Solheimasandur Plane Wreck in Iceland: Travel Guide
The walk to Solheimasandur Plane Wreck was one of the strangest hikes we've ever done. Do you want to visit the Iceland plane crash site on the black sand beach made notoriously famous by Justin Bieber's video clip? Read our Solheimasandur travel guide, including tips on finding Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, how to get there, what to pack, and safety tips.
The weirdest places we visited in Iceland during our recent trip? Definitely Solheimasandur Plane Wreck.
This famous plane crash location is strange for many reasons - it is terrifying yet exciting to see, haunting and beautiful at the same time, eerie but incredibly photogenic.
This is probably the main reason to visit this site. The skeleton of the wreck that sits on the pitch-black sand beach for more than forty years is very eye-catching.
The plane wreck simply attacks all your senses. If you are like me, who hates flying, you might be picturing yourself on board a plane that is not under the pilot's control anymore.
And that is not all. You can hear dramatic waves crashing on the shores, and the whole experience is very dramatic.
Simply put, you must include Solheimasandur Plane Wreck in your Iceland itinerary and see it with your own eyes.
Why is Iceland's plane crash site a must-visit place, you might ask? And we must add, it is an absolutely eligible question.
The Land of Ice and Fire is known for its natural beauty, waterfalls, hot pools, volcanoes, fjords, geysers, so why should you make a seven-kilometer-long hike to a site that represents a fine example of dark tourism?
Well, we do not have the exact answer as we do not understand it either.
But after doing the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck hike ourselves, we lean towards an explanation that the attraction is so odd and bizarre that it is exactly what travelers, ourselves included, look for these days.
To make a long story short, the plane wreck is absolutely different from the rest of Iceland's must-see places.
There is also no admission, so it's a perfect activity for those who travel around Iceland on a budget while looking for free things to do.
With the growing popularity (the wreck was featured in Justin Bieber's video clip - he skateboards on the plane’s roof - do not do it!) that caused that the place was flooded by visitors more than ever, a lot has changed.
Therefore, we've decided to put together this travel guide, including everything you need to know before visiting Solheimasandur Plane Wreck.
The only way to get there now is to walk unless you take the official shuttle (the landowners banned vehicles on the beach in 2016), you must follow the signposted path, and even though it is such a famous sight, you should keep in mind your safety.
From when is the best time to visit the Solheimasandur plane crash site, what to pack, to the best tips to enjoy the hike and where to stay, we've got you covered.
Solheimasandur History
Ok, your first question probably is how did the plane get to a black sandy beach. On November 24, 1973, a US Navy plane Douglas Super DC-3 crashed onto the beach.
What records say, it seems the weather that day changed quickly, the visibility was low, but luckily the pilot could perform an emergency landing on the beach - it was basically the only thing he could see.
Believe it or not, the crew survived, but as it would be too expensive to get rid of the plane, it remained on the beach.
The crew took what they could from the inside of the plane, so what we today can see is basically a decaying skeleton that rises from an otherwise black flat plain.
Solheimasandur Plane Wreck Location
The actual site is 3.5 kilometers south off the Ring Road, basically in the middle of nowhere, well, in the middle of the long black sand beach.
How do you find it? Quite easily.
The parking lot is just next to the road, and even though it is not well-signposted, you will either see many cars parked there (depending on the time of the day) or rely on your GPS.
The plane wreck is located a short drive from other South Iceland's top locations such as Skogafoss Waterfall, Kvernufoss Waterfall, Reynisfjara Beach, or Dyrholaey Peninsula.
And only a few kilometers from the popular village Vik, where the majority of travelers spend a night.
How to Get There
How to get to Solheimasandur Wreck Parking lot? Your only options are a car, shuttle bus, or a tour.
Bypassing bus traveling between Selfoss and Vik might drop you off here, but you would have difficulties getting from here unless you are ready to hitchhike.
As the situation on how to get to the plane crash site changed not that long time ago, we bring a full list of possibilities, so choose the alternative that suits you the best.
Car
Traveling around Iceland in a rental car or a campervan is the best way to explore the country, because relying on public transport would mean you would have missed many top attractions.
You can read our post on how to choose the best campervan.
Leave your car in the parking lot (free of charge), and from here, you must walk.
Tours
When your tour includes the plane wreck, you should make sure whether it includes transport to the plane crash site, or you will have to walk as well.
Alternatively, you can take a South Coast ATV Tour.
Shuttle
In case you do not feel like walking, or the weather is bitterly cold, you might be interested in booking a shuttle bus.
This is the only official way on how to get to the plane by car in case you do not want to join an all-day tour.
When is the Best Time to Visit Solheimasandur
The entrance to Solheimasandur is open 24/7, you can visit the site in the summer or winter, day or night, but there are a few things you should know before you set off.
The weather in Iceland is defined by the cold winds and the fact that the phenomenon can change any minute.
The walk itself to the plane is boring and mentally challenging, as you will spot the reason for your interest when you are only a few hundred meters away.
It is even harder when the weather is bad as there is nowhere to hide from the wind, plus it can be snowy in the winter.
When we read some bad reviews, they were usually caused by the combination of the long trail, bad weather, and the fact that the plane (unless you are a keen photographer) will entertain you for fifteen, a maximum of twenty minutes.
A few travelers found the attraction inadequate for what they had to go through.
We were very lucky with the weather that day, but honestly, had it been raining hard or had it been windier than usual, we would have considered whether the plane wreck is worth our time and effort.
If you want to avoid crowds, the best time to start hiking is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
That's the best option during the summer months when you are not limited by approaching dark.
Safety
Even though the trail is super easy, you should not underestimate it and dress appropriately.
In winter 2020, two Chinese tourists died on the trail because of hypothermia.
Yes, it was in the winter, and even though we do not know many details, it tells us one thing - we should never take hiking in Iceland lightly, even when hiking near the sea and not in the mountains.
Safety should be your priority, so always check the weather forecast, and pack a few essential things - make sure to read our Iceland Packing List.
What to Pack
It is more comfortable to hike the trail in proper hiking boots; you should not leave your rain jacket or at least windbreaker behind, same as a fleece jacket or rain pants.
Bring a water bottle, camera, and pack it all in a waterproof backpack.
When it comes to safety, we do not recommend you climbing on the wreck or going inside. There is not much to see, and the plane is much more interesting from the outside anyway.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Solheimasandur Plane Wreck Hike
Once you park your car, make sure you have all the necessary stuff ready and set off.
Trailhead
When you pass the gate and information board, you will clearly see the path you will follow for at least one hour (or you will most likely follow other travelers) as it leads for 3.5 kilometers one way on an almost straight trail.
The trail is marked with yellow sticks that should prevent visitors from losing the trail, but in case the visibility is low, reconsider your plans.
We do not want to put you off visiting the plane wreck in the winter or any other day when the weather did not work out, but it is important to know that the conditions here can be really harsh.
Trail
There is actually not much to tell about the trail.
You simply follow the path; the trail is made of small rocks, and everywhere you look, you can see just the black plain.
Only when you turn your head in the parking lot direction, you can see the mountains, but keep some fun for the walk back.
When the path starts slightly curve to the left, that’s good news, and you are almost there.
The plane wreck sits on the black beach, and it is now your time to try to make the best shot.
Actually, the best photos we saw are from days when the weather is gloomy, and everything around the plane is black, but we were actually grateful for the blue skies we had that day (you cannot take it for granted here in Iceland).
Photographers must figure out how to take the photo without other travelers, and that's it.
Return
As it usually with returns is, the walk back was even a bit duller than was the walk to the plane as there was nothing to look forward to, and we were a bit tired.
Pack a snack with you to lift up your mood.
How long does it take to get to Solheimasandur Plane Wreck on foot? It took us fifty minutes each way, but the conditions were great, and we walked quite fast.
Allow yourself anything between two to three hours for the entire trip, depending on your pace.
Best Hotels Near Solheimasandur
The plane wreck might seem in the middle of nowhere, but there are actually quite a few great options on where to spend a night.
First of all, the nearby Vik is one of the top destinations on where to stay in South Iceland, but in the season, it is usually booked up pretty soon, so make your reservation in advance.
Another option is to find a hotel just a short drive from Solheimasandur parking lot, or you can travel to Skogar or even Selfoss.
We've selected the best hotels in the area to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Vik | Hotel Vik i Myrdal - Wonderfully decorated hotel is close to some of the top attractions in Iceland, so it cannot surprise you it is super-popular.
Solheimahjaleiga | Solheimahjaleiga Guesthouse - Very clean guesthouse, only minutes drive from the plane wreck parking lot offers perfect rooms and a great environment.
Skogar | Hotel Skogafoss - Skogar is a short drive from the plane wreck parking lot, plus it is near one of the top waterfalls in the area, so this hotel is for sure a perfect pick for where to spend a night.
Selfoss | Selfoss Hostel - Selfoss is a small town that offers plenty of activities, but not that many hotels. Selfoss Hotel is one of the few ones; it is a budget-friendly accommodation that provides travelers with clean facilities and an on-site kitchen.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
