Samujana villa estate may well be the most luxurious bolthole on Koh Samui. It can be seen cascading along the curve of a mountainside in the north of the Thai island of Koh Samui.
There are 27 contemporary luxury properties, with white-washed stone walls, clean lines, fully equipped kitchens with as much butler service as you would wish for. There’s also spacious roof top terraces with infinity pools and dining areas, sunbeds, pretty gardens and dreamy views over the Gulf of Thailand. In the distance you can even see the 12-metre high Golden Buddha without having to squint.
Its location so high up the hillside, it is reassuringly secure with guards, and divinely quiet save for birds song and chirrups.
Who for
There are various sizes of villas which would suit extended families who may be celebrating something special, groups of friends and perhaps couples looking for romance.
Accommodation
Spacious bedrooms with muted colours and floor to ceiling windows
The villas vary in size. Some are three-bedroom family holiday homes and others have up to eight bedrooms but all have sleek, chic, contemporary designs, all with oversized bathrooms, superb views over the coral cove and sea, balconies and air conditioning.
Modern Thai-style furniture, clean lines, wall to ceiling windows and muted tones let in lashings of daylight into this appealing luxury bolthole.
Facilities
On the roof there is a vast terrace with gardens and an amazing salt water L-shaped infinity pool. Comfy sunbeds mean you can spend whole days mooching or sunbathing poolside.
Wish you were here?@SamujanaVillas #KohSamui pic.twitter.com/o8nGS9UnIB
— The Travel Magazine (@TravelMagazine) June 19, 2016
There is a gym of course and table tennis, but to get extra fit, arrange a Thai boxing class or yoga on the terrace. And when aching muscles need respite, enjoy a rather robust massage lasting around 90 minutes.
Seafarers can try out the sea legs on board the Samujana yacht – Kindred Spirit – for a day out on the Andaman Sea. You get to enjoy the archipelago that hems the water and the shenanigans of curious dolphins.
Villas come with a cinema with Hollywood blockbusters
There are no TVs in the rooms, but there is a TV room and a sensational cinema with long sofas to stretch out onto with 1000s of films on offer – many of the Hollywood greats.
Food and Drink
Though self-catering is an option, you don’t need to be that organised. Instead go for the “Samujana experience” which comprises the attentions of a dedicated chef (a lovely lady called Joy) and staff who prepared Thai or international style breakfasts, lunch, dinner, and even cocktails.
Dining on the terrace in the evening can be sublime. A sumptuous gourmet Thai dinner with beer under the dark night sky offers a surreal experience.
What’s nearby
The estate is pretty remote which is great for privacy but it means you can’t pop into town on a whim. You need wheels. The management team can order cabs to take you to the Fisherman’s Village to sip cocktails by a romantically lit beach and shop at the ridiculously cheap clothes and jewellery market.
A #beach in #kohsamui last night proper comfy sunbeds by candlelight & pink sky 15 mins drive from @SamujanaVillas pic.twitter.com/Sgi7OVUHSd
— The Travel Magazine (@TravelMagazine) June 20, 2016
There are plenty of restaurants in town including the Barracuda restaurant with an extensive Thai menu including several vegetarian and fish dishes (loved the sesame-crusted yellow fin tuna, roasted pineapple, Thai asparagus and wasabi).
Wi Fi
Yes, its free
Value for money
At this level of luxury it’s almost not worth asking the question
Rates
From $920 (£630) per villa per night for a 3-bedroom villa.