Mýrdalsjökull: South Coast ATV Quad Bike Safari

The best part of this South Coast ATV safari is the variety packed into two hours. You ride across the black sands of Sólheimasandur, stop at the famous 1973 DC3 plane wreck, look toward Dyrhólaey and Mýrdalsjökull, then cross rivers into a mountain valley. It feels far removed from Iceland’s usual roadside viewpoints.

I like the chance to see several kinds of terrain in one outing, and I like the guides’ friendly, hands-on approach. Anthony, Pawel, Magni, Bjarki, and others are praised for helping first-time riders, explaining local geology and history, and taking photos. The main consideration is weather: strong wind, rain, snow, or swollen rivers can change the route, and the ride can feel cold without good base layers.

Key points before you book

• The two-hour ride is the better choice: It gives you time for the plane wreck, beach, river crossings, and mountain valley rather than rushing between stops.
• You share an ATV with one other person: A single rider or an odd-numbered group must pay for a single-rider ATV on location.
• The DC3 wreck is only one stop: The real appeal is the changing route across black sand, rough tracks, fields, streams, and valleys.
• The guides adjust the pace: Beginners receive patient instruction, while confident drivers may get chances to pick up speed where conditions allow.
• Weather controls the adventure: The glacier route and river crossings may be altered or skipped when conditions are unsafe.
• You need a driver’s license: Warm clothing, waterproof shoes, and gloves matter more than you might expect.

Why this ATV ride is different from a standard South Coast stop

Iceland’s South Coast is easy to admire from a car window. You can stop at waterfalls, beaches, and viewpoints, take a few photographs, and move on. An ATV safari changes the scale of the visit. You are not simply looking at Sólheimasandur. You are moving across it, feeling the wind off the Atlantic and watching the black ground stretch toward the mountains.

The setting is stark and memorable. Sólheimasandur is a broad black-sand plain shaped by volcanic and glacial forces. Against that dark surface, the wrecked DC3 aircraft looks almost unreal. The plane crashed in 1973, and its bare fuselage has become one of Iceland’s best-known photographic subjects.

The ride also avoids the narrow focus of a plane-wreck outing. You continue toward the coast, with views of Dyrhólaey, the southernmost tip of Iceland, then turn inland toward Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and the Jökulsá River. The route finishes in a mountain valley, where streams and rougher ground add a little more driving interest.

That mix is why I rate this above a simple transfer to the aircraft wreck. The wreck is the headline, but the changing terrain gives the activity its character.

What happens at Mýrdalsjökull Base Camp

You meet at Mýrdalsjökull Base Camp on Ytri Sólheimar Road 222. Look for Icelandic Mountain Guides by Icelandia, Mýrdalsjökull Base. One practical detail matters here: the meeting point may be farther up the road on the left than some map or booking apps indicate, so give yourself time to find the base.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You need your own transport to the base camp, which makes this easiest to add to a South Coast road trip. If you are driving from Reykjavík, allow substantial travel time before the activity itself. One person reported a drive of about two and a half hours from Reykjavík, though road and weather conditions can affect that.

At the base, you receive a short safety briefing and instructions for operating the quad bike. You do not need to arrive as an ATV expert. The route is suitable for first-time riders, and the guides keep an eye on the group while explaining where to slow down and where you can safely open the throttle.

The normal setup is one ATV per two people. You can share the driving or have one person drive for the whole trip, depending on your arrangement. If you want to ride alone, book a single ATV. Odd-numbered groups also need a single ride for the extra person, with that additional cost paid locally.

The gear keeps the weather from taking over

The operator supplies an insulated cover-all, helmet, balaclava face mask, and gloves. Boots may be available depending on the weather, but you should still bring waterproof shoes. You also need warm clothing underneath, especially in winter.

The cover-all is useful because the South Coast can be wet and windy even when the forecast looks manageable. In colder months, base layers are important. Your hands deserve extra attention: one practical tip is to take the supplied wool gloves and wear them under your own heavier gloves or mittens.

Do not treat the gear as a reason to arrive in light clothing. The ATV creates wind chill, and the beach is exposed. A balaclava protects your face, but warm socks and gloves still make a major difference.

You must bring a valid driver’s license if you plan to drive. Intoxication, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. Children under eight and pregnant women should not take this activity.

Crossing Sólheimasandur to the DC3 wreck

Once the group is ready, the ATVs head onto the black sands of Sólheimasandur. This is where the ride begins to feel properly Icelandic. The plain is open, dark, and spare, with the Atlantic nearby and mountains rising inland.

The first section gives the guide a chance to judge the group. If you are new to quad bikes, you can settle into the controls and learn how the ATV handles on loose or uneven ground. If you already have off-road experience, you may get opportunities to move faster when the route and group allow it.

The famous DC3 wreck is a natural pause in the ride. You have time to look around and take photographs, while the guide explains the story of the aircraft and the surrounding area. The stripped metal against the sand makes a strong image, but it is worth giving yourself time to notice the setting too. The emptiness around the fuselage is part of the scene.

One drawback is that the wreck itself can attract plenty of attention in the wider South Coast area. The ATV route helps by giving you a more active way to reach it, but you should not expect the aircraft to be an untouched secret. The value here is the complete route and the guide’s context, not just a quick photograph beside the fuselage.

The Atlantic coast and Dyrhólaey views

From the wreck, the ride continues toward the coast. This section gives you the open-air thrill many people want from an ATV trip. The black beach is smoother in places, and guides may allow the group to build speed when it is safe.

I would not book this solely for speed. The wind can be fierce, and the group must stay together. The guides tailor the pace to the abilities of the riders, so a confident driver may have to slow down for beginners. That is a sensible tradeoff, especially when several families or mixed-ability groups are riding together.

The beach also gives you a broad view toward Dyrhólaey. The peninsula marks Iceland’s southernmost tip and provides one of the area’s defining coastal silhouettes. You can look out toward the ocean, then turn inland to see Mýrdalsjökull in the distance.

This contrast is one of the strongest parts of the trip. In a short period, you see black sand, open sea, glacier, river, and mountain valley. The South Coast can sometimes feel like a list of separate sights. From an ATV, those places connect into one moving route.

Rivers, rough tracks, and the mountain valley

The return route follows the Jökulsá River and leads away from the broad beach. Here the surface changes. You may ride over rockier ground, through fields, along rough tracks, and across streams or shallow river sections.

Water crossings are a major reason to choose the two-hour option. They add a small dose of tension without turning the trip into an extreme technical challenge. First-time riders have found the terrain manageable, while the guides help when a section feels awkward or intimidating.

Conditions matter more here than anywhere else on the route. Heavy rain can make rivers too high to cross. In one case, a morning storm made several crossings impassable, so the guide altered the route while still including the beach and plane wreck. On another wet and windy outing, the glacier portion was not possible.

That flexibility is worth understanding before you book. You are paying for a guided route through wild country, not a fixed ride guaranteed in every kind of weather. If you need every advertised stop, this may frustrate you. If you can accept a safer alternative, the changing route is part of the deal.

The final mountain valley is often described as a quieter and more exclusive-feeling stop. You leave the wide black plain behind and enter a greener, more enclosed setting, with river water and steep mountain forms around you. It is a useful finish because it shows a side of the area you would not reach by simply walking to the aircraft.

The guides make the difference

The guides are one of the strongest parts of this experience. Their job is not only to lead the line of ATVs. They watch the full group, set safe speeds, explain the route, and help riders who are nervous or inexperienced.

Anthony is praised for being warm with families and children, while Pawel is noted for giving clear advice about where riders could safely go faster. Bjarki is remembered for local stories and for taking photographs. Magni, Gully, Oskar, Hinrick, and other guides are also singled out for their friendly manner and explanations of Iceland’s geology, volcanoes, geography, and history.

Names can change with the schedule, but the pattern is clear: the guide shapes the day. A good guide turns a basic vehicle ride into a lesson in place. You learn why the beach looks the way it does, what happened to the plane, and how the weather affects the rivers and glacier routes.

The small-group option is especially useful if you are nervous. Some departures have ended up with only one couple or even one rider, creating a far more personal outing. Larger groups can still work well, but your speed and route will reflect the least experienced rider.

Is $144 a fair price?

At $144 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. You are paying for the ATV, guide, protective clothing, and access to terrain that is not part of a normal South Coast sightseeing stop.

The price makes better sense when you choose two hours. You get the plane wreck, coast, Dyrhólaey views, glacier sightlines, varied tracks, water crossings, and the mountain valley. The one-hour express version costs less time and effort, but it can feel like a poor bargain if you have already driven a long way to reach the base camp.

You should also account for the vehicle arrangement. The listed price is per person, with one ATV shared by two people. If your group has an odd number, or if you want to drive alone, you need a single-rider ATV and must pay the extra amount at the base.

Some riders have upgraded to a buggy for an additional 10,000 Icelandic króna per person. That option is not part of the standard ATV price, so ask locally if it interests you and confirm availability before counting on it.

For a short Iceland activity, I think the two-hour ATV safari offers good value if you want active sightseeing rather than another bus or walking stop. It is less compelling if you dislike driving, feel uneasy in exposed weather, or only want to photograph the aircraft.

Who should book this South Coast adventure?

This ride suits couples, families with children eight and older, mixed-ability groups, and first-time ATV drivers. The route is not described as highly technical, and the guides provide safety help and adjust the pace.

It also works well for someone who has already seen the main waterfalls and wants a different way to experience the South Coast. The combination of speed, open beach, rough ground, and water crossings gives the day a physical edge without requiring advanced off-road skills.

You should think twice if you are pregnant, under eight, without a driver’s license, or uncomfortable in wind and cold. You also need to be comfortable sharing an ATV unless you pay for a single ride.

Book with flexible expectations about weather. The tour can run in snow, rain, or wind, but the route may change. In poor conditions, the guides may skip glacier access or river crossings and concentrate on the safer parts of the route.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check the schedule for your date.

Should you book the Mýrdalsjökull ATV safari?

I would book the two-hour tour if you want one memorable South Coast activity that combines the DC3 wreck with real driving. The plane is photogenic, but the beach, river crossings, glacier views, and mountain valley give the trip its lasting appeal.

Choose it especially if you are new to ATVs and want a supportive guide. Choose the shorter outing only if your schedule is tight. And before you commit, accept the basic Iceland rule: weather gets the final word.

FAQ

Where does the ATV tour meet?

Meet at Mýrdalsjökull Base Camp on Ytri Sólheimar Road 222. Look for Icelandic Mountain Guides by Icelandia, Mýrdalsjökull Base.

How long does the ATV safari last?

The activity lasts one to two hours. Check availability for the starting times offered on your date.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a guide, one ATV per two people, an insulated cover-all, helmet, balaclava face mask, and gloves. Boots may be provided depending on the weather.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the base camp.

Do I need a driver’s license?

Yes. You need a valid driver’s license to drive a quad bike.

Can I ride an ATV alone?

Yes, but single riders must book a single-rider ATV. An odd-numbered group also needs a single ride for the extra person, with the added cost payable on location.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, waterproof shoes, and your driver’s license. Extra gloves are useful in cold weather.

Does the tour visit the DC3 plane wreck?

Yes. The route includes a stop at the DC3 plane that crashed on Sólheimasandur in 1973.

Can weather change the route?

Yes. Wind, rain, snow, and river conditions can affect the route. The glacier section or water crossings may be skipped when conditions are unsafe.

Who cannot take this activity?

Children under eight and pregnant women should not participate. Intoxication, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed.