White Lotus comes to Thailand

I have rarely been more excited about a forthcoming TV series than I am about season three of White Lotus, due to be released in the UK on 16 February – and I can't think of a better place for it to be set than Thailand.

In case you missed the first two series (which are worth seeking out if you did), they follow the stories of privileged people on holiday in luxurious locations (the first, Hawaii, the second, Sicily) as well as some of the hotel staff, with some terrible things befalling the characters in between sipping cocktails, enjoying fabulous locations and eating gourmet dinners.

As a writer of four destination thrillers also inspired by murders in exotic places, I adore the juxtaposition of beautiful settings and the terrible secrets that lurk beneath.

But for most people, their holiday is a time to relax, explore and enjoy the surroundings and, especially in Thailand, explore their spiritual side.

Thailand is particularly exciting because of the variety of locations you can pack into a relatively short trip. On my last visit of little over a week, I started with the ‘big city’ atmosphere of Bangkok, followed by the traditional vibe of Chiang Mai with its many temples and incredible markets, and spent the last few days on a beach in Krabi.

It was fabulous and I am not surprised to hear that last year nearly one million people (965,862) visited from the UK (an increase of 18.19% on 2023), according to Tourism Authority of Thailand figures.

The White Lotus, HBO: Morgana O'Reilly as Pam & Arnas Fedaravičius & Christian Friedel as Fabian & Dom Hetrakul as Pornchai & Lalisa Manobal as Mook

Some locations of the new series are the Four Seasons Hotel and Villa Jacinta on the Samujana Villa Estate on Koh Samui, the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas in Phuket, and an undisclosed location in Bangkok. This series will have a spirituality and wellbeing theme as the super-rich try to find themselves. Returning from season one is Natasha Rothwell, who played the spa manager Belinda Lindsey in the first series.

The islands are sure to benefit for a spike in “set-jetting” – when fans book holidays in their favourite screen destinations. Sadudee Sangnil, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand London office says: ‘Thailand has long been a dream destination, and the recent White Lotus effect has sparked a renewed fascination. Thailand epitomises wellness, offering world-class luxury spas, retreats, spiritual healing and transformative treatments. People are drawn to the blend of Thai tradition and modern wellness as well as the affordable prices.

‘Koh Samui and Phuket are in the limelight but wellness holidays can be enjoyed across the country, from urban retreats and spas in Bangkok to the mountains of Chiang Mai. Thailand is truly a spiritual sanctuary.’

Bangkok Grand Palace

Whatever your priorities, you are likely to fly into Bangkok where it's worth spending a few days, even if you don’t feel you’re a ‘big city’ person. There’s no denying that it is bustling and noisy and that a trip in a tuk-tuk or even a taxi can be quite hairy, but there's a huge range of calm and quiet hotels to retreat to, some with rooftop pools giving incredible views of the city.

As a city it also feels very safe. The Thai people are very helpful and friendly, and don’t hassle tourists into buying things as is typical in some countries. You could easily spend a week in Bangkok as there is so much to explore but for me the top sights are the temple of Wat Pho to see the Reclining Buddha, for its sheer size, and the lavish Grand Palace.

Tuk tuk, Bangkok

While there are beaches within two-and-a-half to three hours' drive from Bangkok, the beaches further south and on the islands are generally considered to be more beautiful. Koh Samui is an extremely popular island off the south-east coast of the mainland, measuring just 16 miles across, with a tropical jungle in its centre and Khao Pom mountain.

The island attracts families but also its fair share of “gap year” backpackers. It’s where The Beach protagonist Richard (played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the film) stops off before beginning his search for the secret, perfect Gulf of Thailand island.

Koh Samui is warm and dry for most of the year and has only two months of monsoon season in October and November, with the best months to visit being December to February. Visitors are drawn largely to the incredible beaches, but if you don’t want to sunbathe all day, other attractions include the 12-metre-high golden Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple, the Na Muang Waterfalls, the elephant sanctuaries and the Fisherman’s Village Night Market.

Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island at 222 square miles and another very popular destination. It’s off the south-west coast with more than 40 beaches, which offer everything from splendid isolation to a party atmosphere.

Other attractions include its Old Town with brightly painted historic houses and ‘Big Buddha’ – 45 metres high and the third largest statue in Thailand. The climate of the west coast resorts such as Phuket is a little different to the east, with the driest and best months to visit Phuket being November to April.

Long tail boats, Poda Island

On both islands and indeed all over Thailand there are countless opportunities for wellness and spiritual exploration whether you want simply to dabble for a few days or immerse yourself for a longer period. You can have Thai Warrior massages in a spa or experience rigorous month-long retreats that claim to transform both your mental and spiritual health.

But there’s no need to stay at a luxurious resort away from everyone else, like the White Lotus guests. In most destinations you’ll find somewhere offering ancient Thai rituals based around herbs, ayurveda and singing bowl therapy, right through to modern techniques such as cryotherapy and IV drips.

Atr Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand you can visit 300 temples, browse night markets, visit an elephant sanctuary and hike in Doi Sthep-Pui National Park, home to two of Thailand’s most sacred peaks. Spiritual experiences include meditation retreats led by monks, where people of all (or no) religion can spend anything from a few hours to several days living and meditating, learning about the monks' lifestyle and about themselves.

Thailand has it all. And rest assured, you’re unlikely to encounter a mysterious killer determined to bump off the super-rich.

Catherine Cooper is author of The Chalet, The Chateau, The Cruise and The Island. Her latest book, The Penthouse, is published by Harper Collins on 24 April 2025.