The White Lotus filming locations: Seasons 1, 2 and 3

The White Lotus got everyone talking when it premiered for a ‘limited six-part series’ in summer 2021. With Hawaii as the fabulously glamorous backdrop, it eavesdropped on the staff and guests at the exclusive White Lotus resort over one very eventful week. The mega-rich main characters may have come to Hawaii to relax but as the truth behind their ‘perfect’ lives unfolded, they began to unravel more than unwind…

The White Lotus was an instant hit, known as much for its social satire as its black humour and compelling, twisty plot. After the success of Season 1, The White Lotus Season 2 kept up the delicious pace and drama in another gloriously glossy location: Sicily, while Season 3 sees guests heading to White Lotus Thailand to be ‘transformed and rejuvenated’…. unlikely as that sounds.

Here’s a rundown of some locations used in the White Lotus series, including some of the places featured in key episodes.

Season 1 of The White Lotus is set in a fictional all-inclusive luxury resort in Maui, on the tropical US island of Hawaii.

Although the White Lotus resort is fictional, the series was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui. This is a real, working hotel and guests are welcome to have a drink in the bar or explore the grounds and neighbouring beach, even if you are staying elsewhere on the island.

Interestingly, because of restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, not only did the cast and crew work in and around the hotel and grounds during filming, they also lived there throughout the entire shoot.

Maui, Hawaii

One of the most often-seen beaches from Season 1 is White Lotus Beach. In real life this idyllic stretch of sand is called Wailea Beach and - just like in the series - it’s located right next to the hotel. Lots of wicked truths emerged on White Lotus Beach, and the plot took many dramatic and unexpected turns there.

Although most of Season 1 was filmed in and around the Four Seasons Resort Maui, including its lobby, pools, restaurants and spa, a memorable scene from the first episode was the guests’ arrival at the resort. That scene was shot on Olowalu Landing, a popular beach and surfing spot. While the on-screen guests are told the hotel is ‘a short ride away’ by golf cart, it’s actually a 40-minute drive along the coast - probably considerably longer in a golf cart! Also from the opening episode, an early scene was filmed in Kahului Airport, the main airport for Maui.

Our Tailor-Made range includes several hotel, multi-centre, touring and self-drive holidays to Hawaii and Maui, many of which give you the opportunity to visit White Lotus locations if you wish. Remember all our Tailor-Made holidays are customisable, so talk to our travel consultants to discuss your specific plans.

While White Lotus Season 1 was filmed almost entirely in and around The Four Seasons Resort Maui, Season 2 was shot in several places in and around the north-east coast of Sicily in Italy.

The hotel used in Season 2 of The White Lotus is the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina. This impressive old complex sits high on a clifftop overlooking the Ionian Sea, with views to Mount Etna and the town’s ancient amphitheatre. Although the bar is not open to the public, you can make reservations to eat in the restaurant. If you’re lucky enough to be staying at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace, you’ll recognise the hotel’s spectacular 69-foot outdoor infinity pool which features prominently in the show.

Cefelu, Sicily

The beach used in the opening episode of White Lotus Season 2 is not actually in Taormina but in Cefalu - a two-hour drive away on the other side of Sicily. There are also lovely seaside shots of fishermen’s houses in the old port of Cefalu, and the town’s 12th-century Norman Cathedral is a recognisable backdrop to several beach scenes. Isola Bella also appears throughout Season 2. This little island - along with the Roman amphitheatre - has become one of Taormina’s signature sights.

There are lots of White Locus locations dotted around Sicily, many showcasing the island’s architectural and artistic treasures. These include Palermo’s grand Opera House, the Palazzo Ducezio and Cathedral in beautiful, baroque Noto and the magnificent neoclassical Villa Tasca in Palermo. In one episode the characters decide to visit locations where The Godfather films were made, and a fittingly smouldering Mount Etna has cameo appearances throughout the series.

Several Saga holidays showcase locations from Season 2 of The White Lotus. These include a relaxing hotel stay in the beach resort of Giardini Naxos near Taormina, and Sicily escorted tour itineraries that visit Cefalu, Palermo, Noto, Mount Etna and the Godfather villages.

The White Lotus Season 3 heads east to Thailand, where filming was largely divided between Bangkok, Kho Samui and Phuket.

Unlike in Season 1 and 2, several properties were used for Season 3 of The White Lotus. These include the Four Seasons Koh Samui, the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket and Villa Jacinta, also in Kho Samui. As you might expect, these are among the most luxurious and beautiful places to stay in their regions, providing suitably jaw-dropping backdrops and surroundings for these famously lavish productions.

Phuket, Thailand

All these properties have easy access to the kind of idyllic Thai beaches you see on screen, so you can experience them yourself if you splash out on a White Lotus hotel holiday of your own (hopefully without the drama). However, you don’t have to have deep pockets to enjoy the sublime scenery – there are lots of accommodation options throughout Thailand and her islands to suit all tastes and budgets.

Saga has a huge choice of Thailand hotels, resorts and villas in our Tailor-Made range including properties in Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket. We also offer a number of independent and escorted tours exploring Thailand and other Southeast Asia favourites like Cambodia and Vietnam. If you have a specific White Lotus destination or hotel you would like to visit, our travel consultants will be happy to discuss this with you.