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Top choices for your next villa vacation in Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is Thailand’s quintessential embodiment of a laid-back tropical holiday. This peaceful island offers the experiences that to us seem so familiar, and yet at the moment, somewhat strangely dream-like: bare-foot fantasies on sun-warmed white sands, being serenaded by the ocean waves, all the while admiring the endlessness of the sea and sky. Though there are certain areas where young folks groove and woofers vibrate, Samui is much beloved for its prevailing quiet, island-village charm. This alluring sense of tranquility makes it an ideal setting for many private villas. Having relatively less land development along its coasts means an abundance of beachfront properties. Its diverse topography also creates spectacular villa settings on elevated seafront locations gazing out into the Thailand Gulf. Let’s step inside some of the most luxurious, most unique, and most beloved villas in this less-explored Thai vacation haven: Villa Anavaya The first on our list is considered one of the most coveted in all of Koh Samui: the awe-inspiring Villa Anavaya. Resting on the highest point in the area for several kilometers in all directions, it literally looks down on the entire landscape including the entire North East coast of the island. To many, the view is simply irresistible. The 6-bedroom property comes with an L-shaped infinity pool complete with an in-pool whirlpool and a poolside bar. There is also a private gym, a custom-designed cinema, and a breathtaking rooftop deck with a 360-degree view. Villa Akatsuki Far from the more popular beach areas of the island is a stretch of white sand less visited by tourists, yet considered by many as the most beautiful in Samui. The peaceful Lipa Noi beach hosts no bars or clubs, but is home to several luxury villas including the resplendent Villa Akatsuki. This property is filled with the delightful luxuries of modern living featuring facilities such as a gym, a basketball court, kayaks, a ping pong table, and a cascading infinity pool with a kids pool. And yet, it portrays the gracefulness and artistry of a lavish Japanese home – from its bespoke services to the very details of its architecture. Even its very name comes from the Japanese word, “dawn”, foretelling the beauty of how the sun blankets the property every morning together with the rest of Lipa Noi and the entire East side of Samui. Villa Sangkachai Built on a coastal hillside, Villa Sangkachai extends as a spacious terrace structure with its edges forming a fabulous L-shaped infinity pool. Upon entering the property, there is an apparent atmosphere of serenity and stillness. The soothing sound of flowing water plays. Decors are finely balanced with intricate stone figurines and clean minimalist surfaces. A verdant courtyard spreads at the center, where a lone Plumeria generously blossoms in fragrance, giving occupants the feeling of being casted into a secret garden. But enter the lower level and the villa changes its personality quite radically and with much excitement. A red-carpeted hallway with vintage movie posters hanging from the walls will lead you to a fancy gentleman’s-club-style entertainment area complete with casino-grade billiard table and a state-of-the-art cinema. Villa Hin Koh Samui, as well as many parts of Thailand, possess fascinating natural landforms – its coasts are dotted with colossal rocks shaped with uneven terrains covered by tropical woodlands. Our next villa truly embraces this particular character of the island. Villa Hin is a one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece. Founded on a massive rock formation, the property was carefully designed to coexist with its natural environment without changing the landscape itself. The result is a 5-bedroom home that features a towering boulder right by an infinity pool, open courtyards, and a garden rooftop adorned by charming greenery and impressive water features. Villa Praana Moving inland from the coast and into the Samui’s woodland hills, our next villa finds itself on a different side of the island. Villa Praana is one opulent retreat covering 4,500 square meters and surrounded by mountainous tropical forest. Yet with its hilltop location, the villa also affords picturesque views of the distant Bophut beach area. Remote as it may seem, the villa is unquestionably one of the grandest in this Koh Samui. Within its palatial dwellings is a multitude of facilities that include 2 infinity pools, a whirlpool, a gym, a private night club, a sauna and spa, a kid’s playroom, a cinema, a Thai boxing ring, and a tennis court. Villa Malabar The southern end side of Samui is one of the least frequented areas by tourists, making it a favored choice for those in search of tranquil seclusion. Villa Malabar, right along Laem Sor beach, presents a high-end villa accommodation right within this peaceful refuge. Smart, modern, elegant – the property is a fine example of contemporary luxury with a tasteful rustic touch. Open and enclosed spaces are harmoniously orchestrated, allowing occupants to bask in the vibrant outdoors and at the same enjoy the comforts of the villa’s interior. Preexisting boulders and palm trees lay scattered, blending with manicured gardens, clean white payments, and wooden deckings. The facilities are equally impressive with a fitness room, TV rooms, an infinity pool, and a poolside sunken sala with a barbecue grill. And filling the silence, the waters of the gulf washes up rhythmically on the shore, just a stone’s throw away. Silvan Kitma is General Manager of The Private World. The Private World is a villa rentals company offering some the most top-rated luxury vacation home rentals in the world’s top tourist destinations. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Silvan Kitma

Silvan Kitma is General Manager of The Private World, a luxury villa rentals company offering an elite collection of holiday homes in Asia’s top tourist destinations. From tropical retreats in Thailand’s Phuket and Koh Samui as well as Bali in Indonesia to lavish holiday chalets in Niseko Japan, these properties offer complete exclusivity and unconventional opulence for travelers. Their offerings include private chefs and top-notch facilities such as gyms, cinemas, spas, and spectacular infinity pools overlooking the beauty of the local region. Though working as a manager, Silvan is also a writer by practice, a musician at heart, a comedian on impulse, and a father of four.

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11 Comments

  1. The thing is that these villas are only the tip of the iceberg. I visited The Private World website and there are plenty more beautiful properties to choose from. Sometimes you can have too much choice!

    1. Ooo I hadn’t heard of that site. I’ll take a look. This would be my dilemma too when they all look incredible – how do you choose?? :D

  2. I haven’t seen white sandy beaches and blue seas like that since February. I haven’t gone this long without a holiday since I retired. Usually go somewhere like this three or four times a year. Can’t wait for travel to get back to something near normal.

  3. I love the architecture and design of these villas. They are all about letting light and cooling breezes in. A lot of them seem to go for a clean white minimalist look. Then when they use those local dark woods and rich textured fabrics it makes for a really decadent contrast. Love to stay in one – or more – of these beautiful places.

  4. My travelling friends tell me that Koh Samui is THE place to go in Thailand. Dream combo if it’s with one of these villas.

  5. My friend goes to Thailand twice a year because her partner used to live there and still has family there, and I think the goal is after they get married that they’ll probably relocate there on a permanent basis. I don’t blame them, it always sounds spectacular. I don’t know which I’d choose here but I’m pretty tempted by the Villa Anavaya for being smaller, so less crowded with people, but with so many extras like the gorgeous pool, poolside bar (love those!), an amazing view, that cinema. I wouldn’t want to leave somewhere like that. They all look perfect so I don’t know how I’d choose. I’d love to take a trip to Thailand one day, maybe take a visit with my friend and her partner. They’re actually considering getting married over there too and I kind of hope they do because I’ll be bridesmaid, so I’ll have to go there for that ;) When you’re fed up with the cold weather over here, the look of this warmth and sunshine is so appealing, and the views are so refreshing, a far cry from the blocks of houses and shops that I see day in, day out.

  6. The pictures of Villa Anavaya are gorgeous, but they are MORE in real life. Every room in this villa is lovely and you’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite. But my favorite, and I think the star of the show, is the living area that’s next to the infinity pool. The view from there is spectacular. Words are not enough. We went there in January and the weather was perfect. We were a large group of adults and kids and we fit in the large dining area by the pool. We booked a yoga instructor and also had meals made by the resident chef, we are lazy that way. The manager was very polite and helpful and was always very pleasant even if we made a lot of requests during our stay.

  7. I have always wanted to have a vacation in Thailand, specifically in Krabi. I feel that it is the best choice for soul searching and some me time. After reading this, I am now considering staying at Villa Akatsuki instead. I love how peaceful it looks and I can feel serenity just by looking at the pictures. I would definitely enjoy the zen feels at Villa Akatsuki. Hopefully, it would be safe to travel by next year, so I can finally take a long break from all this stress.

  8. Wow! I didn’t know this part of Thailand, I’ve only known for the famous places such as Bangkok and all the other places with the different stunning temples. I mean, the culture of Thailand is amazing and visiting the cities would really take you to another place. Although to be completely honest, when I visited Thailand, I was just looking forward to the night life and to experience their culture, eating street food, and visiting the temples as I’ve mentioned. I remembered that some of the residents there that we’ve talked to said something about the islands and how we should visit it, I guess we were just getting sober that time that we didn’t even remember to try and visit it. If opportunity comes, I would really love to visit the country again and I would list Koh Samui at the top of my itinerary.

  9. Happy to see Villa Sangkachai listed here. My colegue and I visited Koh Samui 2 years ago as part of a business trip, and this is where we stayed at. I absolutely love this place. The photos here does not show it but it also has a fancy wide screen cinema room right beside the club lounge. And the view of the coast was just incredible.

    1. Yes! I remember perfectly, it was the Thailand trip in April. There is a porch on the lower floor that had a glass ceiling showing the pool above. I thought that was cool too. Plus the beach is like 3 minutes walk away.

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