The war film Lone Survivor was filmed mostly in the U.S. Southwest, with additional work on military bases and overseas standing in for Afghanistan.

Main Filming Locations

  • New Mexico (USA) – A large portion of the mountain combat sequences was shot in New Mexico, including the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the wooded areas around Chilili, which doubled for Afghanistan’s rugged terrain.
  • Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque – Used for the Navy SEALs’ preparation and air base scenes, providing large indoor facilities for complex shots.
  • California & Kentucky (USA) – Camp Pendleton in California and Fort Campbell in Kentucky were used for various base scenes representing the SEALs’ real-life military environment.
  • Morocco – Desert locations in Morocco were used to recreate Afghanistan’s arid landscapes, especially wide desert and patrol shots.

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