Villa Nap Dau

Villa Nap Dau is a big, bright family compound in the green hills of Chalong, in southern Phuket, a short drive below the island’s landmark Big Buddha. Its name means “counting stars”, and on clear nights up here, away from the busier beaches, that is exactly what you find yourself doing. With ten bedrooms and eleven bathrooms spread across a large modern house set in sweeping lawns, it is built for extended families and large groups who want to stay under one roof without ever feeling crowded.

Outside, a saltwater pool sits on a timber deck in front of the house, lined with loungers and backed by an amphitheatre of forested hills. Steps lead down to rolling lawns, flowerbeds and a lit garden sala, and a covered upper terrace with a long glass dining table takes in the valley views, especially lovely as the lights come on at dusk. Inside, a spacious lounge with a long red sofa and floor-to-ceiling glass looks out to the pool, and a large games room with a billiard table and table tennis will keep teenagers busy for hours.

The ten bedrooms range from bold and colourful to calm and classic, with five king rooms, three queen rooms and two twin rooms among them, so couples, children and friends can all be housed comfortably. Every bedroom has air conditioning and its own bathroom, several open onto balconies or the garden, and one has a freestanding bathtub. Housekeeping looks after the villa, there is a fully equipped kitchen and a barbecue, and a chef can be arranged for any meal. Chalong Pier, its seafood restaurants and the boats to the southern islands are only a few minutes away.