Set jet: Cruising to the White Lotus filming locations
Step into the world of privilege, paradise, and perfectly crafted drama. HBO's acclaimed series The White Lotus has transformed luxury destinations into characters themselves, creating a visual feast that leaves viewers dreaming of their own escape. Now, cruise lines are making these dream destinations accessible, letting you experience the same stunning locations that served as backdrops for the series' addictive storytelling.
From Hawaii's sun-kissed shores to Sicily's dramatic coastlines and Thailand's exotic retreats, these other-wordly locations prove that sometimes reality is even more captivating than fiction.
On this page:
- Tropical beginnings: Maui magic
- Mediterranean drama: Sicily's San Domenico Palace
- Eastern promises: Thailand's lush havens
Sail to iconic White Lotus filming locations—explore cruises today:
Tropical beginnings: Maui magic
When your ship approaches Maui's western shore, you'll understand why HBO chose this location. Fans will recognize the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea immediately. Rising from immaculate beaches, this upscale sanctuary creates the perfect fusion of natural beauty and privileged seclusion that the show captured so brilliantly.
The Four Seasons Maui reveals exactly where in Hawaii was the White Lotus filmed, inviting visitors to walk the same sun-drenched paths as their favorite characters. The infinity pool where Cameron and Quinn shared their heart-to-heart still reflects an endless sky, while the grand lobby, once the stage for Armond's escalating chaos, now welcomes travelers with the serene Hawaiian hospitality that contrasts so beautifully with the show's tension.
Major cruise lines including Norwegian Cruise Line make this paradise accessible, timing their arrivals for those perfect golden-hour moments that made the show so visually stunning. Their Hawaiian itineraries weave together Maui with stops in Honolulu, Kauai, and the Big Island, creating a tapestry of experiences that rivals any fictional narrative.
Beyond the resort, Maui unfolds like a choose-your-own-adventure novel. Norwegian offers a stunning array of excursions that showcase the island's diverse beauty. Journey along the legendary Road to Hana, where cascading waterfalls and lush rainforests create a paradise that rivals the luxury of any fictional resort. Descend into the otherworldly landscape of Haleakala Crater, where sunrise paints the volcanic landscape in ethereal hues that seem to belong to another planet entirely.
For underwater adventures, the Molokini Crater and Turtle Snorkel excursion invites you into a crescent-shaped volcanic caldera teeming with kaleidoscopic marine life, where you might find yourself swimming alongside graceful sea turtles in crystal waters. The Maui Gold Pineapple Experience offers a different kind of sensory journey, where fragrant fields reveal the secrets behind Hawaii's sweetest agricultural treasure.
Norwegian's comprehensive "Best of Maui" tour encapsulates the island's diverse charms in a single day, from historic villages to plantation visits, ensuring you experience the full spectrum of what made this the perfect backdrop for the show's first season. Then return to Wailea Beach, where the real magic of The White Lotus setting comes alive during sunset, as torches flicker to life and the ocean whispers secrets of its own.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: Book an afternoon excursion to Wailea Beach to experience the area at its most photogenic, when the lighting matches those iconic show moments. Consider scheduling a sunset dinner at a nearby resort restaurant for the full intimate experience.
Find your own White Lotus Maui Magic:
Related: 5 Best Hawaii cruises in 2025 & 2026
Mediterranean drama: Sicily's San Domenico Palace
The San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina, commands attention from its clifftop perch above the Ionian Sea. For those wondering where was White Lotus Season 2 filmed, this former monastery-turned-posh-resort set against Mount Etna’s volcanic silhouette provides the answer. Its honey-colored stone walls glow gold at sunset, making it the perfect backdrop for the show’s second season and turning Taormina into a character in its own right.
The hotel in Sicily where White Lotus was filmed transforms from screen to sensation as you traverse its historic corridors, where centuries of Sicilian history whisper from every archway. The resort offers the same breathtaking terraces where Tanya waxed poetic about Italian men, with views that stretch across the Mediterranean's hypnotic blue expanse. The infinity pool that witnessed countless plot twists appears to dissolve into the sea below, creating that same endless illusion that captivated viewers worldwide.
When cruising the Mediterranean, lines like Princess Cruises ensure ample time to immerse yourself in Taormina's intoxicating charms. Ships typically dock in nearby Messina, offering excursions that wind through time-worn streets to this clifftop paradise and deeper into Sicily's storied landscapes. Venture to the Medieval Village of Erice, perched dramatically atop Mount Erice, where mist-shrouded cobblestone streets feel frozen in time. Explore the Temples Valley, where ancient Greek columns stand in silent testimony to Sicily's layered past, or marvel at Palermo's exquisite Gardens, where Baroque fountains play among exotic flora.
For those drawn to sacred spaces, the Cathedral of Palermo and Duomo di Monreale offer Byzantine mosaics that shimmer with golden light, while the hauntingly beautiful Capuchin Catacombs reveal Sicily's unique relationship with mortality. At the majestic ruins of Segesta, a perfectly preserved Greek temple stands in splendid isolation against rolling Sicilian hills, offering the kind of sublime vista that no camera could fully capture.
As twilight falls and you sip an Aperol Spritz in the same bar where Portia and Jack's romance bloomed, watching the same Mediterranean sunset that framed season two's most dramatic moments, you might discover that the real Sicily – with its intoxicating blend of beauty, history, and sensuality – surpasses even HBO's most vivid imaginings.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: While The White Lotus Season 2 spotlighted Taormina, a visit to the medieval village of Erice offers a romantic escape beyond the show’s filming locations. Stroll hand in hand through its cobblestone streets, explore ancient castles, and take in sweeping views of the Sicilian coastline—an enchanting experience that feels straight out of a White Lotus scene.
Related: Best honeymoon cruises
Eastern promises: Thailand's lush havens
For its third season, The White Lotus ventures into new territory. Viewers curious about where was White Lotus filmed in Thailand will discover the series split between two magnificent locations: the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. White Lotus lovers can visit both destinations, each promising to deliver the series' signature blend of paradise and intrigue against a backdrop of Southeast Asian splendor.
Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Holland America have mastered the art of showcasing Thailand's dual charms. Ships dock in Phuket and Koh Samui, where a tapestry of experiences awaits. In Koh Samui, immerse yourself in Thailand's unique culture as you wander through gilded temples where saffron-robed monks have meditated for centuries, then sink your toes into powdery white sand that rivals the manicured beaches of any luxury resort.
For nature enthusiasts, the breathtaking Ang Thong National Marine Park delivers vistas that seem designed for cinematic moments. This archipelago of 42 islands rises dramatically from turquoise waters, creating a playground of hidden lagoons and limestone formations that would make a perfect backdrop for White Lotus's signature blend of beauty and intrigue. From Phuket, journeys to the legendary Phang Nga Bay reveal towering karst formations that pierce the emerald-green sea – the same otherworldly landscape made famous in James Bond films, now ready to serve as your own exotic adventure setting.
Whether you're kayaking through the emerald waters of Ang Thong National Marine Park or sampling street food in Bangkok's bustling markets, Thailand is the kind of life experience that defines The White Lotus series. Here, ancient traditions meet modern indulgence, creating the kind of rich cultural tapestry that the show thrives on.
🛟 Cruisebound tip: Look for itineraries that include both Phuket and Koh Samui to experience the full range of Season 3 locations. Consider booking a resort day pass to immerse yourself in the same unbelievable settings that will soon grace your screens.
Find your own lush Thailand cruise:
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Cruising through paradise
The White Lotus has mastered the art of turning locations into characters, but the real magic lies in discovering these places for yourself. Whether you're recreating iconic scenes in Maui, chasing Sicilian sunsets, or previewing Thailand's upcoming star turn, a cruise offers the perfect way to string these pearls of paradise into your own unforgettable story.
Ready to write your own chapter in these legendary locations? Cruisebound can help you find the perfect sailing to each White Lotus destination, with exclusive deals that make luxury accessible. Book your journey today and discover your own cinematic adventures.
