Indiana Jones Filming Locations And Tours

The Short Answer

The Indiana Jones films shot mainly at Elstree Studios in England, with location work in Tunisia, Jordan's Petra, Hawaii and California, plus France, Sri Lanka, Spain, Italy, and Germany. Most sites, including Petra and Tunisia's desert canyons, are public or ticketed and reachable on guided tours.

Four films released between 1981 and 2023 sent Indiana Jones to Peru, Egypt, India, and beyond, but the cameras rarely went where the stories were set. Tunisia doubled for Egypt, Jordan's Petra stood in for the Grail temple, and Kauai pretended to be Peru. The result is a trail of real places fans can actually stand in, from Venetian canals to Spanish beaches.

Most locations are open to the public or included in standard sightseeing itineraries, so a filming-location trip blends easily with ordinary travel. A few, like the Sri Lankan rope bridge site, require more effort and local know-how.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Al-Khazneh (The Treasury)	Petra, Jordan	Exterior of the Temple of the Sun / Grail Temple	Ticketed
Huleia National Wildlife Refuge / Kipu Ranch area	Lihue area, United States	Opening jungle temple and river scenes (Peru setting)	Free to see
Kairouan Medina	Kairouan, Tunisia	Cairo streets and market scenes	Free to see
Sidi Bouhlel Canyon	Tozeur area, Tunisia	Ark confrontation and Tanis dig site exteriors	Free to see
La Rochelle U-boat Base	La Rochelle, France	German submarine base scenes	Outside only
Tuolumne River Rapids	Yosemite National Park area, United States	Raft rapids escape scene	Free to see
Rope Bridge area near Kandy	Kandy, Sri Lanka	Rope bridge collapse scene	Free to see
Monsul Beach	Níjar area, Spain	Beach airplane chase with umbrella scene	Free to see
Schloss Bürresheim	Mayen area, Germany	Castle Brunwald exterior	Ticketed
Grand Canal and San Barnaba area	Venice, Italy	Boat chase and library exterior scenes	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

10 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Petra's most famous facade appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) as the exterior of the Grail Temple. Steven Spielberg chose it after seeing it in a travel book; the interiors were built at Elstree Studios. Today the Treasury is the centerpiece of Petra Archaeological Park and reached by ticketed entry. Arriving early is the standard advice for avoiding crowds on the walk in through the Siq.

The opening jungle temple and river scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), set in Peru, were filmed on Kauai near Lihue. The wildlife refuge itself limits access, but nearby ranch tours cover some of the recognizable spots. Access to the general area is public, and the landscape reads exactly as it does on screen: green cliffs, rivers, and dense vegetation a short drive from Kauai's resorts.

The Cairo street and market scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark were shot in the historic medina of Kairouan, Tunisia. The lanes, arches, and whitewashed walls gave the production a convincing stand-in for Egypt's capital, with modern elements cleared away during filming. The medina is fully public and easy to explore on foot, and it remains one of Tunisia's most atmospheric old towns.

This desert canyon near Tozeur stood in for the Tanis dig exteriors and the Ark confrontation in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Public and free to visit, it also overlaps with Star Wars filming locations, so one trip can cover two franchises. Conditions get hot, so water, sun protection, and sensible timing matter. Many visitors combine it with desert excursions from Tozeur.

The German submarine base scenes in Raiders were filmed at a real WWII Kriegsmarine bunker in La Rochelle, France. The production even rented a boat used in the Das Boot production. The structure still stands in the harbor and can be viewed from the outside at any time; interior access is not offered. It is a short detour for anyone already visiting this Atlantic port city.

The raft escape scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) was filmed on the Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park in California. The river is public, and whitewater rafting tours run in season for travelers who want more than a riverside look. It is a practical add-on to a Sierra Nevada itinerary, with the rapids varying widely depending on the time of year.

The rope bridge collapse in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was filmed near Kandy in Sri Lanka's Central Province, close to Victoria Dam. The site itself is public, though local access conditions change and checking ahead is wise. There is no formal attraction here, so it suits determined fans building a wider Sri Lanka trip rather than travelers expecting a polished site.

The beach airplane chase with the umbrella scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was shot at Monsul Beach in Andalucía, Spain. The beach sits inside Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, a protected stretch of volcanic coast near Níjar. Access is public, and the dunes and rock formations are recognizable from the film. It is usually quiet compared with Spain's better-known resort beaches.

Castle Brunwald's exterior in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is Schloss Bürresheim, a medieval castle in Rhineland-Palatinate near Mayen, Germany. The castle is open to visitors with ticketed entry and ranks among Germany's few castles never destroyed. Its towers and walls appear on screen briefly but recognizably. It makes an easy stop between the Rhine and the Eifel region.

The Venetian boat chase and the library exterior scenes in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed around the Grand Canal and the San Barnaba area of Venice. Both are public and require nothing more than walking or a standard boat ride. The canal is one of the city's busiest tourist corridors, so the filming spots arrive naturally on almost any Venice itinerary.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The stories take place in Peru, Nepal, Egypt, India, Jordan, Germany, and the United States, but the production maps differently. Egypt scenes were shot in Tunisia, Petra hosted the Grail temple exteriors, jungles and rapids came from Hawaii and California, and studio work happened in England. Additional filming touched France, Sri Lanka, Macau, Spain, and Italy. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was the only entry shot entirely in the US, plus Hawaii, because Spielberg wanted to stay close to family.

The Studio Side

Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, United Kingdom, served as the franchise's main production base. Over 6,500 real snakes filled the Well of Souls set built there for Raiders, and the famous boulder was a fiberglass prop over 20 feet wide, heavy enough that a fall by Harrison Ford could have meant injury. The Grail Temple interiors were also constructed at Elstree, matching the Petra exteriors. The studio site can be visited.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Bookable options currently cluster around Petra, the franchise's single most recognizable location, with one option in southern Spain. Petra tours range from a budget group day trip to private back-route walks and a two-day road trip combining the Dead Sea and the Pink Lake.

Fort Bravo Western Set Admission

Tabernas: Fort Bravo Texas Hollywood Admission Ticket

A 25.79 USD admission ticket to the Fort Bravo Texas Hollywood western sets in Tabernas, with 59 reviews.

4.5 out of 5 · 59 reviewsTabernas

From$26Check availability

Private Petra Archaeological Walk

Private Indiana-Jones Archaeological Trail Tour

A private 100 USD walk themed around the archaeological trail, rated a perfect 5 from 18 reviews.

5.0 out of 5 · 18 reviewsPetra

From$100Check availability

Full-Day Small-Group Petra From Amman

Full Day Petra Tour from Amman

A full-day tour from Amman rated 4.9 from 17 reviews, a strong pick for a single day at Petra.

4.9 out of 5 · 17 reviewsAmman

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

One-Day Petra From Amman

From Amman: one day tour to Petra

A straightforward one-day Petra tour from Amman rated 4.1 from 15 reviews.

4.1 out of 5 · 15 reviewsAmman

From$90Check availability

Half-Day Back Road Trail, Private

Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour

A private half-day tour at 200 USD taking the back road route toward the Treasury, rated 5 from 9 reviews.

5.0 out of 5 · 9 reviewsPetra

From$200Check availability

Private Petra Day Trip From Amman

Private Petra Day Trip Including Amman Sightseeing from Amman

A private day trip combining Petra with Amman sightseeing, rated 4 from 5 reviews.

4.0 out of 5 · 5 reviewsAmman

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

2-Day Petra Road Trip

2-Day Petra, Dead Sea, Pink Lake & Indiana Jones Road Trip

Two days for 290 USD pairing Petra with the Dead Sea and the Pink Lake, ideal for travelers who want more than a day at the site.

From$290Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Petra filmed in Indiana Jones?

Petra was not filmed elsewhere; it is a real site in Jordan. Its Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, appears in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the exterior of the Grail Temple. Only the exteriors were shot there, with interiors built at Elstree Studios in England.

Was Indiana Jones actually filmed in Egypt?

No. The Cairo street and market scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed in Kairouan, Tunisia, and the Tanis dig exteriors and Ark confrontation were shot at Sidi Bouhlel Canyon near Tozeur.

Can you visit the Indiana Jones filming locations?

Most of them, yes. Petra and Schloss Bürresheim require tickets, the La Rochelle U-boat bunker can be viewed from outside, and sites like Kairouan Medina, Sidi Bouhlel Canyon, Monsul Beach, and Venice are public.

Where was the Temple of Doom rope bridge scene filmed?

The rope bridge collapse was filmed near Kandy in Sri Lanka, close to Victoria Dam. The site is public, but access conditions vary, so check locally before making the trip.

Were real snakes used in Raiders of the Lost Ark?

Yes, over 6,500 real snakes were used in the Well of Souls scene, which was filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England.

Which Indiana Jones tour should travelers choose at Petra?

The full-day tour from Amman, rated 4.9 from 17 reviews, suits most visitors. Travelers wanting a themed experience can book the private archaeological trail walk at 100 USD, rated 5 from 18 reviews, while the 2-day road trip at 290 USD adds the Dead Sea and Pink Lake.

Petra delivers the strongest single payoff for Indiana Jones fans, and the surrounding tour options make it easy to build a trip around. Beyond Jordan, Tunisia and Venice offer the most walk-in-friendly filming sites, while Kauai, Kandy, and the Tuolumne River reward travelers already headed that way. Wherever the itinerary lands, the gap between where the films are set and where they were shot is half the fun.

Sources

The Short Answer

Every Location At A Glance

Filming Locations Map

Location By Location

Al-Khazneh (The Treasury)

Huleia National Wildlife Refuge / Kipu Ranch area

Kairouan Medina

Sidi Bouhlel Canyon

La Rochelle U-boat Base

Tuolumne River Rapids

Rope Bridge area near Kandy

Monsul Beach

Schloss Bürresheim

Grand Canal and San Barnaba area