Baan Lam Yai

Baan Lam Yai is a sleek, contemporary pool villa set in its own walled garden close to the Ping River, on the edge of Chiang Mai in Thailand’s cooler northern hills. From the upstairs terrace the view reaches across the river valley to Doi Suthep, the forested mountain that rises above the city and its famous hilltop temple. With five bedrooms for up to ten guests, it suits families and groups of friends who want a calm, modern base for exploring the temples, markets and Lanna architecture of the Old City.

The ten-metre pool sits at the heart of a neatly kept lawn edged with palms and flowering shrubs, with loungers along the deck and a long timber table beside the water for lazy lunches. Garden lighting turns the pool into a glowing centrepiece after dark, and there is BBQ equipment so the staff can fire up the grill for an evening in the open air. A dining pavilion with a big table seats everyone together, and you can just as easily eat outside on the lawn.

Inside, the look is industrial and understated, with exposed concrete walls, dark herringbone timber floors, striking artwork and warm lamplight. All five bedrooms are air-conditioned with their own en-suite bathrooms, four with king beds and one with a queen, and the upstairs rooms open onto private balconies. The master suite is upstairs for extra privacy, and there is an upstairs office with a desk, computer and printer for anyone who needs to work. Two staff look after the house, a menu of home-cooked meals is available on request, and the team can arrange cooking classes, private Muay Thai lessons, yoga sessions and in-villa massages.