Beach Bungalow Seven

Beach Bungalow Seven is a crisp, contemporary home on the hillside at Plai Laem, on Koh Samui’s north-east tip, with the turquoise water of the bay and its wooded headlands spread out below. Everything here is white, pale stone and glass, so the whole house seems to fill with light and sea. With three bedrooms and room for six, it is a calm, easy choice for a family or two couples who want a modern villa with a view rather than a sprawling estate.

The living spaces wrap around a private infinity pool, its edge looking straight out to sea, with a shaded terrace, beanbags and loungers for long, lazy afternoons. An outdoor dining table sits under the roofline beside a barbecue station, and as the sun goes down the sky turns violet and orange over the hills, which makes dinner outside the obvious choice. Inside, sliding glass walls open the living room to the pool deck, with a big sofa, a smart TV and a sleek, fully equipped kitchen with an island.

The master bedroom and the second bedroom both have king beds and sea views, and the third has two single beds, ideal for children. Every room has air conditioning, a ceiling fan and its own bathroom, with a freestanding stone bathtub in the master. Housekeeping comes twice a week, a villa manager is on hand during the day, and an airport pick-up on arrival is included. Kayaks are available, and bikes, a scooter, a car or a driver can be arranged for exploring the island.