If you think nothing can be more beautiful than Iceland...you’re wrong.
...were my thoughts exactly when we touched down on this tiny volcanic archipelago in the middle of the North Altlantic Ocean. We had just departed from Iceland, a place which we thought was THE road trip of a lifetime. Iceland felt like an entirely different planet, albeit a planet still filled with human tourists.
But when our plane neared the FAROE ISLANDS, I had a bird's eye view of the winding narrow roads by the coastline of the Faroe Islands, and that magnificent sight gave me massive goosebumps. It hit me then that in a few hours I'll be steering my way through that very same road, and that made my stomach churn in excitement.
So without further ado, let me breakdown the reasons why these far-flung islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean is just so amazing, and why I just can't wait to experience it again.
Unspoiled, unexplored, unbelievable.
Watching 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' was what made me want to go to Iceland, but when I did go, it wasn't as quiet and remote as I thought it would be. Tourism has been booming for Iceland over the past few years, so railings, safety signs, and tourists has become a common sight in its once untouched attractions. But what I found hard to come by in Iceland...is EVERYWHERE in the Faroe Islands. Wild, remote, and windswept, it comprises of 18 islands, and is owned by Denmark but geographically closer to Scotland and Iceland.
Buttercup Roads
Nothing in the world can beat the buttercup roads of the Faroe Islands. These are roads peppered with signs containing the buttercup symbol, which indicate that you're on a scenic route filled with the most dramatic and rugged landscapes the Islands have to offer.
The Friendly Locals
The friendly locals here are more sheep than human, as there's an approx. of 50k humans and 70k sheeps on the islands. That means more sheeps than humans! The sheeps here are scattered all around, including the hardest to reach places. And that's the reason why the country's tourist board petitioned Google to let it be featured on Google Street View by mounting cameras onto the backs of sheep, calling it "Sheep View". Best idea ever! Check out this video -
As you drive on the roads, you're bound to get some sheepish looks from the sheeps. You might attempt to pet them, but these are wild sheep so they'll most likely run away. However, we found some friendly ones during our hikes that were fenced up, probably because they associated humans with their meal time. But do beware of suicidal sheeps on the road, especially when the fog starts to get thick...Let's avoid turning something this beautiful into a potentially traumatic experience.
The hoomans on the other hand, are mostly extremely friendly! We had trouble starting the car on the first day, and people kindly responded to our call for help. Everyone else we met along the way was exceptionally helpful, including our airbnb host! He made sure we were well taken care of.
Which brings us to the next point...
Faroese Airbnb
The Airbnb selection is top-notch! The place I've stayed is probably one of the best places I've ever stayed in my entire life. The view is breathtaking, just right by the fjords. And that is just one example, with over a hundred unique homes up for grabs in different parts of the island. With only a 30 minute drive from one end of the island to the other, you get the liberty of staying in the most remote places as long as you've got a car.