The medina of Kairouan
Some of the street scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed in the medina of Kairouan; local guides now sell the walk as Indy’s Cairo.
FIELD JOURNALFive films · 24,139 km of red line
Indiana Joneswhere it was
Raiders opens with a swap: a golden idol lifted, a bag of sand left in its place. The films did the same with the map. Cairo is in Tunisia, Peru is in Hawaii, Tangier is Fez, and the library in Venice is a church.
Nine stops, five films.
Harrison FordIndiana Jones · Sri Lanka, 1983
Karen AllenMarion Ravenwood · 2013
Steven Spielbergdirector · 1990
George Lucasstory, producer · 1986
THE SWAP0 of 5 treasures lifted
Make the swap
Each film’s treasure sits on a pressure plate. Fill the sandbag until the scale is level, then lift. Judge it right and you see the real place it came from.
Choose a treasure. Hold “Pour sand” to fill the bag until the scale sits level, then lift.
Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
Lift it to see where it was.
CRACK0 of 8 pages snatched
Where the script said
Pick a page from the journal, then crack the whip. The place on the page comes away and the real one is underneath.
The page reads “Cairo”. Crack the whip.
The script says
Cairo
VENICE45.43°N 12.33°E
The library is a church.
The library’s façade is the church of San Barnaba in Venice. The library interior was shot in a studio, not in the church, which today holds exhibitions. The crew was allowed only half a day on the Grand Canal.
Field notes
DESERTSJordan · Tunisia · Morocco
Sand in the boots
The Treasury, Petra. The Treasury in Petra was featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released in 1989. In the film it is first glimpsed through the Siq, a sandstone gorge. The vaulted temple inside does not exist: behind the door is a modest, bare room. Researchers digging beneath the Treasury found a hidden tomb holding 12 complete human skeletons and objects of bronze, ceramic and iron.
Field notes
Kairouan to Petra: 2,431 km as the crow flies.
The canyon near Tozeur
The Raiders desert canyon is in North Africa, near Tozeur; the crew filmed around Tunisia in September 1980. George Lucas knew it already: in March 1976 Star Wars filmed R2-D2 and the Jawas in the same place.
Field notes
The medina of Fez
The tuk-tuk chase is scripted as Tangier, but it was shot in Fez.
Field notes
Visit Petra
Petra by Night
Petra, Jordan · 30 JD per person
The Siq and the Treasury by candlelight, Sunday to Thursday, 8.30 to about 10.30pm. You need a daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass first; children under 10 go free.
See the details
Galaxy Tours
Indy’s Cairo walk, Kairouan
Kairouan, Tunisia · $76.65 per adult
Three hours on foot from Bab Tunis to the 18 Raiders filming areas in the medina. Groups under three pay for three.
See the walk
Viator · Ad / affiliate
Fez medina walks
Fez, Morocco
Live marketplace results for guided walks into Fès el Bali from Bab Boujloud. Check each itinerary.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare tours
ALMERÍA36.73°N 2.15°W
Mind the gulls
The Andalucía Film Commission lists Playa de Mónsul among the film’s locations; Sean Connery came back to this beach three times, for this film, Shalako and The Wind and the Lion. The film was shot partly in the provinces of Almería and Granada. Spielberg turned down the Alhambra as too familiar.
7 gulls on the shore.
Field notes
Guadix station
At Guadix station the cinematographer Douglas Slocombe kept changing parts of the set to follow the moving sunlight. In the streets of Guadix, Marcus runs through Iskenderun.
Field notes
LECTURE NOTESArchaeology 101 · the places in between
Back to class
A library tunnelled for a motorcycle, a sandstone arch, a castle dressed as 1944, the studio where it began, a temple built for a ride, and the dam beside the rope bridge built for Temple of Doom.
High Street, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Sterling Memorial Library, Yale
In summer 2007 Yale became Marshall College, where Indy teaches archaeology.
Field notes
Windows Section, Arches National Park, Utah, USA
Double Arch
Double Arch is the setting of the opening scene of the Last Crusade, where River Phoenix, as young Indy, runs out of the cave to save the Cross of Coronado.
Field notes
Bamburgh, Northumberland, England
Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle stands in for Nazi Germany in 1944 in the opening of Dial of Destiny.
Field notes
Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England
Elstree Studios
George Lucas invited Steven Spielberg to Borehamwood to direct the Indiana Jones trilogy.
Field notes
Adventureland, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California, USA
Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland
Indiana Jones Adventure opened in Adventureland at Disneyland on 3 March 1995.
Field notes
Mahaweli River, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Victoria Dam
The rope bridge was specially built near Kandy, next to the island’s tallest dam, the Victoria Dam.
Field notes
Bamburgh Castle
The Clock Tower, Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh, Northumberland
A self-catering apartment in the castle’s restored medieval bell tower, with three bedrooms over several floors. When the day visitors leave, the grounds and terraces are yours. Let through Crabtree & Crabtree.
See the apartment
Disneyland Resort
Indiana Jones Adventure
Anaheim, California
The Temple of the Forbidden Eye ride in Adventureland, open since 1995. Built for the park, not a filming location.
Plan a visit
Viator · Ad / affiliate
Kandy and tea-country tours
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Live marketplace results for days around Kandy and its tea estates. Check each itinerary.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursITINERARY15 places you can reach
Where it is now
Where it is now
15 places you can visit. Elstree Studios is a working studio, named here but not pinned.
Pins mark public places; private homes are named but not pinned.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Walk in through the Siq from the visitor centre in Wadi Musa; the Treasury is the first great façade you reach.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: area · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Enter by Bab Tunis, the northern gate; local guides walk the Raiders streets.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: area · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Desert tracks north-east of Tozeur. Go with a local driver.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: area · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Bab Boujloud, the blue gate, is the usual way into the old town on foot.
Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, at the end of the Siq, Petra. Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 Petra, Ma’an, Jordan
Al-Khazneh, the Treasury
The Treasury in Petra was featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released in 1989.
Walk in through the Siq from the visitor centre in Wadi Musa; the Treasury is the first great façade you reach.
Field notes
A street in the medina of Kairouan. Noomen9 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Kairouan, Tunisia
The medina of Kairouan
Some of the street scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed in the medina of Kairouan; local guides now sell the walk as Indy’s Cairo.
Enter by Bab Tunis, the northern gate; local guides walk the Raiders streets.
Field notes
The Sidi Bouhlel canyon country near Tozeur. Stefan Krasowski · CC BY 2.0 Sidi Bouhlel, Tozeur, Tunisia
The canyon near Tozeur
The Raiders desert canyon is in North Africa, near Tozeur; the crew filmed around Tunisia in September 1980.
Desert tracks north-east of Tozeur. Go with a local driver.
Field notes
Bab Boujloud, the gate into the old medina of Fez. Ideophagous · CC BY-SA 4.0 Fès el Bali, Fez, Morocco
The medina of Fez
The tuk-tuk chase is scripted as Tangier, but it was shot in Fez.
Bab Boujloud, the blue gate, is the usual way into the old town on foot.
Field notes
Stay
Sleep in the castle.
A bell-tower apartment inside Bamburgh’s walls, with the grounds to yourself after closing.
Bamburgh Castle
The Clock Tower, Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh, Northumberland
A self-catering apartment in the castle’s restored medieval bell tower, with three bedrooms over several floors. When the day visitors leave, the grounds and terraces are yours. Let through Crabtree & Crabtree.
See the apartmentBook a way in
Walks, ranches and candlelight.
Indy’s Cairo on foot, the Kauai ranch by off-road car, Petra by night, the ride, and marketplace tours for Petra, Syracuse, Fez and Kandy.
Galaxy Tours
Indy’s Cairo walk, Kairouan
Kairouan, Tunisia · $76.65 per adult
Three hours on foot from Bab Tunis to the 18 Raiders filming areas in the medina. Groups under three pay for three.
See the walk
Kipu Ranch Adventures
Kipu Ranch tours, Kauai
Lihue, Kauai · From $190
Three-hour off-road and waterfall tours across the 3,000-acre ranch where the Raiders opening was shot. Ages 9 and up, Tuesday to Friday.
See the toursVisit Petra
Petra by Night
Petra, Jordan · 30 JD per person
The Siq and the Treasury by candlelight, Sunday to Thursday, 8.30 to about 10.30pm. You need a daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass first; children under 10 go free.
See the detailsDisneyland Resort
Indiana Jones Adventure
Anaheim, California
The Temple of the Forbidden Eye ride in Adventureland, open since 1995. Built for the park, not a filming location.
Plan a visitViator · Ad / affiliate
Petra day tours
Petra, Jordan
Live marketplace results for guided days in Petra, through the Siq to the Treasury. Check each itinerary.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare tours
Viator · Ad / affiliate
Syracuse and Neapolis tours
Syracuse, Sicily
Live marketplace results for guided visits to the Neapolis park and the Ear of Dionysius. Check each itinerary.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursViator · Ad / affiliate
Fez medina walks
Fez, Morocco
Live marketplace results for guided walks into Fès el Bali from Bab Boujloud. Check each itinerary.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursViator · Ad / affiliate
Kandy and tea-country tours
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Live marketplace results for days around Kandy and its tea estates. Check each itinerary.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursWhat’s on
The score, played live.
Orchestras playing Raiders live to the film this autumn and next spring.
Checking current event dates…
Take it home
Original posters, the book, the scores.
Original Raiders and Temple of Doom posters from our store, with the making-of book and the first two soundtracks.
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Japanese)
An original 1981 Japanese B2, rolled, near mint.
In stock
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, French)
An original 1981 French petite, Richard Amsel art, rolled, near mint.
In stock
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1982 re-release)
An original 1982 US one-sheet, Brian Bysouth art, near mint.
In stock
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Temple of Doom (1984)
An original 1984 US one-sheet, Drew Struzan art, linen-backed, near mint.
In stock
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Temple of Doom (1984, Wolfe art)
An original 1984 US one-sheet, Bruce Wolfe art, near mint.
In stock
View poster
Printed Originals · Our poster store
Temple of Doom (1989, Czech)
An original 1989 Czech A1, Milan Pecák art, rolled, mint.
In stock
View poster
Bookshop.org UK · Ad / affiliate
The Complete Making of Indiana Jones
J. W. Rinzler and Laurent Bouzereau
All four films to 2008, from the Lucasfilm archives.
Find the book
eBay · Ad / affiliate
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Original Soundtrack
John Williams · LP, 1981
The first score, on the original album.
Live marketplace search · listings and condition change
Find a copy
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_2,_Petra,_Jordan.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
eBay · Ad / affiliate
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Original Soundtrack
John Williams · LP, 1984
The second score, on vinyl.
Live marketplace search · listings and condition change
Find a copyDates, prices, rooms and stock change: confirm with the provider before you travel or buy. A stay or tour is described as a filming location only where the card says so.
Field notes
Every place and moment behind this page, with sources.
16 of 16 places · 15 of 15 Moments
Al-Khazneh, the Treasury
Petra, Ma’an, Jordan
The Grail temple
The Treasury at Petra is the front of the Grail temple; the vaulted interior does not exist.
The medina of Kairouan
Kairouan, Tunisia
Cairo’s streets
Some of the street scenes were filmed in the medina of Kairouan, now walked as Indy’s Cairo.
The canyon near Tozeur
Sidi Bouhlel, Tozeur, Tunisia
The canyon and the Ark
The Raiders desert canyon was filmed near Tozeur, in the same place Star Wars had used in March 1976.
The medina of Fez
Fès el Bali, Fez, Morocco
Tangier
The tuk-tuk chase, scripted as Tangier, was shot in Fez.
Playa de Mónsul
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Almería, Spain
The beach
Playa de Mónsul is one of the film’s Almería locations.
Guadix railway station
Guadix, Granada, Spain
Iskenderun
Guadix station and streets play Iskenderun.
San Barnaba
Campo San Barnaba, Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy
The library
The church of San Barnaba is the library’s façade; the interior was a studio set.
The Ear of Dionysius
Neapolis Archaeological Park, Syracuse, Sicily
Archimedes’ tomb
Indy and Helena enter Archimedes’ tomb at the Ear of Dionysius.
Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh, Northumberland, England
1944
Bamburgh Castle stands in for Nazi Germany in 1944.
Elstree Studios
Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England
Borehamwood
George Lucas brought Steven Spielberg to Borehamwood to direct the Indiana Jones trilogy.
Kipu Ranch and the Huleia valley
Kipu Road, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
The idol and the boulder
The opening of Raiders was filmed in the jungles of Kauai, with Kipu Ranch and the Huleia refuge as the Chachapoyan warriors’ territory.
Double Arch
Windows Section, Arches National Park, Utah, USA
The Cross of Coronado
Young Indy runs out of the cave at Double Arch with the Cross of Coronado.
Sterling Memorial Library, Yale
High Street, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Marshall College
Yale became Marshall College for the motorcycle chase, filmed in summer 2007.
Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland
Adventureland, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California, USA
The Ceylon Tea Museum
Hantane, near Kandy, Sri Lanka
The village
A tea plantation near Kandy, now the Ceylon Tea Museum, became the village.
Victoria Dam
Mahaweli River, Central Province, Sri Lanka
The rope bridge
The rope bridge was built for the film near Kandy, next to the Victoria Dam.