The Faroe Islands lie 200 miles north of Scotland and at latitude 62°N in the North Atlantic Ocean. The weather, though warmed by the Gulf Stream, is notoriously changeable and never truly warm, but for the intrepid traveller the Faroes present stunning scenery, clean air, some marvellous walks and welcoming people.
During our week’s stay, we visit 5 of the 18 islands of this remote archipelago, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. Daily walks take us through dramatic scenery with fjords, sheer cliffs, waterfalls and villages of bright-coloured wooden houses. We stay in the best available hotels, always well heated and all with en suite facilities.
HIGHLIGHTS of our Faroe Islands walking tour include:
DAY 1
D included
Meeting in the late afternoon at Vagar airport on the eponymous island, we transfer to the nearby comfortable modern hotel, our base for 2 nights while exploring the western part of the archipelago. At this northerly latitude in midsummer, the sun sets for only a few hours and we can enjoy views of the surrounding dramatic landscape late into the night. Close by there will be sheep grazing on grass scattered with hundreds of Heath Spotted Orchids and it won’t be long before we spot our first oystercatcher.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
A 45 minutes’ ferry ride takes us beyond the uninhabited island of Tindolmur (with 262 m sheer cliffs) to Mykines, the Faroes’ most westerly island. En route, we begin our observation of fulmars, puffins and gannets in large numbers. From the harbour, surrounded by cliffs full of kittiwake nests, we walk up to the small, picturesque village, the only settlement on the island, with bright-coloured timber houses and turf roofs. Our circular walk leads us above the village and along high sea cliffs, with puffins everywhere; we have to tread carefully to avoid stepping into one of their many burrows.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
In the morning we walk along the shore of the Sorvagsvatn Lake and observe its waterfall to the sea, some 30 m below (2.5 hrs. round trip). In the nearby small museum, we learn the history of the ‘friendly occupation’ of the Faroe Islands by Britain during WW2 before driving to the remote hillside village of Saksun on Streymoy Island (1 hr). The 19C stone church set dramatically above a lagoon and black sand beach is the starting point of our exhilarating walk to Tjornuvik (weather-permitting, 3.5 hrs, 700 m ascent and descent). Our final destination today is Gjogv in northern Eysturoy and our welcoming guesthouse built in traditional Faroese style.
DAY 4
B, L, D included
After breakfast, we drive around the base of Slaettaratindur, the highest peak of the Faroe Islands. Our walk begins in the village of Eidi and climbs to the summit of Eidiskollur, (340 m). The path is steep in places, but our efforts are rewarded by spectacular views of the sea cliffs and the Risin and Kellengin sea stacks. After a simple picnic lunch, we travel towards the island of Bordoy. En route we will take a short and scenic coastal walk towards Leirvik and will visit the remains of a 10C Viking farm. An undersea tunnel brings us to Klaksvik, the second largest town in the archipelago. Our comfortable hotel overlooks the harbour.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
Our walk this morning follows the shoreline and, across the channel on Kunoy island. We see the abandoned village of Skard, a silent witness of a 1913 tragedy in which most of the male inhabitants of the village were lost in a vicious storm while fishing. After lunch in a popular bakery in town, we visit the impressive Christianskirkjan (Christian Church) built in the 1960s in ancient Nordic style. Later, we have the option to walk to the top of Klakkur mountain (413 m) for panoramic views of the town below, wedged between two bays and the surrounding islands.
DAY 6
B, L, D included
Back on Streymoy, we walk for 2 hrs in an area with several water reservoirs, used for generating hydroelectricity, before descending into Vestmanna, a busy fishing town - by Faroese standards. We hear some blood-curdling stories from early Faroese history in the Saga Museum before we enjoy a classic fish soup for lunch. The highlight of our visit is the 2-hour boat trip to the bird cliffs and grottoes. The cliffs, which rise spectacularly hundreds of metres straight from the sea, provide nesting places for many birds including guillemots and razorbills. Afterwards, we transfer to the capital Torshavn, where we stay for 2 nights in a central 4 star family-run hotel with an excellent restaurant.
DAY 7
B, L, D included
We drive to Kirkjubor, the country’s most important historic site, centred on the unfinished 13C Magnus Cathedral. Our 2.5 hr walk takes us (250 m) over a ridge back to Torshavn where we have a café lunch in the lively harbour. We spend much of the afternoon in the Historical Museum viewing its wide-ranging collection. Our farewell dinner is representative of the New Nordic Cuisine, perhaps Braised Faroese Lamb followed by stewed rhubarb pudding with whipped cream.
DAY 8
B included
Our journey concludes with a short transfer to the airport.
The above itinerary may be adapted according to group fitness and local weather conditions: the final choice of walks, based on group comfort and security, rests with the tour leader.
Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotel and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible.
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.
Visa and Health Requirements
Visitors from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to the Faroe Islands. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Denmark, specifying that you are enquiring about entry to the Faroe Islands.
Normally, there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to the Faroe Islands.
You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.
Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents. If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.
Size of party
This trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 14 guests.
