Sweden Frequently Asked Questions
The mind-body-horse connection, Swedish style
Wondering about where we’re going and what we’re doing?
Check out our frequently asked questions to learn everything you need to know before booking our Cowgirl Yoga Sweden retreat.
Check our General FAQs for info on payments, policies and packing.
Still can’t find the answer to your question?
Sweden Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in the Cowgirl Yoga Sweden retreat?
What's not included?
Where exactly are we going in Sweden?
We’ll make our home base in Brösarp, Sweden, at a private Icelandic horse farm in the countryside. Brösarp is a picturesque area in southern Skåne famous for its stunning, rolling sand hills formed by glaciers, offering beautiful landscapes for hiking, rich flora and fauna, and a gateway to the idyllic Österlen region with its apple orchards and coast. It’s known for scenic drives, ancient historic sites like the Swedish Stonehenge Ales Stenar, and waterfalls – including the famous Hallamölla Vattenfall, just down the road from the farm – offering a blend of nature, history, and rural charm, especially popular for outdoor activities.
The Österlen region is a foodie destination known for its small-scale food artisans. So you can expect to eat well, and learn about traditional Swedish cuisine.
There will be a few surprises too!
What airport should I fly into?
Our transportation to and from the retreat will be from the train station in Malmö (Sweden), a short train ride from the Copenhagen airport (Denmark). If your schedule and budget allow, take advantage of it and plan some time before/after the retreat to explore Copenhagen.
We will advise of exact shuttle times closer to our retreat. Please keep in mind that an early flight back to the US on our last day (June 13) may not be possible, given ground transportation constraints; our advice is to stay the night in Copenhagen on June 13 and fly back to the US on June 14.
What travel documents do I need?
US citizens need a passport, with at least three months validity beyond your departure date. U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourist purposes without a visa.
At this time (January 2026), proof of Covid vaccination is not required to enter the European Union. We still suggest bringing your vaccination record with your passport.
Should I get travel insurance?
YES. A retreat is an investment in your well-being—but it’s also a financial investment. No one books a retreat with the intention of cancelling, but unexpected life events do occur. If we could make it mandatory, we would. It’s a lot of $ to lose if something happens – and something always seems to happen. That’s travel, and that’s life. We cannot offer refunds or credits of any kind, given the small boutique scope of our business. *TRAVEL INSURANCE WORKS* if you have to cancel!
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND purchasing your own travel/trip cancellation insurance so your trip fees will be covered in case you have to cancel your retreat. Trip insurance should also be purchased to cover medical expenses, in the event you have an accident while on the retreat.
True story: one of our international retreaters missed two days of the trip due to bad weather that forced airline cancelations. Through her travel insurance, she was able to get reimbursed for not only the missed days, but her travel expenses as well!
Another true story, from our 2022 France retreat: one retreater tested positive for Covid the day before the retreat started; she was already in Europe. She got everything covered, including a week in a hotel in Switzerland.
You can usually add insurance to your airfare when booking flights. While we don’t have a specific recommendation for the retreat portion, you should start by checking with your credit card company. There are lots of options out there. Check out this continuously updated Best Travel Insurance Companies, by FORBES.
Another option to explore is AIG Travel Guard.
What will the weather be like?
Swedish early summer is mild and generally comfortable; daytime temperatures are usually in the upper 60s, and nights and early mornings in the 50s. As this period approaches the summer solstice (Midsummer), the days are very long, with the sun setting late in the evening. Check Brösarp, Sweden on weather.com for the 10 day forecast before departure.
Who are our guides?
Margaret Burns Vap from Big Sky Yoga Retreats will be your trip leader and yoga teacher. She also leads yoga retreats in Argentina, France, Portugal and Montana.
Morgane Vap will be providing horse help.
Thomas and Camilla Skógarnes are our horse hosts and the founders of Hallamölla Gård. They have a wonderful herd of 20 Icelandic horses, and host guests from around the world to enjoy tölting through Swedish forests. Fun fact: Thomas is a world-class chef, and we are so lucky that he will be treating us to his culinary creations and wine pairing.
What does a typical day look like?
Each day will have a slightly different activity, but every day will include yoga, horses and amazing meals. We will start with an early morning yoga practice, and some days we might have a second practice later in the day. The days will have a nice flow to everything to avoid feeling rushed. We’ll sit down for dinner together at the end of the day to enjoy each other’s company and recap our Swedish adventures.
We will let you know exact times for each day’s activities the evening before.
What’s the yoga like?
We often get asked what kind of yoga, how many times a day, what if I haven’t practiced in awhile – all valid questions. You will be fine. We offer straight up vinyasa flow, with a twist of restorative. We accommodate all levels of yoginis, but highly recommend some pre-retreat yoga experience, even if you start a practice with the retreat in mind. Some days will have one yoga practice, some will have two. We promise to get in as much yoga as we can, and balance it with our riding. Most mornings will begin with yoga (after coffee, but before breakfast) to start the day off right, on the yoga mat.
What if I come by myself?
The majority of our retreaters come by themselves. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends. We have many women who meet on retreat come back on others together.
What’s the average age on your retreats?
We have a wide age range on all our retreats, from women in their 20s all the up to 60s and 70s. Each retreat will vary.
Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
You do not need to participate in everything; you can pace yourself to find the perfect amount of activity for you. We support you in doing as much or as little as is right for you, depending on how you are feeling. However: remember this is an active vacation, and we are giving you as much as we can of what you signed up for! (Personally, we wouldn’t want to miss a thing.) The schedule gives you a sense of the flow of each day. It’s always subject to change, depending upon the needs of the group, weather, etc.
What if I’ve never been to Sweden?
Embrace the opportunity to experience a new place! And remember: there are many things that are not like in the US. Some of it will push your comfort zone, most of it will expand your worldview. We don’t travel to have things be just like at home. We encourage you to do your “homework” – that’s part of the fun. Read about the history, the culture, the most recommended places to see and things to do. Learn a few Swedish phrases. We will share lots of resources with you as well.
Recommended reads:
Away & Aware: A Field Guide to Mindful Travel
Lessons from the road: what travel taught me about love
Destination Earth: A New Philosophy of Travel by a World-Traveler
Women Are Becoming More Adventurous Travelers – and Doing It Alone
Bon Appétit’s Highly Subjective but Very Smart Guide to Traveling
How can I connect with other women on my retreat?
We set up a private Facebook group for everyone on this retreat. Yes, that means you have to be on Facebook. Trust us, it’s worth it just for this. It’s a great way to discuss travel plans, share links to articles, and for us to keep you updated on all trip info. And it’s much easier and faster than email, which can get stuck in spam, deleted, and forgotten. Bonus: it’s really fun to post retreat pics!
And no, it’s not a requirement and we can’t make you get on Facebook. We know some people are strongly anti-FB (we’ve gotten more than one earful). The FB group is intended to help, not challenge your social media values. While we promise we’ll get you all the info you need for your retreat via email…we can’t promise you won’t miss out on the fun of the group. #yourcall
Check out our calendar to see when your desired retreats are running—and reserve your spot. Retreats typically sell out, often several months in advance. So, stake your claim now!