
Sólheimasandur Beach, Iceland
I’m certain you’ve seen photos before. Twisted wreckage from an former plane crash inward Republic of Iceland on Sólheimasandur dark sand beach. Here are the directions to notice it.
UPDATE: Since writing this post, local landowners receive got banned access to vehicles driving on the beach. You at nowadays receive got to walk 4km to the storey from the road. So non quite every bit like shooting fish in a barrel every bit it used to be.
It’s 1 of Iceland’s most iconic & haunting photography locations. If you’re looking for roughly keen travel inspiration, you’ll notice it at this cool spot!
On Sat November 24, 1973, a USA Navy Douglas Super DC-3 plane was forced to province on Sólheimasandur’s dark sand beach inward the southward of Republic of Iceland afterward experiencing roughly severe icing.
Luckily all crew members survived the crash, but the airplane’s fuselage was abandoned. Now it’s snuff it a go photography dream location.
If yous don’t know where to look, it tin live a hard house to discovery on your own. Below you’ll notice driving directions to the plane.

Airplane Wreckage In Iceland
The 40-year-old weather-beaten aircraft has snuff it 1 of Iceland’s most dramatic photography spots due to its remote place on a desolate dark sand beach. It looks similar a scene out of roughly post-apocalyptic zombie movie!
The wings & tail are missing, it’s amount of holes, together with the crumbling fuselage is covered amongst wind-blown dark sand. You tin run into a photograph of the storey earlier the crash here.
I spent a nighttime at this plane crash site inward my Happy Campers Van to capture photos of the Northern Lights. Luckily the aurora activeness was rattling potent that nighttime amongst clear skies, which tin live rare inward Iceland.
Photographers traveling through Republic of Iceland shouldn’t fille this spot!
To capture Northern Lights inward a higher house the plane wreckage, human face upwardly North (inland), wearing clothing warm, together with maintain your eyes to the heaven all night. Check out my guide to photographing the northern lights inward Iceland.

Directions To Crash Site
The Sólheimasandur plane wreckage is located on Iceland’s Southern coast betwixt Skógafoss waterfall together with the town of Vik. After driving by Skógafoss going East on Route 1, you’ll cross a duad amongst blinking yellowish lights together with a dirt access route to Sólheimajökull Glacier on the left.
The route sign hither [PHOTO #1] marks the glacier access road. From this point, maintain driving East for virtually 2 kilometers together with maintain your eyes opened upwardly for roughly other dirt route plough off amongst a gate on your correct [PHOTO #2].
It should live the alone opening inward the combat afterward the bridge. If yous cease upwardly driving over a 2d bridge, you’ve gone likewise far.



Driving On The Beach
Once yous transcend through the small-scale gate, you’ll run into a yellowish sign that indicates the rails is recommended for 4×4 vehicles only. However unless the route is covered amongst fresh snow, yous should live fine without it.
This beach route is packed downward pretty well, (more gravel than sand) together with a 2 cycle drive automobile volition arrive if driving slowly. There are roughly big potholes, together with hence but live careful together with receive got it easy.
The drive out to the storey from the principal route is virtually 4km long.
UPDATE: Since writing this post, local landowners receive got banned access to vehicles driving on the beach. You at nowadays receive got to walk 4km to the storey from the road.
Left At The Fork
There’s 1 fork on the dirt road, together with you’ll desire to remain left here. It’s alone a few hundred yards by the gate. After that, the route heads forthwith onto the barren dark sand beach towards the ocean.
Someone has genuinely installed route markers on each side of the track, together with hence it’s like shooting fish in a barrel to follow fifty-fifty at night. Keep driving until yous run into the crashed airplane, virtually 4km.
You won’t topographic point the wreckage until the final infinitesimal because it’s hidden behind a sand dune close the border of the ocean. Happy plane hunting! ★
Turnoff GPS Coordinates
63.4912391,-19.3632810
Airplane GPS Coordinates
63.459523,-19.364618
Map From Skógafoss Waterfall
Location: Plane Crash Map
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist yous get-go packing for your trip. Pick upwardly a go backpack, photographic goggle box camera gear, together with other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to notice deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I notice the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a keen site for comparison automobile prices to notice the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies. Also read my tips for driving inward Iceland.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than virtually how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than virtually why yous should ever acquit go insurance.
Suggested Reading: The Little Book Of Hidden People
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READ MORE ICELAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION & TIPS
I promise yous enjoyed my guide to the Sólheimasandur storey crash! Hopefully yous flora it useful. Here are a few to a greater extent than wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend yous read next:
- Need roughly cool icon quotes for your social media? Check out my favorite wanderlust quotes.
- Iceland’s Best Photography Locations
- Driving Iceland’s Golden Circle
- Road Tripping Iceland’s Ring Road
- How To Photograph The Northern Lights
Any questions virtually visiting Iceland’s storey crash? Are yous traveling to Republic of Iceland anytime soon? Drop me a message inward the comments below!
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