Among the load of photos I had received from a Faroese friend, there was also the one below, featuring a Smyril Line ship.

Smyril Line is a Faroese shipping company, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland. Previously, it had also served Norway and the United Kingdom. But due to financial difficulties, the ship line had to change its schedule. During off-season, the route is Esbjerg (Denmark) – Tórshavn (Faroe Islands) – Seyðisfjörður (Iceland), and during peak season Hanstholm (Denmark) and return. Routes to Norway and Scotland have been taken off the program and during winter season, it is possible for only cargo to be transportated on the route Esbjerg – Tórshavn.

Take a look at Smyril Line’s travel brochure and sailing schedule for more up-to-date information.

Smyril Line ship docking at Tórshavn

On a slightly different note – these islands can also be reached by plane.

Visiting the Faroe Islands is a great experience, either way. Two years ago, I had traveled there by plane from Frankfurt via Kopenhagen using Atlantic Airways to get to the Faroes. To learn more about Atlantic Airways, I want to recommend  this podcast with Magni Arge, the CEO of Atlantic Airways, the Faroe Islands’ only airline.

Flying with Atlantic Airways was a very positive experience, and for once I even enjoyed the food. Of course, the safety factor always prevails and I enjoyed my flight with Atlantic Airways.  Nevertheless, seeing this mighty boat has me dreaming now of a trip by ship to the Faroes…

For more podcasts and other interesting tidbits about the Faroe Islands, you should also visit the Faroe Islands Podcast blog.

While my trip to Japan is only four weeks away, I have already booked my next one and this time my flight will take me to the Faeroe Islands in May 2008.

Curious? The Faroe Islands are located 450 km south of Iceland and 322 km north of the Shetland Islands.

I would not be going there if I didn’t have a special reason, which is to visit a friend of mine I have not seen in 16 years. We met in the United States and then our ways parted as she was moving to Denmark and I was in the process of moving to Japan.

This will be a fantastic experience to get to know one part of the world where not many people have traveled before (except Ingmar Bergman, who had a recluse on one of the ten islands).

What do I expect? I don’t know. I imagine it to be windy, experience four long days of daylight in May, eat seafood, and have a good reunion with my dear friend Mariann.

The link A comprehensive introduction to the Faroes (Faeroe Islands) I found very useful and interesting.

With Lufthansa I will fly to Kopenhagen/Denmark and with the largest Faroese airline, Atlantic Airways, I will make it to the Faroes.

Have you ever been there? Do you know anyone who has ever been there? Would you like to travel there? Leave a comment!

For more information on the Faroes, click here:

Edit: An attentive reader pointed out the following – Ingmar Bergman was a recluse on Fårö, an island off the coast of Sweden, not the Faroe Islands. The Faroes are made up of 18 islands, not 10 as previously stated.