Right now, 20th of July, my kid and I are on the Amtrak Train to New York. We have a lot of time and hopefully I can use all of it to journal about my trip in the Faroe Islands last June 2026.
Firstly, thank you to my husband who supports me with the things that worries him but makes me happy. I made it safe traveling solo to the Faroe Islands.
Before we landed, I met a Filipina when I was getting ready to exit the plane.
It was an easy plan considering how small the island is. I joined Facebook pages/groups and did a lot of researched for a year from public transportation, weather, right hiking/marathon gear including regular outfit for ordinary days, useful apps like All Trails, YR Weather, flights and accomodations, and deciding what means of spending should I be using. I did not use cash anywhere. I used a credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees, and I redeemed the cash back to pay some of my expenses.
The tricky part on this trip was making sure I have comfortable and weather appropriate gear. I got high top waterproof Keen boots from Amazon, Exped waterproof backpack for my hiking, two waterproof pants (insulated and thin one), The North Face unlined rain jacket which was always nicely rolled in my pack, 100% fine merino wool but a little thick, windbreaker, few dry wicking long sleeve and t-shirts. These also I wore when I went to the restaurants after hiking. People look simple. June is still cold and windy. The only time I see people dressed up was in the weekend in Torshavn for an event.
I flew with Icelandair.
I’ve read a lot of cancellations on Facebook groups two days before my trip and it was giving me anxiety. I took a break reading everyone’s travel experiences. I thought and hoped that my trip would be different. It went well. The airlines were right on time. The kiosk in Iceland immigration before my connecting flight was long and slow. Some machines were not working. There were four or five people working. This was not a hassle for me. Traveling to and from The Philippines always prompts me to book with enough time for lay overs or connecting flights. Flight arrival can be on time but it can take a while to find a gate for the plane to park. And this can be very stressful when catching the next flight or when going through immigration.
Vagar Airport is the only airport in the islands. After grabbing my luggage, I went straight to purchase a new sim card that comes with minutes and data for my unlocked phone. My cellphone doesn’t work with esim so I opted for a physical sim. It was easy. AT&T does not have coverage on this island. I messaged my family to give them an update then headed out to the rental car which is on the left side as you exit the airport building. The rental cars are parked on a different lot which is right across the airport. My car key has important information in it from phone numbers, type of gas/fuel which was in green color, car model etc. I also have a paper and digital copy of rental coverage from my credit card company. I did not buy insurance coverage at the rental.
Same with the other bookings I made, I booked everything refundable from flights to accommodations. With regards to medical emergencies, I talked to my health insurance here and I was told they cover international health insurance. What I have to do when it is needed is to pay out of my pocket while I am there and they will reimburse once a claim is filed.
When the plane was about to land, I could see the beautiful massive “mountains”, fjords. I paused multiple times on my way to pick up my rental car. I would look around in awe.
I got my rental car from Enterprise. I checked and took photos of the car’s condition just in case I may need it later. Hanged my phone holder for navigation purposes and short video clips. I am technically challenged so I did not sync my phone with the car’s Bluetooth. I also was able to take quick videos while on the road. I find it simple instead of trying to get acquainted with the new buttons on the car. Everything was within my reach. The phone was mostly charging.
First stop was Mulafossur Waterfalls in Gasadalur. There are two viewpoints, the one that is slightly further is the best to get a beautiful wider picture. A tripod would have been a good idea for a nice portrait with myself in it but the wind did not help. I had a nice short hike which I recommend when time allows. A lot of Buttercup flowers everywhere and the fog hovering the fjords looks magical. Then I headed out to the picturesque village of Bour. Here, I got the view of the Tindholmur and Drangarnir sea stack. I had a nice short walk around the neighboring houses. There is also a paved trail along the ocean. A fenced garden with a waterfall and small bridge was a nice addition to my walk. There were unleashed friendly dogs on the street which scared me a bit but the animals seemed to be used to seeing people walking around. I stopped at Kvivik Viewpoint where I sat at the hatch of my car, had a snack and relaxed for a bit. It was foggy so I did not take a lot of photos. Then I headed down to Leynar beach where I collected rocks and shells to take home. After here, I headed to Torshavn City where I stayed on an AirBnB.
I had everything within walking distance from where I stayed. Grocery store, gift shopping, marathon venue, bakery, gasoline stations and restaurants.
The second day’s journal is long and I copied it from my Facebook account dated June 5th 2026.
⚠️ Long journal.
Today, there was a lot of hiking in the Northern part of the Faroe Islands. Short courses but I find them difficult. The first one was at Kallur Lighthouse in Trollanes village of Kalsoy island. One trail here was so narrow that you could be blown easily when it’s windy or fall when you twist an ankle. The fear set in. I was skeptical about pursuing it but I thought I should try and be happy if I could only do it halfway. I am glad I tried and made it beyond halfway, almost to the end point but the smidge hike up looked like I could slip easily. I turned around and halfway I leaned on a huge rock and stayed there for a bit and soaked in all the wonders. This experience, this particular hike , the fog in its slow motion and the birds this morning is magical and I will never forget. It is more than magical, it is a very spiritual experience. I can’t thank the Lord enough. Wow! I paused a lot, looked around, hiked back up and paused again, looked around. I did this repeatedly in awe of how such a beautiful place like this existed. I was in tears. I was joyfully overwhelmed. This is the best and most beautiful hike of my entire life.
The next hike was in Villingadaisfjall in the Northernmost village of Viòareidi in Vidoy island. I dreamt of reaching the top of Cape Enniberg. From what I have read, a guide is needed to hike this one. So when I started my itinerary, plan A is to have a guide and do the full hike and plan B is to do it alone and hike just enough to be on the higher ground which is the starting point for Cape Enniberg just so I can sit and enjoy the view of the whole village against the magnificent backdrop of another fjord. My knees started acting up on the first hike and I need to save some strength for more hikes and running. So right at the start of this one, I chose plan B. I made it beyond the starting point. I was almost at the top. I was fine going up and I know I can make it to the top but also I understand myself well that going down could hurt my knees and may derail the other activities coming up. It was tempting to keep going, my brain was battling. I sat down and thought back to the goal I had and the purpose of this hike. I am happy with how far I hiked. I can see everything. Wow! I took my pole out. While the whisper to climb higher got louder, I heard inside of me not to do it so I stood up and humbly started hiking back down.
Content.
Happy.
I kept walking down to the village, watching the kids play. Took a picture of a school. Talked to a grandma who was watching her granddaughter riding her bike. She told me there are only 30 students in that school. Certain grade levels are mixed together during certain classes. I got to peek at how the classrooms look inside. She was excited telling me the new addition for kindergartners at the back of the building and I looked around. I asked why there is a low number of students, she said some kids get to do more activities in the city which the parents don’t mind driving them back and forth and some families move. She told me she has Filipino friends who are missionaries and assured me that I will be welcomed at their church when I decide to come. She blessed and hoped for me to have a wonderful stay on the island.
I left the village emotional. Overjoyed. Grateful.
I love this place and I’ve been here for only a day and a half. I wish I could stay here for a month or three.
The grandmother waved goodbye when I drove by.
This is more than a dream. A plan made it alive. I told my South Korean friend who has been traveling solo to twenty countries and who I met at Kallur Lighthouse that I have been to other countries only at its airport for connecting flights to the Philippines. She have have a pretty Korean name but asked me to call her, J, since most people have a hard time pronouncing her name correctly. We started talking on the bus on our way from Trollanes to Mikladalur to see the Seal Woman. It was a quick stop to see this tourist spot. Instead of standing to wait for the bus to leave, we walked around Mikladalur Village. Past Malta Church and the cemetery, we found a fenced/gated farm with a double trail, here we hiked and talked more. She is surprised that none of her friends heard about the Faroe Islands. I myself also never heard my friends or other people talk about this place.
This island is small, calm, and its beauty speaks volumes , immensely magnificent that your heart could not contain. It magnifies our Creator.
Anyway, enjoy my favorite snaps of memory clippings. Pardon me with the long write up.
P.S. I heard of this Island thru a documentary about Filipinas who got married to Faroese men. I fell in love. I fell in love with the background of that documentary.
I met She on Facebook. When I found out that there is a marathon in the Faroe Islands, I checked its website’s registrants. When I saw a Philippines flag on two of the registrants, I looked them up on Facebook and She responded. I was curious about the weather and wanted to know more of the islands from someone who lives there.
I finally met her, her kids and husband at the Bib pickup. She invited me to her home if ever I have time. But I already made plans for a boat tour and hike. On my way to the supposed tour, I was notified of its cancellation. It was foggy and windy. Gladly I have not driven far from where I was staying. I got lost on my way back to the guesthouse. Google map took me to a windmill farm. I could hardly see the road. I stayed at the windmill farm and waited for the fog to clear up. I took my time as I waited in the car, messaging my family and friends. She messaged me and I told her that my tour got cancelled. She decided to meet me at Torshavn. We got to spend time together. We went for a walk, lunch and souvenir shopping. It was a wonderful time getting to know each other even for the shortest amount of time. I am thankful for her friendship and kindness. I hope to see her again when I go back.
The fourth day was the Torshavn Marathon. I did not sleep well. The neighbors of the guesthouse I stayed at were drunk and loud…. and this is an every night occurrence. I never got a good sleep for four nights. I got out of bed early so I can go for a walk and experience the city in the morning before everyone wakes up. The bakery is close to Skansin Lighthouse where I walked, then I proceeded to Tinganes for the second time. Two hours before the race, I went back to bed just to rest my body. I was freaking out and terribly anxious. I worried about my knees, my breathing, myself in general because I think I did not train enough. I needed to hear my running friends from home. Thank God for their wonderful positive mind and kind heart to uplift my spirit. I kept this race to myself because of the issues on my knees. Without telling, it will prevent me from hearing negative comments if something goes wrong. I was doubting myself. My confidence was low. I did not want to embarrass myself in case I fail to finish. This race has so many hills which I never experience on the road. Going to Kaldabak village, which is close to the open sea, the wind made it harder to keep forward. The cold wind triggered pain on my knees. I don’t know why that is but it went away after that route. It was a beautiful race. It was hard. The magnificent scenery compensated for the absence of spectators along the way. The volunteers were wonderful. The meal after the race was great, Salmon and quinoa salad. And for those who like beer after a long run, they have that there too. I love my medal and my bib number. Both are hanging on the running swag shelf that my husband built. The people around the island seem calm and patient. I still can’t believe I braved my timid self to travel this far. I am grateful for this experience and most importantly the people I met. I finished the marathon in less than five hours which was the goal. Thank you, Lord. You are always good. Zephania 3:17
I rested for four hours and decided to drive for a recovery walk. It was worth getting lost on my way to Kirkjubøur. My favorite spot has a bench by the beach where the buttercup flowers are. It looked peaceful. Perfect. The sun was setting in. It was a loving experience. Time felt kind to me and again it made me so grateful. That favorite spot in Kirkjubour has a sign that says in english, “At Home In Garòur.”
I almost got ticketed on the fifth day. Right when I got my largest luggage on the trunk I noticed someone taking pictures of the cars parked on the street. When he reached mine, I greeted him and told him I was about to leave. I mentioned that I forgot to put the time in on the meter (which is on the right side of the windshield that the rental car has put on). I parked late after Kirkjubøur. He was patient explaining the rules. I drove my car away from where it was parked, and came back to that same spot. My plan was to put the meter as soon as I got to park it but I had trouble parallel parking after multiple tries and also I noticed him watching me thru the mirror. I thought he left. Lol. So I left that area, drove a little further but close enough to the store I want to get a souvenir from. I know that my car has to be perfectly parked inside the “line” which I thought I did so I proceeded to check the map for the store. When I moved my head, I thought I saw the officer standing on the side of the street and I pretended I did not notice. I went ahead and opened the door, checked if I parked correctly. After that I looked up and acted as if I just noticed him. He gave me a thumbs up and smiled. He followed me around to make sure I knew what I was doing and not breaking the rules. I realized that I ran out of data so I drove around the city for a bit hoping to find the mall. I was anxious because I heavily depended on my phone for navigation. I am not familiar with the mall and I thought I would just ask somebody. Thankfully, I saw a Filipina working at the beauty store. She was friendly and pointed me to the right store. I swung by the food court, got some macaroons and bread then headed out for Saksun.
Saksun drive was the most beautiful I have ever driven. The narrow road is surrounded with fjords, sheep, and small streams. It made me imagine what paradise could look like. I was reminded of the picture bible stories I used to browse when I was a little kid. I could have hiked and walked at the black sandy beach but I did not have enough time. A boat tour for Drangarnir has been scheduled that day. I just walked around. Savor the scenery and took a lot of photos. It was a clear sunny day which was perfect for the boat tour. The wave got me sick even after using the Motion EZ travel oil (which always has been helpful when I fly as a replacement from the Scopolamine travel patch. Scopolamine gives me blurry vision and pink urine), so I napped after then around eight o’clock that night I headed out to hike Traelanipa’s Lake Above The Ocean then Trollkonufingur/Witch’s Finger Trail after.
The plan for the sixth day was to hike from Tjørnuvik to Mylingur. It was foggy and rainy. On my way to Tjørnuvik, I changed my route for Gjógv which was also on my itinerary but not on top of my list to hike. So, Tjørnuvik, Cape Enniberg summit and a few other hiking trails that I was not able to do will be a good reason to go back. The island itself is worth coming back to. Anyway, I did not want to risk getting lost and hurting myself in wet and foggy weather hiking to Mylingur. Back at Gjøgv journaling, I found a restaurant on the map that I wanted to go to. I was excited that I could finally sit down and have another meal or a restaurant to experience. I waited outside in the rain. When a tour bus arrived, a bunch of people walked into the restaurant and I followed them only to realize that they were only open for tour buses of tourists. LOL. Anyway, there also is a cafe at the start/end of the trail to purchase hot beverages and waffles. It was a nice treat after hiking up the trail and walking around the village. The drive to Gjøgv is like going to Saksun but on steroids. More elevation. I couldn’t imagine driving on the top of the massive fjords I was awestruck seeing from down below. A lot of sheep everywhere. The drive is slow and there is a little space to the side of the road to pull over to let the incoming car pass. Everywhere you look is beautiful. There is really no need to rush. There was no time limit where I park which is close to the small cafe and trail head. I walked around the village and by the time I was done, a few vintage cars drove by.
I stayed near the airport on my last few days. It was a quick airport trip for my return flight. The airport is very small and it has everything you could need. The small souvenirs like key chains, magnets are cheaper there than at the mall (except I got lucky with 100% wool sweater and long johns that was 50% off at the mall two days ago).
Will I go back to the Faroe Islands? Definitely yes! I even will consider living there when I can.
I wish I took home some wool I picked up during my hike. I had it all packed but took them out of my luggage due to fear of being questioned by the TSA.
Anyway, it was a dream come true. An awesome experience of a lifetime. Blessed.
“The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” – Billy Graham
Jotting Down Grace 