the first President of independent Iceland in 1944.

After Gullfoss, we will continue to the geothermally-active valley of Haukadalur, which contains the well-known Great Geysir and Strokkur geysers.

Though Great Geysir has been inactive for a long time, if it went active, it would shoot up water up to 70m in the air. Strokkur, on the other hand, continues to erupt at every 5-10 minutes intervals so you are sure to catch it when visiting.

The area is dotted with several other geysers, yellow sulphuric stains surrounding fumaroles, bubbling mud pools, hot springs and other signs of thermal activity.

We will spend some time in the area waiting for the geyser’s to explode and taking photographs before we head for lunch, which today, will be a very special affair in a typical Icelandic greenhouse.

Did you ever wonder how the country manages to grow fresh vegetables and fruits in such inhospitable climate and harsh terrain?

Your questions will be answered during our visit to an organic greenhouse where we will enjoy a unique fresh farm to table lunch at its cozy cafe, you can even pick your own salad!

This visit will be an eye opening and fascinating stop that remains a hidden gem in Iceland very few know about (Shhh!). In the same farm, we will also learn more about the beautiful (and famous!) native Icelandic horses who live on site.

These smaller, almost pony-sized, and sturdy horses are native to Iceland and can survive the coldest of weathers but are pretty friendly. We will get up and close with this gentle horse breed and their fluffy manes.

After lunch and a visit to the stables, we will drive back to our luxury cocoon at ION Adventure Hotel where we will have plenty of time for some moss-covered walks around the hotel, to relax in their thermal pool as we see the sun set or to book a massage at their fabulous spa.

We will meet again for a final evening cocktail in their Northern Lights observatory bar where we hope to catch some dancing colors across the sky.

After a drink, we will continue with our signature Farewell dinner which will be complete with ION’s fantastic fine-dining farm to table cuisine, a real culinary treat and the best way to end our luxury Iceland escape.

Note: The order of the stops during the day may vary.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, morning yoga class, transportation, lunch and tour at the greenhouse restaurant-farm, visit to Icelandic horse stable, English speaking driver and guide-host, Farewell dinner with cocktail in the Northern Lights Observatory Bar at Adventure Ion Hotel.

Day 6 : Reykjavik
We will wake up in the most magical of settings, hopefully after having enjoyed the Northern Lights from ION’s amazing observation lounge the night before, and clear our minds with one last yoga / meditation class.

We will then savor one last breakfast among the wilderness before we drive back to Reykjavik. We will be dropped off at Center Hotels Plaza where we will leave our luggage and have free time until our flight, to explore the city or participate in any last excursions.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, morning yoga class, transportation back to Reykjavik and day use of a room at the Center Hotel Plaza to store your luggage until departure.

Retreat Price

One spot left single private room $4595

How to get here

Airport = Keflavik Airport (KEF), Reykjavik’s major international airport. One group transfer will be offered on departure day at 10am from hotel to airport and Reykjavik city centre.

We will provide details for how guests can arrive on their own at their own convenience, either by private taxi or the coach transfer companies which leave regularly from the airport.

What to pack

• Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.
• Yoga mat
• Journaling and art supplies will be provided
• Bathing suit (on-site pool, spa)
• Comfortable outdoor walking shoes
• Yoga clothes
• Plug adaptors / converters
• Smartphone and/or camera

Covid Measures

We care deeply about the wellbeing of our guests and our trip follows all local regulations. We require our guests to be fully vaccinated to join the tour so that we ensure the safety of everyone on the trip. This is also a requirement for many nationalities willing to enter Iceland at present time.

In case you require a negative Covid test on departure, to return to your country, we can help you organize it but you should allow for enough time between your return to Reykjavik and your departure flight to receive the results.

Booking

To make an enquiry or book this Women’s Only Yoga & Wellness Retreat in Iceland, send your request to the team who will get back to you within 24 hours or email us directly on [email protected].

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