This Four Seasons Hotel will soon host White Lotus-themed experiences

Ahead of the season three debut, Four Seasons Koh Samui has officially been confirmed as the filming location, while other Four Seasons properties will soon be hosting a suite of White Lotus-themed activations.

Ahead of the 2025 release of the HBO Original series, Max and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts have announced a global partnership to celebrate the upcoming season: a suite of White Lotus-themed activations across the hotel chain’s luxury properties. Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village will transform into the world’s first immersive hotel experience inspired by The White Lotus with a flagship multi-day activation to celebrate the third season’s launch. Beyond this marquee event, there will be on-site activations at Four Seasons properties across the globe, grounded in the themes of the show’s third season. More details about the activations will be announced in the coming months, with wellness and dining experiences expected to be included in the program. 

Four Seasons has been a long-time partner to the hit television series with seasons one, two and now three all filmed on its properties. In the latest instalment, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui hosted the star-studded cast.

Welcome to Four Seasons Koh Samui

Koh Samui has its fair share of dreamy resorts – this is, after all, a tropical islet favoured among honeymooners, where hammocks are de rigueur between palm trees, powdery beaches give way to gem-like lagoons and rocky promontories frame offshore reefs. But nothing quite prepares you for the drama of the Four Seasons Resort, curling around a private peninsula on the serene northwest tip. It’s no surprise that the tranquil resort was chosen as the filming location of White Lotus season three.

At the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, it’s easy to spend days lounging by the infinity pool with a fruity cocktail from bar CoCoRum, or perhaps a guided tasting in the Rum Vault, Asia’s first and only library of rum from around the world. Then onto the Secret Garden Spa for a detoxification ritual, followed by Thai tapas at Koh Thai Kitchen.

Traveller: Cathy Wagstaff
Room: Ocean Pool Villa
Address: 219 Moo 5 Surat Thani Angthong, Thailand
Date: April, 2024
Best for: Balmy away-from-it-all getaway in a remote part of this popular Thai island

The Signature factor

Across seven villa styles and six private residences on the northeast of the island, spacious villas have a private infinity pool and stylish interiors that feature signature island-inspired design and local accents.

The concept

The Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is simply breathtaking. With sea views from every corner of the property, I’m living in a postcard-perfect paradise. The lush gardens and tropical foliage surrounding the resort add to the sense of tranquillity and seclusion that makes it hard to believe I am just a short drive from the bustling town of Chaweng.

Like a number of other exclusive Four Seasons properties around Thailand, this Koh Samui gem owes its design to legendary architect Bill Bensley. And he doesn’t skip a beat putting his adept touch on spaces, all decked out in breezy ivories and teals, with dark rosewood shutters, netted beds and egg-shaped tubs; elegant spa-like bathrooms have doors that open to private patios and infinity pools. There’s also a main oceanfront pool, where you can sink into stripy daybeds and allow attendants to deliver yet more of those cool towels and skewers of pineapple. The hardest decision I have to make is which body of water to swim in.

Read: Inside Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

First impressions

Arriving at the open-air reception sala I feel like I’m stepping into a postcard. A manicured ‘tangle’ of jungle tumbles down a hillside toward the Gulf of Thailand, only broken by the thatched roofs of the resort’s 60 villas and 10 private residences. Lemongrass-scented towels and an icy welcome drink match the tropical clime, delivered by soft-footed staff dressed in linen uniforms coloured in earthy tones. The only sound is the rustle of wind through coconut trees. I make a mental note to take things as slowly here as the waves lapping the resort’s private beach – although things can get busy. Just ask the film crew and actors starring in season three of The White Lotus.

The room

Each villa boasts Thai-inspired décor, incredible views of the sea or tropical gardens, and a private deck. The spa-like bathroom has doors that open to the outside while inside, turquoise blue or seafoam green colour schemes complement the tropical rosewood furnishings and custom-made artwork.

Top suite

Residence Villas are perfect for families or groups. They offer kitchenettes, ocean views from the private infinity pool, al fresco dining pavilions, and a personal residential assistant to take care of every detail. The largest is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom villa that can accommodate 15 adults (or 10 adults and five children) across 1,503 square meters. It has expansive indoor-outdoor living areas, including a pool deck with sun loungers, a day bed, and a private bar.

Dining at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

The two main restaurants, Koh Thai Kitchen and Pla Pla, are like a culinary homage to the country. Koh Thai is all bamboo and glossy polished wood, set on a palm-fringed patio with views for days. The menu nods to the south of the country in ‘Thai tapas’ such as pla pla (a crispy seabass salad with lemongrass, shallots and fresh herbs), as well as moreish slow-cooked curries such as gaeng poo bai cha plu (whole blue crab curry with wild betel leaves and lime). Oceanside, alfresco Pla Pla is more relaxed and adds global dishes, including tuna and fennel carpaccio and local prawns served simply with garlic and lemon. This is the place to be at sunset. Unless you’ve booked the ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ private dinner on the beach, where you dine with your feet in the sand, surrounded by tiki torches.