Átjan Wild Islands (formerly Útiliv Adventure festival) is a four day adventure festival in the Faroe Islands combining competitive mountain running events from 10km trail to 60km ultra-marathons, adventure activities, and unique after parties. Festival tickets include entry into one of the four mountain running events, and a full programme of adventure activities, parties, live music, talks and films. 

For more info about why we changed our name in the words of our Founder Theo here!

Átjan Wild Islands is held in the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn.  The beating heart of the festival is Perlan, a venue in Tórshavn that's ours for the whole week... See you there! :)

Átjan Wild Islands starts on Wednesday 4th September, and runs until late at night on Sunday 8th September 2019.

Vágar Airport is the only airport in the Faroe Islands. Faroese national airline Atlantic Airways fly’s direct to Bergen, Billund, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Reykjavík-City, Aalborg, Barcelona, Chambéry, Chania, Gran Canaria, Lisbon & Palma de Mallorca. You can also fly with SAS direct from Copenhagen. If you are travelling from the UK, you should either fly from London to Vágar Airport via Copenhagen or from Edinburgh direct. Coach transfers are available on our booking page.

Smyril Line operates an all year cruise and car ferry service by the big car ferry, Norrøna, with regular sailings to the Faroe Islands from Denmark (Hirtshals) and Seyðisfjörður on the east coast of Iceland into Torshavn.

Yes. We would recommend hiring a car to explore the islands. Have a look at our partner Visit Faroe Islands page for hiring a car. 

It's a 40 minutes drive from the Airport to Tórshavn. There are several bus-routes to and from the Airport and taxies can be prebooked and hired.

Taxi & Airport Shuttle

Airport Shuttle Price Guide (Prices are all one way)

Single seat DKK 200

Rent the cab (Max 4 persons) DKK 650

Rent a big taxi (Not much space for baggage, max 6 pers) DKK 900

Rent a mini-bus (Max 8 pers) DKK 1200

Auto Taxi: +298 311234,+298 363636 or +298 666666 // auto@auto.fo

taxi.fo: +298 32 32 32 // taxi@taxi.fo

Public Bus Connection 

Click here for information about public bus connections to and from the Airport. 

The average maximum day time temperature in Faroe Islands in September is a cool 11°C (52°F). The average night-time temperature is usually a cold 7°C (45°F). Sunrise is at 06:34 and sunset is at 20:17. The islands are generally windy, cloudy and cool throughout the year. Variations in altitude,ocean currents, topography and wind mean the climate differs greatly, even though distances between locations is small. This makes for unpredictable and highly changeable weather. You can literally experience all four seasons in one day! The climate, classed as Maritime Subarctic according to the Köppen climate classification, is influenced by the strong warming influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which produces the North Atlantic Current.

I can’t make the entire weekend - can I come just for the race?

The average maximum day time temperature in Faroe Islands in September is a cool 11°C (52°F). The average night-time temperature is usually a cold 7°C (45°F). Sunrise is at 06:34 and sunset is at 20:17. The islands are generally windy, cloudy and cool throughout the year. Variations in altitude,ocean currents, topography and wind mean the climate differs greatly, even though distances between locations is small. This makes for unpredictable and highly changeable weather. You can literally experience all four seasons in one day! The climate, classed as Maritime Subarctic according to the Köppen climate classification, is influenced by the strong warming influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which produces the North Atlantic Current.

I can’t make the entire weekend - can I come just for the race?

There are a number of different hotels & guesthouses in and around Torshavn. 

Yes, the Faroe Islands have many great options on Airbnb.

No – flights must be booked separately.

Included in your festival ticket is:

Race Entry with timed results, and a fully marked and supported course with checkpoints 

Access to Wednesday Night Opening Party, Saturday Night After Party, and Sunday Night Closing Party 

One Night of Inspiring Talks and Adventure Films

Day time films on Sunday afternoon 

Access to Hot Tubs on Thursday, and at the Finish Line

All Workshops, Talks, and Skill Sessions offered by our Sponsors (First Come First Served)

Finish Line Medal and Meal 

Race Transport from Torshavn to Start Line

*Adventure Activities are not included and must be bought as an add on

If you are interested in volunteering or working at the festival, please email as at sarah@utilivfestival.com - we’d love to hear from you!

We are not able to refund tickets or defer tickets.

To book, please visit the Útilív Store directly once you are in Tórshavn. The shop is located on Magnus Heinasonargøta 20, with entry from Sverrisgøta and is open from 10:00-17:30 Monday-Friday. For more information, please see here: https://www.utiliv.fo/

Please pay the yoga teacher 100DKK directly (cash only) at the start of the session.

There are four mountain races at Átjan Wild Islands. The rough distances and elevation gains are:

Ultra-Trail Faroe Islands

Approx:  60km / ~4500m

Mountain Marathon 

Approx: 42km / ~2500m

Mountain Half Marathon 

Approx 21km / ~1625m

Mountain Trail 10km 

Approx 10km / ~845m

The mountain races take place on Saturday 7th September 2018. 

Due to the fragile nature of the Faroe Islands, and in order to respect the environment, as well as the farmers land, the festival will be capped at 500 runners across the four races. If you are looking for a race atmosphere of thousands of athletes – this event is not for you.

It is imperative that you have some mountain running experience and are correctly equipped to race in the mountains. The trails are technical, with steep ascents and descents and will involve some light scrambling and exposed mountain ridges. If you are unsure of your experience or have any questions about your ability please email sarah@utilivfestival.com

Some areas of the route feature sections of light scrambling which involves loose scree and sections with very rough terrain,  often needing three points of contact in the case of loose rock. Therefore these events are NOT for the faint hearted.  Please be aware that some sections of the route traverse high and remote mountainous terrain and sometimes in very variable weather, so we ask that competitors feel at ease with these conditions in order to complete the course. The routes cross large expanses of uneven, boggy, and rough terrain that do not follow paths or trails which you may be used to running in the UK, Alps, or at other trail running events. 

The weather in the Faroe Islands can change dramatically so please take into account the prevailing conditions and dress accordingly. Participants should be sufficient in the event of injury, and in the event you should need to walk to the nearest check point or start/finish locations. The race crew will reserve the right to ask for additional warm clothing to be worn or carried if the weather conditions demand so. In the communication leading up to race day, and the safety briefings on the day, you will be notified of any additional requirements. Due to the nature of the terrain, participants will need to carry their own food and drink for long sections of the course. It is within the participants interest and safety to arrive prepared. If you have any questions please contact sarah@atjanwildislands.com

Mandatory Kit List 

Must be worn:

Short or long sleeve base layer top (NO COTTON)

Shorts or tights

Mountain/ Trail running shoes – must have suitable tread

Must be worn or carried:

Waterproof jacket with taped seams

Waterproof trousers with taped seams

Spare Long Sleeved Base Layer Top (NO COTTON)

Hat or buff

Gloves

Head Torch*

Survival Bag/Foil Blanket

Whistle

GPS device (Smartphone will suffice) and/or Map & Compass.

First aid kit with a minimum of - wound bandage, 4 x adhesive plasters, 4 x safety pins and any personal medication you require.

A water reservoir (can be more) with a minimum capacity of 1 litre

A reusable cup/mug (if you do not want coke/coffee/juice in your reservoirs). There will be no plastic cups at the check points*

Nutrition/Food for the duration of your run

Suitable race Vest, Race Pack/ Backpack

*A head torch does not need to be carried for the Trail 10km or the half marathon
* A reusable cup / mug does not need to be carried for the Trail 10km or the half marathon

A baggage drop is available for you to collect warm and dry clothes at the finish line. Please limit to one small bag / rucksack per person, and deposit these at the bus transport to the start line. These bags will be transported for you to the finish line. We recommend bringing dry clothes, spare shoes / flip flops and a warm coat for the finish line. Please use the tear off baggage label on your race number and attach it to your bag.

There is no half way bag drop or drop bags along any of the routes. 

All courses are route marked with pink event flags. You will not need to navigate and must follow the route marking flags at all times. Runners will all be issued a map at Registration which you must carry on race day.

GPX files will be available to download, but competitors are asked to use the flag markings in first instance. Please appreciate that there are always differences between gpx files depending on what software you are using and data may show up differently on different devices. For safety reasons, competitors should always follow the route markings as these are more accurate. 

The Mountain Half Marathon, Mountain Marathon, and Ultra-Trail Faroe Islands will have a number of aid-stations offering food and hydration, these will be manned by marshals. Given the remote section of the routes, runners must aim to be self-sufficient between check points. There are fresh mountain streams to fill up with water throughout the course. Runners must be self sufficient in nutrition, hydration, clothing and equipment. 

Some aid stations have a cut off time based on the necessity to have all runners safely off the high mountain sections of the route, and finished by the course closure time. Cut off times will be sent out to each competitor by email. The cut off times are reasonable to allow slow runners to arrive and to complete the race, but these must be adhered to for the safety of all competitors and event staff.

Once committed to the higher remote sections of the route it is often impossible to retreat. Any competitor retiring from the race must let the event team know by speaking to the nearest marshal, or phoning the event crew number which will be provided at registration. Any competitor wishing to retire from the race is likely to face a long walk back into the valley. Where possible, we can help runners get to the Finish Line by an event vehicle, but runners should aim to be self sufficient and get themselves to the finish. We cannot take runners back to Tórshavn if you retire from the race.

The race distance change deadline has now passed and all distances are now FULL.

Distances can be changed up until the deadline of 7th June 2019. This is subject to the number of entries per distance. If a race distance is full, you will be added to a waiting list and notified if a place becomes available. Please email sarah@utilivfestival.com using the subject RACE DISTANCE CHANGE and include your full name, email, and the distance you’d like to change to. You will be added to the waiting list and notified if a place becomes available.

You are welcome to watch the race from the start and finish locations. You are also welcome to explore the route, but please follow the hiking guidelines of the islands which can be found at VisitFaroeIslands.com

If you are spectating, please not there is no space for your own cars (or hire cars) at the start of each race, so we kindly ask that you do not drive (or take a taxi) to the start.

There is also no space for your own cars (or hire cars) at the finish, as this is a very small village and you will NOT be able to park your car. If you wish to spectate at the finish line, you will need to park in a village close by and walk 2km to the finish. Please respect the locals with this requirement and do not try to drive right up to the finish line. 

Transport from Tórshavn to the race start is provided to every competitor and included in your festival ticket. There is no space for your own cars (or hire cars), so we kindly ask that you do not drive (or take a taxi) to the start. You must take the transport provided, please. NOTE: there will not be anywhere to park cars at the start or the finish.

Details of the bus departure times are: 

Buses will depart central Tórshavn at the following times;

Ultra-Trail Faroe Islands 

Bus Departs: 04:45 

Journey Time: approx 30 minutes

Race Start Time: 06:00

Mountain Marathon 

Bus Departs: 06:45

Journey Time: approx 30 minutes

Race Start Time: 08:00

Mountain Half Marathon 

Bus Departs: 09:15

Journey Time: approx 50 minutes

Race Start Time: 11:00

Mountain Trail 10km 

Bus Departs: 11:15 

Journey Time: approx 50 minutes

Race Start Time: 13:00

Please note, buses are provided based on the number of runners per race, so if you miss your allocated bus, you will not be able to get on a later bus. 

Bus transport from the finish line back to Tórshavn is provided at a small extra price if competitors wish to use this service. Please bring 100dkk in cash to the finish if you wish to use this service.