Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be the eighth film in the Star Wars canon (no, we’re not counting the outlandish Christmas special). The film has gone all in on the ragtag team of rebels planet hopping around the galaxy like 22-year-old backpackers, in order to defeat the Galactic Empire and save the day, or in this case steal some blueprints.
In short, they rebel. No word yet on whether they also do some WOOFing to make money on the road.
Director Gareth Edwards and his location scouts found some unarguably stunning corners of our planet to give a wondrous sense of galactic space in his first swipe at a Star Wars film. And, yes, Edwards even used a real location (outside of a sound stage) for scenes featuring the Death Star too. The only question that remains is if we’ll ever get a film about all those Bothans who died stealing the second Death Star plans between Empire and Return. (We’re starting to think Vader was kinda bad at his job.)
Below are all the (known) locations Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Add them to your 2017 travel bucket list of must-visit destinations.
MÝRDALSSANDUR BEACH, ICELAND — EADU
Mýrdalssandur Beach is one of those locations that feels very over the hills and far away. It’s remote and otherworldly. The place starts to feel haunted when the fog rolls in and gets stuck against the green mountains, which loom above the jet black earth. Rocky outcrops disappear into the soupy world around and all sense of direction dissipates. It sounds like a great place to hide out.
To get there fly into the absolutely lovely and convivial Icelandic capital Reykjavik then drive about two-and-half-hours southeast until you find yourself in Eadu.
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TIKAL, GUATEMALA — YAVIN IV
Tikal is the home to the Temple of the Great Jaguar. The Mayans worshipped in this dense jungle for eons. What remains is an ever-encroaching jungle ready to eat the Mayan’s temple remains. It’s a corner of the world so well hidden that Cortés likely missed it entirely — even though he was mere miles away, making it perfect for a secret rebel base.
Tikal is best accessed from Flores airport (about an hour flight north from Guatemala City) then expect about an hour drive (on a good day) into the jungle. Bring good walking shoes, bug repellent, and lots of water.
WADI RUM, JORDAN — JEDHA
The Wadi Rum is an expanse that looks more like it belongs on Mars than Earth. And it’s often used for that location in films. The red sand seems to go on forever and the jagged and bare mountains gnaw into the azure skies. It’s a place that redefines your idea of open country with its vastness and ruddy hewn wilderness.
From Jordan’s capital city, Amman, expect about a four hour journey due south to access the Wadi Rum. And if you have time, pop over the Gulf of Aqaba for some serious beach time.
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CANARY WHARF LONDON, UK — DEATH STAR
Canary Wharf’s tube station was an exercise in what architects thought the future would be — steel, glass, concrete, escalators. That future they foresaw has a distinct 1984-feeling of barebones necessity mixed with massive maze of decaying grey escalators and beams.
Above all that grey concrete is the steel and glass of Canary Wharf — London’s financial district. It’s one of the densest and busiest business districts in the world. If you’re in London, it’s only five stops from Waterloo Station.
LAAMU ATOLL, MALDIVES — SCARIF
The Maldives are like a string of sandy pearls, strewn throughout the crystal clear warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Most of the atolls are only inhabited by a few palm trees and the coconuts that fall from them. The rest is a sea full of food and a night’s sky full of more stars than you can count.
Getting to the Maldives takes a long flight that’s often attached to a resort stay, or package holiday. You can also sail there for a lot more autonomy. From Male, you’ll have to charter a flight to get down to Laamu… or sail your Star Wars themed cruiser.
More Uproxx Star Wars Travel Guides:
Come For The Scum, Stay For The Villainy: The ‘Star Wars’ Travel Guide To Tatooine
Get Ready For ‘Rogue One’ By Visiting 17 Exotic ‘Star Wars’ Locations
