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5 days - Short stay in Tórshavn with adventurous activities exploring the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are just a short flight from Iceland, yet they're way off the standard traveller's radar. Whilst this small country can take you back centuries with it's cozy villages and farming culture, be ready for some highspeed adventures and fun outdoor activities on this 5-day adventure tour.
Settled by Norsemen in the 7th century this is a 'tilted' archipelago, its eastern shores sloping into the frigid ocean and its western coastline rising up in dramatic cliffs, a mix of green arcing fells, craggy basalt protrusions home to puffins, guillimots and the world's largest colony of storm petrels. See a waterfall empty straight into the Atlantic. Sail beneath 700 m sea cliffs and be tossed around like a cork. But to see it at its most wild, you need to walk some of its 23 designated hiking trails. Do this, and getting marooned will never have felt so very proper.
This short tour of the Faroes takes you out the bird cliffs of Mykines, the beautiful village of Saksun with its natural amphitheatre of cliffs and the village of Gjógv. You will enjoy the old world charm of Tórshavn and relax in the evening, visiting lively local pubs and restaurants.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Transfers throughout and a return ferry ride to Mykines.
Gratuities to the guides. You can upgrade to a local boutique hotel with sea view suites.
Arrive at the Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands and transfer your central hotel. Check into our hotel and settle in. When you are ready, head out on an old town tour to get your bearings and enjoy the history of this port village. Walk through the narrow cobbled streets, between traditional wooden houses with grass turf roofs, which date back many hundreds of years. Discover the old fortress, the marina and the peninsular known as Tinganes, where you will walk through the iconic redwood, grass-roofed buidings of some the oldest parliament buidings in the world.
Tórshavn has a lively bar and restaurant scene - the hotel can give you more local recommendations for your evening meals but if you are planning on visiting the KOKS restaurant, be sure to reserve a booking as early as you can.
After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel and driven to the historic village of Kirkjubøur, the southernmost village on Streymoy. Here is the country's most important historical site with the ruins of the Magnus Cathedral from around 1300 and the Saint Olav's Church from 12th century. Visit the old farmhouse Kirkjubøargarður from 11th century, which is still occupied by the same family for 17 generations.
Then drive to the beautiful village of Saksun with its natural amphitheatre of cliffs and stunning nature. During low tides it is also possible to walk along the sandy beach to the ocean.
After exploring Saksun, your next stop is the village of Tjørnuvík, the most northerly village on Streymoy and now popular with surfers...yes you heard correctly...surfers!
Tjørnuvík also has one of the oldest Viking burial grounds where you can see the original burial stones. Take time here to enjoy your packed lunch whilst admiring the view of the "Giant and Hag" rock formations on the headland and learn about the legend behind the rocks.
Drive to the highest point on the Faroe Islands and descend into the beautiful and picturesque village of Gjógv. Here you may also get the opportunity to take coffee and cake with the locals. Return to Tórshavn in the late afternoon.
Meet your guide this morning and then together catch a local ferry from Sørvágur at 10:20. Your guide will point out places of interest on the ferry journey to Mykines and then on arrival, enjoy a guided tour of the village with refreshments.
Now it is time to head out to Mykineshólmur, which is connected to the main island by a wooden footbridge over a 35 metre deep gorge and ends with spectacular views from the lighthouse.
Following strict local guidelines, your guide will help you move through the Puffin colony with minimum impact on the birds.
Afterwards, return to Sørvágur on the 5.10pm ferry with transfer to your hotel.
Just outside of Tórshavn, transfer to the small village of Gamlarætt. Here you will start a round trip from Gamlarætt in Streymoy to the island of Hestur, sightseeing around the island. Slowly your rib boat will move as near as possible to the birds under the cliff, Loftið, which vertical wall measures some 1,200 feet.
Hestur Island harbours guillemots, puffins, black guillemots, shags, fulmars and eiders. A couple of seal caves are there as well.
If the weather is good, you will also sail into the caves, Álvagjógv and Klæmintsgjógv, depending on current and wind directions.
After your tour, there is an option for an additional adventure - sea kayaking. Today with your local guide, row in the bay along the Boðanes shore to the Tórshavn harbour, Vágsbotn, Bursatanga or Sandagerð. This trip can be modified according to your experience and interests. Let us know if you would like to do further adventures such as scuba diving, hiking the peaks of the Faroes or similar.
Return to your hotel for your last night, meeting the locals at the vibrant pubs and restaurants.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.
All prices listed are per person, based on two people sharing a room. Prices are indicative due to the current uncertainty across Europe with increasing energy and volatile fuel costs.
Please note the weather conditions can be wild and unpredictable in the Faroe Islands. Your guide may change the itinerary at short notice to suit the local conditions. Ferries can be cancelled due to rough sea.
Helicopter flights can be included.
There are new guidelines for protecting the Puffin colony at Mykines which your guide will advise you on.
Before departure, or while dreaming of a Scandinavian adventure, get your fill of inspiring travel books here.
Don't miss Faroese National Day – 29 July – A day of celebration.
Our Nordic Leader, Satu offers her favourite scenic locations in the Faroe Islands. Unspoiled, Unexplored, Unbelievable - visit the Faroe Islands next summer and explore Europe's best kept secret.