Where was The Wheel of Time filmed?

As episode one unfolds, we’re gradually introduced to the main characters who will play central roles in the drama that lies ahead. There are several memorable moments, but one of the most surprising introductions is when we meet Egwene (Madeleine Madden) just as she’s inducted into the Women’s Circle of Two Rivers.

“Be strong, Egwene. Trust the river,” a woman whispers in Egwene’s ear, before pushing her off a high cliff. Egwene plunges into the icy waters of a wild river. At first she panics as she’s swept downstream, but she soon starts to relax and simply let the river take her wherever it wants.

This scene was filmed in the stunning Great Soča Gorge in Slovenia, roughly 75 miles northwest of Ljubljana. The beautiful turquoise waters of this impressive gorge are a popular spot for whitewater rafting, but there are also hiking trails to explore if you’d rather stay dry.

One of the more spectacular scenes from The Wheel of Time takes place in the first episode, when Rand (Josha Stradowski) and Egwene sit on a stunning mountainside discussing her (and their) future.

“Thought you might be here,” says Egwene. Rand is clearly glad to see her, but there’s pain behind his smile. “When I come up here... you know what I wonder about? I wonder about my life here. In the Two Rivers. About the house I'll build. The wife I'll have. About my kids running through these woods, just like I did.”

But as Egwene prepares to tell Rand that she’s going to become a Wisdom, he makes it clear that he already knows. Given this means they’ll have no future together as a couple, it’s a poignant moment as they share a sad embrace.

The stunning backdrop for this scene is Mangart Saddle in Slovenia’s Julian Alps. Sitting close to the Italian border, this beautiful setting has an elevation of almost 6,800 feet may be in an out-of-the-way location, but you’ll enjoy breathtaking mountain scenery if you ever get here.

In episode two, Shadow’s Waiting, our band of travelers are forced to flee an army of trollocs and evade an unsettling encounter with the Whitecloaks. With a weakened Moiraine in need of rest, they set up camp for the night at an old mill.

First, Rand and Egwene clear the air and ease some of the tension building between them. But then as the group settles down for the night, they’re startled awake by the terrifying news that the trolloc army is right on their tail.

“Wake up. Hurry. They found us,” Lan gasps. But Moiraine doesn’t stir — she’s too weak after all her efforts keeping the villagers safe. “She can’t move. We need to get her out of here,” he says, as the group make a desperate escape.

The site where the group sets up camp for the night is Dolský Mlýn, an old mill house located around 85 miles north of Prague near the German border. The mill is found in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, so there’s plenty more natural beauty worth admiring while you’re in the area.

For more iconic beauty from The World of the Wheel, head to the Pravčická Brána in the Czech Republic’s Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Located just five miles from Dolský Mlýn, this natural sandstone arch is the largest of its kind in Europe. It’s also another memorable filming location of The Wheel of Time.

After fleeing Shadar Logoth, Lan and Moiraine are accosted by Nynaeve (Zoë Robins), a Wisdom from Two Rivers. Nynaeve demands to know what has happened to her friends, but an ill and wounded Moiraine is in no fit state to respond. So Nynaeve turns her attention to Lan, who is forced to knock her out to protect himself.

When she comes to, Lan asks Nynaeve if she’s willing to help Moiraine recover. “She best give me the answers I want,” Nynaeve spits, but she eventually relents and tends to Moiraine’s wounds. While she does, Lan rides ahead to scout the terrain and search for help — and that’s when we see the memorable shot of Pravčická Brána.

As they flee Shadar Logoth, Mat (Barney Harris) and Rand become separated from their friends. Rand wants to return home, but Mat knows doing so will only bring death and destruction to their village. “And what do you want us to do? Just walk to the White Tower?” Rand asks. But all roads lead to the White Tower, and the two soon set off on their own.

As Mat and Rand begin their trek away from the city, we see them hiking across a rocky mountainside. This The Wheel of Time filming location is found in Croatia, in the Northern Velebit National Park. Located around 115 miles southwest of Zagreb, and just a short journey inland from the coast, these craggy mountains are part of the largest mountain range in Croatia.

While the first part of Mat and Rand’s trek was filmed in Croatia, the next part was filmed in the Czech Republic. As the two friends arrive at the mining village of Breen’s Spring, we see them gazing down on the village set in a huge canyon. The first thing they notice as they head into town is an arrow-riddled corpse, prompting the joking remark that Breen’s Spring “seems like a friendly place.”

The site chosen for Breen’s Spring is actually Velká Amerika, or Quarry Great America. Also known as the Czech Grand Canyon, this former limestone quarry is surrounded by forest some 20 miles south of Prague. It’s a popular hiking spot with plenty of natural beauty to be found on the nearby trails, and another location well worth visiting if you’re checking out the best The Wheel of Time filming locations.