If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you’ve no doubt already seen pictures of the Solheimasandur crash: the shorn fuselage, lifeless turbines, and clipped wings. Though not the largest wreck, it is intensely awe-inspiring due to the stark figure it cuts against the miles of flat nothingness where it crashed. A hauntingly beautiful photo spot, but is it worth the trek? Below is everything you need to know about visiting Iceland’s famous DC-3 Plane Wreck.
The history of Iceland’s plane wreck
This popular tourist attraction in Iceland is the wreckage of a US military DC-3 plane that crashed in Solheimasandur in 1973. The plane had been journeying from Hofn to the naval air station at Keflavik to deliver supplies when the crew were forced to undergo an emergency landing on a frozen river – the incident is commonly attributed to severe icing. Thankfully, none of the seven on board were injured, and they were promptly rescued from the scene via helicopter.
The plane, however, did not fare so well. It was deemed irreparable, and it was abandoned where it had landed. It lies there to this day, no longer atop an icy river, but nestled within the black sands of Solheimasandur beach, miles from any other structure, gathering rust and enchanting tourists.
Where to find it
The famous DC-3 Plane Wreck is located on Iceland’s southern coast around 20 minutes drive along the ring road from the popular village of Vik, or around 2 and a quarter hours drive from the capital, Rekyavik. The crash site is deep within the Solheimasandur black sand beach. It does not form part of the Golden Circle. The best way of travelling to this area would be renting your own car, and doing this as part of a ring road trip.
There is a carpark beside the ring road at the beginning of the path that leads to the Solheimasandur site, and there is no charge for parking here. You cannot drive up to the site itself. From this car park, you will either need to walk, or catch the Plane Wreck Shuttle. The shuttle runs every half an hour most days from around 10am to 5pm, and costs 2,900 ISK (~£17.00) per adult, payable on location.
Do not attempt to walk to the DC-3 crash site if conditions are stormy or otherwise dangerous, you will end up a very long way from civilisation and from any needed assistance.
Is it worth the visit?
If you are planning on walking from the car park to Iceland’s DC-3 Plane Wreck, be warned: it is a deceptively long journey. It takes 45 minutes each way, assuming you’re walking at a decent pace – but it feels like an eternity. Journeying to the Solheimasandur site is not a scenic hike (and this is putting things mildly).
It is barren, flat nothingness for miles around. Once the carpark fades into the rear horizon, there is no indicator of how far you’ve come, or how much further you must go. Time loses all meaning. We visited on a mist-drenched day in October, and while the eerie atmosphere was exciting at first, the poor visibility and muffled sound soon had us wondering whether we had been walking for thirty minutes or thirty years. Every now and then, other bedraggled travellers would emerge from the gloom, headed back towards the ring road. When asked how much farther, they would wince at one another and debate whether to lie for the sake of morale, or admit that we were barely halfway. On the way back, you’ll find yourself returning the favour.
Despite the journey, there is something desolately beautiful about the DC-3 Plane Wreck (when you finally arrive). We were very fortunate in that we had the site almost to ourselves, and beholding the crashed plane, set against misted grey skies and miles of flat black beach, was a uniquely surreal moment. The shuttle wasn’t running when we visited, however we would have chosen to walk regardless, as it seems expensive for such a short drive. Furthermore, the shuttle will mean that you will likely arrive with a larger group, which would detract from the haunting solitude of the crash site. I would definitely recommend getting up very early and setting out long before the first shuttles of the day.
When weighing up whether a visit to Iceland’s DC-3 Plane Wreck is worthwhile, consider whether you are willing to pay for the shuttle or endure the soulless trek for a brief, albeit unique, photoshoot. If you have plenty of time, then strap on your walking boots and brace for boredom. However, if time is limited, I would suggest skipping the crash site and instead investing in one of the other nearby attractions, like Reynisdrangar off Reynisfjara Beach, or the spectacular Skogafoss waterfall.
The Gossamer Traveller 