The Winner of Survivor is Survivor
Since its premiere in 2000, the reality TV show Survivor, created by Mark Burnett, has taken contestants to some of the most exotic and remote locations worldwide–from the lush jungles of Borneo to the crystal-clear waters of Fiji, Survivor has traveled to many breathtaking and diverse places.
The show’s producers carefully choose each location based on its natural beauty, cultural significance, and logistical feasibility. These locations provide a challenging environment for contestants to test their survival skills, adaptability, and strategic gameplay.
Over the years, Survivor has become known for its stunning locations and breathtaking scenery, which have helped to make the show an enduring success.
With the next season due to come out this year, let’s look back at these incredible filming destinations for a show that keeps giving viewers the ultimate adventures in entertainment.
Are you an uber-fan? Well, while drooling over these destinations below, don’t forget to grab some Survivor merch!
Here are some of the most popular Survivor filming locations:
- Borneo/Sabah, Malaysia (Season 1): The first season of Survivor was filmed in Borneo, a tropical rainforest island in Malaysia. The location was chosen because of its natural beauty and rugged terrain.
- Australian Outback (Season 2): The second season of Survivor went into Queensland, known for its extreme heat, harsh desert conditions, and rugged landscapes.
- Africa (Season 3): The third season of Survivor was filmed in Kenya, Africa. The location was chosen because of its diverse wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and cultural significance.
- Marquesas Islands (Season 4): Known as islands far from any other place on earth, they were chosen for their beauty, ultimate challenges, and ruggedness.
- Thailand (Season 5): The Satun Province is another location with aqua waters, remoteness, and challenges for survivors of this season.
- Amazon (Season 6): The sixth season of Survivor was filmed in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The location was chosen because of its unique ecosystem and the challenges it posed to the contestants.
- Panama (Season 7-8): Panama’s Pearl Islands were where the waters were clear, but the gameplay was extreme.
- Vanuatu (Season 9): This island in Oceana proved that it was as extreme as previous filming locations.
- Palau (Season 10): The tenth season of Survivor was filmed on the island of Palau in the Western Pacific. Koror was chosen because of its crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, and marine life.
- Guatemala (Season 11): The eleventh season of Survivor was filmed in the Petén region of Guatemala. The location was chosen for its ancient Mayan ruins and dense jungle terrain.
- Panama (Season 12): The twelfth season of Survivor was filmed on the Pearl Islands in Panama. The location was chosen for its beautiful beaches and rich marine life.
- Cook Islands (Season 13): The thirteenth season of Survivor was filmed in the Cook Islands, a group of islands in the South Pacific. Aitutaki was chosen for its crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life.
- Fiji (Season 14): The fourteenth season of Survivor was also filmed in Fiji, specifically on the island of Vanua Levu. The location was chosen for its lush tropical forests and white sand beaches.
- China (Season 15): The fifteenth season of Survivor was filmed in the Zhejiang province of China. Juangxi was chosen for its rich cultural heritage and stunning natural scenery.
- Micronesia (Season 16): The sixteenth season of Survivor was filmed in the island nation of Micronesia in Oceania. Back to Koror, Palau was chosen again for its remote location and challenging terrain.
- Gabon (Season 17): The seventeenth season of Survivor was filmed in Gabon, a country in central Africa. Estuaries was chosen for its diverse wildlife and rugged terrain.
- Tocantins (Season 18): The eighteenth season of Survivor was filmed in the Tocantins region of Brazil. The location was chosen for its unique ecosystem and challenging terrain.
- Samoa (Season 19): The nineteenth season was filmed in Samoa, a group of islands in the South Pacific. Upolu was chosen for its tropical climate and stunning natural scenery.
- Heroes vs. Villains (Season 20): The twentieth season was filmed in Samoa, specifically on the island of Upolu. The location was chosen for its beautiful beaches and lush rainforests.
- Nicaragua (Season 21): The twenty-first season was filmed in Nicaragua, a country in Central America. San Juan del Sur was chosen for its diverse geography and rich cultural heritage.
- Redemption Island (Season 22): The twenty-second season was filmed in Nicaragua, specifically on the island of Ometepe. The location was chosen for its rugged terrain and stunning natural beauty.
- South Pacific (Season 23): The twenty-third season was filmed in Samoa, specifically on the island of Upolu. The location was chosen for its tropical climate and stunning natural scenery.
- One World (Season 24): The twenty-fourth season was filmed in Samoa, specifically on the island of Upolu. The location was chosen for its beautiful beaches and lush rainforests.
- Philippines (Season 25): This country’s twenty-fifth season of Survivor was filmed. Cagayan was chosen for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
- Caramoan (Season 26): The twenty-sixth season was filmed in the Caramoan Islands in the Philippines. The location was chosen for its remote location and challenging terrain.
- Blood vs. Water (Season 27): The twenty-seventh season of Survivor was filmed on Palaui Island in the Philippines. The location was chosen for its stunning natural beauty and challenging terrain.
- Cagayan (Season 28): The twenty-eighth season of Survivor was filmed in the Cagayan province of the Philippines. The location was chosen for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
- San Juan del Sur (Season 29): The twenty-ninth season of Survivor was back filming in San Juan del Sur, a coastal town in Nicaragua. The location was chosen for its stunning beaches, rugged terrain, and rich cultural heritage.
- Worlds Apart (Season 30): The thirtieth season of Survivor was filmed in the Nagarote region of Nicaragua. The location was chosen for its diverse geography, stunning natural scenery, and rich cultural heritage.
- Cambodia (Season 31): The thirty-first season of Survivor was filmed in Cambodia, a country in Southeast Asia. The location was chosen for its ancient temples, rugged terrain, and challenging climate.
- Kaôh Rōng (Season 32): The thirty-second season was filmed on this island in Cambodia. The location was chosen for its diverse landscapes, including tropical forests, beaches, and coral reefs.
- Fiji (Season 33-44): The recent seasons have been filmed in Fiji due to its tropical climate, stunning beaches, and lush forests.
- Moise, Italy (Season 45): TBD
Did you know?
The show was initially developed as a social experiment. Creator Mark Burnett wanted to test how a group of strangers would interact and form alliances in a remote location with limited resources.
He drew inspiration from a similar experiment conducted by the BBC in the 1990s called Castaway 2000. Major television networks initially rejected Burnett’s idea. Still, after some persistence, he eventually pitched the concept to CBS, who decided to take a chance on the show.
The rest is history, as Survivor has become one of the most successful and enduring reality TV shows.
