The White Lotus effect: Thailand’s turn in the spotlight

The hottest hotel of 2025 doesn’t actually exist—after jaunts to Hawaii and Sicily, the filming location for season three of The White Lotus is Thailand. And if the swarms of set-jetting travelers who have flocked to the show’s previous filming locations are any indication, the Southeast Asian country is in for a tourism boom when the dark comedy returns in February 2025.

Where is The White Lotus filmed in Thailand? 

Like the first two seasons, the third also has been shot at a Four Seasons hotel, this time in Koh Samui (and yes, Maraviglia did speak to his fellow GM, to share advice and learnings on how to manage the ensuing crowds). But that’s not the only spot you’ll see on screen. Iron-clad NDAs ensure that precise film locations stay secret until the season airs, but as a long-time Thailand resident and travel writer, I’ve managed to get some additional clues out of those with insider knowledge.

Though only confirmed with a nudge and a wink, filming has taken place at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and at the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, where the cast and crew took over the sprawling, five-bedroom Residence 9, which offers eye-popping ocean views from its infinity pool. The film crew was also spotted at Koh Samui’s buzzy Fisherman’s Village street market and around Soi Nana, a strip of hip cocktail spots on the edge of Bangkok‘s Chinatown, where sultry, neon-lit bars such as Bā Hào provide the perfect setting for hushed tête-à-têtes.

Other scenes in the Thai capital reportedly include the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, a century-old grande dame sitting chocolate-box pretty along the Chao Phraya River, which, depending on who you listen to, might or might not have been temporarily rebranded as White Lotus’ Bangkok outpost. One thing is sure: With Thailand’s wildly diverse landscapes as its backdrop, the show’s mise-en-scène will be far from one-note.

Which parts of Thailand are best to travel to?

For travelers, this Southeast Asian nation delivers a dazzling choose-your-own adventure. You could spend two weeks beach-bumming around the palm-frilled islands in the south, or strap on your hiking boots for treks through the tenebrous jungles that cloak the northern mountains. Bangkok, Thailand’s high-octane capital and entry point for most international visitors, has enough temples and night markets to keep you busy for at least a long weekend. And even if you spend a month exploring the sleepy villages, archaeological sites and national parks on Thailand’s central plains, you’ll still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface.

Luckily, there’s no need to choose. Thanks to a robust public transport system (from night trains to affordable local flights), you can easily fit a jungle trek, a city trip and time at the beach into a two-week vacation. See our map below for some Thailand highlights to get your trip-planning started, whether you’re traveling in luxury, White Lotus-style—or setting off with a backpack and a less starry budget.