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Worldwide Photography Tours since 1980

Faroe Islands

Islands Where Time Stands Still

Far to the north, amidst the frothing swells of the Atlantic Ocean, lies a small archipelago of remote and rugged islands. Situated halfway between Iceland and Scotland—and far off the radar screen of most photography travelers—they are known as the Faroe Islands. These eighteen little-visited island gems beckon adventurous landscape photographers who want to discover new photography horizons and explore in the rarefied glow of ethereal northern light.

TWP Faroe2022 04 - faroe

The Faroe Islands straddle the 62nd parallel north, where the Atlantic’s Gulf Stream bestows incredibly dynamic weather and light while also moderating the climate toward cool summers and relatively mild winters. Springtime brings an intriguing mix of photogenic conditions that energize the mountainous landscapes and wave-battered sea cliffs. 

The Faroe Islands are home to just 53,000 people, with 43% residing in the capital municipality of Tórshavn. The remainder of the population is sprinkled throughout the islands in quaint communities nestled into protective valleys and harbors. Forged from Viking blood, their lives reflect a strong sense of Nordic identity, honed by their time-honored fishing traditions.

Our Faroe Islands photo tour has also been time-honed over several years to bring you the best photographic experience possible. Travel within the islands is streamlined through an amazing network of sinuous paved roads and marvelous tunnels that take us under fjords and through mountains.

TWP Faroe2022 17 - faroe

Our tour is designed to spend quality time in the most photogenic locations to tune into the location and elements, to create both images and memories of this treasured and little-known corner of the world. Nearly every location is characterized by the interplay of land, ocean, weather, and light. Key words to describe the Faroes are moody, dramatic, timeless, and enchanting. The angular nature of these mountainous islands, dotted with small rushing streams and quiet reflective lakes, provides many compositional elements—adding impact to the rugged landscape. This is a place where streams and waterfalls descend into verdant valleys or directly into the sea below. Sculpted mountain islands with sweeping slopes and impossibly high basaltic cliffs rise vertically out of the silvery ocean.

Along with photographing the striking scenery of the seaside cliffs and waterfalls, we photograph the quaint, colorful, and well-ordered fishing villages tucked along the jagged coastline. These small communities give the Faroes much of their vibrant and timeless character. Many of the villages and towns have well-preserved buildings with “elfin” turf roofs—the oldest dating back nearly 500 years—adding to the unique strength of this photogenic location.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Depart home en route to Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands. The Faroes are best accessed by limited flights via Iceland or Denmark. Depending on flight schedules, it may be recommended to overnight either in Iceland or Denmark on April 24 and catch an early morning flight to the Faroes on Friday, April 25.

Day 2 (April 25, 2025)
Arrive today at Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands and transfer to our four-star hotel overlooking Torshavn, the capital city of the Faroes. Transfer logistics are included in a subsequent email sometime after your enrollment. (LD)

Days 3 - 8
From our base in Torshavn, we begin our photographic adventure across the Faroes’ stunning landscapes. A well-established network of roads and tunnels gives us efficient access to the islands and the seascapes spread out before us. A visit to the Fossá waterfall provides an opportunity to photograph one of the archipelago's largest and most photogenic water features. Fossá—translated as river of waterfalls—makes two major plunges of over 360 feet from the uplands to the sea. The longest drop approaches 200 feet and can be easily photographed from the road.

At these higher latitudes we take advantage of the occasional long and low light, counterpointed by awe-inspiring storm clouds that make these remote islands such an exciting photo destination. Located this far into the North Atlantic, the weather is extremely unpredictable—conditions can change within minutes and miles. We operate a very flexible daily schedule, allowing us to quickly adapt. Gásadalur, Sørvágsvatn, Saksun, Tjørnuvík, Funningur, Norðradalur and Sornfelli, plus many others, are on our itinerary of potential destinations. Weather permitting, we take a two-hour ferry ride to dramatic Sudurøy (South Island) as we pass one third of all the islands in the Faroes. Indeed, the entire archipelago is packed with great shooting locations, so throughout our travels, weather and light conditions will determine where we go and when.

We travel amidst tundra-like vegetation dominated by arctic alpine plants, wildflowers, grasses, mosses, and lichens. Seaside farms and fishing villages dot this undulating terrain, and turf-roofed buildings and weathered fishing boats provide a multitude of photographic compositions to capture. Mulafossur waterfall—one of the most iconic landscapes to photograph in the Faroes—is on Vágar. Just beyond the outskirts of the tiny community of Gásadalur, photogenically set between soaring mountains and the sea, the falls plunge over 130 feet from a precipitous cliff to the waiting blue of the Atlantic below. (BLD)

Day 9 (May 2)
After breakfast we say goodbye to the Faroe Islands and transfer to Vágar Airport for our flights homeward. (B)

Tour Details

Apr 24 2025 – May 02 2025
Three Spaces Available!
Register Now
Fee: $8,395 from Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands
Deposit: $2,000
Limit: 11
Activity Level: Easy
Single Supplement: $1,200

Tour Highlights

  • Unspoiled, unexplored, unbelievable: The keywords National Geographic Traveler used in its description of the winner of best island destination in the world—the Faroe Islands
  • Ever changing weather conditions create many moods for dramatically lit landscape images
  • Rugged basaltic mountains rise steeply above treeless alpine terrain, photogenic waterfalls plunge into a wave-tossed sea or a quiet verdant valley
  • One convenient hotel for the entire tour
  • Includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation, entrance fees, photo guides and instruction

Testimonials

Todd Pierce is an extraordinary leader. I was first impressed with him during the Olympic National Park safari a few years back, and the Faroes tour confirmed my belief his interest in the success and knowledge of the attendees is paramount. Todd took the time to assist those needing and wanting photographic guidance, including myself. Any safari in which Mr. Pierce leads, I will enthusiastically attend!
— Frank S.

The tour was fantastic. The Faroes scenery was beautiful, the tour members were friendly and interesting. The tour leaders were wonderful!
— Kathleen H.

Tour Highlights

  • Unspoiled, unexplored, unbelievable: The keywords National Geographic Traveler used in its description of the winner of best island destination in the world—the Faroe Islands
  • Ever changing weather conditions create many moods for dramatically lit landscape images
  • Rugged basaltic mountains rise steeply above treeless alpine terrain, photogenic waterfalls plunge into a wave-tossed sea or a quiet verdant valley
  • One convenient hotel for the entire tour
  • Includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation, entrance fees, photo guides and instruction

Tour Details

Apr 24 2025 – May 02 2025
Three Spaces Available!
Register Now
Fee: $8,395 from Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands
Deposit: $2,000
Limit: 11
Activity Level: Easy
Single Supplement: $1,200
  • Tour Description

    Tour Description

    Far to the north, amidst the frothing swells of the Atlantic Ocean, lies a small archipelago of remote and rugged islands. Situated halfway between Iceland and Scotland—and far off the radar screen of most photography travelers—they are known as the Faroe Islands. These eighteen little-visited island gems beckon adventurous landscape photographers who want to discover new photography horizons and explore in the rarefied glow of ethereal northern light.

    TWP Faroe2022 04 - faroe

    The Faroe Islands straddle the 62nd parallel north, where the Atlantic’s Gulf Stream bestows incredibly dynamic weather and light while also moderating the climate toward cool summers and relatively mild winters. Springtime brings an intriguing mix of photogenic conditions that energize the mountainous landscapes and wave-battered sea cliffs. 

    The Faroe Islands are home to just 53,000 people, with 43% residing in the capital municipality of Tórshavn. The remainder of the population is sprinkled throughout the islands in quaint communities nestled into protective valleys and harbors. Forged from Viking blood, their lives reflect a strong sense of Nordic identity, honed by their time-honored fishing traditions.

    Our Faroe Islands photo tour has also been time-honed over several years to bring you the best photographic experience possible. Travel within the islands is streamlined through an amazing network of sinuous paved roads and marvelous tunnels that take us under fjords and through mountains.

    TWP Faroe2022 17 - faroe

    Our tour is designed to spend quality time in the most photogenic locations to tune into the location and elements, to create both images and memories of this treasured and little-known corner of the world. Nearly every location is characterized by the interplay of land, ocean, weather, and light. Key words to describe the Faroes are moody, dramatic, timeless, and enchanting. The angular nature of these mountainous islands, dotted with small rushing streams and quiet reflective lakes, provides many compositional elements—adding impact to the rugged landscape. This is a place where streams and waterfalls descend into verdant valleys or directly into the sea below. Sculpted mountain islands with sweeping slopes and impossibly high basaltic cliffs rise vertically out of the silvery ocean.

    Along with photographing the striking scenery of the seaside cliffs and waterfalls, we photograph the quaint, colorful, and well-ordered fishing villages tucked along the jagged coastline. These small communities give the Faroes much of their vibrant and timeless character. Many of the villages and towns have well-preserved buildings with “elfin” turf roofs—the oldest dating back nearly 500 years—adding to the unique strength of this photogenic location.

  • Itinerary

    Tour Itinerary

    Day 1
    Depart home en route to Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands. The Faroes are best accessed by limited flights via Iceland or Denmark. Depending on flight schedules, it may be recommended to overnight either in Iceland or Denmark on April 24 and catch an early morning flight to the Faroes on Friday, April 25.

    Day 2 (April 25, 2025)
    Arrive today at Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands and transfer to our four-star hotel overlooking Torshavn, the capital city of the Faroes. Transfer logistics are included in a subsequent email sometime after your enrollment. (LD)

    Days 3 - 8
    From our base in Torshavn, we begin our photographic adventure across the Faroes’ stunning landscapes. A well-established network of roads and tunnels gives us efficient access to the islands and the seascapes spread out before us. A visit to the Fossá waterfall provides an opportunity to photograph one of the archipelago's largest and most photogenic water features. Fossá—translated as river of waterfalls—makes two major plunges of over 360 feet from the uplands to the sea. The longest drop approaches 200 feet and can be easily photographed from the road.

    At these higher latitudes we take advantage of the occasional long and low light, counterpointed by awe-inspiring storm clouds that make these remote islands such an exciting photo destination. Located this far into the North Atlantic, the weather is extremely unpredictable—conditions can change within minutes and miles. We operate a very flexible daily schedule, allowing us to quickly adapt. Gásadalur, Sørvágsvatn, Saksun, Tjørnuvík, Funningur, Norðradalur and Sornfelli, plus many others, are on our itinerary of potential destinations. Weather permitting, we take a two-hour ferry ride to dramatic Sudurøy (South Island) as we pass one third of all the islands in the Faroes. Indeed, the entire archipelago is packed with great shooting locations, so throughout our travels, weather and light conditions will determine where we go and when.

    We travel amidst tundra-like vegetation dominated by arctic alpine plants, wildflowers, grasses, mosses, and lichens. Seaside farms and fishing villages dot this undulating terrain, and turf-roofed buildings and weathered fishing boats provide a multitude of photographic compositions to capture. Mulafossur waterfall—one of the most iconic landscapes to photograph in the Faroes—is on Vágar. Just beyond the outskirts of the tiny community of Gásadalur, photogenically set between soaring mountains and the sea, the falls plunge over 130 feet from a precipitous cliff to the waiting blue of the Atlantic below. (BLD)

    Day 9 (May 2)
    After breakfast we say goodbye to the Faroe Islands and transfer to Vágar Airport for our flights homeward. (B)

  • Tour Leaders

  • Testimonials

    Testimonials

    Todd Pierce is an extraordinary leader. I was first impressed with him during the Olympic National Park safari a few years back, and the Faroes tour confirmed my belief his interest in the success and knowledge of the attendees is paramount. Todd took the time to assist those needing and wanting photographic guidance, including myself. Any safari in which Mr. Pierce leads, I will enthusiastically attend!
    — Frank S.

    The tour was fantastic. The Faroes scenery was beautiful, the tour members were friendly and interesting. The tour leaders were wonderful!
    — Kathleen H.

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Van Os Photo Safaris uses the information you provide to contact you about our upcoming tours, special offers, and trip reports. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.
For more information, check out our Privacy Policy.