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Star Wars Filming Locations to Photograph in 2026 (and How to Plan the Trip)

sscenery

2026-01-31

11 min read

Plan and photograph the top Star Wars filming locations in 2026 with GPS, access notes, photo tips and itineraries.

Lost in the scroll? Find the cinematic vistas you actually want to photograph — fast.

If you’re exhausted by scattered forum threads and pixelated screenshots, this guide is your one-stop map to Star Wars filming locations you can visit and photograph in 2026. With a new Lucasfilm leadership era and a refreshed production slate announced in early 2026, interest in on-location Star Wars travel is surging. That means more tour options, but also stricter access rules at fragile sites. Read on for GPS, access notes, composition tips, local logistics and sample itineraries built especially for photographers and outdoor adventurers.

Why 2026 is the moment to plan a Star Wars filming locations trip

In late 2025 and early 2026 Lucasfilm’s leadership change triggered renewed announcements and production news. That renewed buzz makes this year special for two reasons:

Demand spikes — More travelers want the “on-set” photo, so destinations are adding guided visits but also protecting fragile locations.
Local investment — Regions with Star Wars heritage are improving trails, parking and visitor centers aimed at photography tourism.

That combination means better services for photographers — and more rules to follow. This guide helps you hit the best viewpoints while staying legal and leaving no trace.

How to use this guide

Start by scanning the top locations below. Each entry includes a short description, practical access notes, exact GPS coordinates, recommended shooting times and photo tips. At the end you’ll find:

A 7-day sample itinerary
Camera settings and gear checklist
Responsible-travel and permit notes

Create a custom Google Map with the coordinates here to plan travel order and driving times. If you’re short on time, pick one region (Tunisia, Ireland/Norway, or California/USA) and prioritize early-morning sessions for best light and fewer crowds.

2026 travel trends that affect filming-site visits

Film-tourism packages: More operators package lodging, local guides and sunrise shoots because Lucasfilm renewals spurred demand.
Permit and capacity limits: Sites with fragile ecosystems (Skellig Michael, certain desert oases) now cap daily visitors seasonally.
AR overlays and map apps: Several travel apps launched 2025–2026 to overlay filming-scenes onto real-world maps — useful for lining up shots; see commentary on how new social and mapping features are changing trip planning here.
Drone restrictions: Many popular Star Wars locations now prohibit drones without a license — plan legal alternatives (long lenses, panoramic stitching).

Top Star Wars filming locations to photograph in 2026

1) Tatooine (Southern Tunisia): Chott el Jerid, Matmata, Ksar Hadada

The classic Tatooine vistas — salt flats, troglodyte homes and ksars — are clustered in southern Tunisia. The textures and warm tones are a photographer’s dream.

GPS: Chott el Jerid salt flat ~33.9550°N, 8.5328°E; Matmata ~33.4995°N, 10.4787°E; Ksar Hadada ~33.3886°N, 10.1000°E.
Best time to shoot: Golden hour and blue hour — the salt flat reflects pastel dawn light; late autumn to early spring avoids scorchingly hot summers.
Access notes: Hire a local guide for off-road access. Respect private property and watch for protected ksars. Some sets are near small villages that welcome respectful visitors.
Photo tips: Use a wide-angle 16–35mm for dunes and ksar interiors; bracket for highlights on salty surfaces; add a small LED for interior troglodyte homes.

2) Ahch-To / Skellig Michael (County Kerry, Ireland)

The windswept island where Luke Skywalker lives in the sequels is real: Skellig Michael’s monastic ruins and dramatic sea stacks make iconic, cinematic images. It’s one of the most photogenic — and strictly regulated — sites on the list.

GPS: 51.7705°N, -10.5400°W.
Best time to shoot: Late spring to early autumn for boat access (April–September). Sunrise is magical but boats start early.
Access notes: Visits are seasonal and limited; book licensed boat operators well in advance (often months). The site is UNESCO-listed so follow all path restrictions.
Photo tips: Telephoto 70–200mm to isolate cliffs; include boats or seabirds for scale; use a sturdy tripod and fast shutter to freeze sea spray on gusty days.

3) Hoth — Finse and Hardangervidda (Norway)

Many of the Hoth exterior shots from The Empire Strikes Back were filmed in Norway’s high plateaus and glacier-fed regions. In winter, the landscape is otherworldly.

GPS: Finse railway station ~60.6167°N, 7.3333°E.
Best time to shoot: Winter for snow fields; shoulder seasons for safer hiking. Check avalanche forecasts before travel.
Access notes: Finse is reachable by train and is a protected area. Snowmobile and backcountry access require guides and permits in winter.
Photo tips: Low-contrast snow scenes benefit from polarizers and graduated ND filters; expose for highlights to retain snow texture; use human subjects in heavy parkas for scale.

4) Endor forests — Redwood National and State Parks (California, USA)

Towering redwoods created the feel of the forest moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi. The vertical drama translates beautifully to portrait and panoramic photography.

GPS: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park ~41.7636°N, -124.1207°W; Redwood NP central ~41.2132°N, -124.0046°W.
Best time to shoot: Early morning fog in summer and autumn light in fall. Winter rains bring moodier skies and lush greens.
Access notes: Standard park entrance fees apply. Stick to trails to protect root systems and understory.
Photo tips: Use vertical framing and a tilt-shift or perspective correction in post to avoid converging trees; low ISO, narrow aperture (f/8–f/11) and slower shutter speeds with a tripod for soft understory exposures.

5) Wadi Rum (Jordan) — desert vistas & towering rock formations

Wadi Rum’s dramatic sandstone and granite landscapes have doubled for many alien planets across cinema and appear in Star Wars-related shoots and fan projects. The layered rock and desert light are perfect for cinematic photos.

GPS: Wadi Rum Village ~29.5326°N, 35.4190°E.
Best time to shoot: Sunrise and sunset to catch warm directional light; shoulder seasons (spring/fall) to avoid extreme heat.
Access notes: Visit with a licensed Bedouin guide who can show remote vantage points and arrange legal drone use if permitted by Jordanian authorities.
Photo tips: Use telephoto compression at sunset to make rock layers pop; sand texture responds well to raking light; carry lens cloths for windblown sand.

6) The Salt Flats & Mirrors — Various (e.g., Chott el Jerid, Bonneville)

Salt flats and reflective surfaces create otherworldly images. Beyond Tunisia’s Chott el Jerid, consider Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats for a vast, high-contrast look.

GPS (Bonneville): ~40.4642°N, -113.8687°W.
Best time to shoot: Low sun angles for texture; after rain for temporary mirror surfaces at Bonneville (seasonal).
Access notes: Bonneville hosts speed events that limit access; check event calendars. Respect signage on protected flats.
Photo tips: Use ND grads to balance sky; try panorama stitching to convey scale; single-subject compositions work well in minimal salt-flat scenes.

7) Desert megascapes — Abu Dhabi / Liwa (UAE)

The UAE deserts have been used as backdrops for desert planets in many recent productions. If your travel budget includes the Middle East, Liwa’s sand dunes are epic for scale and light.

GPS: Liwa Oasis ~23.4926°N, 53.9647°E.
Best time to shoot: Autumn through spring; golden hour for rim-lighting on dunes.
Access notes: Permit requirements vary by emirate for commercial shoots; recreational photographers usually need no permit but should hire an experienced 4x4 driver.
Photo tips: Use long lenses for compressing dunes, 50–135mm prime for portraits; be mindful of heat shimmer and dust on optics.

8) Studio-adjacent sites & fan locations (UK, Pinewood, Leavesden)

Not all cinematic vistas are outdoors. For controlled lighting, props and reproductions, visit studio visitor centres and curated exhibitions near Pinewood and Warner Bros. Leavesden (UK). These are great for night shoots or creating staged cinematic portraits.

GPS (Leavesden): ~51.6919°N, -0.4181°W.
Best time to shoot: Off-peak weekdays for fewer crowds; book special access or photo-tours if you need backlot exposure.
Access notes: Many studios offer timed-entry tickets and photography-specific tours. Commercial shoots require separate studio permits.
Photo tips: Use controlled light to mimic cinematic flare; bring portable strobes and gels for recreating signature color palettes.

Sample 7-day itinerary: Tunisia (Tatooine highlights)

Day 1 — Arrive in Tunis, overnight and gear check.
Day 2 — Drive to Douz, sunset at the Sidi Bouhlel dunes (photo brief and safety with guide).
Day 3 — Chott el Jerid salt flats at sunrise; afternoon at Ksars (Ksar Hadada, Ksar Ouled Soltane).
Day 4 — Matmata troglodyte homes for interior portraits and cultural exchanges.
Day 5 — Nefta oases and mountain passes for panoramic Tatooine vistas.
Day 6 — Return to Tunis or connect to Djerba for additional coastal shots and desert contrast.
Day 7 — Buffer and travel day with post-processing session or print ordering locally.

Book a minimum of one local guide-led shoot to access off-road vistas safely. In 2026 many operators offer “photo breakfasts” timed for golden hour — a smart addition.

Practical gear & camera settings for cinematic vistas

Bring a compact but versatile kit so travel remains nimble:

Camera body: full-frame or high-resolution APS-C.
Lenses: 16–35mm (landscape), 24–70mm (general), 70–200mm (compression/portraits), 50–85mm prime (low-light/portraits).
Tripod: lightweight carbon fiber for travel; robust for long exposures.
Filters: circular polarizer, 3-stop and 6-stop ND, graduated ND.
Accessories: extra batteries, lens cloths, weather-sealed bag, GPS logger or smartphone with offline maps.

Baseline settings for crisp cinematic vistas:

Aperture: f/8–f/11 for sharpness across the frame.
ISO: 100–400 for low noise.
Shutter speed: adjust to exposure; use long exposures for silky water or cloud motion (ND filters as needed).
Bracket exposures by 1–2 stops for HDR in high-contrast scenes (salt flats, backlit dunes).

Legalities, permits and responsible travel (must-know for 2026)

Many sites tightened rules after 2023–2025 visitor increases. Always check local authorities and film commissions before planning commercial shoots. Key points:

Skellig Michael: strict seasonal visitor caps and designated landing operators. No independent landings.
Wadi Rum & UAE deserts: hire local guides; drone permits vary by region.
Protected parks (Redwoods, Norway highlands): stick to trails and follow Leave No Trace to avoid fines and ecosystem damage.
Commercial licensing: If you plan to sell photos or prints from a site, check whether commercial permits or location releases are required — some of the verification and local-permit playbooks in 2026 can help you navigate those rules (see operational verification notes).

"In 2026, treat filming locations as both shared heritage and fragile ecosystems — your best shot is the one that leaves the place as you found it."

Advanced strategies to get unique cinematic shots

Scout virtually: Use satellite imagery, recent social posts and AR overlays to pre-visualize compositions before travel.
Book off-peak access: Weekday sunrises and guided pre-dawn entries often yield the purest light and fewest tourists.
Hybrid exposures: Combine bracketed HDR with focus stacking for both dynamic range and deep foreground-to-background sharpness.
Human scale: Add a person in-frame with period wardrobe or neutral color tones to give epic scale and cinematic storytelling.
Print-first workflow: If you plan to sell prints or license images, capture at highest resolution, tether for critical focus and embed IPTC metadata on site.

Case study: a sunrise shoot on Chott el Jerid (real-world example)

In March 2025 a small team of landscape photographers booked a local guide in southern Tunisia. They arrived 90 minutes before sunrise, set up a tripod and used a 3-stop ND grad to balance brightening dawn sky with darker foreground salt pans. By compositing three bracketed frames and using a low-angle foreground rock as an anchor, they created an image that sold as a limited print edition and later licensed for editorial use. Key takeaways: local guide, early arrival, bracket and foreground anchor.

Where to stay and how to book

Pick bases near sunrise spots: Douz or Tozeur (Tunisia), Portmagee or Cahersiveen (Ireland for Skellig boats), Finse or Bergen (Norway), Crescent City or Eureka (Redwoods). In 2026 look for accommodations that offer gear-friendly services: early breakfasts, hearty meals for cold shoots and secure storage. Use local photo-tour operators for specialized transport (4x4s, small boats, mountain trains). For accommodations and booking landing pages, recent short-stay landing playbooks may help you evaluate operator pages and booking speed (see edge-powered landing pages).

Preserving these locations for future photographers

Want these vistas to stay accessible? Follow simple rules:

Stay on designated paths and use existing parking — erosion is real.
Pack out all waste; minimize gear footprints.
Respect local cultures and private property near sets and ksars.
Support local guides and conservation fees; many communities reinvest tourism dollars into trail maintenance. If you’re interested in local stewardship models, see approaches to hyperlocal conservation and stewardship efforts in 2026 (hyperlocal stewardship ideas).

Quick planning checklist

Choose region and reserve local guide/boat (Skellig, Wadi Rum, Tunisia).
Check seasonal restrictions and book permits if required.
Pack lens kit, tripod and filters; include cleaning supplies for dusty deserts.
Download offline maps and pre-pin coordinates from this guide.
Schedule sunrise/blue-hour slots and build buffer days for weather; factor in flights and international travel planning (flight trackers and passport prep can save time — see planning tools below).

Final thoughts & next steps

2026 is a pivotal year for Star Wars location tourism. With new Lucasfilm initiatives and more production news circulating, now is the time to plan responsibly. Whether you’re chasing Tatooine’s warm horizons or the wild cliffs of Skellig Michael, the right prep turns a visit into a cinematic portfolio staple.

Call to action: Ready to plan your trip? Download our free Star Wars Filming Locations GPS pack, subscribe for 2026 trip-ready itineraries and book a guided photo tour with vetted operators. Share your best cinematic vistas with the #ScenerySpaceStarWars hashtag — and help keep these sites beautiful for the photographers who follow.

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