The walk to Sólheimasandur plane wreck started out feeling strangely surreal.
My husband and I had pulled our rental car over at what looked like nothing more than a rough gravel patch beside Iceland’s Ring Road, then set off across a vast expanse of black sand with no sign of a plane wreck anywhere in sight.
It honestly felt like we were heading into the middle of nowhere. The landscape around us was completely barren. There were no landmarks, no vegetation, and no obvious destination to focus on.
Eventually, the skeletal remains of a crashed aircraft came into view, sitting alone in the middle of the stark volcanic landscape. I was instantly intrigued. It’s an eerie sight — and one of Iceland’s most unusual attractions that tourists can freely explore.
If you’re planning a visit, this guide explains exactly how to get to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck, and the easiest ways to reach the site today.
Quick summary:
The Sólheimasandur plane wreck is one of Iceland’s most unusual photo spots, located on the black sand plains along the country’s south coast. Visitors can walk about 40 minutes from the parking area to reach the wreck — or take a shuttle or ATV tour to get there more quickly.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🚌 Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck Shuttle – Quick 10–15 minute shuttle from the parking lot to the DC-3 wreck.
🏍️ South Coast ATV Quad Bike Safari – An adventurous ride across black sands with a visit to the famous plane wreck.
🚐 South Coast Highlights & DC-3 Plane Wreck Tour – Small-group day trip from Reykjavik visiting waterfalls and the plane wreck.
Where the Sólheimasandur plane wreck is located (and how to get there)
The Sólheimasandur plane wreck is located on the vast black sand plains along Iceland’s south coast, about 2 hours drive from Reykjavik. This remote stretch of volcanic landscape lies just off Iceland’s Ring Road (Route 1) between the village of Vík and the famous waterfall Skógafoss.
The story of the aircraft is pretty interesting. It was a US Navy Douglas DC-3 that crash-landed here in November 1973. The plane was flying from Höfn to Keflavík Airport when severe icing caused both engines to fail. Amazingly, all five crew members survived the emergency landing.
Instead of removing the wreckage of the aircraft, the remains were left behind on the sand where they slowly weathered over the decades. It’s now become one of the most unusual photo spots in Iceland. I was so keen to visit this spot on my trip to Iceland — it’s such a rare opportunity to explore a relic from the past that stands frozen in time!
To visit the site, you’ll first need to drive to the Sólheimasandur parking area, which is located just off Iceland’s Ring Road. When my husband and I visited Iceland in 2016, the parking area was extremely basic — essentially just a rough gravel patch beside the road where a few cars could pull over. I haven’t been there again to confirm, but I believe that there’s now a more clearly marked parking lot with signage indicating the trail to the plane wreck.
From the parking area, the wreck itself sits about 4 km (2.5 miles) away across the black sand plain. You can choose to either walk the route or take the shuttle bus that runs from the parking lot. Some guided tours and ATV experiences also include transport across the sand to the plane wreck. Read on for a more detailed overview of each of these options.
Walking to the plane wreck
If you choose to walk to the plane wreck (as we did), be prepared for a surprisingly long and fairly monotonous trek. The wreck sits around 4 km (2.5 miles) from the parking lot, which takes roughly 40 minutes each way. This means that it will take around 1.5-2 hours to make the return journey from your vehicle at the parking lot, depending on how much time you spend at the wreck.
The route itself is flat and easy to follow, but the landscape is incredibly barren. When we did the walk, it honestly felt much longer than it actually was because there was almost nothing to look at along the way. For most of the journey, we couldn’t even see the plane wreck in the distance. But once we arrived, I forgot all about the boring walk and was just excited to finally have arrived at the site.
The conditions were fairly calm during our summer visit in June, but Iceland’s weather can change quickly, and this exposed walk could become uncomfortable. If you’re visiting in the colder months or on a day with windy or stormy weather, having an alternative way to reach the wreck would be a huge advantage.
Shuttle bus to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck
When I visited the plane wreck in 2016, the only option for reaching it was to walk across the black sand plain. Today, there’s also a dedicated shuttle service that runs from the parking lot directly to the wreck.
🚌 If you’d prefer to avoid the long walk across the black sand plain, the Iceland: Shuttle Service to the Plane Wreck makes visiting much quicker and easier.
The shuttle takes around 10–15 minutes each way, which is a huge time saving compared to walking. Services usually operate daily between 10:00 and 16:30, so it’s a convenient option for travellers who want to access the wreck without spending so much time trekking across the sand.
ATV quad bike tour to the plane wreck
🏍️ For a more adventurous way to reach the wreck, the Mýrdalsjökull: South Coast ATV Quad Bike Safari lets you ride a quad bike across the black sand plains before stopping at the famous DC-3 aircraft.
These guided tours would be such a unique way to explore the vast volcanic plains surrounding the site and to access the aircraft. Riding across the sand on a quad bike transforms the journey into an experience in itself rather than just a long walk.
Along the way, you’ll get views toward the Mýrdalsjökull glacier as well as the rugged coastline near Dyrhólaey, which you wouldn’t normally see if you simply walked from the parking area. You’ll also get time to explore the DC-3 plane wreck site and take photos before riding back across the sands.
Day tour to the plane wreck from Reykjavik
🚐 If you’re staying in Reykjavik without a rental car, the South Coast Highlights & DC-3 Plane Wreck Small-Group Tour is an easy way to visit the site while also seeing some of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls and beaches.
These guided tours travel along Iceland’s scenic south coast and include several famous stops along the way. The itinerary includes a visit to the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, and Skogafoss, as well as the dramatic black sand beach at Reynisfjara.
The tour also includes a stop at the DC-3 plane wreck on the sands of Sólheimasandur using the shuttle bus service, so you won’t have to walk the full distance from the parking area.
Travelling with a guide also means you’ll hear the story behind the crash and learn more about the surrounding landscapes — something you might miss if you were visiting independently.
What to expect when visiting the Sólheimasandur plane wreck
As we finally reached the wreck, I could see why this unusual attraction draws so many visitors. It’s very photogenic because of the stark contrast between the white aircraft wreckage and the black volcanic sand in the empty landscape.
The aircraft is surprisingly intact considering it crashed here more than fifty years ago. The cracked metal fuselage is slowly weathering under Iceland’s harsh conditions, but despite decades of exposure to the elements, the twisted metal structure has held together surprisingly well.
When we visited, there were only a handful of other travellers around, which made it easy to explore the wreck and take photos without crowds getting in the way. With the newer shuttle services and tours now running, it’s possible that the site gets busier at certain times when big groups arrive.
The wreck itself is completely open for exploration. Walking through feels strangely eerie — you can’t help but imagine what it must have been like for the crew on board when the aircraft crash-landed here on the sand. We were able to climb inside parts of the fuselage, step out onto the wings, and even sit on the large engine casings that remain attached to the aircraft. That said, it’s important to be very careful when exploring. The wreckage is rusted and damaged in places, so climbing around the metal structure can be risky if you’re not paying attention.
We didn’t stay at the wreck for very long — probably 20 to 30 minutes in total. After exploring the fuselage and taking some photos, I was already thinking about the long walk back across the sand.
There’s also one practical thing visitors should know: there are no toilets anywhere near the plane wreck or the parking area. By the time we finished exploring, I was absolutely busting to use the bathroom. Out here in the middle of the black sand plains, that meant a rather awkward public squat with very little cover for privacy — not particularly graceful, but sometimes unavoidable when travelling!
Is the Sólheimasandur plane wreck worth visiting?
Despite the long and fairly boring walk to get there, I genuinely enjoyed visiting the Sólheimasandur plane wreck. It’s very different to the other popular Iceland experiences, and I’d certainly say that it’s one of the most unusual attractions in Europe.
If you enjoy photography locations or slightly eerie historical sites, I’d say Sólheimasandur is definitely worth seeing. But if I were visiting again today, I’d probably choose one of the easier access options — either the shuttle bus or an ATV tour — to save the time and effort of walking across the black sand plain.
Sólheimasandur plane wreck FAQ
How long is the walk to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck?
The walk from the parking lot to the wreck is about 4 km each way and usually takes around 35–45 minutes.
Can you take a shuttle to the plane wreck in Iceland?
Yes. A shuttle service runs between the Sólheimasandur parking lot and the plane wreck, taking around 10–15 minutes each way.
Is visiting the Iceland plane wreck free?
Yes, visiting the wreck itself is free. However you may need to pay for parking, shuttle transport or guided tours.
Can you go inside the Sólheimasandur plane wreck?
Yes, visitors can climb inside parts of the fuselage, but you should be cautious around the rusted metal.
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