Movies and adventure holidays

Who can forget the dramatic scenery from ‘Lord of the Rings’ courtesy of New Zealand’s stunning landscapes? Or when Indiana Jones finally discovers the ‘Temple of Doom’ at Petra? Or any of the Bond movies?! No amount of advertising can replace the free marketing value of these epics, drawing in thousands of tourists.

Some movie locations are entirely obvious – ‘Out of Africa’ just HAD to be filmed in Africa (no Hollywood backdrop could possibly double for the mesmerising African plains after all) and ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ really needed to be filmed on location in the mountains of Rwanda. However some locations have doubled up as surprising backdrops for films – did you know that the Bogart classic ‘African Queen’ was actually filmed in Turkey? That the Andes stood in for the Himalayas in ‘Seven Years in Tibet’? And Budapest has ‘played’ Rome, Paris, London and Buenos Aires in a variety of films. In Morocco there is a Kasbah settlement called Ait Benhaddou which has provided a backdrop for a number of famous movies including ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Below are some classic movie spots and some lesser known connections – because it’s all about location, location, location….

Jordan – The classic scene from 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' where Indy emerges from the siq beneath the imposing face of the Treasury at Petra

A Week In Jordan

Tour price from USD 1230 for 9 days.

Visiting: Jordan

Jordan is an ideal destination for a one-week adventure tour. Bursting with things to see and do this activity holiday includes the best of what this magnificent country has to offer, visiting all

Experience

Egypt– The creepy scenes with the human ‘Jaws’ chasing Bond through various Nile Valley temples in 'The Spy Who Loved Me'

Discover Egypt

Tour price from USD 1185 for 15 days.

Visiting: Egypt

Climb Mt Sinai, Marvel at the Temples of Karnak, Experience the chaos of Cairo, Stay in beach huts on the Red Sea coast, Enjoy a homestay with a Nubian family, Wander among the Pyramids of Giza and

Experience

Morocco – The maze of Kasbahs that makes up Ait Benhaddou provided the perfect backdrop for 'Gladiator' amongst many other films

Highlights Of Morocco

Tour price from USD 1225 for 15 days.

Visiting: Morocco

For sheer diversity, Morocco is the perfect destination, so close to Europe, yet so completely different. We explore the Imperial cities of Marrakech, Meknes and Fez, with crowded bazaars

Experience

Turkey – the final scenes along the reed-covered river banks in the black and white classic 'African Queen'

Ottoman is not Just a Footstool

Tour price from USD 1320 for 15. Plus a local payment of pp

Visiting: Turkey

In the Ottoman Empire, condemned government officials who were sentenced to death could run for their lives. Literally. They were allowed to challenge their executioner to a foot race from the palace

Experience

Russia Fancy blowing up the Kremlin? Tom Cruise leads the way in 'Mission Impossible 4'

Russia Highlights

Tour price from USD 1975 for 8 days.

Visiting: Russian Federation

Experience a mesh of communist and capitalist cultures in the city of Moscow, Discover imperial treasures in the Kremlin, See Lenin in his eternal state, Explore medieval Russian capitals in the

Experience

Hungary – The base for the evocative tale of revenge for the 1972 Olympic massacre - 'Munich'

Balkan Adventure

Tour price from USD 2185 for 15 days.

Visiting: Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia

Cross the Chain Bridge in Budapest, Spy curious wildlife in Kopacki Rit Nature Park, Sip Serbian wine at a family-run vineyard, Experience Belgrade's famous nightlife, Be humbled by ruins in Mostar

Experience

Kenya Who can forget Robert Redford washing Meryl Streep’s hair on the African plains in 'Out of Africa'

The Masai Heartlands

Tour price from USD 1455 for 15 days.

Visiting: Kenya, Tanzania

Watch flamingo flocks make Lake Nakuru blush pink, Experience tribal life with Maasai warriors, Visit Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley, Spot lions in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Travel on

Experience

Uganda A country that is still synonymous with the terrible reign of Idi Amin - 'The Last King of Scotland'

Rwanda – Dian Fossey’s incredible work with these endangered majestic creatures - 'Gorillas in the Mist'

China Amazingly Bertolucci got permission to film 'The Last Emperor' actually in situ

JapanThe critically acclaimed 'Lost in Translation' brings Japan to life

Land of the Rising Sun

Tour price from USD 4095 for 14 days.

Visiting: Japan

Be dazzled by a gold-plated temple, Reflect on the past in Hiroshima, Experience the collision of old and new Japan, Delve into geisha culture in Kyoto, Visit the resting place of a Tokugawa shogun,

Experience

Thailand – Leo, tropical beaches, desert islands – what more can one ask for? 'The Beach'

Sun, Sand & Sticky Rice

Tour price from USD 880 for 10. Plus a local payment of pp

Visiting: Thailand

Embrace your inner beach bum and come home with sand in all the wrong places. Bring SPF 30, a sense of adventure and an appetite for the delicious and strange.(Was

Experience

Argentina – Brad Pitt as a German, the Andes as the Himalayas and Argentina as Tibet – all in 'Seven Years in Tibet'

Brazil The opening scene of the Jesuit priest being hurtled over the Iguazu Falls is a lasting memory from 'The Mission'