'Star Wars' locations that actually exist
Plenty of people dream of travel to other planets. But "Star Wars" fans can actually visit locations where many of the films' most famous scenes were shot.
And the latest movie, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," only adds to the list. Some places aren't even as remote as one might expect.
From dinner at Luke Skywalker's childhood home to a romantic balcony where romance blossomed, here are some of the destinations where "Star Wars" comes to life:
Puzzlewood, Gloucestershire, England
Meandering paths. Mossy rocks. Twisted trees and gulleys. No wonder Puzzlewood, which sits in the Forest of Dean not too far from Wales, is such a draw.
And not just for "Star Wars." You've also seen it in "Merlin," "Doctor Who" and other TV and film productions. But it's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" that's really put Puzzlewood on the travel map.
Hotel Sidi Driss, Matmata, Tunisia
Perhaps the most famous "Star Wars" landmark in the world, this is where the interiors of Luke Skywalker's childhood home on planet Tatooine were filmed.
Centuries ago, Berbers built the underground structure as a real home. Eventually it became a hotel, which George Lucas used to film the first "Star Wars" film.
The set decorations came down when the crew left, but were rebuilt in 2000 for "Attack of the Clones." Since then, they've remained, so guests can eat at the table where young master Luke did.
La Grande Dune, outside Nefta, Tunisia
The igloo exterior of Luke's house was filmed about 300 kilometers away on the dried-up salt lake of Chott El Jerid. The igloo is still there, reachable with a decent car at the GPS coordinates 33°50'34.42″N, 7°46'44.48″E.
The surrounding craters are man-made, to create the illusion that the underground house is next to it.
The igloo from the 1977 movie was dismantled, but again rebuilt for "Attack of the Clones," and later restored by a fan.
Nearby is La Grande Dune, site of the Dune Sea. About 30 minutes from the igloo is the set of Mos Espa, the spaceport town where Anakin was discovered as a young slave.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
This spectacular salt flat in Bolivia is rendered even more spectacular for a battle scene between the Resistance and the First Order in "The Last Jedi."
The desert doubles as the the remote mining planet of Crait, a rebel outpost.
In the movie, the barren terrain's blindingly white salt surface covers blood-red minerals, producing violent bursts of color with every explosion and footprint.
Reynisfjara, Iceland
The otherworldy landscape of Iceland is fast becoming the go-to destination for sci-fi movies, and "Rogue One" joined the club in 2016.
The black sand beach of Reynisfjara, a wild stretch of North Atlantic coastline close to the small town of Vik and Iceland's southernmost tip, stands in for the stormy planet of Eadu.
It's here the movie's lead, Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, unsuccessfully tries to save her grievously wounded father.
Redwood National and State Parks, California
Endor, the forest moon home of the furry Ewoks, was filmed among giant redwoods of California. Most of the well-known scenes were shot on private land owned by a lumber company.
Since the cast and crew worked on "Return of the Jedi" in 1982, heavy logging has left most of the landscape unrecognizable. But driving through the parks still gives a feel for the set, especially along the Avenue of the Giants highway.
In Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park and the Humboldt Redwoods State Park, plates were filmed for some chase scenes.
Krafla, Iceland
We stay on "Rogue One's" Eadu for another visit to Iceland, this time Krafla, an active volcano in the country's remote northeast.
A source of geothermal energy, Krafla's seething crater and nearby Lake Mývatn have also made an appearance in "Game of Thrones."
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier and Finse, Norway
Exteriors of the ice world Hoth in "The Empire Strikes Back" were shot in the tiny village of Finse, Norway.
The cast and crew stayed at the Finse 1222 Hotel, where snowstorm scenes were shot from the back door. But the main battlefield scenes were shot on the nearby glacier.
In March and April, skies are normally clear and there's still plenty of snow. Guides in Finse can help with hikes to see the exact locations.
Canary Wharf Station, London, England
London's squished commuters would probably welcome a Galactic Empire takeover of the city's under-strain metro system if its stormtroopers could get the trains to run to schedule.
It's a scenario that almost plays out in "Rogue One," when Canary Wharf, a modern London Underground interchange serving a key financial district, doubles as an Imperial base.
The futuristic steel, glass and concrete station is filled with stormtroopers rather than bankers for scenes on the Imperial planet of Scarif.
