Ban Mekkala

Ban Mekkala sits right on the sand at Laem Sor, on the quiet southern shore of Koh Samui. Designed by architect David Clarke, it is a beautifully crafted tropical residence: a cluster of timber pavilions under steep tiled roofs, arranged around a courtyard garden and linked by stepping-stone paths through clipped hedges, palms and frangipani. A garden path leads straight onto a calm beach that you will often have almost to yourselves.

At the centre of it all is a twenty-metre T-shaped pool wrapped by the pavilions, with planted palm islands, a jacuzzi, a shallow end for children and a run of loungers along the shore. After dark the underwater lights turn it a glowing turquoise against the palms. A sunken poolside pavilion with a dining table and barbecue is made for long, lazy meals, and kayaks and a paddle board wait on the beach.

In the main pavilion, the living room rises to a soaring wooden ceiling with a chandelier at its heart, flowing into the dining table for twelve, a gourmet kitchen and an open-air balcony that seats ten. Six en-suite bedrooms are spread through the main house and four garden pavilions for real privacy, many opening straight onto the garden or pool. Breakfast is included each morning, private chef service is available, and the villa manager and housekeeping team look after the rest, from in-villa massages in the spa room to a steam room and a home theatre for quiet evenings.