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wIt has craggy peaks that seem to pierce the clouds, waterfalls filled with sheep grazing on lush green slopes, deep ravines and wide forests, and fog that flows like a billowing curtain, Faroe Islands They are wild and wonderful. Therefore, it is no surprise that the attraction of the archipelago revolves around nature based activities Which is liked by intrepid travelers.
The life of the Faroese people is deeply connected to the surrounding landscape; There is a feeling of peace among the local people hiking trails Which offer a closer connection with nature, sailing in the fjords, enjoying strong winds and refreshing rains, and long summer days accompanied by colorful wild flowers and birdsong.
This natural magic is traditionally considered our wellness experienceBut unlike other Nordic countries, Faroe Islands did not hug Spa Until recently with saunas and outdoor thermal and cold baths for mind-body well-being.
The Faroe Islands, an 18-island archipelago and an autonomous nation within the Kingdom of Denmark inhabits the north atlantic Between Scotland and Iceland. until recently, Most people couldn’t tell you where these isolated islands are located nor why they should go there. But several factors – including a government boost to tourism funding since 2013, restaurant KOKS receiving its first Michelin star in 2017, and an increase in Visit Faroe Islands’ social media presence – have brought an influx of tourists to these shores. The number of international visitors had started rising steadily even before the pandemic and is still growing.
Recent attractions to the island include PAZ, a new two-Michelin-starred restaurant focusing on foraged ingredients; a pair of sub-sea tunnels showcasing visual and auditory art; and Vingardurin, an informal wine bar-restaurant-gallery that exhibits mostly contemporary Faroese art. And with a range of new spa offerings now available, the islands are aware of the fact that their raw, rugged beauty provides the perfect backdrop for wellness.
Read more: How to spend a five-day vacation in the isolated Faroe Islands
saunadipp
Close to one of the two sub-sea tunnel portals on Eysturoy, the second largest Faroese island, you will find the first and only floating sauna in the archipelago. Open since last summer, Sonadipp is located in the harbor of the village of Glívarar on the east side of the fjord called Skalafjordur. You can visit or rent a small, black-painted sauna for two hours, and sit on one of the mahogany benches in the toasty interior that stays around 70 to 90C. A window offers a view of colorful fishing boats and the surrounding undulating grassy landscape. Or enjoy the direct sunlight by spreading out your towel on the outdoor wooden deck. You can also reach by canoe.
Although this is a traditional sauna where you soak in hot ceramic rocks, you can also book a guide songs (aka infusion) Session. It is a wellness technique where essential oils are infused into water, creating an aromatherapy experience. You can take a break by eating fresh fruit or cool off by taking a quick walk down the stairs for a cool (3-9C) dip in the harbour. At night, the sauna is especially captivating as the blue light elements inside are turned on, while outside, you can watch the navigation lights of boats crossing the harbor and marvel at the glow of the myriad celestial bodies.
Read more: Best things to do in Faroe Islands
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Hvdip, a day spa that opened last spring on the west coast of Strømøy, the largest Faroese island, seems remote, yet it’s surprisingly easy to reach. Just a 30-minute drive from the capital Tórshavn, it is situated on a grassy slope above the black sand of Leynar Beach, where the waters of the Vestmannad Fjord tumble onto the shore.
Whether you come alone or in a group, reservations are required at the spa as the two-hour sessions are private. Up to 12 people can enjoy the sunny, ash wood-panelled interior, which features a traditional sauna with steaming temperatures between 80 and 95C. Relaxing in the hot and cold pools inside as well as on the outdoor wooden decks, you’ll have an excellent view of the islands of Koltur, Haystur and Vágar (the latter is just across the fjord) along with the ribbon of cascading waterfalls in the distance.
After warming up in the sauna, take an invigorating dip in the 5C cold tub (which fits four people), followed by one of the two hot tubs (40 to 42C, each with space for six to seven people). The spa also provides snacks (fruits and nuts) as well as beverages (coffee, tea and water) along with towels. Don’t leave without visiting their shop. Havdip is known for producing handmade vegan soaps (including shampoo bars) that include local ingredients such as seaweed and buttercup, the national flower.
Read more: These are the 25 best spas in the UK
Race Spa
Situated on gentle slopes surrounded by meadows of wild flowers and decorated with groves of conifers above the city of Tórshavn, Hotel Føyryar’s Res Spa epitomizes the Nordic spa tradition, but in a uniquely Faroese way. To enter the new outdoor spa area, scheduled to open in the summer of 2025, guests don robes before exiting the hotel and stroll barefoot along a 30-foot-long, winding channel that was dug about seven feet into the ground. The path is surrounded by rugged stone walls and glimpses of buttercups appear on the grassy surface above. As soon as you step onto the ground floor of the two-storey spa house, soothing warm water bathes your feet in the roughly textured black tiled room.
The spa house resembles a traditional Faroese dwelling, complete with a rock facade and a turf roof. From a huge window, you can see tree-filled slopes and the city of Tórshavn in the distance. Before or after having a glass of champagne and salad at the café, hang up your robe and take a swim in the heated indoor-outdoor infinity pool where you’ll be immersed in nature. (It’s especially intimate at night when it’s just you and the stars.) Then enjoy the traditional sauna with wooden benches, as well as the heated pool and a steam bath that gives you the choice of two typical Faroese weather experiences: fog or heavy rain. Guests often enjoy the difference between these warm/hot treatments and a one-person dip in the cold (6C) pool. On the upper level of the spa house, there is a small heated infinity pool on an open-air terrace.
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how to get there
Atlantic Airways With direct flights from Edinburgh twice a week (one hour) and (in summer) from London’s Gatwick Airport twice a week (two hours). Vágar Airport is about 40 minutes from Tórshavn by car.
where to stay
Hotel Foroyar
Perched on a hill above the city, the 200-room Hotel Foroyar blends contemporary with traditional – think a turf terrace, lots of glass to take in the surrounding nature-scape, local art hanging on the walls and, of course, a stellar spa.
Havagrim Seaside Hotel
A short walk from downtown, Havgrim Seaside Hotel, an upscale boutique hotel set along the windswept coast, features 14 airy guest rooms that offer spectacular views of the constantly changing seasons.
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