It is the island that has as many incarnations as BeyoncΓ©. With its lovely white beaches and its lush interior, Koh Samui, sitting in the Gulf of Thailand, excels at offering different things to different travellers. Backpackers come to dance all night on the beach at a full moon party, while parents bring their offspring for a family holiday that mixes lazy days at the beach with the buzz and sensational street food of the night markets.
Just one of the magical views from Four Seasons Koh Samui.
Many travellers heading to Koh Samui this year, however, will have one thing on their minds. Ever since word got out that the new season of The White Lotus is set on this Thai island, there has been an uptick of interest in Samui as a luxury destination β and boy, does it deliver.
Much of the series was filmed at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, which enjoys an isolated position on the north-west of the island, a 30-minute drive from the airport. Guests arriving at the property are met at the entrance portal, where imposing doors open to reveal a jaw-dropping view over the jungle-like setting and across the glittering ocean.
The reception, it turns out, sits at the top of the steeply sloping site, but itβs not the only place with stunning views. The main restaurant, Koh β it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner β has an equally panoramic outlook, making it the perfect backdrop to savour your first coffee of the day. The White Lotusβ late and much-lamented Tanya McQuoid (played by Jennifer Coolidge in seasons one and two) would have felt right at home.
Nestled beneath the foliage canopy β not a single tree was cut down during the resortβs construction β each one-bedroom villa is a haven with a soothing outlook and its own private pool. If you are travelling with a larger group, the residences have up to five bedrooms and extra mod cons, including larger pools, multiple outdoor areas and even al fresco bathtubs.
Itβs easy to picture Tanya McQuoid and the other pampered travellers who frequent The White Lotus spending an entire day by the resortβs beach.
Every guest here is treated like a VIP, with staff reaching out in advance of your visit to inquire about special requests. I mention that Iβm battling a nasty chest infection and when I arrive thereβs a pot of hot ginger and lemon tea waiting in my villa.
Itβs easy to picture Tanya McQuoid and the other pampered travellers who frequent The White Lotus spending an entire day by the resortβs beach, where youβll also find a 50-metre pool, a chic cocktail bar, a relaxed restaurant serving excellent Mediterranean food and even a rum bar with an incredible selection of both rums and agaves (ask the staff to set up a tasting.)
Of course, Samui has plenty of other attractions to explore including temples such as Wat Phra Yai, famous for its 12-metre golden Buddha statue. Also worth a visit are Wat Plai Laem, where another imposing statue depicts Guanyin, the 18-armed goddess of mercy, and Wat Samret, home to a conclave of more than 80 Buddha statues. Or there is the hilltop Tarnim Magic Garden, an enchanting forest park created by a local farmer where exquisite statues have been carefully placed amid the leafy landscaping.
