Baan Phuttarak

Perched on a green Plai Laem hillside above Choeng Mon Bay, Baan Phuttarak captivates from the first moment. A castle-style stone gate swings open onto ornate doors fitted with a bespoke elephant handle, and beyond them a grand staircase of reclaimed teak climbs through two storeys of meticulously curated interiors. This is less a holiday rental than a private gallery of Southeast Asian art and craft, where every corridor and alcove holds something worth pausing over.

The owner has spent years assembling a museum-grade collection — carved teak furniture, golden Naga panels catching the light above doorways, Chinese ceremonial gongs anchoring quiet corners, sculptures standing sentinel along the balconies. Stone finishes downstairs give way to old teak floors above, where four individually themed king suites open onto a wrap-around balcony framing the turquoise coast. Three share that panoramic terrace; all four have en-suite rain showers, generous wardrobes, satellite television and a safe.

Outside, a 65-square-metre black-tiled infinity pool with a built-in jacuzzi seems to spill over the hillside into the treetops, fringed by cushioned daybeds, a shaded sala and a bar with sound system for effortless sundowners. A multilingual guest manager — English, French and Chinese — coordinates everything from boat charters to restaurant tables, daily continental breakfast is included, and the resident chef cooks market-fresh Thai lunches for little more than the cost of ingredients. For a fully staffed, art-filled villa with one of Samui’s most striking pools, it is remarkable value.