Katamanda Villa E5

Katamanda Villa E5 stands high on the hillside inside the gated Katamanda estate, between Kata and Kata Noi, where the breeze comes straight off the Andaman Sea. It is a three-storey home that blends traditional Thai rooflines with clean, modern interiors, all rich hardwood floors, warm timber ceilings and bright, comfortable furnishings. From the upper terraces the view runs over tropical treetops and red-tiled roofs to the bay, and each evening the sun drops into the sea right in front of you.

The rectangular pool sits on the lower level, framed by palms and bougainvillea, with cushioned loungers along its edge and shaded seating close by for the hottest part of the day. Climb the stairs and the living space opens up: a sitting room with deep sofas, a wooden dining table that seats eight, and a large, modern kitchen with white cabinetry and plenty of room to cook. Two sea-view decks with wooden recliners are perfect for a morning coffee or a long, lazy sundowner, and a covered garden terrace with two massage beds makes an in-villa treatment feel like a spa visit.

There are just three bedrooms, each with a king bed and its own bathroom with a deep tub and rain shower, so three couples or a small family have real breathing space. Two of the bedrooms are on the top floor and open onto a balcony facing the sea, while the third is on the ground floor with doors straight out to the pool. A villa manager and housekeeper look after the house, a chef can cook breakfast, lunch and dinner on request, and the estate’s own tennis court and round-the-clock security add to the sense of a private retreat just above the beaches.