9 Star Wars locations that aren’t a galaxy far, far away

With the new film hitting movie theaters this month and Star Wars fever setting in, we take a look at the iconic Star Wars locations that you can actually visit without needing the Millennium Falcon.

When you say Star Wars, you think of a galaxy far, far away. But the iconic locales from the movies are closer than you think. To celebrate the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, we’ve put together a travel itinerary devoted to visiting the memorable movie sites. You could step into Queen Amidala’s Palace, walk in the footsteps of the Ewoks or even have a sleepover at Luke Skywalker’s house.

With that in mind, here are nine of our favourite “intergalactic” travel destinations.

Naboo: Queen Amidala’s Palace (Naples, Italy)

Some of the most visual interior scenes in the saga take place in The Reggia di Caserta, one of the largest 18th-century buildings on the planet. With incredible gardens and a majestic interior, the Naples, Italy palace is well worth a visit.

Hoth (Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, Finse, Norway)

Norway was an obvious choice for the remote, icy planet of Hoth. The site featured one of the series’ most epic battle scenes. Although not quite as intergalactic as the planet of Hoth, the snowbound landscapes do offer some breathtaking views and a pretty impressive 16-kilometre ice sheet.

The forest of Naboo (Whippendell Woods, UK)

The spot where Jar Jar Binks first meets Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in "The Phantom Menace" was filmed a little closer to home in Watford, England.

Kashyyyk: the Wookiee homeland (Phang Nga Bay, Thailand)

The famous limestone peaks of Phang Nga Bay in Southern Thailand served as the Wookiee kingdom of Kashyyyk. The luscious greens and endless blue water make the perfect setting for a planet that only has one season. You’ll recognize this location in the aerial battle that went down in "Revenge of the Sith".

Naboo (Lake Como, Italy)

In "Attack of the Clones", Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala go into hiding at a jaw-droppingly beautiful location on the planet of Naboo. In real life, this lakeside retreat on Italy’s Lake Como is a popular choice for a destination wedding. You’ll be sure to recognize the balcony where Anakin and Padme kiss.

Tatooine (Death Valley, California)

Although a large portion of Tatooine scenes were filmed in Tunisia, George Lucas and the unit team grabbed some extra shots in Death Valley, California. Remember the scene when Obi-Wan Kenobi meets Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2 for the first time? Yep, that's here.

Endor (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California)

The home of the furry Ewoks, was filmed among California’s giant redwoods. The forest offers 32 kilometres of hiking and nature trails which will leave you with the feeling that you just stepped onto the moon of Endor. The two locations still accessible to the public are the Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, a fantastic woodland adventure for the intrepid Star Wars fan.

Yavin (Tikal, Guatemala)

"We are approaching the planet Yavin..." Featured in the fourth episode, Star Wars fans will know the Guatemalan site of Tikal better as Yavin. While, in real life, the towers at the Massassi Outpost belong to the Ancient Mayan Civilization of Tikal, in the film they are the main base for the Rebellion and were almost destroyed by the first Death Star.

Jakku (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

If you’ve watched the trailer for the new film, you’ll see snippets of a sandy landscape of the planet Jakku. Director J.J. Abrams chose the sands of the United Arab Emirates to recreate this desert planet. We can’t wait to see more.