Maps of Movies

Rambo III (1988)

Where Rambo III says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A film set in Afghanistan, filmed in a Thai temple and the Arizona desert.

Scenes and places

The Thai monastery

Rambo has settled into a quiet life at a Thai Buddhist monastery. He helps with construction work and wants no more fighting.

Set in Thai Buddhist monastery — The monastery where Rambo helps with construction work. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Where the film's quiet opening is set.

Filmed at Wat Phra Phutthabat Tak Pha, Lamphun Province — The opening temple scenes were filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Stick fighting in Bangkok

Rambo competes in krabi-krabong stick-fighting matches and donates his winnings.

Set in Bangkok — The city where Rambo competes in krabi-krabong matches.

Capital of Thailand.

Trautman visits, then is ambushed at the border

Trautman asks Rambo to join a CIA-backed mission, but Rambo refuses. Trautman goes on and is ambushed at the border and captured.

Set in Afghan border — Where Trautman's team is ambushed by Soviet forces.

Border crossing into Afghanistan.

Peshawar: the arms dealer

Rambo flies to Peshawar and convinces arms dealer Mousa Ghani to bring him toward the Soviet base.

Set in Peshawar, Pakistan — Where Rambo meets arms dealer Mousa Ghani. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Pakistani city near the Afghan border.

The Mujahideen village near Khost

The villagers, led by Masoud, hesitate to help Rambo. Soviet helicopters attack the village and Rambo fights back.

Set in Khost village — The town closest to the Soviet base. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Town in Afghanistan.

The Soviet mountain base

Rambo attacks the base, is forced to retreat, then returns to infiltrate it and free Trautman.

Set in Soviet mountain base — Large mountain base where Trautman is held by Colonel Zaysen.

Fictional base in the story.

The cave and the helicopter

After a helicopter crash, Rambo and Trautman flee on foot and shelter in a cave. Rambo takes out the pursuing helicopter with an explosive arrow.

Set in Cave in the mountains — Where the escapees hide from a pursuing helicopter.

Cave near the base.

The desert battle near the border

Soviet forces press the escapees across open desert in a large-scale fight.

Set in Desert near the Pakistan border — Open desert near the border.

Story location is not fixed to a coordinate.

Filmed at Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation area, Yuma, Arizona — Production credits thank Yuma-area authorities and the reservation; exact scene location not recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Characters

• John Rambo — A Vietnam veteran living in a Thai monastery who is drawn into a rescue.
• Colonel Sam Trautman — Rambo's old commander and friend, captured by Soviet forces.