The White Lotus is one of the most-watched series of the past couple of years, and so far, there have been two seasons. For those of us into travel, the show is especially cool, as both seasons have been filmed at Four Seasons resorts (which have been rebranded as “The White Lotus” in the show).
We know that there will be a third season of The White Lotus, and we now have a sense of where it will be filmed.
In this post:
The White Lotus Season 3 will be filmed in Thailand
For some context, the first season of The White Lotus was filmed at the Four Seasons Maui (in Hawaii), while the second season of The White Lotus was filmed at the Four Seasons Taormina (in Sicily). For a long time there have been rumors that the third season would be filmed in Asia, though there weren’t details beyond that.
Variety now reports that the third season of The White Lotus will be filmed in Thailand, and it’s expected that the partnership with Four Seasons will continue. Unfortunately, we’re still quite a ways off from the third season being released. Casting details haven’t yet been announced, let alone a filming timeline or release date.
While the first season was focused on money, and the second season was focused on relationships and sex, it’s expected that the third season will focus on religion and spirituality.
Which Four Seasons will host The White Lotus Season 3?
Four Seasons has four properties in Thailand:
- The Four Seasons Bangkok
- The Four Seasons Chiang Mai
- The Four Seasons Golden Triangle Tented Camp
- The Four Seasons Koh Samui
So, which of those four properties will host the third season? While nothing has been announced, everything seems to be pointing toward the Four Seasons Koh Samui being the setting.
I think it’s a given that it won’t be filmed at the Four Seasons Bangkok or Four Seasons Golden Triangle:
- The Four Seasons Bangkok is a city hotel, and that doesn’t really fit the vibe of the show
- The Four Seasons Golden Triangle is pretty secluded and has only 16 tented villas, so it wouldn’t be large enough to host the entire production team
Which hotel will it be, between the Four Seasons Chiang Mai and Four Seasons Koh Samui? While there’s no reason it couldn’t be the Four Seasons Chiang Mai, the Four Seasons Koh Samui seems more likely to me.
Mike White, the producer of The White Lotus, seems to like islands and the ocean, and they’ve been a consistent theme in both of the first two seasons. Koh Samui perfectly fits the bill, while Chiang Mai isn’t an island, and isn’t near the ocean.
I certainly could be wrong, but I’d bet good money that it will be filmed at the Four Seasons Koh Samui.
I’ll be keeping an eye on the availability calendars at these properties. As of now it doesn’t look like any significant period of time has been blocked off in terms of availability at any properties at these hotels. I imagine that will change once they nail down a production timeline.
Bottom line
The White Lotus Season 3 is expected to be filmed in Thailand. Presumably, the partnership with Four Seasons will continue, and it seems to me like the Four Seasons Koh Samui is the most likely location, given the show’s consistent island and ocean theme.
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t expect the show to be released anytime soon, as we’ll likely have to wait until 2024…
What do you make of The White Lotus Season 3 being filmed in Thailand?
Lucky, thanks for breaking this important news
On a related note, this being about religion and spirituality, what are the chances they will bring Jennifer Coolidge back????????
This seems to be mischaracterizing the underlying Variety article, which simply states that it's "possible" it will be at a Four Seasons in Thailand. As others have noted in the comments there are rumors it will be at an Aman.
stayed at the 4 seasons Chiang Mai on my honeymoon so hoping they film there
They will film at The Siam in Bangkok, not at the Four Seasons.
Are we sure it's going to be filmed at the Four Seasons?
Aside from it's annual closure during the month of June, the months of July and August are also completely blocked. These are normally bookable, so this might very well be the location unless the property is undergoing some sort of renovation during these months.
The above comment referred to the Amanpuri
My guess is Koh Samui - the area still hasn’t sprung back to pre COVID days and I’m sure it would be the easier to snag
Actually there has been many rumours locally that it is the Aman. The story is they cancelled lots of reservations in July and Aug. no idea if it is true. Just for fun I tried to book for July and august and couldn't find any free dates.
Part of me wonders how much they paid to book out the Four Seasons Taormina over the busy warmer season to film the second season. I laughed when Harper mentioned to Ethan in a scene about how they are staying in a $700/night hotel. More like closer to $3,000/night.
This particular property is easily one of the most expensive Four Seasons properties in the world. They must have paid a fortune.
They didn't book it during the busy warmer season - it was during the annual closure. Yes, everyone was actually freezing in all the shots.
I think some of the shooting spilled over to when it would normally be open, but otherwise it was off-season.
What Ken said, and also the room rates at Four Seasons Taormina weren't nearly that high before season 2 of White Lotus came out. I read somewhere that rates more than doubled because of a spike in interest in the hotel, which makes sense. When I was in Taormina last May, I looked up rates at the various luxury hotels out of curiosity (there are two Belmonds as well) and they were all in the...
What Ken said, and also the room rates at Four Seasons Taormina weren't nearly that high before season 2 of White Lotus came out. I read somewhere that rates more than doubled because of a spike in interest in the hotel, which makes sense. When I was in Taormina last May, I looked up rates at the various luxury hotels out of curiosity (there are two Belmonds as well) and they were all in the $700-1000 a night range. I'm guessing rates at the other hotels experienced a bump too because of general interest in Taormina going up after the show.
Bummer. Was hoping they’d pick somewhere more interesting like India, Japan, or Sri Lanka. Thailand is a pedestrian and obvious tourist destination. In any event, I love the show and will look forward to tuning in.
I don't see how India and Japan aren't obvious tourist destinations too.
FS Koh Samui is beautiful, but seems too similar to the others and doesn't have a 'spirituality' vibe. Four Seasons Chiang Mai seems perfect.
So it's the Kardashians pulling a Hangover part 2.
Thailand is too cliche.
def koh samui. it’s a closed loop island with lots of partying, and the scenery there is much like the other two seasons. you get there. i’ve been to the four seasons koh samui, they drive you down by buggy to the rooms and the ocean and restaurants. i can imagine killing happening in the hills there or even have the bad guys go to crazy parties and more sneak attacks in koh samui. i actually think this four seasons is more beautiful than the other two.
I agree that Chiang Mai is a better bet cos of the religion/spirituality angle. For quite a while there was a lot of speculation it would be set in Japan (for example, https://theweek.com/tv/1020578/the-white-lotus-season-3-everything-we-know). Which one is more Japan-like (in terms of the religion/spirituality angle) – Koh Samui or Chiang Mai?
I wish they had gone with Japan and something less resort/tropical. On that note, I wish they had opted for a cityscape/urban setting over a retreat-type vibe which has already been done twice.
Ben, you are forgetting "The Four Seasons Inn" in Phuket. OMG that is right on Bangla road, that's a definite probability for the location.
I disagree about Samui being the most probable location. Yes the first 2 seasons had beach settings, but you could see in the 2nd season that it was exapanded out of the resort and into cities and towns. I think of eastern religion and spirituality is the key theme, then Chiang Mai is the obvious choice since it’s the spiritual capital of Thailand. Plus having it in Samui would make it too similar to Maui....
I disagree about Samui being the most probable location. Yes the first 2 seasons had beach settings, but you could see in the 2nd season that it was exapanded out of the resort and into cities and towns. I think of eastern religion and spirituality is the key theme, then Chiang Mai is the obvious choice since it’s the spiritual capital of Thailand. Plus having it in Samui would make it too similar to Maui. Just my 2 cents, and of course I might be biased since I’m heading to CM soon for songkran, ha!
Another creepy old white man in Songkran
I think the only one you can count out for sure is Bangkok.
Who says the cast/crew has to stay at the same hotel? A quick glance shows several other hotels near FS Golden Triangle.
When Mike White talked about scouting for properties in Europe for Season 2 they specifically counted out a ton of smaller luxury properties because they needed to be able to do so much principal photography at the actual property itself. So it's not even a matter of the whole production staff staying at the property - the issue is that small properties are more challenging to film scenes in.