Luxury hotels in Koh Samui for a White Lotus-themed winter-sun break
It’s that time of year again. Before we knew it, summer has been and gone, and the winter has certainly arrived with a bang in the UK – which means we’re straight onto seeking out our next dose of sunshine. Here to help are the best hotels in Koh Samui, the Thai paradise set to star in season three of the hit television show The White Lotus.
Away from the murders, questionable romances and rich people behaving dubiously, the locations tend to be the star of the show, from the shores of Maui in season one to the glimpses of Sicily in season two. Filming locations for season three are said to centre on Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, surely leading to a demand for Thai tourism last seen when Leonardo DiCaprio starred in The Beach.
As well as guaranteed winter sun, the top hotels of Koh Samui offer the chance for pure, unbridled R ’n’ R, with palm trees, pools and glorious beaches starring alongside superlative spas and restaurants on the sand.
Of course, the Four Seasons outpost there is likely to have played a starring role in the new series of The White Lotus, since the brand’s hotels in Maui and Taormina were the previous locations of choice (with the inevitable ensuing crush of bookings).
Other luxury hotels in Koh Samui include Belmond’s Napasai on the island’s north coast and Anantara Bophut, set on an old coconut plantation.
If you’re already looking ahead to where will be hot in December and January, or are in search of an alternative to winter-sun stalwart the Maldives, read on to discover the best hotels in Koh Samui…
Four Seasons Resorts and Residences Koh Samui
All eyes will be on the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, after the brand helpfully provided the glamorous backdrops for the first two series of The White Lotus – first in Maui and then in Sicily’s San Domenico Palace. Equally fabulous is its Koh Samui outpost, which has lofty palm trees lining the shore, multi-room villas with private pools that are perfect for families or anyone bringing an entourage, and a gorgeous garden-surrounded spa.
Stay on brand and live like the super rich on a yacht charter around the Angthong marine park, with pitstops to swim at a rainforest-edged island or to snorkel with the colourful fish. Your Four Seasons chef will take care of the catering on board, with a barbecue on the beach to look forward to at the end of the day.
Anantara Bophut
Set on a former coconut plantation, Anantara Bophut is one of the most picturesque hotels in Koh Samui, largely due to its impeccably landscaped grounds, with lily ponds and towering palm trees providing the many photo opps. It offers guests both extremes: a lively beach club for daytime partying and a peaceful spa in the gardens. If the latter is more on your holiday radar, you can book in for massages or Elemis facials in one of the standalone treatment suites, or a one-, three- or five-day wellness programme.
The resort is within walking distance of Fisherman’s Village in Bophut, so you can visit its night markets (held weekly on a Friday), old shophouses and many bars, boutiques and restaurants.
Six Senses Samui
As with other Six Senses outposts across the globe, sustainability is at the heart of the Samui edition. The resort has its own farm, which guests can visit with a basket in hand to collect their eggs before breakfast every morning or just to say hello to the resident chickens and goats. There are education programmes in place with the local community and regular beach clean-ups are held.
Guests can choose between villas on the hillside or down by the shore. Almost every suite has its own pool. Families can book the resort’s two- or three-bedroom options for the ideal child-friendly winter-sun break.
Napasai, a Belmond Hotel
On the northern coast of Koh Samui, the Belmond hotel group’s Napasai is set between the jungle and the shore, with cashew and coconut groves, and hibiscus and bougainvillea brightening up the grounds. For added authenticity to your Thai hotel experience, there are resident water buffalo in the gardens.
Couples can book a private dining experience on the beach, for an unforgettable meal lit by lanterns and candles, overlooking the Angthong archipelago. Or for something more sociable, head down to the beach every Tuesday evening for a seafood feast, live jazz courtesy of a saxophonist and a traditional fire dance.
Silavadee
If you’re looking for an all-inclusive winter-sun holiday so you can eat, drink and never sign a cheque, Silavadee is on hand with the packages. The cliff-edge resort has its own beach, villas with private infinity pools or Jacuzzis, and a romantic Thai restaurant up in the treetops. There’s an organic garden on-site too, helping to supply the kitchens.
The spa promises fun for all the family, with treatments even available for six- to 12-year-olds, who can book in for a ‘prince and princess package’ or the ‘chocalicious’ one, which features a chocolate-scented massage, a sticker tattoo application and a serving of chocolate mousse.
Nikki Beach Koh Samui
If your idea of ‘the Beach’ is one with a club attached, Nikki Beach’s Koh Samui outpost is the lively Thai hotel for you, with daytime parties, flowing cocktails, private cabanas and regular DJ sets. White sunloungers and parasols surround the pool, with leaning palm trees and the sea in the distance only enhancing the view.
The menu caters to an international crowd, but there are lots of Thai favourites on there too, with a tom yam tuna tartare and a satay club sandwich just some of the fusion plates on offer.
Samujana Villas
The villas in question at Samujana have some rather outstanding architecture, with open-air living spaces set above the pool and the buildings seemingly floating on the sea. Many of the dazzling white structures have their own gym, with personal trainers, and Pilates, swimming and Muay Thai instructors on hand to help you keep fit on holiday should you wish. You’ll also be able to summon yoga teachers, spa therapists and reiki and meditation practitioners to work with you in the comfort of your temporary home.
You may find it hard to leave your surroundings, but if you can drag yourself away, experiences on the water range from scuba-diving and water-skiing to chartering the hotel’s 43-foot catamaran.
The Library
Who said swimming pools had to be blue? The Library in Koh Samui goes against the grain with a striking red-tiled pool, which has been garnering attention since the hotel opened in 2007. There are 46 rooms on a three-acre plot, with the island’s Chaweng Beach providing the pristine backdrop.
The hotel’s name is a nod to its serenity, with plenty of places to pause to read or write. And the decor of the rooms is purposefully minimalist in order to provide a blank space for guests to be inspired. You never know, you might just be the next Alex Garland…
Cielo
Lots of luxury hotels in Koh Samui follow a similar formula of palm trees, sugary sands and teak villas, but for something a little different, try Cielo, which wouldn’t look out of place in a smart urban setting (though it has the palms, pools and beach, too). The decor has lots of golden accents, with wooden headboards, hanging pendant lights and an all-neutral palette.
The hotel is on Bophut Beach, with a restaurant by the shore that serves Mediterranean and Asian fusion dishes, and lots of seafood. There’s also a yoga studio and a spa where you can enjoy traditional Thai treatments.
Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui
Another top hotel in Koh Samui is the Ritz-Carlton, which has villas set on a hillside along the edge of a cove overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The 58-acre plot, on the north-eastern shores of the island, was once home to a coconut plantation.
Guests can immerse themselves in Thai traditions by joining a cookery class to learn about the cuisine of southern Thailand, a Muay Thai boxing lesson, or simply by heading to the spa for a famously limb-contorting Thai massage. The resort is an ideal five-star hotel in Koh Samui for families, since it’s home to a well-equipped Ritz-Kids club.
More travel ideas:
- The best hotels in the Maldives
- The best hotels in Abu Dhabi
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