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Prepare to check in Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.
Vogue confirms that the glamorous Thailand resort was the official filming location of The White Lotus season three. It comes after a year of fervent speculation about what real hotel would stand in for the fictional White Lotus—with social media users poring over production stills and even studying the social media account of the HBO show’s creator, Mike White.
Nestled in tropical greenery upon a sandy beach overlooking the Gulf of Siam, the Four Seasons Koh Samui is an idyllic shoot location. Although fans of The White Lotus know that it’s a dark beauty—as each season, a murder occurs. You just don’t know who until the last episode. The season three cast includes Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wood, and Blackpink’s Lisa.
But beyond its titillating whodunnit reveal, The White Lotus is acclaimed for its whip-smart character studies that examine privilege and power dynamics, whether that’s through the lens of money, sex, or in the case of the upcoming third installment—spirituality. “[The next season] will be a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality,” White said in a behind-the-scenes video.
Season one and two of The White Lotus were also filmed at Four Seasons locations (Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawai’i and Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Sicily, respectively).
The next chapter in this social satire is all but certain to drive tourism not just to the hotel but the country of Thailand itself; according to a New York Times article, since the official announcement that season 4 would take place in the South East Asian country, Expedia searches for Thailand have spiked 50%. And similar patterns ensued after the first two seasons were released, bolstering a viral trend referred to as ‘set-jetting’ where travelers choose a locale inspired by their favorite on-screen destinations.
So, when will the highly-anticipated season three premiere? We’ll unfortunately have to wait until 2025 due to delays caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes (it was originally slated for a 2024 release). In the meantime, scroll below to brush up on all of The White Lotus’s wanderlust-inducing filming locations, including season three, to help inform your next great getaway. Now cue that addicting opening theme…
Where was season one of The White Lotus filmed?
Kicking off the acclaimed franchise, The White Lotus season one was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawai’i in 2020; a time when Covid restrictions were airtight and most productions were completely shut down. (The cast quarantined at the property for the entire shoot, which took place from October to December.) Filming took place in and around the picturesque beachfront resort, with the show’s production designer refashioning interiors to reflect the narrative. In real life, the five-star property sits on 15 acres overlooking the otherworldly Wailea Coast and is home to three restaurants, 383 rooms, three pools, and a spa.
Where was season two of The White Lotus filmed?
After garnering a steady fan base, The White Lotus released the first episode of season two to an audience of 7.6 million viewers. Backdrop? The paradise island of Sicily. White chose another Four Seasons property for his sophomore season: Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in the hilltop town of Taormina, overlooking the Ionian Sea with brooding Mount Etna in the distance. It’s housed in a former 14th-century convent and was converted into a hotel in the late 19th century. Now, visitors can relish luxuries such as a clifftop infinity pool, puzzle-like Italian gardens, and sea-view accommodations. And because this time around production wasn’t stilted by Covid restrictions, the cast and crew were able to explore the surrounding region, including baroque-influenced Noto, the seaside village of Cefalù, and even the vineyards of Mount Etna (we all remember that episode set at Planeta Wine).
Where will season three of The White Lotus be filmed?
Guests of The White Lotus Thailand will enjoy sprawling, panoramic views of the calm Gulf of Thailand framed by shady coconut palms and thatched roofs. Indeed, Four Seasons Koh Samui is a spectacular tropical setting for the third season of The White Lotus situated on a private peninsula. Each of the property’s secluded hillside villas features a pool and afternoons can be spent lounging around by the infinity pool or at the world-class spa.
