Chasing The Odyssey: epic film locations set to spark a new travel boom

Did watching Kathy and Heathcliff wandering the moors on the latest film adaptation of Wuthering Heights inspire you to book a flight to Yorkshire?

It's a trend called set jetting, or screen sourcing, where travellers forego traditional brochures and choose a holiday destination based on the location of a popular movie or TV show.

With the arrival of filmmaker Christopher Nolan's mythic action epic, The Odyssey, those itineraries are about to become a lot more adventurous.

The 2026 film follows a massive cast of A-list performers across Africa and Europe, with breathtaking scenes in Greece, Italy, Morocco, Scotland and Iceland.

Social researcher Ashley Fell said that in an era of digital and streaming services, viewers have been getting their travel inspiration from TV and film sets.

"We're witnessing people turning entertainment into real life inspiration for experiences that they want to have and memories they want to replicate," the futurist said.

The Odyssey is set to be released on July 17, and the trailer is already teasing a range of jaw-dropping sets around the world that may be hard to resist.

Despite significant logistical challenges, Nolan has been vocal about his desire to film on location and use practical effects where possible.

The result is a tempting catalogue of stunning global destinations, that will likely be enticing travellers after the film's release.

What would a film adaptation of The Odyssey be without a trip to Greece's Peloponnese region?

Nolan was rumoured to have filmed at Nestor's Cave, Voidokilia Beach, Almyrolaka Beach, Methoni Castle, and Acrocorinth.

Just across the Ionian Sea is Sicily, another location rumoured to feature in the film. In particular, Favignana and the Aeolian Islands will likely have viewers planning a winter escape.

Morocco, including Tahanaout, El Haouz, Essaouira and Marrakech, provided desert landscapes and historic architectural backdrops for the 2026 epic.

For those looking for a cooler getaway, Scotland's craggy landscape was also on the big screen. Filming was rumoured on Moray Firth Coast, Findlater Castle and Culbin Forest.

Iceland's Highlands and glaciers may also surge in popularity for tourists after they catch a glimpse of the dramatic landscapes shown in the film.

The most powerful example of this trend in recent years has been The White Lotus effect, where destinations, including Italy and Thailand, in the HBO series boom in popularity among tourists.

The trend even influences our hobbies, with experience-gifting platform Red Balloon attributing a 125 per cent rise in cooking classes to the popular FX series The Bear.

Whatever your viewing obsession, there's an experience or holiday destination to match.