Faroe Islands offer incredible coastal mountain scenery, and edge-of-the-world atmosphere, and varied hikes to cliff-top vistas that make you feel like a sea bird. It's a quiet country where people are still friendly and not overridden with tourists, safe, and extremely easy to travel around between various islands via subsea tunnels. If you enjoy photographing scenery in Iceland or Ireland, then the Faroe Islands are another must-see country. Our small group tour includes the most rewarding hikes, an uncompromising dedication to photography every day, and a comprehensive itinerary covering the entirety of the northern isles, in order to provide an exceptional value and unforgettable photo trip. This is our 5th typically annual workshop to the Faroe Islands.
Covid-19 update: Trip is scheduled to go currently; vaccination cards required for all travelers.
Dates: July 3-10, 2023
Cost: $3600 USD, including single room accommodation
Availability: open for bookings
Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5 'boots'
Day 1 - Vagar Island, Faroe Islands
3 July 2023
The first day will be spent flying to Torshavn, Faroe Islands. We will have time to get settled in a new country, by first staying on island of Vagar. After doing any Covid testing at the airport upon arrival, and a short time at the hotel, by this evening we will embark on a evening and sunset photo shoot around the iconic Gasadalur village which is set idyllically above a waterfall that pours into the nearby ocean.
Day 2 - Vagar island, Faroes
4 July 2023
Our first Vagar Island full day of photography, which will include visiting stone fishing shacks on the beautiful Sorvagsvatn lake. Then we will go on a hike around Sorvagsvatn to the far end, which features a stunning view of the lake outlet waterfall as it falls into the ocean below the sea cliffs. After we finish exploring and taking photos we'll return via boat taxi. Once we're back in town we'll continue our evening with exploration around Trollkunufingur sea cliffs. To wrap up the night we will all have dinner in Sorvagur town, then watch the sunset overlooking Tindholmur point and islands.
Day 3 - Streymoy Island
5 July 2023
Day three will be spent on Streymoy Island enjoying idyllic ocean and country scenes including Tjornuvik beach which is surrounded by giant mountains, the classic Saksun grass roofed church, and a gorgeous ocean inlet. These astonishing sights will leave you feeling as if you've traveled back in time by 1,000 years to the viking age. There will be ample time to explore and photograph all of these beautiful locations that Streymoy has to offer. Here we will stay in a large private airbnb home for our group.
Day 4 - Eysturoy
6 July 2023
Exploration of the northern islands north of Klaksvik, including Vidoy and Kunoy Islands. Included is a ferry boat ride out to Kalsoy island, where we will explore the little local communities and hike up to the Kallur lighthouse on the northern tip of the island. We'll return in the evening for sunset over Klaksvik, and a 1 hour drive around Eysturoy Island to Gjogv for the night.
Day 5 - Eysturoy
7 July 2023
We will spend the day taking photos around Eysturoy with the option of hiking up to the highest mountain of Slættaratindur, featuring amazing panoramic views of the island channels where we will have plenty of opportunity to practice our panoramic photography skills. Finally we will take a small trip to Tjornuvik over on Streymoy for some bay and cliffline telephoto shots. There are also plenty of additional fjords to explore and photograph on the island of Oyndarfjordur.
Day 6 - Klaksvik, Bordoy
8 July 2023
A stunning scenic drive among the local islands and through the brilliant under-sea tunnels, with many stops along the way including some gorgeous waterfalls. There will be plenty of scenic locations on Streymoy Island to capture that will fill most of our day. In the evening we will continue on to Klaksvik. There we will enjoy a pastel sunset over the town of Klaksvik and a panoramic vista view over the islands and sea channels. We will stay at the beautiful Hotel Klaksvik for the night.
Day 7 - Torshavn, Faroes
9 July 2023
A day of waterfalls and picturesque seaside communities on Streymoy island while overlooking Vestmannasund. Arrival into Torshavn, the capital city of Faroe Islands. Daytime photography of the local red historical harbour buildings and fort, and some time on your own in Torshavn to explore at your leisure. Then we will regroup at a delicious seafood restaurant in Torshavn for dinner. Evening and sunset photography and a short drive out of town to view the overlook at the Hestsfjordur ocean cliffs.
Day 8 - End of trip
10 July 2023
One last morning for photographing any spots you may have missed on previous days or favorite locations you want to enjoy once more. We will then drive back to Vagar Island (1 hour) by midday for your varying flights from FAE Vagar Airport back to Iceland or Copenhagen. Thus concluding the trip.
General Trip Information
Group Size: Maximum size of 5
Start/End: The trip begins in and concludes at Vagar Airport (FAE) Faroe Islands, from where you will return to Europe directly or North America via Iceland. Our itinerary offers a balanced mix of sightseeing and serious photography all around the Faroe Islands, for a comprehensive overview of this island archipelago.
Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5 boots. There are several hikes planned to access some of the islands most scenic areas, which sometimes involve hiking on sloping grassy narrow sheep paths, for up to 4 hours hiking time, plus photo time. Opting to skip out on the hikes would diminish your overall experience of the Faroe Islands. General physical fitness, as well as prior experience mountain hiking, are required. If weather is too sunny for regular daytime photography, we'll do even more hiking over some mountain pass routes! In addition, some days may be long, so good travel stamina and attitude are important!
Included:
- All photographic opportunities and professional instruction
- All ground transportation and guiding
- Boat ferries and subsea tunnels
- All fees for activities listed in this itinerary
- All dinners and breakfasts.
- Accommodation for 7 nights in single rooms all to yourself. Prices are
based on single occupancy. If you're traveling with someone and would like to share a room, we'll give you a $500 discount per person! Accommodation will be chosen based on optimal locations to photograph, and will vary including authentic Faroese guesthouses, and hotels, and seaside whole private homes rented out for our group. Some accommodations have shared bathrooms among the rooms of our private houses.
Not Included:
- Trip insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- multi-course meals beyond the norm
- Lunches and snacks
- Souvenirs
Experience Level: This tour is open to digital photographers of all skill levels. A packing list will be provided. If you have additional questions, the trip leader will be happy to answer them over the phone or by email.
Photography Instruction
This photo workshop is all about in-the-field field photography and situational instruction, working alongside your trip leader, and there will be no classroom workshops or presentations, unless there is extra downtime from rainy weather. Photographic topics that will be covered while shooting include classic landscape photography composition and technique, use of filters and dynamic range, panoramic photography, adventure and travel photography, slow shutter speed effects, and the concepts of visual flow and cohesiveness. We will also be going on some shorter hikes (2-4 hours in duration) to truly experience the land. Group participants may wander on their own occasionally if they wish to pursue individual photographic objectives, enabling each participant to get the most out of this unforgettable trip. A maximum group size of 6 photographers ensures you will receive ample personal photographic coaching in the field from a full time working pro, maximizing the group's flexibility and ability to shoot more places, more spontaneously based on light and weather, and provide an intimate small group adventure experience.
Johnathan Esper of Wildernesscapes Photography LLC, based in the USA, will be leading the trip. Johnathan is a full time photographer and experienced international photo trip leader, and this will be his 5th tour led in the Faroe Islands. Every trip so far has been an incredible experience for the participants. Johnathan has a unique background and an intimate knowledge of many epic world locations from his days of wanderlust and photography. Currently, Johnathan divides his time between Adirondack region photography, international photo workshops, two log home vacation rentals, and developing premier properties in the Adirondack Mountains - with views of course.
Trip Terms
Deposit: A $1000 deposit is due at the time of registration, and the remaining balance is due by the trip start. Until payment is sent, your place is not guaranteed. You may conveniently pay your deposit securely with your credit card, processed by PayPal payment processor, by manually entering your payment of $1000 here. The deposit portion may also be paid via personal or bank check for USA and Canadian clients. Please contact me if you need any assistance in signing up!
Final Payment: The final payment for the balance due on the trip (after your paid deposit), is due one week prior to the trip start. Payment options include bank transfer a USA bank account, (details on request), cash in person at the trip start (with prior permission), personal or bank checks (preferred for USA and Canada clients), and credit cards (a 3% credit card fee will be added for final payments with card).
Cancellation Policy: In the unfortunate case if you need to cancel, cancellation policy is: Deposit payments are refundable as 100% future scheduled trip credit up to 120 days before trip start, 50% future scheduled trip credit if cancellation is 120-60 days before trip start, and non-refundable less than 60 days before start. Final payments for the full trip balance are 100% refundable as cash until the trip start, and non-refundable after the trip start. If I am able to fill your empty spot on the trip, half of what you'd lose will additionally be returned to you, for all the above situations. If I cancel the trip for some major reason, such as overwhelming volcanic activity, trip leader health crisis, etc, then I fully refund everything in cash or PayPal, or a pro-rated amount if the trip must end early for the same reasons. I am not responsible for reimbursing you for travel or other ancillary expenses you incur in prep for the trip.
Covid-19 cancellations: If travel is unreasonably difficult due to Covid-19 travel and border restrictions, participants may cancel out and receive a full 100% refund, less credit card fees. For complete refund incl. fees, please pay via personal check.
Trip Leader
Johnathan A. Esper
Wildernesscapes Photography LLC
372 River Road, Lake Placid, NY 12946
United States
johnathanesper@gmail.com
phone: 001 518 637 9275 (USA)
www.WildernessPhotographs.com
