Set-jetting fans of “The White Lotus” and visitors to the island of Koh Samui can now enjoy speedboat tours, courtesy of Banyan Tree Samui and its new speedboat, Sense of the Sea. The resort is arranging tours and day trips to the archipelago, famed for its 42 islands, limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, white sandy beaches and tropical forests. The Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park was chosen by “The White Lotus” producers as the backdrop for the opening scene, as well as other sequences from the third series, which was filmed entirely in Thailand and primarily on and around Koh Samui.
Guests at Banyan Tree Samui, which is located in a private bay in the southeastern corner of the island, can now experience an eight-hour excursion (maximum 15 persons, plus three crew members) around the national marine park in the nearly 40-foot Sense of the Sea, a custom-built speedboat, which has been adapted to cater for day trips, picnics and celebrations.
Other excursions in the Gulf of Thailand include a six-hour visit Koh Phangan, site of the “Full Moon Party” portrayed in “The White Lotus.” Travelers can also opt for the “Five Islands Sunset Cruise” or a four- to six-hour boat trip to Koh Taen and Koh Matsum, two small and barely inhabited islands—the latter being dubbed Thailand’s “Bay of Pigs” due to the drift of wild but tourist-friendly pigs that live on the beach.
Good to know: All speedboat tours can be tailor-made for private groups or special occasions, and include ample time to anchor for swimming, snorkeling, siestas and champagne. The islets are abundant in monkeys and monitor lizards, and the marine life includes turtles, dugongs, sharks and numerous species of tropical fish.
Banyan Tree Samui has also announced a series of experiences to celebrate the growing popularity of the island under what has quickly become known as “The White Lotus Effect.” From the locally infused welcome amenities guests receive upon arrival at the resort to the Wellbeing Sanctuary programs with yoga, meditation, fitness and healthy cuisine, reminiscences of “The White Lotus” abound.
Last month, Banyan Tree Spa Samui introduced a “Sense of Lotus” spa package. The 120-minute treatment begins with a White Lotus Polisher, which incorporates fine bead powder from lotus seeds to exfoliate and renew the skin. Guests can also enjoy a specially crafted cocktail named “White Lotus”—a concoction of vodka, white rum, lychee juice, lime juice, coconut milk and fresh lychee, garnished with dried rose petals.
Each of the 88 villas at Banyan Tree Samui has an infinity pool and the resort is terraced into the hillside. The 38-acre property’s private beach is flanked by coral reefs. Facilities include three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness center, a kids’ club, a meetings and events center, and a library.
Related Articles
Ananda in the Himalayas Celebrates 25 Years of Holistic Wellness
A New Luxury Boutique Hotel Is Coming to Tangalle, Sri Lanka