July 17 marked the return of the mythical lands of Westeros and Essos in South Africa, and it was welcomed with the sort of gusto that has become a trademark of die-hard 'Game of Thrones' fans.
With so many questions dangling on our lips: Will the various factions of the kingdom of Westeros set aside their differences in time to unite against the looming White Walkers? Who will Daenerys Targaryen ‘Mother of Dragons’ wed? Jon Snow perhaps? But they’re related! Will the Greyjoys swallow their pride and team up with House Stark? What about Cersei Lannister’s reign of terror? Will she have the loyalty of her brother? And then there’s Bran – is he the “true king of the North”?
It is going to be a feverish winter.
In honour of the return of this much-loved series to our screens, Travelstart have put together a map of some of the most breathtaking filming locations from Season 7. And even better, cheap flights to these locations give you a chance to experience the magic of this legendary world first-hand! Why watch it on television when you can fly to Spain, Northern Ireland, or Iceland from only R 6,269 return*.
Go on a Game of Thrones tour with
Travelstart
Spain
The Alcázar of Seville played the part of the Sunspear, the seat of House Martell in Dorne.
The first stop on your journey will be the exotic country of Spain. This beautiful country was used during the fifth season, and played an even bigger role throughout the sixth season.
The town of Osuna provided the fighting pits of Meereen and the iconic Alcázar de Sevilla was used for the Water Palaces of Dorne.
But along with its Game of Thrones allure, Spain is also known for its gorgeous Mediterranean beaches, magnificent architecture, tantalising cuisine and seductive cities, such as Barcelona.
Flight duration from Johannesburg to Madrid: Approximately 10 hours 25 minutes
Flight duration from Cape Town to Madrid: Approximately 14 hours 20 minutes
Tickets available from: R6,269 (JNB) R8,459 (CPT)
Travel dates: 25 Nov – 12 Dec ’17
Visa: Schengen visa
Spanish Embassy in South Africa: Cape Town (+ 27 21 422 2415) Johannesburg (+ 27 11 783 2046)
Northern Ireland
The Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland serves as the King’s Road.
The next stop on your odyssey will be the Titanic Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This is the production base of the show. Film crew have been spotted hanging around the tiny Irish villages.
The epic Battle of the Bastards was shot here!
Apart from the ties to the show, Northern Ireland is also famous for landmarks such as Giant’s Causeway (a UNESCO Heritage Site), the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the ruins of Dunluce Castle.
Flight duration from Johannesburg to Belfast: Approximately 14 hours
Flight duration from Cape Town to Belfast: Approximately 17 hours
Tickets available from: R11,519 (JNB) R12,549 (CPT)
Travel dates: 28 Nov -12 Dec ’17
Visa: UK visa
United Kingdom Embassy in South Africa: Cape Town (+ 27 21 405 2400) Pretoria (+ 27 12 421 7500)
Iceland
Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) provided the setting for the land north of the Wall.
The final stop on your voyage will be Iceland – a place that abounds with Nordic mystique and surreal landscapes.
This far-flung country has been used since the second season. Notable filming locations include the iconic lava fields of Dimmuborgir (Mance Rayder set his camp up in this location during the third season) and the cave of Grjótagjá (the steamy love nest of Ygritte and Jon Snow).
Be sure to embark on a volcano tour in Reykjavik and attend a Viking festival in Hafnarfjördur for that extra bit of magic.
Iceland is also home to a magnificent array of glaciers and otherworldly landscapes that are the result of volcanic and other geological activity.
Flight duration from Johannesburg to Reykjavik: Approximately 15 hours
Flight duration from Cape Town to Reykjavik: Approximately 18 hours
Tickets available from: R9,979 (JNB) R11,549 (CPT)
Travel dates: 27 Nov – 12 Dec ’17
Visa: Schengen visa
Embassy in South Africa: Cape Town (+ 27 21 789 0053) Durban (+ 27 31 277 2100)
Get ready to delve into the world of Game of Thrones and feel the allure of these legendary worlds.
Go on, do your duty.