Villa Fah Sai

Villa Fah Sai is one of just eight villas in Samsara, a private, secure estate set into the hillside above the Andaman Sea between Kamala and Patong. Spread across more than eleven hundred square metres beneath layered timber-and-tile roofs, it is a home of warm teak floors, tall glass walls and long views over the bay to the green headlands beyond. The house was once named among the Great Homes of the World by The New York Times, and it is easy to see why: every space seems to lean towards the water.

The centrepiece is an eighteen-metre infinity pool that curves along the edge of the terrace, with a shallow end where younger swimmers can splash safely and sun loungers lined up facing the sea. As the light fades, the covered dining terrace above the pool becomes the place to be, its long table looking straight out over the bay. Inside, a generous living room with walls of books opens to the view, and a games room with a large television, video games and a card table keeps children happy, while a home cinema and gym equipment round out the indoor spaces.

All five bedrooms have king beds and their own bathrooms, and four open onto terraces made for slow morning coffee above the water. One suite has an indoor jacuzzi for two, a lovely choice for a couple. A resident chef cooks Thai, Western, Indian and Chinese dishes, housekeeping is on hand throughout, and a concierge can arrange massages, island trips and transport. Kamala Beach, its Friday night market and the village restaurants are close by, with Patong a short drive south.