Villa Thansamaay

Villa Thansamaay sits right on the sand at Bang Kao, on the quiet southern coast of Koh Samui, where coconut groves run down to calm, clear water and a scatter of small islands floats on the horizon. A wide lawn stretches from the house to the shoreline, kayaks wait on the beach, and the only sounds are the breeze in the palms and the soft lap of the Gulf of Thailand. It feels a world away from the busier east coast, yet Lamai is an easy drive when you want a change of pace.

The architecture is crisp and modern: white walls, flat roofs and great sheets of glass that slide back so the living spaces open straight onto the terraces. A long turquoise pool runs between the wings of the house, lined with loungers and looking out to sea, and a covered terrace beside it holds an outdoor lounge and a long teak dining table for lazy lunches in the shade. Indoors there are two separate living rooms, one a comfortable TV room for films on a rainy afternoon, plus a sleek dining room and a bright white kitchen with an island and views over the garden.

Seven calm, generous bedrooms are spread between the two-storey main house and the garden wings, six with king beds and one with twin beds for children, and every one has its own bathroom. Upstairs, a terrace with a table and chairs overlooks the lawn and the sea, a lovely spot for the first coffee of the day. A small, devoted team including a private chef looks after the house, and the beachfront seafood spots of Bang Kao and the golden Laem Sor chedi by the sea are just along the shore.