The White Lotus Season 3: Luxury Itinerary in Thailand Following the Series

The iconic resort of Season 3

This is the primary filming location. Four Seasons and HBO/Max officially confirmed the partnership: the hillside villas nestled in tropical foliage, private infinity pools, and Laem Yai Bay beach serve as the backdrop for the main storylines. Each villa is hidden within the canopy, offering complete privacy overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The architecture follows a « toes-in-the-sand » philosophy with 24/7 butler service — exactly the oppressively beautiful tropical isolation the production was seeking.

The impact on demand was immediate and well-documented: according to Business Insider, bookings surged dramatically within the first week of broadcast. Rates followed, with an estimated 20-30% increase for the 2025-2026 season. The resort now offers a « White Lotus Experience » package featuring excursions inspired by the series.

• Book a Beach Villa for direct sand access (beach scenes)
• Choose a Hillside Villa for the panoramic views seen in aerial shots
• Dine at Koh Thai Kitchen, the main restaurant featured in the series
• Experience the Rum Library, the resort’s signature attraction

Two hotels merged into one on-screen resort

Hollywood magic merged several hotels to create the fictional resort seen on screen. While the villas belong to the Four Seasons, the grand lobby where guests are welcomed, the tree-lined entrance, and the hotel’s jewelry shop were all filmed at Anantara Bophut. The Thai colonial architecture is designed by Bill Bensley, the king of hotel design in Asia — a photogenic style that sets the scene for the story’s first simmering tensions.

Just a few kilometers away, Anantara Lawana houses the Singing Bird Lounge, a treehouse bar that served as the setting for the show’s intimate bar scenes. This elevated bar offers an exceptional view over the gulf — it’s one of Koh Samui’s most Instagrammable spots, and according to Forbes, a must-visit for fans of the series. Unlike the secluded Four Seasons, Anantara Bophut is located steps from Fisherman’s Village, allowing easy exploration of Samui’s upscale night markets.

• Enjoy a cocktail at the Singing Bird Lounge (Anantara Lawana) at sunset
• Photograph the iconic lobby of Anantara Bophut
• Explore Fisherman’s Village and its night markets

The spa and wellness scenes from the series

When the characters visit the wellness center for their treatments — often satirical or dubious in the script — this is where it all happens. Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas has been confirmed as a filming location for the spa scenes and certain guest rooms, including Belinda’s character. The architecture draws inspiration from southern Thai villages, with teak villas arranged around a lotus-bordered lagoon — a perfect visual nod to the show’s title.

It’s a stark contrast to the bustle of Patong: here, silence reigns, bordered by Sirinath National Park. Anantara Mai Khao sits on Phuket’s longest beach (11 km), one of the rare spots on the island where you can walk for an hour without encountering another soul. The award-winning spa offers signature bamboo treatments, a far cry from the satirized « holistic » therapies in the series. It’s also an ideal strategic position: just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport.

• Book a spa treatment on the actual set (Signature Bamboo Massage)
• Walk the 11 km of Mai Khao Beach at sunrise
• Watch sea turtles during nesting season (February-May)

Tense dinners and authentic southern cuisine

The dinner scenes where secrets erupt over spicy dishes were filmed at Ta Khai, the restaurant at Rosewood Phuket. Designed as a rustic-chic fishing village with weathered wood pavilions and ponds, Ta Khai serves authentic and intensely spiced southern Thai cuisine, a world away from the tourist-friendly Pad Thai. The lantern-lit ambiance at sunset is faithfully reproduced in the series.

Rosewood Phuket itself is an ultra-modern, sustainability-focused resort located on Tri Trang Beach — an aesthetic radically different from the other filming locations. It’s one of Phuket’s newest establishments, with architecture that embraces the landscape rather than dominating it. Even without staying there, a reservation at Ta Khai is enough to experience the show’s atmosphere firsthand.

• Dine at Ta Khai at sunset (atmosphere faithful to the series)
• Try the southern specialties: Massaman curry, stir-fried crab with pepper
• Explore the hidden beach of Tri Trang, less crowded than Patong

Bangkok’s « Grand Dame » since 1876

For the scenes set in Bangkok, the production chose Thailand’s most historic hotel. Opened in 1876, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok hosted filming in its legendary Oriental Suite and at the Bamboo Bar, a storied institution of Bangkok’s jazz scene. A 3-to-1 staff-to-guest ratio ensures a level of service that few hotels in the world can match — the antithesis of mass tourism.

The Mandarin Oriental embodies old-world elegance and impeccable service, a striking contrast to the modern chaos of Bangkok. Even without staying overnight, book the Afternoon Tea at the Authors’ Lounge: this immaculate white colonial salon is a film set in itself. The hotel sits on the banks of the Chao Phraya, offering easy access to Bangkok’s iconic temples (Wat Arun, Wat Pho) via private shuttle boat.

• Have Afternoon Tea at the Authors’ Lounge (stunning colonial decor)
• Listen to live jazz at the Bamboo Bar (bar scenes from the series)
• Cross the Chao Phraya by shuttle boat to reach Wat Arun

42 emerald islands off the coast of Koh Samui

The boat arrival sequences and characters’ maritime excursions were filmed in this spectacular marine park. Mu Ko Ang Thong is a protected archipelago of 42 islands with limestone cliffs rising from emerald waters, hidden lagoons, and deserted beaches. It’s the ultimate Thai postcard — and one of the most memorable settings in the series.

Most tourists access it via crowded speedboats from Koh Samui (approximately 2,000-2,200 THB per person, park entrance fee of 300 THB for foreigners not included). For the true « White Lotus » experience, opt for a private yacht that allows you to reach secret beaches before the tour groups arrive. The Blue Lagoon (Emerald Lake), tucked inside an island, is the highlight of the excursion — ask your captain to arrive before 9 AM to have it all to yourself.

• Visit the Blue Lagoon before 9 AM to beat the crowds
• Kayak between limestone islands (included in most tours)
• Climb to the Koh Wua Talap viewpoint for a 360-degree panorama
• Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the protected park

James Bond Island and far beyond

The production used several natural exterior locations for the most spectacular maritime scenes. Phang Nga Bay, with its limestone pinnacles rising from emerald waters, and the island of Ko Lawa Yai served as the backdrop for several outdoor sequences. It’s a landscape so photogenic it seems unreal — the same formations that famously appeared in the 1974 James Bond film (The Man with the Golden Gun).

To avoid the mass tour circuits that converge on « James Bond Island » (Ko Khao Phing Kan), opt for a private longtail boat excursion to the bay’s less-visited islands. Ko Lawa Yai offers deserted beaches accessible only by boat. The excursion combines perfectly with a stop at the stilted fishing village of Ko Panyi for a local lunch.

• Navigate between limestone pinnacles on a private longtail boat
• Discover Ko Lawa Yai, the wild island featured in the series
• Have lunch at the floating village of Ko Panyi

Street food, neon lights, and organized chaos

The series exploits the striking contrast between ultra-luxury resorts and the vibrant chaos of Bangkok. The nocturnal urban scenes show characters plunged into the capital’s alleyways, and Yaowarat Road — Bangkok’s Chinatown — embodies this raw energy. It’s one of Bangkok’s oldest districts, a maze of red and gold neon signs, steaming food stalls, and Sino-Thai temples.

Yaowarat’s street food is unanimously considered the best in Bangkok. Stalls serve charcoal-grilled pad thai, flame-cooked noodle soups, crab stir-fried in yellow curry, and mango sticky rice prepared right before your eyes — all for just a few euros. It’s an immersion into everyday Thailand, far from the polish of five-star hotels, a reminder that the country is about so much more than luxury.

• Try charcoal pad thai at Thipsamai or Nai Mong Hoi Tod
• Explore the alleyways on foot after 6 PM (peak street food hours)
• Visit Wat Traimit and its 5.5-ton solid gold Buddha

From Bangkok to Koh Samui via Phuket

Here is our optimized itinerary to cover all confirmed filming locations, organized logistically to minimize transfers and maximize the experience:

Phase 1 — Bangkok (3 nights)

• Day 1: Arrival, check in at the Mandarin Oriental, Afternoon Tea at the Authors’ Lounge
• Day 2: Temples (Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Paknam), Chao Phraya river cruise, Bamboo Bar in the evening
• Day 3: Chinatown (Yaowarat) in the morning, Grand Palace, nighttime street food

Phase 2 — Koh Samui (5-6 nights)

• Day 4: Flight to Koh Samui, check in at the Four Seasons, Laem Yai Beach
• Day 5: Relaxation day and spa at the resort, discover the Rum Library
• Day 6: Ang Thong private yacht excursion (full day)
• Day 7: Visit Anantara Bophut + Lawana, Singing Bird Lounge at sunset
• Day 8: Temples (Wat Plai Laem, Big Buddha), Fisherman’s Village in the evening
• Day 9: Free day: diving, kayaking, or visiting Samujana

Phase 3 — Phuket (4-5 nights)

• Day 10: Flight to Phuket, check in at Anantara Mai Khao, spa and beach
• Day 11: Phang Nga Bay private longtail boat excursion
• Day 12: Phuket Old Town in the morning, dinner at Ta Khai (Rosewood) in the evening
• Day 13: Ya Nui Beach, diving at Kata, final evening
• Day 14: Departure from Phuket Airport