HBO’s “The White Lotus” is back, and this season, the award-winning series has traded the beaches of Hawaii and the historic charm of Sicily for the tropical luxury of Thailand.
But while the show’s characters unravel in their usual web of privilege and dysfunction, the real star of the season is its stunning backdrop — the five-star Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.
Perched on the island’s northwestern coast, the hotel is a 40-acre sanctuary set on a former coconut plantation, preserving nearly 900 trees that sway above its hillside villas.
Known for its traditional Thai architecture and signature monkey statues scattered throughout the property, the resort has been transformed into the latest fictional White Lotus hotel — though its real-life luxury is anything but scripted.
Following in the footsteps of the previous seasons, which were filmed at Four Seasons properties in Hawaii and Italy, the Koh Samui location delivers cinematic scenery, from infinity pools overlooking the Gulf of Siam to its famed water hammocks that float above the shoreline.
The resort’s 71 villas — of which 11 are sprawling private residences — serve as the setting for much of the show’s high-stakes drama.
Among the guests checking in this season is the Ratliff family, played by Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sam Nivola and Sarah Catherine Hook.
Like their fictional counterparts, much of the cast stayed at the hotel during filming, a dynamic Isaacs described as both idyllic and intense.
“It’s a kind of crucible, a five-star gilded cage,” he recently told The Guardian.
“There’s no question that sometimes it is absolutely fabulous, and sometimes it’s ‘Lord of the Flies.’”
While Four Seasons Koh Samui serves as the main filming location, the show also features other luxury properties across Thailand.
The picturesque Koh Thai Kitchen, located within the Four Seasons, was used for breakfast and lunch scenes, while evening dinners were filmed at Rosewood Phuket’s Ta Khai restaurant.
The hotel bar, meanwhile, wasn’t filmed at the Four Seasons at all — it was actually shot at the Singing Bird Lounge at the Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, an open-air venue built among the treetops near Chaweng Beach.
Another standout location is Anantara Mai Khao Phuket, where scenes featuring Natasha Rothwell’s returning character, Belinda, were filmed.
The spa, known for its bamboo massages and chakra-balancing treatments, plays a key role in the season’s themes of Eastern spirituality and self-discovery.
With HBO’s confirmation last year that Season 3 would be set in Thailand, tourism officials quickly capitalized on the buzz, working closely with the production to highlight some of the country’s most exclusive resorts.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) collaborated with HBO to showcase locations across Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, hoping to replicate the travel boom in Sicily after Season 2.
This idyllic setting has not only captivated viewers but also sparked a surge in real-world tourism interest.
Since the season premiere on Feb. 16, the resort has experienced a notable uptick in inquiries and bookings.
A spokesperson for Four Seasons Koh Samui noted a significant increase “in terms of availability checks, searches and bookings.”
This phenomenon, dubbed “‘The White Lotus ‘effect,” mirrors trends from previous seasons, where featured locations saw substantial boosts in popularity.
The series’ creator, Mike White, initially considered Japan for this season’s setting but ultimately chose Thailand, drawn by its enchanting locales and favorable production conditions.
However, experiencing this slice of paradise comes at a premium.
Stays at the Four Seasons Koh Samui start at approximately $1,363 per night for a one-bedroom villa in May, with four-bedroom residence villas reaching up to $7,866 per night.
Excursions at the resort include an Angthong National Marine Park Boat ride, different types of cruises around Koh Samui, a Koh Phangan boat ride, snorkeling in Koh Tan, scuba diving, visiting an elephant sanctuary and a Muay Thai introduction lesson.
