Living the White Lotus dream in Thailand

There’s no denying The White Lotus has had an impact on tourism, and with the third season upon us, it’s Thailand’s time in the sun

Once fans of smash TV series, The White Lotus, got over the fact that enigmatic Jennifer Coolidge (who played larger-than-life Tanya McQuoid) was cruelly cast out of the last series thanks to an unfortunate, fatal incident aboard a luxury yacht in Sicily, the other star of the cult series, its locations, has been the subject of constant discussion.

Following Hawaii’s Maui Four Seasons and Italy’s Sicilian San Domenico Palace as the show’s previous locations, a handful of Thailand’s chicest hotels will be the backdrop when the highly-anticipated third season kicks off on 16 February 2025. And if The White Lotus effect works its magic on Thailand in 2025, as it did in Hawaii and Italy, we can expect a very big year of tourism for the beautiful South East Asian country.

Unsurprisingly, the Four Seasons brand will once again represent in the new season with its Koh Samui property, but so, too, will another prestigious brand: Anantara. Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas will feature prominently, and I was recently lucky enough to check in to the resort, along with two of the brand’s Koh Samui properties.

Anantara Lawana, Koh Samui

With its coconut palms, pure white sands, relaxed vibe and 50 shades of blue waters, Koh Samui was always going to be a shoe-in as a White Lotus location. And the recently rejuvenated Ananatata Lawana, just a short ride from the airport, too, ticked all the boxes and more.

The first thing that strikes me about my all-white villa was its private pool, complete with a swing which, after a careful swim up to before pulling myself onto it, takes me back to swinging in our own backyard swing when I was a kid. It immediately brings a smile to my face.

The new Cay by the beach impresses, too, with Chef Ao creating the most extraordinary degustation lunch showcasing a broad range of dishes from Thailand, each bursting with fresh produce, herbs and spices. I have never, ever seen the petals of a pink lotus flower used as the vessel for a san-choy bau – but there’s a first for everything.

The Singing Bird Lounge and the exquisite canopy of Tree Tops restaurant, overseen by chef Mael Monchauzou, are the other hotel favourites, both also used as backdrops in the series.

For my deep tissue massage, I zip over to Anantara Bophut and then wrap up the zen experience with lunch in the poolside restaurant, Guilty, which is extraordinary. I’m almost certain the classic looking, lotus-surrounded lobby at Bophut will play a supporting White Lotus role . . and so it should. It is the epitome of sheer, natural beauty.

Anantara Mai Khao Villas, Phuket

Phuket is the bolder, brasher big sister to Koh Samui, the two islands giving guests differing feels and offering vastly different types of Thai getaway.

I am fascinated by the airport (which has an international concourse, by the way) with the domestic terminal more like a really relaxed, casual bar and market as opposed to an earnest airport. The feeling it gives me is that I have arrived in Phuket before I’ve even stepped foot in my hotel.

Anantara Mai Khao Villas has quite a starring role in the new season of The White Lotus. The first thing that hits me as soon as I reach my villa, aside from the mammoth dressing room, is the huge plunge pool and relaxation area, which acts as the centrepiece of the oversized villa. I can actually jump into the pond from the comfort of my expansive bathroom, or even my bed (if I had expert low dive skills) – but I don’t recommend it.

Dining-wise, a private dinner on the beach is pure perfection: a table for eight all dressed up in white linen and, you guessed it, a lotus flower on show. As for the food, it is sublime.

Anantara Mai Khao has a compelling wellness offering. I was first introduced to sound therapy in India and again, the session we have at Mai Khao shows just how being in the presence of a sound master, with chimes and Tibetan singing bowls, can soothe your mind. It seems like it takes mere moments for each of us to enter a powerful, meditative state as we close our eyes while laying on yoga mats.

The glasshouse room is surrounded by, you guessed it again, lotuses, but they are not there ‘for show’.  The lotus flower has long been prominent in Thai culture, well before TV saw the light of day, and is seen as a symbol of purity, faithfulness and spiritual awakening.

The Riverside Anantara

After our island adventures, we spend a night in Bangkok At The Riverside Anantara, where my room boasts an exceptional view over the mighty Chao Phraya River, replete with the popular Asiatique Sky, an open-air shopping and dining complex that includes a Ferris wheel that lights up all night.

And what better way to complete our entire experience than with an IV drip session a few hours before boarding? The Ananatara Riverside recently opened a stunning wellness centre, and I opt for a 45 minute Neuro Booster fusion of cleansing vitamins and minerals, which puts me in the ideal state for the long flight home.

Did I get to live out my White Lotus dreams on this trip? Yes. Will I be back, long after The White Lotus is a distant memory? Absolutely. Anantara’s Thai resorts are the essence of timeless luxury.

Hotel Notes

A Deluxe Lawana Room, including its own pool at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort starts from A$226. A premier Garden View Room at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort starts from A$265. A decadent and truly spectacular Pool Villa at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas starts from A$848. Visit https://www.anantara.com