Himmapana Villa 2P

Himmapana Villa 2P is the family-minded member of Himmapana Villas, a gated cluster of twelve modern pool homes tucked into the green foothills behind Kamala. What makes it special is the water: alongside the main pool, a long, slender children’s pool winds around the garden, so the house feels wrapped in turquoise and banana palms wherever you look. It is a bright, cheerful base for a young family or two couples who want space to splash about and the beach a short shuttle ride away.

The main pool, about six metres by three and a half, sits right off the living room, with a sunken cushioned lounge set into its edge and sun loungers on a sleek white deck. The shallow children’s pool, around ten metres long and a metre and a half wide, curls past the bedrooms and the garden, edged with woven egg chairs and lush tropical planting. Under a slatted pergola at the side of the house, an outdoor dining table looks into the greenery, ready for slow breakfasts. Inside, the open-plan living room rises to a vaulted timber ceiling, with deep grey sofas, a dining table for six and a modern kitchen with oven, microwave, coffee maker and tall fridge.

Both bedrooms have king beds and their own bathrooms. The master opens straight onto the pool through walls of glass and has a sculptural freestanding bathtub, while the second bedroom looks out over the garden and has a marble bathroom with a walk-in shower. Reception staff, housekeepers and 24-hour security look after the estate, breakfast and Thai dishes can be ordered from an iPad, and a free shuttle runs guests down to Kamala Beach and back through the day.