The Ultimate Vacation: Your travel guide to Avatar's Pandora

Alpha Centauri Star System

All of the action in James Cameron's wildly popular Avatar film takes place on the remote moon of Pandora, a land which takes takes inspiration from landscapes, flora, and fauna which we Earth dwellers are familiar with and sends them into iterations often beyond our wildest dreams. Millions of devoted fans now fantasize about visiting the moon on their next vacation - but where is Pandora, exactly? You'll need to submit a special request for time off from your boss because this isn't going to fit in your typical two-weeks-a-year window...

In Avatar, it takes Pandora-bound scientists and military personnel 6 years to complete their journey. But unless you also have a time machine to take you to 2154, you're stuck with current rocket technology, which would get you to Pandora in approximately 165,000 years. So be sure to bring a magazine.

When you get to the Alpha Centauri star system, you'll have to look around a bit to find Pandora, but scientists and geeks have long hypothesized the existence of planets among the stars. We'd recommend starting with the largest one you find and start exploring its moons until you find the right one.

Pandora

Pandora is the holiday destination of your dreams This lush moon combines adventure, awe-inspiring landscapes, and a fascinating local culture. Pandora is known for its rich minerals and natural resources, including the highly valuable unobtanium (be sure to declare the pieces you pick up on your journeys to customs!). And don't forget to pack your oxygen mask.

Many of the flora and fauna you encounter on Pandora will strike you as vaguely familiar from your time back on Earth, but be forewarned, these aren't like anything you've ever experienced. Be sure to bring your camera to capture shots of the vaguely African savannah-esque animals and bring a tripod so you can clearly capture the plants' luminescence as they react to your every touch under the dark of night.

Much of James Cameron's vision of Pandora is of an idealized planet Earth, unspoiled by modern infrastructure and un-dulled by human senses. Cameron himself has said that he hopes the film "makes you think a little bit about how you interact with nature and your fellow man." Our Earth trees may not light up to our touch, but hopefully you can learn from this film to enjoy the beauty and wonder of our own natural environment and adopt an appreciation for and communion with it that mimics that of the Na'vi people.

Hometree

This is one of the many best-kept local secrets on Pandora, so you'll have to become friendly with a local (or be blessed by Eywa) to catch a glimpse of this place. Combination hotel, restaurant, and bar, Hometree is the base for any visitor lucky enough to be welcomed.

The Hometree is the home for all of the Omaticaya clan. It rests above a gigantic unobtanium deposit and is the relgious, family, and cultural center for all the people. This tree would dwarf even the largest Pacific Northwest redwoods ever to live in Earth. The base is hollow and the Omaticaya use elaborate spiral staircases to move about within it. Given that the people live in harmony with nature, there is plenty of room for everyone and each Omaticaya has their own luxurious hammock-like bed to rest in. Young Omaticaya hunters earn their status within the clan after being permitted to carve their bow from wood of this powerful tree.

Hallelujah Mountains

The Hallelujah Mountains are the one destination on Pandora that you simply cannot miss. They float peacefully thanks to the area's magnetic currents, occasionally brushing up against one another. You cannot fly with GPS through these mountains and must trust yourself to do it by feel. If you're headed there without the aid of your helicopter, be sure to do practice your pullups in the gym beforehand as you'll be moving amongst them via hanging vines and up their sheer cliffs. Keep your eyes peeled for the graceful Mountain Banshees which roost in these gorgeous mountains, but keep your distance.

The Hallelujah Mountains of Avatar were inspired by the Huang Shan Mountains in China, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination in Asia. On January 25, 2010, residents of the Southern Hunan province region where the mountains which directly inspired the film are located, renamed their "Southern Sky Column" in honor of the film. Dressed in Tujia clothing, they renamed their peak "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain."

Tree of Souls

This most sacred spot among the Na'vi is considered to be the closest connection to Eywa on the entire moon. It rests in a protected basin among the Hallelujah Mountains and contains all the memories and spirits of Na'vi ancestors. It is the cultural and religious epicenter of the entire people and serves as a conduit by which all living creatures on Pandora can connect with Eywa through neuro-connective antennae. Even non-Na'vi are able to commune with the Tree of Souls, as shown through the transformation of Jake Sully and the attempted transformation of Grace Augustine.