Villa Orchid

Villa Orchid Samui is a crisp, white contemporary villa set high above Plai Laem, where the land drops away to a sweep of turquoise water, a curve of sand and the green headlands of Samui’s north-east coast. Everything here is designed around that outlook: walls of glass, pale stone and white floors keep the rooms light and cool, and the sea seems to fill every doorway. It is a calm, easy villa for a small family or a group of friends, close to Big Buddha, Choeng Mon and Fisherman’s Village.

The infinity pool is the star. Nine metres long, it runs along the front of the terrace with sunloungers on the deck and underwater stools where you can sit with a cold drink and watch the light change over the bay. Evenings are something special, as the sky turns pink and orange behind the islands. There is a barbecue for dinners outside, an outdoor shower, and upstairs a sea-view balcony with a small café-style table that makes the perfect spot for early coffee.

Inside, the open-plan living and dining area has a long dining table, comfortable sofas facing a TV and sliding doors straight onto the pool terrace, with a modern kitchen alongside and a second, quieter lounge on the lower level. All three bedrooms are upstairs, each with a king bed, air conditioning and its own bathroom. Two open onto sea-view balconies, and the master bathroom has a jacuzzi tub framed by a big window. Housekeeping visits every three days, and a chef can be arranged for lunch or dinner.