Vestmanna Sea Cliffs, Leynar and Kvívík in Faroe Islands
- 6 hours
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
The boat glides near towering cliffs where puffins chatter and guillemots growl. A puffin dives, emerging with fish before soaring 600 meters up. Below, a seal curiously watches. Just beyond Vestmanna’s harbor, we explore one of Europe’s most impressive bird cliffs. Departing from Tórshavn, this two-hour boat tour offers incredible views of seabirds nesting on sheer basalt walls, sailing between towering rock formations and deep caves sculpted by the sea. Along the way, the guide shares stories of ships seeking shelter and pirates raiding Vestmanna. The tour also includes a visit to Leynar, home to a white sandy beach, colorful houses, and wild salmon leaping up its river. Next, we explore Kvívík, one of the first Viking settlements, where ancient ruins reveal early Faroese life.
Inclusions
What's included
- Private transportation
- Lunch
- All Fees and Taxes
- Boat ride ticket
Itinerary
Explore the village Vestmanna and hear stories and legends from the past from your guide.
The boat trip along the bird cliffs of Vestmanna takes about 2 hours, offering ample opportunity to observe and photograph a variety of breeding seabirds against the backdrop of the stunning vertical cliffs. The journey takes you as close to the cliffs as the weather permits, weaving between basalt columns that rise from the sea and into deep caves carved by the ocean’s fury over millions of years. While sailing the guide shares tales of ships seeking shelter from storms in Vestmanna throughout history, as well as stories of pirates who repeatedly raided this village due to its easy access and secluded location.
The village of Kvívík is believed to be one of the first places settled in the Faroe Islands. Close to the sea, the remains of two Viking houses, over 1,000 years old, have been excavated. They found ideal conditions for settlement here: Easy access to and from the sea, slopes suitable for growing crops, and access to fresh water. Stórá river cascades through the village, generating electricity to power the municipal buildings of the village. The houses are closely packed in the deep valley, catching the morning sun, with views of Vágar, Koltur, Sandoy, and Hestoy.
This tour also includes a visit to the quaint village of Leynar, one of the few Faroese villages with a white sandy beach. The colorful houses are nestled on the slope, overlooking the beach, the north side of Vágar, the protected island of Koltur, and the village of Kvívík. Locally, Leynar’s beach is regarded as a sort of Copacabana. It’s not uncommon for the sun to shine from a clear blue sky over Leynar, even on days when thick summer fog envelops Tórshavn, quickly filling the beach with happy children and sun-seeking adults. After rainy summer days, hordes of wild salmon can be seen swimming up the steps in Leynar River.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
4.0
- 53
- 40
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- 11
Ratings come from 4 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 7 travellers
- Operated by
- Experience Faroe Islands
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Tórshavn
- Its from-price is 36% below the median of the 11 experiences we list in Tórshavn.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 6 of 11.
About Tórshavn
Tórshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands, is a small harbour town on the island of Streymoy, with turf-roofed houses on the old Tinganes peninsula.
Tórshavn sits on the south-east coast of Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands, a group in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway. The old town of Tinganes, a rocky promontory of red-painted wooden buildings with turf roofs, has been the seat of the Faroese parliament since Viking times, and its name comes from thing, the assembly. Skansin, an old fort above the harbour, and the narrow lanes of the old quarter make up a compact centre.
