From a hidden beach that broke the internet to the resort that hosted The White Lotus, these are the places that made Thailand famous on film. Here is what was shot where, and exactly how a first-timer can stand in the same spot.
Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi, a famous filming location Pexels
Belle
Thai American who travels to Thailand every other year
Longtail boats on the turquoise water of Maya Bay, seen from above
Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi LehAs seen in “The Beach”
On each spotThe film or showThe scene it gave usHow to visit today
Film · 2000 · The icon
“The Beach” at Maya Bay
Koh Phi Phi Leh · Andaman coast
Danny Boyle’s 2000 film with Leonardo DiCaprio turned this curved, cliff-ringed cove into the most famous beach in Southeast Asia. The turquoise water and powder sand became shorthand for paradise.
Its fame had a cost. Years of crowds and boat anchors damaged the reef, the bay was closed in 2018, and it reopened slowly under strict limits. You can still go, just gently.
Day trip from Phuket or KrabiPermit and timed entry
Maya Bay cove, cliffs and clear water
Koh Samui resort pool, palms and Gulf view
Series · 2025 · The new wave
“The White Lotus” Season 3
Koh Samui · Phuket · Bangkok
The 2025 season set the whole show in Thailand, filming at luxury resorts on Koh Samui and Phuket, with Bangkok scenes around the river and Wat Arun. It sent a fresh rush of travelers looking for the same loungers.
You do not need the suite to feel it. A day pass, a spa booking, or a sunset drink at the right resort gets you most of the scenery for a fraction of the room rate.
Resort day passesWat Arun at golden hour
More screen spots
Nine More Places You Have Already Seen
Each one is an easy add to a first trip. The badge tells you the title and year, then the scene, then how to actually get there.
{{ x.medium }} · {{ x.year }}
{{ x.place }}
{{ x.area }} · {{ x.title }}
{{ x.scene }}
{{ x.visit }}
{{ x.tag }}
Pre-trip watchlist
Stream Before You Fly
Watch a couple on the plane and you will recognize the views the moment you arrive.
{{ w.t }}
{{ w.kind }} · {{ w.y }}{{ w.where }}
The flip side of fame
When the Screen Sends Everyone at Once
Maya Bay is the cautionary tale: a movie made it world-famous, the crowds arrived, and the reef paid for it. Visit the famous spots in a way that keeps them worth filming.
Written by Belle, a Thai American who travels to Thailand every other year and has family in Bangkok. Everything here comes from my own visits unless the text says otherwise. Prices and journey times are typical cases rather than quotes, so recheck anything time-sensitive before you pay. Brand mentions are never paid placements, and the guide is reader-supported: some links may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
