Aktiviteter
Sailing and living the sea
Samson Højgaard
For the past seven years, boat.fo has been doing authentic boat tours with traditional Faroese boats. The tours offer fishing, wildlife, landscape, mindful exploration and stories.
Growing up in the Faroe Islands, Samson Højgaard had a keen interest in fishing, wildlife and the outdoors. For his holidays, he visited his grandparents in Árnafjørður. Some of the best memories are excursions out on the fiord with the family’s traditional Faroese boat. These experiences became the inspiration behind boat.fo.
Samson is a Candidate of Fisheries Science and has work experience from fisheries and teaching. A few years ago, he signed up for a course to become an authorized tour guide. He found it very rewarding, meeting people from many places and showing them around the Faroe Islands.
It was at this point that the idea to establish boat.fo was conceived. Samson asked himself: Could the traditional Faroese boat be used for tours with visitors? Would they enjoy exploring the fiords the same way he did? Could the cultural heritage of the Faroese boat be communicated to outsiders? He has since learned that the answer is “yes”.
boat.fo do scheduled tours from May to September in Árnafjørður and Hvannasund. There are different tours available including: “Fishing & Sightseeing”, “Seabirds, Seals & Seacaves tour”, “Family tour”, and “Fish, Visit & Dine”.
“On our authentic boat tours we take notice of the marine life. We observe the seabirds, the fish, the seals, and other aquatic life. We try to learn how it all is connected, and in turn, to understand how important the marine environment is to us all.” Samson relates.
Belén García Ovide
Ocean Missions & Tilvera Expeditions, Iceland
Navigating CHANGE
This presentation explores how sustainable tourism and citizen science can work hand in hand to protect our oceans—particularly in the fragile Arctic regions. Drawing from 13 years of experience in marine research, sailing, and conservation, Belén shares the story of Ocean Missions, an Iceland-based NGO connecting science, education, and community action.
Through initiatives like citizen-science expeditions, the Northeast Iceland Hope Spot, and long-term microplastic and coastal pollution monitoring, the talk demonstrates how research-driven tourism can foster ocean stewardship, empower communities, and support global conservation goals.
Heimir Harðarson
North Sailing & Tilvera Expeditions, Iceland
Questioning Sustainability
In this presentation, Heimir Harðarson shares insights from over 30 years onboard North Sailing, a family company based in Northeast Iceland dedicated to restoring traditional wooden boats and giving them new life. He reflects on Iceland’s remarkable transition from whaling to whale watching, and how North Sailing helped transform the once-quiet port of Húsavík into a thriving center of tourism, research, and education. A pioneer in traditional sailing and electric propulsion, Heimir takes us on a journey through seamanship, sustainability, and personal transformation, challenging us to redefine what true sustainability means. Through Tilvera Expeditions, he demonstrates how purposeful sailing, transformative experiences, and Arctic exploration can open new horizons—fostering environmental awareness, human connection, and a deeper respect for nature.