Thailand has hosted everything from classic Bond films to The White Lotus Season 3. Here is where the cameras rolled and how to see it.
Thailand's screen legacy spans James Bond Island from The Man with the Golden Gun, Maya Bay from The Beach, Bangkok river scenes from The Hangover Part II, and recent shoots including The White Lotus Season 3 and Jurassic World Rebirth. Most famous sites sit around Phang Nga Bay and Krabi, reachable on boat tours from Phuket.
Thailand has been a Hollywood backlot for more than half a century. The country supplied Scaramanga's island lair in The Man with the Golden Gun back in 1974, stood in for Vietnam in The Deer Hunter, and more recently hosted The White Lotus Season 3 and Jurassic World Rebirth in 2025. Limestone karsts, jungle, ancient ruins and neon-lit Bangkok streets give directors an unusual range of looks within one country.
The productions keep coming because the state wants them here. The Thailand Film Office charges no application fee, offers a one-stop permit service, and hands out cash rebates of up to 30% on qualified spending with no cap as of 2025. In the first half of 2025 alone the country hosted 322 foreign productions, generating over 3.33 billion baht.
The list below covers the major films and series shot in Thailand, from classic war epics to current streaming hits. Some used the country as itself, others dressed it up as Vietnam or a fictional tropical paradise.
| Title | Year | Type | What was filmed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Man with the Golden Gun | 1974 | Film | Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island as Scaramanga's hideout |
| The Beach | 2000 | Film | Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh |
| The Hangover Part II | 2011 | Film | Bangkok streets, Chao Phraya River, and Krabi areas |
| Fast & Furious 9 | 2021 | Film | Krabi, Phuket, and Phang Nga locations for action sequences |
| The White Lotus | 2025 | TV | Koh Samui resorts and beaches for Season 3 |
| Jurassic World: Rebirth | 2025 | Film | Krabi Railay Beach, Phang Nga Bay, and Trang for dinosaur scenes |
| The Deer Hunter | 1978 | Film | Bangkok and Kanchanaburi standing in for Vietnam |
| Rambo: First Blood Part II | 1985 | Film | Chiang Mai jungles |
| Tomorrow Never Dies | 1997 | Film | Bangkok and Phang Nga Bay |
| The Impossible | 2012 | Film | Khao Lak for tsunami sequences |
| Extraction | 2020 | Film | Ratchaburi and Bangkok areas |
| Da 5 Bloods | 2020 | Film | Bangkok and Chiang Mai |
| Mortal Kombat | 1995 | Film | Ayutthaya historical sites |
| The Bridge on the River Kwai | 1957 | Film | Kanchanaburi River Kwai area |
| Alien: Earth | 2025 | TV | Various southern and central locations including Phetchaburi |
| The Creator | 2023 | Film | Phitsanulok and other sites |
8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Phang Nga, Phang Nga Bay Ticketed
Filmed here: Scaramanga's island hideout and boat scenes
The limestone needle of Ko Tapu served as Scaramanga's hideout in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) and remains Thailand's most recognized screen landmark. It sits inside a national park and can only be reached by boat tour. Expect crowds and conservation rules; most visitors come on day trips from Phuket or Krabi.
Krabi, Ko Phi Phi Leh Ticketed
Filmed here: The hidden beach paradise community
The Beach (2000) turned this cove on Ko Phi Phi Leh into a global symbol of tropical escape, with consequences the reef is still recovering from. Access is by boat only, with strict visitor limits and seasonal closures for reef recovery, and swimming is banned in some areas. Book through licensed operators and check open seasons first.
Krabi Free to see
Filmed here: Opening scene and jungle/backdrop shots
Railay Beach anchored the opening scene and jungle backdrops of Jurassic World Rebirth (2025). The peninsula is public and reached by boat, popular with climbers and beachgoers alike. Commercial filming needs permits, but visitors wander freely between the cliffs, caves and sand.
Phang Nga Ticketed
Filmed here: Limestone karsts and island scenes
This bay of limestone karsts has appeared repeatedly on screen, in The Man with the Golden Gun, Fast & Furious 9 (2021) and Jurassic World Rebirth. National park boat tours thread between the islands, including the James Bond area. It is the single most film-dense stretch of water in Thailand.
Ayutthaya Ticketed
Filmed here: Ancient ruins and temple scenes
The ruined temples of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO site, appeared in Mortal Kombat (1995). Entry is ticketed and guided tours run from Bangkok, roughly a short day trip away. Filming permits are handled separately, so productions must apply beyond the standard visitor ticket.
Bangkok Free to see
Filmed here: River views, boat chases, and urban backdrop
Bangkok's main river carried boat chases and city views in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and The Hangover Part II (2011). It remains fully public, served by river taxis and cruises, and its banks back onto many other productions' urban backdrops. A ride here doubles as sightseeing.
Kanchanaburi Free to see
Filmed here: Bridge and jungle/river war scenes
Kanchanaburi hosted The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and doubled as Vietnam for The Deer Hunter (1978). The bridge and river are open to the public, with historical sites and river tours in the area. Some zones carry extra access permissions beyond standard visiting.
Phang Nga, Khao Lak Free to see
Filmed here: Tsunami and resort recovery scenes
Khao Lak stood in for the resort struck by the tsunami in The Impossible (2012). Today it is a relaxed resort area with public beaches and seasonal access considerations depending on monsoon conditions. Fans of the film will recognize the shoreline from the disaster and recovery sequences.
Beyond location shooting, Thailand has purpose-built studio capacity. Green Park Studio sits near Bangkok's airport and has hosted various productions. The Studio Park offers international-standard facilities, and Moonstar Studio in Bangkok's Lad Prao district provides purpose-built soundstages for film and TV. None of the three operates public tours, so they matter to travelers mainly as evidence of how deep the production industry runs here.
Nearly all bookable screen-tourism options concentrate on Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, departing from Phuket or Khao Lak. Formats range from budget big-boat excursions to premium yachts and private evening longtails, so the main choices are transport style, group size and price.
From Phuket: Phang Nga Bay and Canoeing Tour by Big Boat
The crowd-tested big boat option at 47.47 USD, backed by 4,135 reviews, ideal for travelers who prioritize value over speed.
Phuket: James Bond Island Phang Nga Bay Premium Yacht Tour
A well-reviewed premium yacht cruise at 111.88 USD with 1,796 reviews, balancing comfort and credibility.
Phuket: James Bond Island Sea Canoeing by Speedboat+ 2 Meals
The volume pick with 957 reviews, covering sea canoeing by speedboat and two meals at a mid-range price.
Phuket: James Bond Island Canoeing & Sunset Yacht Dinner
The standout performer at 4.9 stars across 41 reviews, combining the island, canoeing and a sunset yacht dinner for a full premium day.
From Phuket: James Bond Island by Speedboat + Park Fee
A straightforward speedboat run with the national park fee already included, based on 24 bookings.
James Bond Island Tour by Long Tail Boat or Speedboat
Flexible format letting travelers choose longtail or speedboat, useful for groups undecided on pace.
Khaolak: James Bond Island Kayak Tour with Snorkeling &Lunch
Departs from Khao Lak rather than Phuket, adding snorkeling and lunch to the kayak formula, convenient for fans of The Impossible staying nearby.
Phuket: James Bond Island 5-Island Speedboat Tour & Lunch
The lowest listed price, visiting five islands by speedboat with lunch, from 11 bookings.
Evening James Bond Island&Plankton Tour by Private longtail.
The most expensive option at 298.36 USD, a private evening longtail combining the island with bioluminescent plankton viewing.
From Phuket : James Bond Island Tour with Cave Canoeing
Pairs the Bond island stop with cave canoeing through Phang Nga's sea caves, though reviews are thin and mixed at 2.5 stars from 4 bookings.
Phuket: Premium Day Trip to James Bond - Naka Island
A premium day trip adding Naka Island to the Bond itinerary, though early days with just 4 bookings.
James Bond Island Tour with Canoeing by Long tail boat
Traditional longtail boat format with canoeing included, one of the cheaper entries, though only 3 bookings so far.
Yes, but only by licensed boat. Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh operates under strict visitor limits and seasonal closures for reef recovery, and swimming is restricted in some areas. Check current opening periods before booking.
By reviews, the sunset yacht dinner tour leads at 4.9 stars from 41 bookings. For volume-backed reliability, the premium yacht cruise has 1,796 reviews and the big boat tour has 4,135, both at lower prices.
Season 3 filmed at resorts and beaches on Koh Samui in 2025. The properties are real hotels, so fans can book stays directly, subject to availability.
Yes. Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) used Railay Beach in Krabi, Phang Nga Bay and Trang for its dinosaur scenes. Railay is public and reachable by boat.
No bookable film-location tours for Bangkok appear in current listings. The Chao Phraya River scenes are easy to see independently using public river taxis and cruises.
The Thailand Film Office charges no permit application fee, runs a one-stop service, and offers cash rebates up to 30% with no cap as of 2025. The country hosted 322 foreign productions in the first half of 2025 alone.
Thailand works as a screen-tourism destination because its film sites double as genuine highlights: Phang Nga Bay, Maya Bay, Railay and the Chao Phraya are worth visiting with no movie knowledge at all. Base yourself in Phuket or Krabi for the Bond and Bay locations, add Bangkok for the urban backdrops, and check seasonal closures at Maya Bay before committing to dates.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for Thailand.
