It’s almost time to check into the third instalment of The White Lotus. While production for season three of the hit TV series was underway in Thailand last year, SLH’s Social Media Manager, Lucy Kell, along with three top travel content creators, channeled their inner Tanya McQuoid on a Thai adventure — taking in buzzing Bangkok, wild Khao Yai and sandy Phuket.
Opening shot: Bangkok
Arriving at The Sukhothai Bangkok feels like a deep exhale following the happy chaos of the city streets outside. Sip on fresh young coconut water and admire the polished teak and lush gardens of this palatial property before unpacking in one of the spacious Club Suites.
Touchdown in the Thai capital means one thing: a TukTuk ride to shake off the jetlag. Whiz through the hot streets in search of iced matcha lattes and khao soi noodles.
At The White Lotus resorts, much of the action takes place around the swimming pool, and The Sukhothai Bangkok is no exception. Where better to take a post-sightseeing plunge than in this glistening 25-metre stretch?
At dusk, trot over to the hotel’s Thai restaurant, Celadon. Nestled on terraces encircled by lotus ponds, this is the place to tuck into elevated classics like green curry, Pad Thai and mango sticky rice — all accompanied by classical dancing.
Videos 2 and 3 by Callie Thorpe
Plot twist: Khao Yai
Glamping? Wineries? In Thailand? Just a two-and-a-half-hour hop away from Bangkok’s city lights lies Marasca Khao Yai, one of the latest additions to SLH’s Thailand collection that puts a new spin on luxury camping. On the edge of Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with grasslands and wildlife, the elevated tents magically house multi-room suites, private plunge pools, Kamado barbecues and the finest linens, all ensuring the utmost comfort when sleeping under the stars.
It’s all about the outdoors at Marasca, so refresh with a mid-afternoon ice cream from the cherry-red truck before hopping on one of the hotel’s bicycles to explore the organic vegetable gardens. Come nightfall, indulge in an in-villa dining experience where the chefs prepare a knockout barbecue on the private terrace. Then, gather on Marasca’s elevated Stardeck for s’mores toasted over the firepit and a spot of stargazing using the hotel’s state-of-the-art digital telescope.
Images by Gina Jackson
It wouldn’t be a White Lotus-inspired trip without wine tasting, and Khao Yai’s cooler climate and abundant soil make for a perfect glass of vino (or three). With the award-winning GranMonte vineyard just a few minutes from the hotel, you can sit back and toast to the luxe life.
Cap it all off with a cooking class led by Marasca’s chefs. Tempura-fried grape leaves, Phad Mhee Korat (a spicier Pad Thai) and bananas poached in sweet coconut milk are all on the menu.
Image by Elisha Brock
Video 1 by Callie Thorpe; 2 by Gina Jackson; 3 by Elisha Brock
Grand finale: Phuket
The coast is calling, and nowhere does spectacular Thai sunsets like Phuket. Fronted by sandy white beaches which melt into the crystal-clear Andaman Sea, SLH’s selection of Phuket hotels promise the perfect ingredients for a stay in paradise.
Whether it’s a sleek yacht in Sicily or a scenic cruise off Maui, boat trips are central to The White Lotus experience, and taking a long-tail boat ride around the gorgeous Phang Nga Bay more than delivers on the drama. Prepare to encounter mangrove forests, mysterious lagoons and one of the most iconic landmarks in the area, James Bond Island (famous for its starring role in The Man with the Golden Gun).
Featured: Twinpalms MontAzure Phuket Resort
Back on shore, slip into something floaty and reserve a beachside table, because a trip to Thailand wouldn’t be complete without a toes-in-the-sand sunset dinner. That’s a wrap!
Previous
6 boutique ski hotels worth moving mountains to visit
Next
A guide to Australia’s Blue Mountains
Latest stories
10 luxury hotels worth reserving for spectacular rooftop terraces
The ‘gram loves a good rooftop, doesn’t it? Infinity pools teetering over a city’s edge, open-air bars and sky-high restaurants to drink in those bird’s eye views and sip cocktails in the clouds. Now that summer is almost here, these are the best boutique hotels to book for rooftop access
12 of the world’s most photogenic hotel pools
Sure, some of us love to get a few early morning laps in, but for most travellers, the hotel pool is a place to stretch out and sunbathe beside — in full holiday mode. Ice-cold drinks delivered to your poolside lounger or cabana throughout the day, and only having to
Independent Minds: Steven Riseley, Castle Elvira
Crumbling castle it might have been for over a century, but Steven Riseley and husband, Harvey B-Brown, are writing their own contemporary fairy-tale at Castle Elvira in Puglia. Following a four-year restoration project with local craftsmen working to keep the original ceilings and stonework intact, the creative couple could finally
How to spend a short break in Syros, Greece
The Cyclades are known for their rugged beaches and iconic blue-and-white stucco buildings — until you arrive in the main town of Hermoupolis on the Greek island of Syros, that is. The bustling port city is an energised contrast from its Cycladic neighbours, where neoclassical mansions in a pastel palette
