Vestmanna Bird Cliffs, Leynar, and Kvívík Tour
Cruise along the bird cliffs of Vestmanna on a 2-hour boat trip. Admire the stunning vertical cliffs, see puffins, guillemots, and other seabirds, and learn about the history of the area. Enjoy a visit to the village of Leynar and the early settlements in Kvívík. Start your day with a pickup from your hotel in Tórshavn and head to the harbor. Board a boat and set sail along the bird cliffs of Vestmanna. Get up close to the sheer cliffs where puffins noisily debate on the cliffs. Their chirps mix with the deep growls of guillemots and the lapping of the waves. Watch as puffins swiftly dive under the sea surface, emerging with 10 small fish in their colorful beaks. See them ascend to their caves, 600 meters up. Above, on the green slopes, a flock of sheep grazes, oblivious to the heights or the grandeur below. See a curious seal pop its head above water, looking around. Just a short sail from the harbor of Vestmanna, find yourself beneath one of Europe’s most impressive bird cliffs. While sailing, listen to 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. After your boat trip, visit the quaint village of Leynar, one of the few Faroese villages with a white sandy beach. Admire the colorful houses 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. 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. After your tour, enjoy a drop-off back at your hotel in Tórshavn.