Hvannasund: Guided Boat Tour with Fishing

The best part of this outing is the mix of wild coastal scenery and hands-on fishing. You sail from Hvannasund toward Viðareiði, pass steep shores and sea caves, and may shut off the engine inside a grotto for coffee with only waves and seabirds around you.

I like the small group, limited to five people, and I like that your catch is yours to take home. Guide Samson also cleans fish on the boat and helps fillet them ashore. The main drawback is the weather: strong wind or waves can change the departure point to Árnafjørður or cancel the trip.

Key points to know

• Coffee inside a sea grotto: When conditions are safe, the engine goes quiet and you enjoy coffee by the water.
• Fishing near cod spawning grounds: Rods, bait, tackle, and a fishing license are included.
• Small boat, small group: With no more than five participants, the outing feels personal rather than crowded.
• A real catch to take home: Possible fish include cod, haddock, whiting, saithe, and redfish.
• Viðareiði and Múli: The route pairs dramatic coastal views with a look toward the abandoned village of Múli.
• Weather controls the plan: Wind and waves may alter the route, move the departure to Árnafjørður, or cancel the trip.

Hvannasund is the right place to start

You meet at the small boat marina north of the dam in Hvannasund, on Viðoy. After driving over the bridge to the island, turn left and continue to the marina. The boat returns to this same point after about four hours, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup.

This is a useful setup if you have your own car and are already exploring the northern islands. Transportation from your accommodation is not included, so plan that part yourself. The meeting point is simple, but you should allow enough time to find the marina rather than arriving at the last minute in full rain gear and a mild panic.

The trip is designed for a maximum of five participants. That matters on a small boat. You have a better chance of getting help with the fishing gear, asking questions, and finding a good place to look along the shore. It also means the boat may feel more exposed to movement than a large sightseeing vessel, especially if the sea is lively.

Before boarding, you receive a flotation suit, boots, and a life jacket. Those items are practical rather than decorative. Faroe weather can change quickly, and the boat keeps close to open water and rocky shorelines where spray is part of the experience.

Sailing north toward Viðareiði

The boat heads north from Hvannasund along the coast of Viðoy. The route is about more than reaching one landmark. The shore changes as you go, with steep rock faces, narrow gorges, and openings in the coast that are best seen from water level.

Near the village of Viðareiði, the scenery becomes especially dramatic. You get views of the island from a low angle, where the scale of the cliffs and cuts in the rock is easier to appreciate. Bring a camera, but keep it protected. Sea spray, wind, and sudden movement are more important than getting one perfect photograph.

This section also gives the guide a chance to explain the marine setting. The tour is not only a ride with a fishing stop added on. You actively learn about the sea, the coast, and the fish found in these waters. The listed guiding languages are English, Danish, Norwegian, and German, and Samson’s explanations have been an important part of the experience for many participants.

You should expect the exact route to depend on conditions. The boat operator may need to avoid exposed stretches if the wind or waves become unsafe. That is not a flaw in the outing. On the Faroe Islands, a weather decision can be the difference between a memorable trip and an uncomfortable one.

Entering the sea caves and gorges

The caves and gorges are the most distinctive visual part of the route. From the boat, you can see rock openings, dark recesses, and clear water around the shoreline. Some areas also reveal colorful shellfish attached to the rocks, adding small details to a scene that can otherwise feel very grand.

If the weather allows, the boat enters one of the grottos. This is a special pause in the itinerary because the engine is turned off. Instead of a running motor, you hear the sea and seabirds. You then enjoy a cup of coffee inside the grotto, surrounded by rock and water.

That quiet moment is worth understanding before you book. This is not a polished indoor attraction with a fixed viewing platform. You are sitting on a small boat in a natural opening, and access depends on safe conditions. If wind or waves make entry unwise, the cave section may not happen.

The grotto also gives you a break from the active parts of the trip. You can take photographs, listen to the guide, and watch the water without needing to cast a line or scan the cliffs. Keep your camera ready, but do not treat the stop as a guaranteed photo setup. Faroe weather has the final word.

Fishing near the North Atlantic cod grounds

The fishing stop gives this trip its character. These waters are close to spawning grounds for North Atlantic cod, and the usual catch may include Atlantic cod, haddock, whiting, and saithe. Redfish is also possible, as one particularly productive outing showed.

Fishing rods, jigs, tackle, bait, and the required fishing license are included. You do not need to bring specialized equipment or spend part of your day figuring out what to rent. The guide handles the practical side and shows you how to use the gear.

Your results will depend on conditions and luck. The tour gives you a genuine chance to catch fish, but it cannot promise a full bucket. That uncertainty is part of the appeal, especially if you want something more active than a sightseeing cruise.

If you catch something, you keep it. Samson has cleaned fish on the boat, fed a little to the seagulls, and helped with filleting once ashore. That turns the catch into something useful rather than a quick photo before release. You can take the fish home and prepare it for a meal.

This is also a good choice if you want a simple connection to local food. Catching your own cod or haddock, then taking it back for dinner, feels more grounded than buying a packaged souvenir. Just make sure you have a sensible plan for transporting and preparing the fish after the tour. The activity includes your catch, but it does not include transportation back to your accommodation.

The return past Múli

After the fishing, the boat turns back toward Hvannasund and crosses to the other side of the fjord. The return route takes you toward Múli, an abandoned village with a very different atmosphere from Viðareiði.

Múli is not presented as a long walking visit. You see it from the water as part of the return journey. That makes the stop brief, but it adds a human detail to an outing otherwise focused on cliffs, caves, birds, and fish. The abandoned settlement helps you read the coast as a place shaped by both nature and earlier communities.

The route is nicely paced. You begin with the open coastal views, pause for caves and coffee if conditions allow, spend time fishing, and finish with the quieter view toward Múli. Four hours gives enough room for these parts without turning the outing into a full-day commitment.

Food and drink are included in a modest form: a light meal, water, and coffee. Do not expect a large restaurant lunch. Think of it as useful fuel during a boat trip, with the coffee inside the grotto serving as the memorable part when the sea allows it.

What the weather can change

Weather is the main practical issue. If the winds and waves are not safe, the trip may operate from the nearby village of Árnafjørður instead of Hvannasund. If conditions remain unsuitable, the outing is cancelled and you receive a full refund.

That policy is reassuring, but it also means you should avoid building an entire day around one fixed version of the route. The grotto entry and some coastal sections are especially dependent on sea conditions. A rough day may produce a shorter or altered trip, while a calm, sunny day can make the caves, fishing, and views much more rewarding.

The boat provides flotation clothing, boots, and a life jacket, but dress for cold and wet conditions underneath. You should be comfortable climbing aboard and moving around a small vessel. The activity is not recommended for people with impaired mobility.

A sunny day can transform the outing. One trip included calm weather, clear views, a halo around the sun, and sightings of seals. Those moments cannot be ordered from a menu, but the route gives you a good chance to notice them when nature cooperates.

The value of the $258 price

At $258 per person, this is not a cheap boat ride. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: four hours on the water, an authorized guide, protective clothing, a small meal, water, coffee, fishing equipment, bait, tackle, a license, and any fish you catch.

The group limit is important to the value. You are not paying for a crowded boat with a short commentary track. You have a guide who can explain the marine environment, help with fishing, handle a catch, and adjust the outing to the group.

The value is strongest for someone who wants several activities in one morning or afternoon. A standard sightseeing cruise may give you more comfort, but it will not usually include fishing and a catch to take home. A dedicated fishing trip may focus more heavily on catching fish, but it may not include the caves, gorges, seabirds, and Múli.

The price is harder to justify if you want only a calm scenic ride, dislike fishing, or need a fully predictable schedule. You may spend part of the time handling gear and waiting for a bite. That is the point for some people and a drawback for others.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure gives you some protection when weather forecasts look uncertain. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if you are arranging several activities across the islands.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would choose this experience if you want active sightseeing rather than a ride where you simply sit and look out. The fishing gives you something to do, while the caves and coastal scenery keep the trip interesting when the fish are not biting.

It suits couples, families with older children, and small groups of friends who like nature, photography, and local food. The limit of five participants makes it a good fit if you prefer direct contact with a guide. It is also a strong choice for anyone hoping to see seabirds or seals without committing to a full day at sea.

You should think twice if you have limited mobility, are uncomfortable boarding a small boat, or need an indoor backup plan. The flotation suit and boots help with exposure, but they do not remove the movement of the boat or the need to work around fishing equipment.

You also need to accept that not every highlight is guaranteed. The fish may not bite. The boat may not enter the grotto. The departure may shift to Árnafjørður. Those are normal conditions for a small coastal trip, not signs that the operator has failed to deliver.

Should you book the Hvannasund fishing tour?

Book it if you want a personal, active outing that combines fishing, sea caves, seabirds, and Faroe scenery in four hours. The small group, included gear, and chance to take home cod or haddock give it more substance than a simple cruise.

Skip it if you want guaranteed cave access, a large stable vessel, or a tightly fixed route. For everyone else, this is a strong use of half a day, especially when the forecast is calm and you have your own transportation to Hvannasund.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the small boat marina north of the dam in Hvannasund on Viðoy. After driving over the bridge to Viðoy, turn left and continue to the marina.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same marina in Hvannasund.

How long does the boat tour last?

The tour lasts four hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

What languages can the guide speak?

Guiding is available in English, Danish, Norwegian, and German.

How many people can join the tour?

The group is limited to five participants.

Is fishing equipment included?

Yes. Fishing rods, jigs, tackle, bait, and a fishing license are included.

Can I keep the fish I catch?

Yes. Any fish you catch is yours to take home. Fish may include cod, haddock, whiting, saithe, and redfish.

Is transportation from my accommodation included?

No. You are responsible for getting to the marina in Hvannasund.

What happens if the weather is unsafe?

The tour may operate from nearby Árnafjørður if wind and waves make the usual route unsafe. If the weather is not safe for the activity, it is cancelled and you receive a full refund.