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Teathat remote Faroe IslandsA dramatic North Atlantic archipelago is increasingly attracting adventurous travelers, yet their breathtaking beauty hides dangers.
This self-governing Danish territory is famous as a dramatic backdrop. James Bond’s final scene ‘No Time to Die’ recently saw three tourists disappear over two days in September. Their last known locations were near a famous waterfall that falls into the sea, prompting a local employee to issue a stern warning: “Be careful. Come back.”
The islands’ landscape, characterized by crumbling rocks, sudden storm winds and hills so steep that even sheep could fall off them, presents considerable risks to those who suffer from dizziness, seasickness or a fear of closed spaces. Despite these dangers, Faroes sees an increase in the number of visitors Attracted by bird-watching, unique culinary experiences and the appeal of “coolcation” as global temperatures rise.
Unlike the islands’ permanent residents, who have historically traversed mountain passes and rocky shores with ease, many tourists are unprepared for the environment. Locals have an innate sense of when to avoid unsafe rocky footpaths and knowledge of how frightening sudden, dense fog can be, which is vital to safely exploring this wild area.
“When you make a mistake here, nature usually wins,” said one food truck vendor at one popular site.
It’s easier than ever to learn that lesson when exploring the Faroe Islands, which are still largely free from the zip-line commercialization of one of its closest neighbors, Iceland.
A growing network of undersea tunnels, including the world’s first undersea roundabout, is helping connect the 18 islands. Rugged isolation is giving way to smooth highways, and Airbnb has hundreds of listings amid a population of more than 50,000 people.
A new co-chairmanship of the Arctic Council, as well, is bringing greater global visibility Great performance towards his first Football World Cup,
Here’s what to know about the tour.
weather above all
Be prepared for anything, especially while hiking. At some point, it will rain. Strong winds can blow quickly and fog can be troublesome.
“Hurricane,” The Travel to the Faroe Islands the site declares, but adds: “Strong winds can overturn cars, overturn bicycles, carts – and sheep – or anything else that isn’t anchored down.”
Landsverk local authority has meteorological cameras on its site, and Faroe IslandsLive does the same. The official Visit Faroe Islands site has detailed advice on safe travel, as locals know that people can slip into the sea – and sometimes do.
“I will take pictures to die for them, without dying for them,” says a tourist-focused flyer titled “The Turquoise Pledge” on the door of the library in the village of Fuglafjordur.
Trails marked as suitable for children may not be. Keep in mind that hiking times and difficulty levels are estimated by locals. Some of the most traveled routes charge a fee. The popular walking tour to Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy Island is about $30. do not miss it.
Undersea tunnels, upper level fees
It’s best to explore by rental car for more flexibility. Public buses are available to many places, but timetables are limited. They are available on the Strandfarskip site. Multi-day travel passes can be purchased at the airport visitor center.
The Faroe Islands now have four undersea tunnels that connect some of the most visited islands, but be prepared to pay. Fees are more than $15 for a one-way trip and $27 for a one-way trip. Plan the day trip accordingly. The fee is paid to the rental car company at the end of the trip.
On land, some older tunnels are single lane with designated passing areas. Some beautiful “buttercup” routes are also single lane. Guardrails are not always present.
On a section of the road leading from the community of Tjørnuvik, a signal has been installed limiting traffic to one direction at a time with well-equipped guardrails over the sea. Tourists don’t know how to turn around, residents said.
‘closed for maintenance’
Authorities are trying to encourage tourism and protect the Faroe Islands from this. An annual “Closed for Maintenance” program began in 2019, recruiting volunteers from around the world to help with anti-erosion efforts, path maintenance and other tasks. The National Museum later launched a project to protect the land and biodiversity.
And this year, the tourism office introduced self-navigating tours that lead visitors off the muddy roads of the most popular spots to lesser-known areas.
Travel routes appear online as you progress. One sends users to a seaside village that hosts a popular music festival, followed by a small botanical garden, a fjord-side memorial to a fatal shipwreck and a small forest plantation enjoyed by Faroese on otherwise treeless islands.
The last stop was on a one-lane road with no guardrails between the occasional shoulder and a drop off to the sea. lamb Walking a path, another reason for visitors to be alert in the stunning surroundings. (There is a police number to call if a driver hits someone.)
visitors Those who love the outdoors can easily spend a week in the Faroe Islands cycling, fishing, enjoying a budding sauna scene, eating sushi from locally farmed salmon and shopping for newly knitted wool sweaters. In summer, boat trips include concerts or puffin watching inside the sea cave.
Winters are fierce – a hawker said a storm two years ago tore off the roof of an old house next to a seaside rental cottage in Sidradalur, AP – but interest in the islands is beginning to extend the peak tourist season to October.
Attention to sheep and other details
Villages, especially in the wooded northern region, may have only a handful of residents. There are few tourist-oriented businesses outside the capital Tórshavn, but the village of Gjögva has a welcoming guesthouse and café, and the village of Fuglafjordur has a charming main street and visitors’ centre. English is widely spoken and displayed.
And pay attention to the guidance, even scolding, that some Faroese people post for tourists who overstep the bounds.
A board on the church in Saksun village read, “The cemetery is closed due to indecent behavior and lack of peace on the graves.”
“Don’t wash your shoes in the sink!” said a sign at the ferry stop on Kalsoy Island. A staffer at the island’s unpredictable Thai restaurant – a sign of the small but growing expatriate population – estimated that about 200 tourists a day this summer flocked to a much-loved lighthouse.
Official travel to the Faroe Islands is not far behind, as it balances the appeal of growing tourism with a responsibility to warn travelers. Establishing balance is a long process in a country whose fishing economy requires cordial relations with many countries, including Russia And China.
The need for cash is almost negligible. AP once used it for a coin-operated shower in one of the public toilets that are often found in camping sites or tourist-frequented villages. Pay by card and phone.
Food is expensive, as much of it is imported.
Use of drones is prohibited. There are details on the Visit Faroe Islands site.
Don’t disturb the sheep. If you hit someone, call the police.