Villa Ananda at Jivana

Villa Ananda is the largest of the beachfront homes in the Jivana estate at Natai Beach, just north of Phuket, set in nearly a hectare of palm-shaded lawns that roll straight down to the sand. Four Thai-inspired pavilions with tall timber ceilings and glass walls sit around the grounds, linked by garden paths, lotus ponds and small waterfalls. Out front lies one of the quietest stretches of shore on this coast, wide and pale and often empty, where the loudest sound is the Andaman surf.

The centrepiece is a twenty-five-metre infinity pool, so glassy on calm days that it doubles the coconut palms above it, with a shallow end for younger swimmers and a separate wading pool for toddlers. Daybeds and sun chairs line the edge, sunken salas hide among the gardens for massages and afternoon naps, and a hammock strung between the palms faces the sea. Between swims there are kayaks and bicycles for exploring the beach, and evenings tend to end on the lawn watching the sun drop into the water.

Inside, the Great Room is a lofty, airy space with deep white sofas and colourful art, opening onto a long dining table under a soaring timber roof, with a modern, well-equipped kitchen behind. One pavilion holds four bedrooms, another the master suite and a quiet study, and the children have their own quarters with bunk beds, toys and a television. Every room has air conditioning, polished timber floors and its own bathroom, with soaking tubs and stone-walled garden showers among them. A villa manager, in-house chef, housekeepers and security look after the estate, and breakfast is included each morning.