Rent an E-bike at Sólheimasandur and Visit the Plane Wreck Your Way

The DC-3 plane wreck at Sólheimasandur is one of Iceland's most visited and photographed landmarks. A US Navy aircraft that crash-landed on the black sand desert in November 1973, it has become a defining image of Iceland's South Coast — stark, surreal, and unlike anything else in the country. For a long time, the only way to get to the plane wreck was to walk the 4 km across the volcanic sand, which takes 45 to 60 minutes each way. Icelandic Mountain Guides launched their Plane Wreck Shuttle a few years ago which was a great success and a big improvement in safety as the area can see shifting weather and conditions changing in record time.

We also operate adventure tours from our Mountain Guides basecamp at Mýrdalsjökull where guests can enjoy an ATV or Buggy tour in the area that also stop at the Plane Wreck on Sólheimasandur.

Now there is an exciting self-guided option for the independent traveller. At the Sólheimasandur parking lot, Icelandia operates an e-bike rental — available directly on location, with no booking required. You rent a bike, get directions and a brief orientation from our team, and head out to the Iceland plane wreck entirely on your own. No tour group, no fixed schedule, no rush.

The e-bike rental operates from a small base camp at the Sólheimasandur parking lot — the same location where Icelandia's Plane Wreck Shuttle departs. The shuttle transfers visitors the 4 kilometres to the DC-3 plane wreck and back; the e-bike rental gives you the same access, but entirely on your own terms.

Unlike a guided tour, the e-bike rental is not bookable in advance. You arrive at the parking lot, rent on location, receive a brief orientation from our staff on how the bike works and how to reach the wreck, and set out when you're ready. When you're done, you return the bike to the base camp.

The e-bikes are suited for the terrain and suitable for a wide range of riders. Our team will make sure you're comfortable with the bike before you head off.

Walking to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck is achievable, but it is not easy for everyone. The path covers roughly 4 km each way across flat but exposed volcanic sand. There is no shade and no shelter, and the wind on Iceland's South Coast can make the return trip feel considerably longer than the distance suggests. For visitors with limited time, varying fitness levels, or simply a preference to spend their energy on the destination rather than the journey, the walk can be a real deterrent.

The Plane Wreck Shuttle solves the distance problem but introduces a different kind of constraint: you are transferred to the wreck and back on a schedule, with little room to pause, explore at your own pace, or linger when the mood takes you.

An e-bike changes both equations. The electric assist means you are not fighting the sand or the wind — you move at a comfortable pace, cover the distance in far less time than on foot, and still experience the full scale of Sólheimasandur around you. The black sand stretching to the horizon, the distant sound of the Atlantic, the vast open sky — these are things you take in properly from the saddle of a bike, not a shuttle window.

Renting an e-bike at Sólheimasandur is designed to be uncomplicated. Here is what to expect when you arrive:

• Drive to the Sólheimasandur parking lot on Iceland's South Coast, just off Route 1 between Skógafoss and Vík
• Find the Icelandia base camp in the parking area
• Rent your e-bike on location — no advance booking required
• Receive a brief orientation from our staff: how the bike works, the route to the plane wreck, and safety information
• Ride out to the wrecked plane in Iceland at your own pace and spend as long as you like at the site
• Return the bike to the base camp when you are ready

Because the e-bikes are available only on location and are not a bookable tour product, they operate on a first-come, first-served basis. During the summer months especially, arriving early in the day is advisable.

The route from the parking lot to the DC-3 plane wreck at Sólheimasandur covers approximately 4 kilometres across the black sand desert. On an e-bike, the ride takes a fraction of the time it would take on foot — which leaves you more time to spend at the wreck itself and explore the surrounding area.

Sólheimasandur is a broad volcanic sand desert shaped by the glacial outwash from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The terrain is flat and the riding is straightforward, but the scale of the place is striking — black sand in every direction, the Atlantic visible on the southern horizon, and a silence broken only by wind. This is one of the most atmospheric stretches of the Icelandic South Coast, and the e-bike gives you the pace to genuinely absorb it.

At the wreck, you are free to spend as long as you like. There are no barriers, no entry fees, and no departure schedule waiting for you. Walk around it, photograph it from every angle, and return in your own time.

On 21 November 1973, a US Navy Douglas DC-3 aircraft was flying from Höfn to Keflavik when severe weather and icing conditions caused both engines to fail. The crew performed an emergency landing on the black sand flats of Sólheimasandur. All five crew members survived.

The aircraft was never removed. Over the decades it has been stripped of parts, weathered by the elements, and gradually absorbed into the landscape. Today the Iceland plane wreck is one of the country's most recognised photography locations — brought to global attention when it appeared in a Justin Bieber music video in 2015, and later featured in a Bollywood film and a country music video.

In 2025, the landowner added a second aircraft to the site. This plane is more intact than the original, with its engines and cockpit still in place. The two wrecks now stand together on the sand, each in a different state of weathering, and each offering a different kind of encounter with the history of the place.

You can read more about the history and significance of the site on our Sólheimasandur plane wreck attraction page.

The e-bike rental at Sólheimasandur is designed for visitors who want to see the plane wreck and experience the black sand landscape at their own pace — without committing to a long walk and without the fixed schedule of a shuttle transfer. It tends to suit:

• Visitors who want to see the Iceland plane wreck without the 8 km round-trip walk
• Travellers who want more freedom and flexibility than a shuttle transfer provides
• Groups with mixed fitness levels who want to move at their own pace
• Independent travellers who enjoy being outdoors on their own terms
• Anyone who wants to take in the landscape of Sólheimasandur without the effort being the main event

This is not a guided experience. Our staff will give you all the orientation you need at the base camp, but once you head out you are on your own. That is part of the appeal — and it means it works best for visitors who are comfortable following directions independently.

If you prefer a fully guided iceland tour to the plane wreck, our E-Bike to the Plane Wreck tour and the Plane Wreck Shuttle are both available from the same area.

• Arrive early: E-bikes are first-come, first-served. The Sólheimasandur parking lot gets busy in summer — arriving earlier gives you the best chance of securing a bike.
• Dress for Iceland's weather: Sólheimasandur is exposed and wind-prone. A windproof and waterproof outer layer is essential regardless of the forecast.
• Wear closed-toe shoes: The terrain is sandy. Sturdy, comfortable footwear makes both the ride and the time at the wreck more enjoyable.
• Bring water and a snack: There are no facilities at or near the wreck site. Come prepared.
• Charge your devices: The DC-3 plane wreck in Iceland is one of the country's most photographed spots. Make sure your phone or camera is charged before you set out.
• Check the weather before you go: Conditions on the South Coast change quickly. Monitor vedur.is and safetravel.is before setting out.

The Plane Wreck Shuttle departs from the same base camp. If you arrive and the conditions or your plans change, that option is right there as an alternative.