'Star Wars' Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
Plan A Trip!
With Star Wars being set a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, it may seem like the many wonderous locations showcased within are out of reach. This may be true for some of the set pieces, as they are studios specially built by the crew and often rely heavily on CGI. Fortunately for us however, a large number of these locales are filmed in real locations right here on Earth. Most of which either were already tourist attractions or have become attractions following the movie’s release.
The Hardangerjøkulen glacier Finse, Norway
This frigid glacier, whose name I dare not try to pronounce, served as the backdrop for the Rebel Alliance's secret base on Hoth. While filming for The Empire Strikes Back, the crew used models, miniatures, and built a set for Echo Base, but the rest of the set was all natural. If you don’t mind the cold, many companies in Norway offer guided tours of the area and you can even ski on neighboring slopes. Just keep an eye out for wampas and make sure your tauntaun stays warm.
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Death Valley National Park, California
If you’ve ever longed to visit the desert world of Tatooine, look no further than the Death Valley National Park in California. This Park was the stand in for the Dune Sea segments of the planet, and like all United States National Parks entry is pretty straightforward. One only has to pay and entry fee and from there the skies the limit, but make sure you’ve brushed up on your sign language and keep your valuables close by in case you run in to any visitors from Tatooine.
Nefta, Tunisia
This is where it all started. Tunisia is home to a very iconic building, one that served as the Lars Homestead in both A New Hope and Attack of the Clones. More importantly, it’s still there to this day, but that wasn’t always the plan. What started out as a temporary set for the films, and promptly abandoned twice by the crew after filming, has now become a tourist attraction maintained by fellow Star Wars fans. You can visit it, but it’s recommended to bring an ATV and a tour guide due to its remote location in the Tunisian desert.
Tikal, Guatemala
Located in an appropriately remote jungle, this temple resides in a Guatemalan national park and served as the location of the Rebel Alliance’s headquarters on Yavin 4. Like the Empire, you may have a hard time finding this one, but its status as a national park eases that burden. As part of a tour, you can explore the massive pyramid that serves as the base proper. Just don’t tip off any Imperials and keep an eye out for probe droids.
Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
If you have good relationships with the Wookiees, then this lush jungle is perfect for you. Located on the coast of Thailand, just shy of Phuket Island, this scenic vista served as the home world of the Wookiees, Kashyyyk. More specifically Kachirho Beach, which was the site of a battle in the Clone Wars during Revenge of the Sith. Star Wars isn’t the only franchise it’s played host to, however; if you’re also a James Bond fan, Koh Tapu is close by. Aptly named James Bond Island, this island was a film set in that franchise, so you could get two film sets for the price of one.
Laamu Atoll, Maldives
This string of islands served as the location for the imperial data archive and the home of the Death Star plans. The actual islands are much more peaceful however, you can soak up the sun and the scenery without fear of getting annihilated by a battle station. “Scarif is based on a paradise world, so we had to go to paradise to film it.” This quote from Rogue One director, Gareth Edwards, should be all the motivation you need to check this beach out.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on the planet, stretching for over 6,000 square miles across the southwest corner of the country. Which makes it almost as salty as a YouTube comment section. Rian Johnson made use of these salt flats for the planet Crait, which is where the Resistance made its stand against the First Order in The Last Jedi. The vast white landscape was contrasted beautifully against the added red soil of the planet, which all came together to form it’s stunning visuals. The real world may not have red soil, but when it rains this salt flat becomes a giant mirror, often referred to as the mirror of the sky.
Redwood National Park, California
Once again, we find ourselves in the great state of California. Most fans know the secret of this film set, but in case you're not aware, this Park serves as the filming set for Endor in Return of the Jedi. The titular redwood trees that made the Park famous also serve as the home of the Ewoks. As a bonus the location used in the films, Marin County, is a short distance away from the legendary Skywalker Ranch. Just like Death Valley and all the other Park based attractions, to visit this locale simply go to the park and pay the fee.
Skellig Michael, Ireland
The rocky shores of this island not only serve as the backdrop for the remote planet of Ahch-To in the sequel trilogy, they’re also a puffin sanctuary. Hence the adorable denizens, the porgs. It’s status as a world heritage site does come with a downside for the purposes of this article, however. In order to protect the puffins, guests cannot travel to the island itself, but there are options to travel close to the island by boat and take in the scenery from a distance. It’s not ideal, but it is off the coast of Ireland, so you should have no shortage of options back on the mainland.
Rub’ al Khali, Abu Dhabi
The first planet we visit in The Force Awakens is the desert planet of Jakku. Most of the people in the Star Wars galaxy revile the planet, likening it to the middle of nowhere. But if you’re one of the people who actually wants to go back to Jakku, then you should check out the Rub’al Khali desert in Abu Dhabi. This massive expanse of sand was the primary film location for all the scenes on Jakku in the film. It is also the world’s largest contiguous desert, spanning over 250,000 square kilometers, earning it the name The Empty Quarter.
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Written By Micah Mitchells
Source(s): Atlas Obscura, Glacier Tours Norway, Trafalgar.com
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