Villa Raku

Villa Raku is an architect-designed five-bedroom home perched on a hilltop above Bang Po, on Koh Samui’s north-west coast, with a panorama that runs from the islands of Ang Thong Marine Park across the sea towards Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. It is crisp and contemporary, all clean lines, warm timber, stone and floor-to-ceiling glass, and it has been laid out so that nearly every room opens onto the pool and the view. Sunsets here are the highlight of the day.

Outside, a sixteen-metre L-shaped infinity pool wraps around a sunken lounge that seems to float above the water, with loungers along the deck and a manicured lawn running towards the sea. A wide, semi-shaded terrace with deep sofas makes the perfect late-afternoon perch. Inside, the open-plan living room sits under a high, sloping ceiling with an eight-seat brass dining table and a sleek modern kitchen alongside, and there is a small gym with a foosball table for anyone keeping active.

Four of the five bedrooms are suites in their own right, with sea or garden views and generous bathrooms. The master suite is the standout, with a king bed, a writing desk and a bathroom where an entire glass wall frames the sea from a walk-in double shower. Children get their own room with two sets of bunk beds and bean bags. A team of three, including a private chef, looks after the house, breakfast is included, and Bang Po beach is a short walk or a two-minute drive downhill.