Essential Faroe Islands Self Drive

Upon arrival a representative will welcome you at the airport and you will have your rented car and a map for the Faroe Islands.

First stop is only some 200 meters down the road where you will check in at Hotel Vagar for two nights. After check in we recommend that you take a drive to the small and picturesque villages Bour and Gasadalur. The tour offers an unparalleled view of the fjord, the islet Tindholmur and Mykines. Until recently the only way to get to charming Gasadalur was on foot from Bour and over the mountain. Although there now is a tunnel to Gasadalur, the village is still unspoiled and has preserved its charm and authenticity.

Today's tour goes to Eysturoy via Streymoy, where you on the north/west side will find the small and charming village, Gjogv.

When leaving Vagar you will pass the first sub sea tunnel, which on the deepest spot is more than 105 meters under sea level - further on to Vestmanna where you have the opportunity to go on a boat tour and experience the most popular attraction on the Faroe Islands - the bird cliffs of Vestmanna, which are north of the village. The boat trip is approx. 2 hours and has to be booked in advance.

From Vestmanna to Kvivik for at stop to see the viking settlements.
The trip continues over Streymoy where you cross the Atlantic bridge for Eysturoy - further on to Eidi. The road between Eidi and Gjogv offers many spots where you have an amazing view. One is of the famous rock formations known as the "giant and the old hag" . Also you pass the mountain Slaettaratindur (880 meters), which is the highest mountain on the Faroe Islands.

Enjoy the next two nights at the unique Hotel Gjaargardur in Gjogv.

We suggest a trip to Tjornuvik - where you still can see tracks and remains from the Vikings. Enjoy a walk and the amazing view along the beach, as this is the place where the vikings settled when arriving in the Faroe Islands for the first time.

A stop in Saksun is a must. The village is surrounded by steep mountains and a lagoon-like lake with a sandy beach leading the way out to the Atlantic Ocean. If the tide is going out to can walk all the way out to the sea. Back in the village you can take the opportunity to visit the church and the old farmhouse Duvugardar.

Today's tour goes from Gjogv to Klaksvík - on the way there you will pass Oyndarfjoraur and just before the village take the time to see the Rolling Stones. From Oyndarfjoraur to the island Boraoy where you pass through the second subsea tunnel - at the bottom you will see Trondur Patursson's fantastic light installations. Next two nights at Hotel Klaksvik.

Explore the Northern islands - first to the northern most village Viaareiai, where - if you are up to it - you can climb the mountain north of the village to the top of the world highest promontory Enniberg. On the top you will have an excellent view over Fugloy, Svinoy, Boraoy and Kunoy.

From Viaareiai to Kunoy where you can enjoy a walk in the very nice plantation. Then to Klaksvik again where you can visit Christians church, the church in Klaksvík which is told to be the most beautiful church on the Faroe Islands.

Take the opportunity to visit Kalsoy which is known for its many legends. The best known of them is the legend about the seal woman who was captured and forced to marry a farmer's son from Mikladalur and had children with him. But she longed to go back to the sea and one day when her husband had gone fishing, she found the key to the chest where her seal skin was hidden, put it on and returned to her natural element. See the beautiful statue of the seal woman in the village Mikladalur.

On the way to Torshavn we suggest a stop in Leirvik to see the viking settlements there. In Torshavn - Take the opportunity to visit the Faroese handy work and design shops, the cozy cafes near the harbor Vagsbotn, and maybe even a visit to the National museum, the Art museum and the Nordic house.

A full day excursion to the island of Nolsoy - just 20 minutes away from Torshavn - you will discover an island totally different from the 2010 Europe - you will travel several decades back in time. You can also take the opportunity to discover the island together with one of the local guides.

The island has the largest colony of storm petrels - but these birds are only possible to see a night time. The light house there has one of the largest lens which is more than 3 meters in diameter and the weight is over 4 tonnes. A hike out to Boraan where you find the lighthouse can be recommend.

We suggest that you explore the smallest and most cozy capital in the world. Visit the old town a Reyni, the world's oldest parliament Tinganes and Fort Skansin. Where you get a good overview of the city, its history and its architecture.

In the afternoon a tour to Kirkjubour (20 min. drive) - the old cultural centre of the Faroe Islands. Visit the roughly 900-year-old Roykstovan, where the King's yeoman still lives after 17 generations; Olav's church from AD 1111, named after King Olav the Holy. This church is the oldest church in the Faroe Islands, and is still in use. See the ruins of St. Magnus Cathedral, which is regarded as one of the largest cultural attractions in the Faroe Islands.

The tour has come to an end as you head back home, hopefully with many fantastic experiences from these 18 small islands in the North Atlantic.