Off-the-beaten-track island destination soon to be more accessible from Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario

A trip to an off-the-beaten-track island destination will soon be much easier from Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

European airline Icelandair will offer direct flights between Reykjavik, Iceland to the Faroe Islands. Travellers from Ontario can catch a flight from Pearson to Reykjavik Keflavík International Airport and then head directly to Faroes’ Vagar Airport five to six times a week starting in May, according to a press release from Icelandair.

Famously home to more sheep than people, the Faroe Islands is an off-the-beaten-track destination comprised of 18 small islands in the Northeast Atlantic, according to the press release.

The Faroes’ stunning beauty is characterized by steep cliffs, epic mountains and narrow fjords.

With a population of only 55,000, the Faroes offer a “blissful change of pace and the opportunity to commune with nature,” the release states.

The islands are a two-hour flight from Reykjavik but they are not part of Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing nation with extensive autonomous powers within the Kingdom of Denmark.

They are not a well-known spot for tourists but hikers and bird watchers are drawn to the islands’ mountains, valleys and steep coastal cliffs that are home to thousands of seabirds. 

The sea cliffs are teeming with birdlife at Vestmanna and Mykines is packed with puffins.

Natural wonders include a “hanging lake” Sørvagsvátn and the iconic Faroe waterfalls. Active travellers may enjoy fishing, whale watching, rock climbing, mountain biking and scuba diving.

The capital city of Tórshavn, named for the Norse god Thor, features colourful buildings and there are two Michelin-guide restaurants. 

Travellers to the Faroe Islands can combine a trip to Iceland on Icelandair at no additional airfare cost.

Flights start as low as $757, see more information here.

For more on the Faroe Islands, visit the official site here.

Photos: Tomáš Malík