Shuttle to the Plane Wreck on Solheimasandur's Black Sand Desert

Take a trip to one of the most photographed sites on Iceland’s south coast, the DC-3 plane wreck. This shuttle tour is perfect for those who want to see this incredible landmark with ease and comfort.

On November 21st, 1973 this US Navy aircraft was on a routine flight from Höfn in Iceland’s east. At around 2 pm, the Douglas R4D-8 Super DC-3 aircraft crash-landed on the black sand desert of Sólheimasandur, between Hvolsvöllur and the fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal on the South Coast.

All passengers aboard the flight survived the crash, and the Navy abandoned the plane. Since then, the remains of this plane have been lying on the volcanic sands, exposed to the elements. 

After the tourism boom of 2011, visitors began to make a pilgrimage to the crash site to catch a glimpse of this unnatural wonder against the stunning and stark landscape.

Until recently, to get to the DC-3 plane, visitors had to park on the main road then hike for an hour. Now there’s a better way. 

With this shuttle tour, you will board a comfortable bus that takes you directly to the plane wreck in about 15 minutes.

Along the way, you will be able to take in the rocky and otherworldly landscapes of Sólheimasandur. This area was created by glacial bursts and floods over thousands of years, carving a black sand desert out of Iceland’s southern coast.

Once you arrive at your destination, there is plenty of time to take in the surroundings, get a closer look at the plane, and take those outstanding photos. After you have witnessed the incredible sights of this unique attraction, you will board the bus again and head back to your starting point.

This shuttle operates all day between 10 am and 5 pm. This means there’s plenty of opportunities to take advantage of this incredible site, and still fit other things into your day.

This is the perfect way to see the DC-3 plane wreck in absolute comfort. This attraction won’t be around forever, so don’t miss out. Pick a date and time to check availability.