Season 1 of The White Lotus was filmed almost entirely at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The resort’s beachfront lobby, adult pool, and suites served as the primary backdrops for the show’s tense vacation drama, which premiered on HBO in 2021. This article uses official property information, production reporting, and travel industry sources to pinpoint exactly where the series was shot and how you can experience the locations today.
Last checked: 2026-06-13
Property Name: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea · Location: Maui, Hawaii, United States · Season: 1 · Year Aired: 2021
How we researched this
Last checked 2026-06-13.
Sources reviewed: Official property website, Four Seasons Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Marie Claire, Hawaii Magazine, Saga Holidays, TravelAge West, Go Ahead Tours, travel blog reporting.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, no independent price verification was conducted for this research.
Snapshot: The White Lotus Season 1 Filming Location
- Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea — the real-life stand-in for the fictional White Lotus hotel (Four Seasons Magazine)
- Maui, Hawaii, USA — the only season set entirely in the United States (Saga Holidays)
- Fall 2020 under a COVID-19 production bubble — cast and crew lived on property throughout the shoot (Marie Claire)
- Lobby, adult pool, restaurants, spa, Wailea Beach, and multiple suite categories (Entertainment Weekly)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Property Name | Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea |
| Location | Maui, Hawaii, United States |
| Season | 1 |
| Year Aired | 2021 |
| Filming Period | Fall 2020 |
| Type | 5-star beachfront resort |
| Hotel Brand | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts |
| Beach Used | Wailea Beach (in front of resort) |
| Airport in Show | Kahului Airport (OGG) |
Where is White Lotus Season 1 Filmed?
The direct answer is the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, located at 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive on the southwest coast of Maui. The entire season was shot on location in Hawaii, with the resort’s lobby, three pools, multiple restaurants, and the Wailea Beach serving as the primary filming stages. Four Seasons Resort Maui is described on its official site as having “Maui’s largest guest rooms,” which aligns with the expansive suites depicted in the series.
According to Entertainment Weekly, most of the action in Season 1 took place in and around the resort property. The adult pool, identified by Hawaii Magazine as a central filming location, appears in many poolside scenes where guests interact and tensions simmer.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
The resort features amenities viewers saw on screen: a spa, three pools, cabanas, water sports, and snorkeling, as noted by Marie Claire. TravelAge West reports that the property now offers a “White Lotus Behind-the-Scenes Tour” — an hour-long experience led by a resort employee who worked with the production, pointing out specific filming spots around the grounds.
Maui, Hawaii
Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian island, approximately 120 miles from Honolulu. The show’s opening scenes and closing travel sequences were filmed at Kahului Airport (OGG), Maui’s main airport, capturing families arriving and departing the island.
Key Filming Locations Within the Resort
Beyond the main lobby and pool deck, several specific areas were used:
- Wailea Beach: The real beach directly in front of the resort appears frequently in Season 1 as the resort’s main beach. Saga Holidays confirms this was used for numerous character scenes.
- Adult pool: Recognizable in many poolside conversations and confrontation scenes.
- Restaurants and spa: Interior public spaces at the Four Seasons Maui were used as filming backdrops rather than soundstage recreations.
- Olowalu Landing: Located about 40 minutes’ drive from Wailea, this beach and surf spot was used for the guests’ arrival-by-boat sequence in Episode 1. Saga Holidays notes that while characters are told their hotel is “a short ride away” by golf cart, the real distance is a 40-minute coastal drive.
The bottom line: Season 1 was filmed almost entirely at one real resort and one adjacent beach, giving fans a single, visitable location to explore.
Is White Lotus Actually Filmed in Hawaii?
Yes — but only for Season 1. According to Go Ahead Tours, the show takes place at one luxury resort per season, and the first season was set entirely in Hawaii. Marie Claire reports that filming occurred in fall 2020 under a strict COVID-19 production bubble, with cast and crew living at the Four Seasons Maui throughout the shoot.
Season 1: Hawaii
As detailed above, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea stands as the primary location, with extras including Kahului Airport and Olowalu Landing.
Season 2: Sicily
Season 2 moved to the San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Sicily — a Four Seasons property overlooking the Ionian Sea. The resort’s historic architecture and coastal views feature prominently throughout the season.
Season 3: Thailand
The third season was filmed at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Thailand, located on the island’s northwest coast. The property features overwater villas and tropical gardens.
Season 4: France
HBO has confirmed that the fourth season will be filmed in France, though specific property details have not been announced at the time of writing.
What this means: The franchise intentionally relocates each season to a new country and Four Seasons hotel. Fans seeking the original White Lotus experience should plan trips to Maui, not Sicily or Thailand.
Where Was the 2nd Season of White Lotus Filmed?
The second season of The White Lotus was filmed at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Sicily. The historic monastery-turned-hotel overlooks the Ionian Sea and provided a dramatically different visual palette from Hawaii’s tropical beaches. According to Saga Holidays, the Sicilian landscapes and culture became central to the season’s plot, with scenes shot both within the hotel and at local landmarks around Taormina.
San Domenico Palace, Taormina
This 15th-century former Dominican monastery sits on a cliffside with panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna in the distance. The hotel’s terraced gardens, infinity pool, and ornate interiors were used extensively on screen.
Four Seasons San Domenico Palace
San Domenico Palace joined the Four Seasons portfolio in 2021, making it the second four seasons property to host the series after Maui.
The implication: Each season’s location choice is deliberate and plot-influencing. The shift from isolated Hawaii to historic Sicily marked a tonal and visual expansion for the series.
Where is White Lotus Season 3 Filmed?
Season 3 of The White Lotus was filmed at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in Thailand. The resort occupies a secluded beachfront on the northwest coast of Koh Samui and features overwater villas, tropical gardens, and a spa — amenities that once again serve as the setting for character drama.
Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
The resort offers 60 private villas, each with its own infinity pool, set into a hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The property’s design blends traditional Thai architecture with contemporary luxury.
Thailand
The move to Southeast Asia continues the show’s pattern of selecting visually striking, culturally distinct destinations that contrast with previous seasons.
The pattern: Every season debuts a new Four Seasons property in a new country — and fan interest in set-jetting follows closely behind.
Interested in other luxury-stay options? Read our Ohana Waikiki East review for a Hawaii hotel comparison, or check out the Elements of Byron review for a beachfront resort experience in Australia.
What hotel was used for White Lotus season 1?
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was used as the fictional White Lotus resort for Season 1. The property is a 5-star beachfront resort located at 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive on Maui, Hawaii, as confirmed by Four Seasons Magazine.
Is the White Lotus season 1 hotel in Hawaii?
Yes, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is located on the island of Maui, Hawaii. It is the only season of the series filmed in the United States. Entertainment Weekly and Marie Claire both confirm the Hawaii location.
Can you visit the White Lotus season 1 filming location?
Yes. The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is a working hotel, open to guests and day visitors for dining and spa services. The hotel also offers a “White Lotus Behind-the-Scenes Tour” for guests, as reported by TravelAge West. Non-guests can visit the bar and explore the grounds and adjacent Wailea Beach.
What is the address of the White Lotus season 1 resort?
The exact address is 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii 96753, USA. This is the official address of the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, as listed on its official website.
Was White Lotus season 1 filmed entirely at one resort?
Almost entirely. The majority of scenes were filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Additional filming occurred at Wailea Beach (in front of the resort), Kahului Airport (for travel scenes), and Olowalu Landing (for the boat arrival sequence in Episode 1), as detailed by Saga Holidays and Sky Bird Travel.
What other scenes were filmed outside the resort in season 1?
Besides the resort grounds, scenes were filmed at Kahului Airport (OGG) for arrival and departure sequences, and at Olowalu Landing — a beach and surf spot about 40 minutes north of Wailea — for the guests’ boat arrival in the opening episode. No other major off-property locations were used.
How does the season 1 location compare to later seasons?
Season 1’s Hawaii location offers beachfront tropical luxury at the Four Seasons Maui. Season 2 moves to a historic cliffside monastery-hotel in Sicily (San Domenico Palace). Season 3 shifts to a private-villa resort in Koh Samui, Thailand. Each location reflects a different geographic and cultural setting, but all are Four Seasons properties selected for their distinct visual identities.