Mýrdalssandur is a vast black outwash desert in the southern part of Iceland. The sand and plains are made from volcanic ash, with two of the south’s biggest glacier rivers on either side. There are not many other places like this in Iceland, the wild and rugged character of this location has been featured in many films and commercials. Mýrdalssandur has a sumptuous 35-kilometer coastline where the waves are in stark contrast to the pitch-black sands.
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Accessibility
Route no 1 takes you along the plains. Other roads, leading into the plains and to the beaches, are sandy and might very well need 4x4 or specialised vehicles.
Services nearby
Close to Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, so hotels, gas stations and convenience stores are in abundance. The southcoast has many guesthouses and lodgings. Nearest hospital is in Selfoss, ca. 150 kilometers away.
Permits
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Basecamp and facilities
There are several areas along the sand that can be used as basecamps, tech bases or offloading parking lots, depending on where you shoot. A few roads lead to the coast but need to be scouted specially with our amazing location managers for the best way to access where you want to film. Phone coverage is good.
Risk factors
The waves and surf at this part of the country tend to be treacherous. The beaches have steep banks underwater that make for big waves, and it is dangerous to go close to the sea. The sand can also be strenuous to work in and walk through.
Visitors
Mýrdalssandur is on Iceland’s most frequented route, the south coast, so many tourists go through here. There are a few famous landmarks that are very popular tourist attractions, where people stop for a long time, hike and take in the scenery. With the right permit, you could easily manage your location within the area.
Where does all this information come from?
In collaboration with a team of experienced producers, we scoured through every location on
massif.network to bring you the most relevant and up-to-date information.
We provide photos and videos and all other location information.
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