{"id":26970,"date":"2019-05-02T22:00:16","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T22:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=26970"},"modified":"2021-10-28T17:17:27","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T17:17:27","slug":"9-star-wars-film-locations-you-can-visit-in-real-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/9-star-wars-film-locations-you-can-visit-in-real-life\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Star Wars locations you can visit in real life"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the teaser reveal of the newest Star Wars<\/em> film, The Rise of Skywalker<\/em>, and the conclusion to the epic nine-part saga coming in December, we thought we’d celebrate this year’s official Star Wars<\/em> Day by presenting you with nine Star Wars<\/em> planets (and moons) you can actually travel to\u2014and a few honorable mentions!<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got a good feeling about this.<\/p>\n

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1) Ksar Ouled Soltane, Tataouine, Tunisia<\/h2>\n

Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Ksar<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back to the beginning to where Anakin Skywalker lived as a boy. In The Phantom Menace<\/em>, we learn that Anakin spent his childhood in Mos Espa with his mother Shmi\u2014both slaves under the ownership of Watto. Ksar Ouled Soltane was featured in some of the scenes to represent the slave quarters of Mos Espa. Ksar Ouled Soltane is a fortified granary, or ksar, located in the Tataouine\u2014inspiration for the planet\u2019s name of Tatooine\u2014district in southern Tunisia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Mos Espa film set is located by the Sahara dunes in Chott el Gharsa, and beside it is the Yardangs, where Queen Amidala\u2019s Royal Starship landed, and where Qui-Gon Jinn first fought against Darth Maul.<\/p>\n

Now a tourist destination, visitors come to see Ksar Ouled Soltane\u2019s well-preserved granary vaults. You can travel to Ksar Ouled Soltane, pass by the city of Tataouine, visit the Mos Espa film set and more during an epic 7-day tour with Tunisia Tours<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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2) Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy<\/h2>\n

Episode II \u2013 Attack of the Clones<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Villa<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Naboo Lake Retreat where Anakin Skywalker and Padm\u00e9 Amidala go into hiding in Attack of the Clones<\/em>\u00a0is located at the\u00a0Villa del Balbainello\u00a0in Lenno, Italy. The grand building overlooks Lake Como<\/a> and was also used as the setting for Anakin and Padm\u00e9’s wedding at the end of the film.<\/p>\n

Appropriately, this dreamy locale is a popular venue for real life weddings as well. But if you\u2019re not looking to tie the knot with the Anakin to your Padm\u00e9, you can book a full day tour<\/a> and embark on a boat cruise to relax and admire some of Lake Como\u2019s most beautiful natural scenery and stunning villas. Then, disembark at Villa del Balbianello for a guided visit.<\/p>\n

Bonus: A number of films have used the villa for location shooting, including Casino Royale<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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3) Phang Nga Bay, Phuket, Thailand<\/h2>\n

Episode III \u2013 Revenge of the Sith<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Phang<\/p>\n

If you ever wanted to visit the home of the Wookiees, Phang Nga Bay near Phuket, Thailand<\/a>, is the closet you can get. In Revenge of the Sith<\/em>, the bay was used as the backdrop for the planet Kashyyyk. Aerial footage of limestone karst mountains was composited into the film for the arrival at the Battle of Kashyyyk.<\/p>\n

Known for its incredible limestone rock formations, this bay between Phuket and Krabi is a national marine park where visitors can explore caves and shallow waters via canoe<\/a>. You\u2019ll also recognize another movie moment at its most famous landmark Koh Tapu, also known as James Bond Island, featured in the film The Man with the Golden Gun<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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4) Tikal, Guatemala, Central America<\/h2>\n

Episode IV \u2013 A New Hope<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tikal,<\/p>\n

Yavin 4: The home of new hope. The Rebel Alliance’s base, set up in the ancient Massassi ruins, was filmed at the real-life Mayan temples in Tikal, Guatemala. George Lucas reportedly chose Tikal when he saw a poster of the site at a travel agency. (We like your style, Mr. Lucas). This inspired him to send a film crew to Guatemala in March 1977 to shoot scenes.<\/p>\n

With an age-old temple that rises an incredible 154 feet into the air, Tikal an impressive site in-and-of-itself. Add in the location\u2019s significance to the film, and it becomes an absolute must-see for any Star Wars<\/em> or travel enthusiast.<\/p>\n

Start your adventure with a day tour<\/a> where you can explore Guatemala’s Mayan city of Tikal. Follow a local guide to the site’s famous landmarks, see the tropical wildlife in the Central American jungle, and imagine yourself in a galaxy far, far away.<\/p>\n

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5) Hardangerj\u00f8kulen, Norway<\/h2>\n

Episode V \u2013 The Empire Strikes Back<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Norway\"<\/p>\n

From lush jungles to a snowy wasteland \u2026 One of the most notable battles in the entire saga is without a doubt the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back<\/em>. After abandoning their base on Yavin 4, the Rebel Alliance moved to the remote ice planet to avoid detection from the Empire, until they were discovered by Imperial probe droids. Cut to Alliance\u2019s snowspeeders and group troops vs. the Empire\u2019s massive AT-AT walkers in classic Star Wars<\/em> fashion.<\/p>\n

So where can you go to reenact this wintery war? The scene was filmed at the Hardangerj\u00f8kulen Glacier in Norway. Although not quite as intergalactic as the planet of Hoth, the 9.9-mile ice sheet does have a rather alien quality to it. The glacier can be found in the\u00a0Ulvik<\/a>\u00a0municipality, and can be accessed from the village of Frise, which in turn can be reached pretty easily from the area’s other settlements.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not up for hiking, a scenic train can take you between Bergen and Olso<\/a>; so while you don\u2019t go to the Glacier, you can get a feel passing through the snowy landscape. We highly recommend it.<\/p>\n

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6) Redwood National and State Parks, California, USA<\/h2>\n

Episode VI \u2013 Return of the Jedi<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"edwood<\/p>\n

The forest moon of Endor was the battleground for the crucial, climactic clash of the original trilogy in the Return of the Jedi<\/em>. It was during the Battle of Endor that we saw the Rebel Alliance team up the fury little native species, the Ewoks, to overrun the Imperial positions and destroy the shield generator, rendering the Death Star II vulnerable; all this leading to the death of Darth Vader and the Emperor, and the beginning of the demise of the Empire.<\/p>\n

To visit the real-life Endor, you don\u2019t have to go farther than the majestic\u00a0Redwood National Park<\/a>\u00a0in northern California. Any Star Wars<\/em> fan will instantly recognize the towering, lush trees and celestial fog.<\/p>\n

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7) Puzzlewood, England<\/h2>\n

Episode VII \u2013 The Force Awakens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Puzzlewood,
Photo<\/a> by Trubble under CC BY 2.0 licence \u2013 Puzzlewood, UK<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fast forwarding 30 years after the original trilogy, The Force Awakens<\/em> introduced us to new characters and new planets. The enchanted woodlands of Puzzlewood was used as the backdrop for an intense meeting between Rey and Kylo Ren in the forests of Takodana\u2014a pivotal moment that truly sets the sequel trilogy in motion.<\/p>\n

Located in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England, Puzzlewood<\/a> has an otherworldly and ancient atmosphere that conjures up thoughts of fairy tales and magic\u2014one of the reasons why it\u2019s such a popular film location<\/a>. Before Star Wars<\/em>, Puzzlewood supposedly inspired J.R.R Tolkein and J.K. Rowling in creating forests in The Lord of the Rings<\/em> and Harry Potter<\/em>. It is also a regular location for the popular British TV series, Doctor Who<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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8) Skelling Island, Ireland<\/h2>\n

Episode VIII \u2013 The Last Jedi<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Skellig
Photo<\/a> by Niki.L under CC BY 3.0 licence \u2013 Skellig Michael, Ireland<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Skellig Michael<\/span><\/a> is featured in the dramatic final scene of <\/span>The Force Awakens,<\/span><\/i> but it plays a much bigger role in <\/span>The Last Jedi<\/span><\/i> when it\u2019s revealed to be the sacred island of Ahch-To, the site of the first Jedi Temple\u2014and Luke Skywalker\u2019s refuge. After a tragic series of events involving his nephew Ben Solo (now Kylo Ren), Luke sought out the uncharted world and made it his place of exile. That is, until the Resistance pieced together a map of his location and sent Rey on a mission to find him.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering a journey to Ireland’s Outer Rim, the Wild Atlantic Way, take a boat to the gorgeous Skellig Islands<\/a> for a day trip. Hike the steep steps to the ancient monastery. Close your eyes, reach out, and feel the force.<\/p>\n

Fun fact: The island is a wildlife preserve and home to hundreds of puffins, and rather than try to edit them out of the film, they served as inspiration for Ahch-To<\/span>\u2019s own indigenous species\u2014Porgs!<\/p>\n

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9) Wadi Rum, Jordan<\/h2>\n

Episode IX \u2013 The Rise of Skywalker<\/em> (and Rogue One<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Wadi<\/p>\n

From Jakku to Tatootine, the Star Wars<\/em> universe loves its desert planets, and the ninth film, The Rise of Skywalker<\/em> is no exception. The very first opening shot of the teaser trailer shows our heroine Rey standing in the middle of a desert terrain\u2014shot in beautiful Wadi Rum, Jordan<\/a>. To add another layer onto the mysterious locale, Wadi Rum also served as the filming location for the desert moon Jedha, a holy Jedi site, featured in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story<\/em>. Hmm. Let the speculation begin!<\/p>\n