Cinema has always been a potent window into the world. After all, how many of us have ridden a Vespa past the Colosseum with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck while enraptured by Roman Holiday, or wandered through Tokyo alongside Scarlett Johansson in Lost In Translation? We’ve embraced Paris’ whimsical streets with Amelie, discovered hidden Thai islands with Leonardo DiCaprio and stalked the back alleys of Bruges with Colin Farrell.

Sometimes, those rows of darkened seats at your local picturehouse (or increasingly, let’s be honest, the sofa from which you tune into your streaming service of choice) don’t quite provide the escapism we crave. The less said about 3D cinema – which failed to achieve anything but a vague feeling of being ripped off and a hefty dose of motion sickness – the better. Indeed, every so often, a production comes along that demands we pack our bags and see the world anew.

The Face That Launched a Thousand Commercial Flights

This summer, that particular demand arrives courtesy of Christopher Nolan, a director who doesn't so much film stories as he does single-handedly rewrite the brochures of global tourism boards. I was in Estonia during the filming of 2020’s Tenet – nobody knew what was going on, but Tallinn had never looked better. Incidentally, this was exactly how audiences worldwide felt after watching the movie upon its release.

It’s now 2026, and here we are again. On July 17th, Nolan unleashes The Odyssey, a $250 million reimagining of Homer’s ancient epic – a story which has been told countless times in countless ways, arguably most effectively (thus far) by the Coen Brothers in their brilliant ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’, and once again primed to set the world on fire.

It features an incandescent, almost aggressively attractive ensemble including Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. Now, I’ll admit to having my doubts on the casting of this movie, and I’m reliably informed by the chattering of a million online forums that I’m far from alone. We are apparently meant to accept Matt Damon as Odysseus, the wiliest, cleverest, most silver-tongued mastermind in literary history. I like Matt as much as the next man, but he generally projects the energy of a very dependable, slightly stressed suburban dad who is exceptionally good at finding his way out of a multi-storey car park. Can he genuinely outsmart a Cyclops, trick Circe and survive the Sirens? We shall see.

I’m being a little facetious, I know. Even if the script leaves us entirely marooned, there’s little doubt whatsoever that the backdrops will be nothing less than spectacular. From the sun-bleached ruins of the Peloponnese to the dramatic, brooding black sands of Iceland, Nolan’s team has mapped out a visual journey worthy of the gods, and it’s bound to be a feast for the senses.

For the modern traveler looking to script their own epic escape, preferably without the ten-year transit time, the loss of an entire crew and some civilisation-altering PTSD, here is how to experience the world of The Odyssey on your travels this summer.

Greece: Mythic Grandeur in the Peloponnese

It is only fitting that a Greek epic begins at the source. To capture the ancient spirit of Ithaca and the rugged Aegean coast, Nolan’s production leaned heavily into the Peloponnese region. This is a landscape of undulating olive groves, jagged cliffs and royal blue waters that manage to look expensive even on camera.

For those wishing to trace Damon’s footsteps without having to blind a giant shepherd, Amanzoe remains the ultimate Grecian redoubt. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Argolic Gulf, this ultra-exclusive boutique resort feels less like a hotel and more like a modern-day acropolis designed for people who find regular luxury a bit too loud. Surrounded by UNESCO-listed ruins, each standalone guest pavilion features its own private plunge pool and open-air terrace, offering the kind of absolute privacy a weary king or a Hollywood star dodging paparazzi craves. More importantly, it evokes the very idea that sits at the heart of the epic: home.

The Itinerary: Spend your days exploring the nearby ancient theater of Epidaurus before returning for a sunset treatment at the Aman Spa. Seven-night itineraries from £7,125 per person (twin share, B&B), including flights and transfers, via Inspiring Travel (inspiringtravel.co.uk).

Morocco: An Artistic Sanctuary in Marrakech

Odysseus’s journey was defined by temptation and highly questionable detours. For a man who was supposedly desperate to get back to his wife, he had a tendency to take his sweet time luxuriating amongst lotus eaters and goddesses in various exotic hideaways. Nolan mirrors these hallucinatory, sensory-rich chapters by utilising the intoxicating textures of Morocco, where the air hangs heavy with orange blossom and every ornate door hides something utterly spectacular. Filming spanned from the coastal winds of Essaouira to the bustling, labyrinthine heart of Marrakech, a city that is itself a masterclass in getting delightfully lost.

To capture the creative, bohemian spirit that has drawn artists to Morocco for decades, check into IZZA, a boutique hotel tucked away in the Medina. This newly minted Michelin Key property is a design-forward oasis of tranquility that feels a world away from the chaotic charm of the souks and yet delights visitors by being immersed in the artistic culture that makes the city so unforgettable. The hotel serves as a living gallery, housing over 300 pieces of contemporary art amidst architecture inspired by legendary designer Bill Willis. Its 14 rooms are named after the iconic freedom seekers of the sixties and seventies, including Yves Saint Laurent, Grace Jones, and Jack Kerouac, blending historic Berber romance with a sharp, mid-century aesthetic. At IZZA, you’re truly in legendary company – I couldn’t get enough of it.

The Itinerary: Retreat from the sensory overload of the markets to IZZA’s rooftop for a complimentary arrival cocktail, followed by a traditional hammam treatment in their subterranean spa. Rates from £190 to £725 per night, including daily à la carte breakfast and airport transfers (izza.com).

Italy: The Secret Island of Favignana, Sicily

While the Amalfi Coast commands the headlines and the crowds, Nolan’s location scouts quietly slipped away to the tiny island of Favignana, located just five miles off the coast of Sicily. Classicists know Sicily as the treacherous home of the Cyclops Polyphemus and the island of Thrinacia, where Odysseus's men fatally decided to barbecue Hyperion's sacred cattle. Favignana itself has long been a fiercely guarded secret among elite Italians, until March of last year when locals spotted Damon, Holland and Zendaya filming along its crystalline shores, effectively blowing the cover.

To experience Favignana before the cruise ships catch wind of it (the clock is definitely ticking in this regard), opt for the absolute seclusion of The Light House. This cutting-edge villa sleeps six and serves as a masterclass in minimalist Mediterranean architecture. With expansive stone terraces framing a striking private pool, The Light House offers panoramic views of the island's famous turquoise waters and dramatic tuff rock quarries – exactly the kind of place you would hide out if you were laying low from Poseidon. Or your accountant.

The Itinerary: Hire a private skipper to explore the hidden sea caves featured in the film, then return to The Light House for a private dinner prepared by a local chef. Weekly villa rentals from €3,150, including daily maid service, via Scott Williams (scottwilliams.co.uk).

Iceland: The Cinematic Edge of the Earth

Every Nolan film requires a landscape that looks like it was generated by an angry deity, and for The Odyssey, that godforsaken – but oh-so stunning – location is Iceland. The production moved through the dramatic black sands of Hjörleifshöfði Beach and the rushing waters of the Markarfljót River to replicate the treacherous, supernatural underworld elements of the journey.

To truly appreciate the scale of these locations, a bespoke self-drive expedition is paramount. After all, nothing says epic poetry quite like a luxury 4x4 followed by some time spent with a local beer neck-deep in thermal waters. A tailor-made journey allows travelers to navigate between the country’s rawest highlights, from whale-watching in glacial fjords to the surreal experience of snorkeling between tectonic plates at Silfra. It is an adventurous, elemental contrast to the warmth of the Mediterranean, showcasing our world at its most volatile and yet most jaw-droppingly majestic.

The Itinerary: A curated 7-day self-drive itinerary incorporating Nolan's exact filming locations, luxury boutique lodges, and private excursions costs from £2,225 per person, including car hire, flights, and accommodation, via Stubborn Mule Travel (stubbornmuletravel.com).

The Ultimate Return

Set-jetting has become the modern iteration of the Grand Tour, a way to map our real-world desires onto celluloid fantasies. Whether or not Matt Damon convinces me that he is an ancient Greek mastermind capable of outwitting gods and monsters, Christopher Nolan has already succeeded in his true calling: reminding us that the world remains vast, dramatic and intensely beautiful.

You could, of course, choose to experience The Odyssey from the comfort of a plush cinema seat with a bucket of overpriced popcorn. But for those who prefer their travel narratives written in five stars rather than twenty-four frames per second, the real journey lies beyond the screen.

After all, Odysseus spent ten long years trying to find his way back home, but with properties like Amanzoe and IZZA waiting on the horizon, you may just find yourself in absolutely no hurry to return.

The New Odyssey: Following Nolan’s Epic Across Europe & Beyond