ESCURSIONI A TERRA

It began as a Viking settlement, then a market, later a thriving town and today it is one of the smallest and most pleasant capital cities in the world. Thorshavn today blends the historical and picturesque with all the features of a modern city. You’ll discover quality restaurants and hotels, conference facilities, interesting museums, discotheques, cinema, live theater, exhibitions, sports facilities, parks, and of course excellent shopping. The town and the surrounding areas are ideal for window shopping and pleasant strolls.

As Thorshavn is located in the center of the country, the well-developed bus and ferry service can whisk you away to almost every corner of the Faroes and back again the same day. Your tour will visit Tinganes, which is the historic part of Thorshavn. Enjoy a short stop at Skansin to explore the old fort before driving up to the beautiful Nordic House Cultural Centre. When returning to your ship you’ll pass through the modern sections of the city and stop briefly at a viewpoint overlooking the capital.

Your tour will take you via coach to the village of Vestmanna where you’ll sail out to the sea cliffs. There you can enjoy the sounds of sea birds, the whispering of the sea and its changing colors, the weather-beaten cliff formations, and the sky touching the peak of the mountain. You’ll then sail along the cliff walls into a narrow gorge, where sheer rock walls on both sides rise vertically towards the sky.

Travel up to the scenic, ridge-top road that runs along the southern part of Streymoy Island, pausing above Thorshavn for a photo stop at a viewpoint overlooking this colorful capital city. Then your next photo stop will be above Nororadalur (north valley) where on clear days a dramatic view of the island of Koltur stands gloriously before you. Winding down into a valley, you can see colorful villages. On your journey back to Thorshavn you’ll be taken through a 1 3/4 mile (three-kilometer) long tunnel and then along a fjord at sea level.

Board your coach in Thorshavn harbour, the rocky peninsula where the ancient vikings met. Travel up to the scenic, ridge-top road that runs along the southern part of Streymoy Island, pausing above Thorshavn for a photo stop at a viewpoint. Further north, stop for breathtaking views of Kaldbak and Kollafjørður fjords. Next, pass a charming mountain tarn to admire the hand-hewn stone salmon ladders leading to Lake Leynar. Arriving at Leynar, you may visit the local wood turner or take a walk on the beach. Then, discover the colorful village of Kvivik, site of an ancient viking settlement dating from the 10th century.

Alongside a pleasant stream, explore the remnants of viking farmhouse and byre; here, you can enjoy the tranquility of this peaceful village. Your next stop will be Kollafjørður, where you’ll visit an old faroese church. This black, wooden built church with its traditional faroese turf roof is one of nine churches built in the period from 1830 to 1850. Your journey back to Thorshavn will take you through a three-kilometer long tunnel and along a fjord at sea level.

Vagar is one of the 18 islands in the archipielago of the Faroe Islands. To see the island, you’ll travel via Kaldbak fjord and the Kollafjørð valley. See Vágar’s changing scenery and explore its villages as your guide narrates interesting facts about the island’s history. Drive through the villages of Sandavágur, visit the church and the village of Miðvágur before reaching Vatnsoyrar. Next, arrive in Bøur, a little village with both old and new houses with green grass turf roofs and a charming old tar-blackened church.

From here, appreciate the spectacular view of the Tindhólmur islet and the island of Mykines. Depart Bøur and drive up through the tunnel to Gásadalur, Vágar’s westernmost village. Gásadalur is the last village to be connected by road with the rest of the island. Lastly, return to Tórshavn via the mountain road to capture panoramic views of the fjords and the capital.

From Thorshavn, take a 50-minute drive to the north, past idyllic villages and the old whaling station at Áir. Here, you’ll find the only bridge over the Atlantic connecting Eysturoy with the larger island of Streymoy. Because its channel is so narrow, spectacular eddies form at the base of the bridge when the current is running strongly with the tide. Next, pass Eiði and cross the mountains to Gjógv. On the way, see the Giant and the Hag, two very distinctive sea stacks that your imagination will have fun with.

You'll also pass the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands, Slættaratindur (2,983 feet). See the rather handy Gjógv Gorge; which at 616 feet long provides a marvelous natural harbor for the local fishing fleet to shelter in. Stop in the village of Gjógv, at the local guesthouse, to enjoy some refreshments. Lastly, your ride back to Thorshavn is via the mountain road and you’ll stop at the viewpoint overlooking the capital.

Your tour will take you along the Kaldbak fjord where you’ll enjoy the sight of cascading waterfalls and lazy sheep wandering about. Drive through the tunnel to Kollafjørður and further north through the valley, for a stop at the top of the columnar basalt of Streymoy sill. From here, start your walk at 918 feet/280 meters above sea level up the mountain and towards the sill. Once at the top, admire the splendid scenery of the rock formation and beautiful scenery of the island of Vágar.