11 Real Star Wars Locations You Must Visit

6. The Hardangerjøkulen Glacier (Norway)

star wars yavin
20th Century Fox

The sixth-largest glacier in Norway is best-known to many the world over as the ice planet, Hoth.

In Episode V the crushing of Echo Base by the Empire sets the tone for the darkest of the three films but it's the jaw-dropping expanse of Hoth that steals the scene and apart from the Bespin clouds it's also the only external scene featured in The Empire Strikes Back.

Fans also witness the introduction of the devastating (if a little bit too easily defeated using cable) All Terrain Armoured Transport, or AT-AT.

The location itself is popular with Norwegian hikers every summer and considering the sub-zero temperatures for most of the year that seems like a good time to go.

Interested in taking a trip? The Hardangerjøkulen glacier is located to the west of the capital city Oslo in the tiny mountain town called Finse, accessible only by train. After your mind-numbing train journey of four hours you can relax in the Finse 1222 hotel where the original crew stayed back in 1979.

Sadly there are no tauntauns to help the trip but you can hitch a ride on a handy snowcat which will carry you (hopefully safely) along deadly crevasses until you find the right freezing cold photo opportunity. It's easy to see why so few Star Wars fans bother - it's a high risk trip. 

May the force be with you.

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