The surprising locations your favourite movies were filmed!

A great film is more than just a story; it tantalises us with resonant soundtracks, poignant dialogue and captivating visual scenes. In order to truly grip us, it’s no wonder so many directors opt to film in some of the spectacular locations we specialise in…

Many of our favourite countries are special for different reasons: be it the scintillating culture, breathtaking scenery or diversity of wildlife, yet film allows us to transform these surroundings into extraordinary stages where iconic moments are born.

There’s nothing more exciting to the film fanatic than travelling to the exact spot a legendary actor immortalised a famous scene, adding another element of cultural significance to a beautiful location.

So, without further ado, the following is a collection of famous and significant movies filmed within some of the most beautiful locations we specialise in – giving you the chance to experience it too!

Indiana Jones

It will come as little surprise to learn that the hit Harrison Ford fronted series of Indiana Jones was filmed in some fairly exotic locations. This famous action adventure has seen locations all over the world, some of which include our best-selling destinations!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, released in 1984, saw filming take place in the lush jungles, ancient temples, and scenic landscapes of Sri Lanka, providing a very fitting and exciting backdrop for the movie.

Whereas Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released in 1989, had some of its key scenes filmed in Jordan. The iconic scenes involving the fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon, where the Holy Grail was kept, were shot in the breathtaking Al-Khazneh Treasury in Petra.

Lord of the Rings

A film series that hardly needs an introduction… Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novels, this work of fiction has permeated Western culture for decades, but did you know it was filmed in New Zealand?

Director Peter Jackson’s love and intricate knowledge of his homeland played a pivotal role, and it certainly paid off: from the rolling hills of the Shire in Matamata to the rugged mountains of the Misty Mountains in the Southern Alps, these breathtaking locations created a rich and believable world in which Middle Earth could be situated.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, this feel-good film follows a group of British retirees who decide to spend their retirement years in an ostensibly luxurious but somewhat dilapidated hotel in Jaipur, leading their lives to intertwine in unexpected ways.

The film is set and filmed in Jaipur, the capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan known for its beautiful traditional architecture, and does a great job of portraying the warmth, hospitality and culture of India.

For those interested, we also stock a ‘Best Exotic Marigold Inspired Tour’, allowing you to immerse yourself in the locations used in the film, as well as visiting a local clothes designer to fashion a bespoke outfit for you.

Game of Thrones

The hit television series based on George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels was filmed in a variety of different locations, with its fictional world containing so many parallels with our own. However, two of the notable locations it features are Iceland and Morocco.

The icy landscapes beyond the Wall, inhabited by the Night’s Watch and threatened by the White Walkers, were predominantly filmed in Iceland. Locations such as the Vatnajökull glacier and the Þingvellir National Park showcased the show’s frozen, brutal terrain.

In Morocco, the city of Essaouira was used as the backdrop for scenes in Astapor, one of the slave cities in Essos, where Daenerys Targaryen begins her liberation campaign!

The Mummy

The famous action-adventure starring Brendan Fraser is obviously supposed to depict (a very fantastical) Egypt, but surprisingly it wasn’t filmed there! Unfortunately, due to unstable political conditions of the time the production crew was unable to, so the majority of the movie was filmed in Morocco, specifically Marrakesh, as the city was deemed ‘less modern’ than Cairo and thus easier to cultivate a characteristically dated appearance.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Released in 2015, the film depicts an apocalyptic future in which the machines and technology left over from the old world are fashioned into unsightly vehicles and weapons. In order to make the movie’s environment appear desolate and bleak, the majority of filming was set in Namibia – the barren expanses of the Namib Desert – often described as one of the most hauntingly beautiful places on the planet – created a visually stunning setting for the film’s intense chase sequences and action-packed scenes.

For those interested in any of the locations mentioned, click on their link to view the corresponding destination page! Alternatively, you can inquire about adding some of these locations to your own personalised itinerary – email us at enquiries@odyssey-world.co.uk or call us directly (+44 117 313 7070)!