Laying on the black sand of Sólheimasandur beach on Iceland’s Southern coast are the iconic remains of an aircraft fuselage. The wreck has been a popular attraction for tourists, artists and photographers for decades. For those adventurous enough to go looking for it, this guide has everything you need to know before you go.
- Ricky Menzies
- Last Checked and/or Updated 28 August 2025
- Iceland
Being only a 2-hour drive along Route 1 from Reykjavik, some may wonder whether it is worth the effort of visiting the DC-3 plane wreck on Sólheimasandur Beach on he south coast of Iceland. Many online sources tell of the gruesome 2-hour walk across a desolate wasteland to get to it, or the alternative of taking the shuttle bus. I have written about this particular site, recommending it as one of 14 unusual historic sites in Iceland for the adventurous. Here, I share my own experience of going to the plane wreck in April 2025, to help you decide whether the trip is worth it or not.
The History
The year is 1973. A Douglas C-117D American transport aircraft is flying from Hornafjörður Airport in Eastern Iceland to Keflavik Naval Air Base in the West via the South coast when disaster strikes. Ice is forming on the wings and body of the plane causing engine malfunction. The wings are stalling causing an increase in airspeed. The crew have to land and they have to land right now. They choose a river at Sólheimasandur and make their rough and untimely landing.
Luckily, all seven crew members survived. They were rescued by helicopter, while the wreckage was left behind.
Deciding to Walk to the Plane Wreck
One clear but showery weekend in April my partner and I decided to cruise the southern coast of Iceland in search of this famous plane wreck. After doing some research, it became clear to me that if we were going to go on this little adventure, we had better be prepared. Most sources tell of the infamous 2-3 hour hike across the beach (one way) to get to the wreckage. But few actually say what it’s like. My imagination ran wild. I know how isolated some parts of Iceland can be, so I was picturing a long slog through soft black sand for miles on end with nowhere to stop to take a break, exposed to the elements. Danger was the first thing that came to mind. Fears confirmed by the fact that there is a bus that provides safety, warmth and ease of access.
Being an avid hiker, I decided I would take the risk of walking. I packed all the essentials including snacks, first aid kit, warm clothing, waterproof clothing, and more snacks. I even considered bringing a camping stove so we could have something hot if conditions got really bad.
The drive itself was pleasant, beautiful as ever, and straightforward. The car park was easy to find with signage along the way – on Route 1. The car park has a fee which costs 750isk or about €5. When we arrived, I noticed a few tour buses, which means those who don’t drive in Iceland can still get there (there are in fact tours available to purchase on GetYourGuide and Viator).
The Walk to the Wreck
After paying the car park fee, it was time for the arduous and perilous journey through the black desert. The weather was fairly clear and sunny. But in Iceland that can change in a heartbeat. It was quite windy and I could already taste the grit of sand in my mouth. I put on my trusty Barbour jacket, hood and sunglasses, slung on my backpack and headed for the gate.
There are safety signs that explain all the potential dangers involved in walking this route. It is worth reading these and making sure you are prepared. Just outside the gate was a huge bus with beefy off-roading tires, parked and waiting for passengers. A sign next to the bus told the price and timings. It costs 3200isk (€22.50) to take the bus both ways or 2000isk (€13.80) one way. The bus runs every half an hour and should take around 10 minutes to get there.
What I was not aware of until I got to the car park at the entrance to the site, was that there is a gravel road you can walk along from the car park to the wreckage. No ankle-straining soft sand for miles as I had been led to believe. That was a relief.
What I did find strange when starting off on the gravel road was that I could see the sea in the distance. It did not look two to three hours walk away. But, I was not able to see the wreckage. I thought, then, that must mean we would follow the path straight ahead as we could see, and then at some point take a turn left or right, and walk further to accounting for the time for the walk I had seen mentioned online.
We set off at a moderate pace, preparing ourselves to conserve energy. Around 10 minutes later the bus came roaring past along the same road we were one. With maybe 7 passengers on board. It seemed a bit silly, maybe a bit overkill, to be wearing off-road tires on this mild gravel road in these clear conditions. Perhaps they’re useful in the winter with the snow and ice, but this was no highland F-Road. I watched as the bus raced off, expecting to see it turn at some point a few kilometres down the track, and jet off along the coast to where I was expecting the plane to be. I was expecting to lose sight of the bus.
The walk itself is rocky under foot, but manageable. The landscape is flat and exposed, with no rocks or vegetation to break the wind. So you are exposed to the elements. As I predicted, there was nowhere to stop and sit, apart from the floor at the side of the road. There are reflective bollards for walking in the dark and as long as you stick to the path you really can not get lost. Of course, and I need to stress this, the first part of our walk was in clear, good conditions. If you are planning to do this activity in worse conditions , then make sure to stick to the track because otherwise it could very easily go wrong.
It then occurred to me that the bus never turned left or right. In fact, in the distance it seemed to have stopped, meaning the end was within sight. We powered on. I was beginning to have a feeling this walk was nowhere nearly as long as it is advertised to be, both on the signage at the gate and online. My partner bet an ice cream that we could make it there in 45 minutes. I said an hour. In the end, she was right.
The Plane
We caught up with the bus around 40 minutes after we left the gate. I was rather glad I hadn’t brought the camping stove at this point. I could not believe what was supposed to take at least 2 hours took only 40 minutes. Sure, on a bad day in wind, rain, fog and darkness it would take a little bit longer. And I am aware not everyone would walk at my pace, but advertising this walk to be a minimum of two hours is misleading to say the least. The bus is all wheels and no deals, literally. I get the feeling the exaggeration is put there to ensure people choose the bus over walking. Those not confident in their hiking ability may be lulled into taking the bus to avoid what seems like a perilous hike.
Of course, the bus has its uses. As I said before, bus tours do come here and they are known for their short timeframe at sites. So, if you only get given 30 minutes to see the wreckage, then the bus is basically your only option. On the other hand, if you have no/little time constraints, no mobility issues and it’s a nice day, this walk should not take you 2 hours. It will not take you 2 hours. Unless, of course, you want it to.
The plane wreck itself is small but impressive. There aren’t many places you can see a plane wreck, much less one you can actually touch, climb, or go inside (at your own risk). It is a fairly popular site to visit, so if you want the wreckage to yourself, you may be disappointed. I can understand why the likes of Justin Bieber, Sigur Rós, and Top Gear used this as a backdrop. It makes for a stunning photo. It gives the post-apocalypse vibe urban explorers are always hungry for. There are many photos of the plane wreck under the Northern Lights or obscured in fog. The black sand dunes in the background make for an eerie and haunting experience.
Time, weather and curious visitors have left their marks on the plane’s battered fuselage. Layers of graffiti, faded stickers and scrapes tell a messy but strangely human story. Despite it all, the wreck still stands, skeletal but stubborn. An eerie relic of the day fate forced it down onto these lonely sands. There are stumps of the wings and the rear of the plane is broken off allowing access. The safety sign warns against climbing on the plane, which is wise since in any other condition than dry, it can be slippery. There are sharp metal edges that can cut you, so wear gloves and make sure you’ve had a tetanus shot.
Unless you are a photographer, waiting for the perfect shot, your visit to the plane will not be a long one. We spent around half an hour admiring it and taking photos. Although a lot of the time was simply waiting for a fewer people to get a little bit of time to explore it without lots of people around.
After we had had enough of the plane, we meandered down to the black beach to take in the roaring sea. This is a worthwhile venture, looking out to sea standing on a black sand dune. While we were there, an ATV tour came ripping past to visit the plane wreck. If this kind of thing is your bag, ATV tours can be booked online. They seem to stick to the beach, which is sparsely inhabited by anything living, so you can ride wild and free without disturbing any habitats.
The weather did begin to turn by the time we had decided to walk back to the car. The wind was picking up, the fog was descending, and we were experiencing the Icelandic horizontal rain we know and love. The walk back took around the same amount of time, 45 minutes give or take. As there is nowhere to shelter, we were fairly well drenched by the time we reached our vehicle. While walking we were able to time how long the bus took to get from A to B. It seemed to take 5 minutes from the car park to the plane wreck, at the most. A short ride for a steep price.
Final Thoughts & Tips
The warnings at Sólheimasandur are not just for show. The brutal reality is lives have been lost out here. It is on record that two tourists perished after getting trapped by a sudden storm, and others have needed rescuing after misjudging a red weather warning. I really do not want my experience of a fairly easy time to cloud anyone’s judgement.
On the other hand, the safety signs that say that this 7km walk takes at least 3-4 hours seems like an unnecessary exaggeration to me. Perhaps well meaning, perhaps for commercial reasons, or maybe both. From hiking it myself, in both very good conditions and then in wet, windy, foggy weather, I do not feel that it takes that long.
The key is to come prepared. Bringing a camping stove to make hot food is probably overkill, but then again maybe not. Having warm clothes, waterproofs, snacks, sturdy footwear and water is essential to avoid disaster. Weather in Iceland is notoriously unpredictable. There’s a reason Thor was the most popular god in pagan times. You could set off in sunshine and return in rain.
Be ready for anything. And if it does look particularly awful, there is always the shuttle bus.
Suggested Tickets from GetYourGuide
South Coast Tour of Iceland
Shuttle Service to the Wreck
Visit the Wreck on an ATV
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DC-3 Plane Wreck, Sólheimasandur Beach
On the black sand of Sólheimasandur beach on Iceland’s Southern coast you can visit the wreckage of an aircraft fuselage. In 1973 a Douglas C-117D American transport aircraft en route from Hornafjörður Airport to Keflavik Naval Air Base was forced to make an emergency landing on the beach due because ice was forming on the aircraft. All seven crew members survived the landing, and the wreckage is remains to tell their tale. You can visit on your own or as part of a us tour – prepare your trip with our tips and advice.
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