This Villa has long held the crown as Koh Samui’s most enchanting private villa. Sitting proudly on a lush mountainside overlooking the island’s landmark Golden Buddha statue, this 4-bedroom tropical, teakwood residence catches constant, cooling sea breezes and boasts sweeping views over the island’s stunning north coast beaches. One of only a handful of traditional Thai style villas on Koh Samui, the elegant, timeless design blends Asian authenticity with modern comforts in a truly exceptional tropical retreat. The beautiful landscaped grounds feature a freeform, infinity swimming pool and a shaded garden lily pond overlooked by a traditional wooden reading ‘sala’: the ultimate peaceful escape. Comfortably accommodating up to 8 people, the villa is available for short and medium term rental, whenever the owners are not in residence.
Overview
The villa’s finely appointed rooms sit in a wide, two-storey building surrounded by mature trees and carp-filled lily ponds. The spacious central living and dining space opens onto a generous, covered ocean view terrace with wide doors that fold open front and back to catch the tropical breezes. Wood paneled walls and polished floors lend an air of heritage elegance, while carefully placed cushioned wooden furniture offers an appealing choice of spaces to relax and enjoy the breathtaking views. The upper level accommodation features three attractively furnished bedrooms that sit to the left and right of the lounge; two doubles and one twin, all with en-suite bathrooms. There’s also a study and guests’ kitchen on this floor and stairs lead down to the fourth double guest bedroom and main kitchen, which is fronted by a covered verandah that opens onto the stone pool terrace and ocean view lawn. The freeform, infinity-edged swimming pool flows towards the dramatic sea views with comfortable loungers poised for relaxed sun worship and all weather umbrellas to open for shaded repose. The garden is bordered with tropical plants, their colours and scents adding to the natural charm of the setting. The name of the villa means “Buddha view”, an apt reflection of the villa’s uninterrupted vistas, which take in the famous Big Buddha statue. The serene, authentic feel comes from the fact that the property was lovingly constructed around a traditional Thai wooden house imported from Ayutthaya, the ancient Thai capital. Mature and re-conditioned teak throughout creates a warm and homely, yet luxurious place to escape the stresses of the modern world.
Entrance
From the moment you drive through the carved wooden gate you know you are entering a special place. A paved driveway curves towards the impressive main building, boarded by lush manicured gardens. Tassana pra is set on nearly 5000 square metres of land and is home to many fruit trees, exotic plants and water features. A Thai sala sits serenely by a lily pond, surrounded by tropical vegetation, the water features serving the practical purpose of collecting rainwater, as well as offering visual delight. An imposing teak covered walkway, crossing a lily pond brings you to the carved wooden entrance, the doors decorated with Thai dancers and flanked by shuttered windows. Even before you enter the house and drink in the views, you feel a total sense of privacy, solitude and peace with no sign of neighbours or hints of the bustle elsewhere on the island.
Living and Dining Area
Designed to capture the breeze, the open plan living and dining area opens out onto a huge terrace. Floor to ceiling folding doors and shuttered windows open up the entire room, ensuring that the area is kept constantly cool, whichever way the breeze is blowing. The spacious living area boasts a high vaulted ceiling, supported by 10 antique teak wooden pillars and beautifully maintained teak wood floors. Large comfortable armchairs and sofas are positioned to enjoy the views, listen to music or watch satellite TV on the modern entertainment system with 50 TV channels to choose from. Carefully chosen Thai and Asian artworks bring colour and vitality to the room and to the right, a large wooden dining table comfortably seats 8 people looking out across the bay. A fully equipped, modern service kitchen to prepare snacks or drinks leads off from the living and dining area. The generous terrace that fronts the living and dining area is designed to maximize the 180 degree views of the bay. On either side of the terrace, double day beds with cushions are ideal for reading in the shade and enjoying the vista or watching the children play in the pool. A wooden table in the centre can also be used for outdoor dining, playing games or working al fresco, connected to the complimentary wireless internet.
Master Bedrooms
On the same level as the lounge, set to the left and overlooking the garden and views, the first master bedroom is beautifully decorated with Thai and Asian antiques which perfectly complement the dark wood interiors. As you enter, you pass through a generous dressing room with fitted wardrobes and an antique writing desk with a stool placed before a large window for inspiration while working or writing postcards. A floor to ceiling mirror reflects the light from the window giving a bright, airy feeling. A grand, 4 poster bed gives the room an almost royal ambience, especially if you take the time to enjoy the carved wooden decor and appreciate the Burmese and Thai antiquities that surround you. There is a small terrace with chairs overlooking the immaculate, colourful gardens. The perfect place to retreat for some private reflection. The second master bedroom, with its king sized bed, looks out to the back of the house and down to the lily pond. A spacious room with all amenities, tastefully decorated with local and regional artifacts and also boasting a private balcony with tropical garden views. Both the upper double bedrooms are air-conditioned, but ceiling fans allow for natural air flow, especially with the doors and windows left open during the day, which keeps the rooms cool and fresh. The en-suite bathrooms attached to each master bedroom offer a mixture of marble, slate and natural stone, each with a large tub (the first, with a Jacuzzi), separate rain shower cubicle and twin sinks. The perfumed lemon grass toiletries make it hard to leave the shower and the mosquito netted ceiling above lets light flood in, so tropical plants can thrive inside.
Guest Bedrooms
Turning right at the entrance to the villa brings you to the twin bedroom and its en-suite bathroom. Similarly ornate and comfortable, this room adds an ideal option for families with children or friends sharing. The fourth bedroom is down some wooden stairs and boasts views across the pool. More modern decor and a comfortable king sized bed, plus an en-suite shower room make this a comfortable guest room. Both bedrooms are air-conditioned and tucked away from the communal areas, guaranteeing privacy, peace and restful sleep.
Pool terrace and gardens
The villa’s freeform ocean view swimming pool fills most of the front garden and is bordered by a tiled sun terrace with loungers for tanning and repose. The views right from the water are nothing short of breathtaking, the entire area framed by flowering plants and a pleasant lawn. To the left of the main house the garden extends across a second, wide lawn with a swing placed below the trees for shaded reading and contemplation. Stone steps lead down into a beautifully landscaped gully, where a Thai sala sits by the lily pond, providing an almost literary retreat, surrounded by nature’s gifts. Location The villa sits high on a cliffside overlooking Big Buddha Beach and the village of Bang Rak – one of the island’s quieter stretches of sand, but also the main departure point for boats to Samui’s sister islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. The villa is reached via a steep, winding road that climbs from another small village, Plai Laem. Just 10 minutes drive from Samui’s International airport, the location couldn’t be more convenient. Yet despite the villa’s proximity to a range of resorts, restaurants, bars, shops and transport options, the hillside location means you feel pleasantly removed from the melee. To the west of Big Buddha beach, around 4 km from the villa, Bophut Fisherman’s Village is one of the island’s most appealing beachside villages where original wooden shop houses line a small lane, many of them converted into pleasant restaurants serving cuisine from around the globe. Heading north-east from the villa takes you to Choeng Mon, a popular beach lined with upscale resorts and quaint dining options, while a few kilometres further on are the bright lights and bustle of Chaweng, the island’s busiest tourist centre. It’s this combination of heritage beauty, luxury, peace and easy access to Samui’s best tourist amenities that makes this villa one of the most desirable residences on the island.
Activities
Easy access to the airport, plus ferry piers to neighbouring islands make Big Buddha beach a popular spot for those wishing to explore Samui’s offshore islands. Bang Rak village has its own appeal with hotels, bungalows, restaurants and bars catering to both short and long-stay visitors. A 3 km stretch of road sees local village life blending with tourist amenities. The temple at Wat Phra Yai is home to the 12 m Big Buddha statue, Samui’s most famous landmark and a must visit. At the base of the temple, shops and restaurants cater to the needs of devotees and tourists alike. The piers at Bang Rak are a popular starting point for speedboat trips to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Ang Thong National Marine Park, with diving and snorkelling companies offering trips to a range of excellent underwater sites in the Thai Gulf. Other nearby locations offer a diverse choice of activities to suit a range of tastes and interests. The village behind the villa, Plai Laem, boasts an impressive modern temple complex with huge Buddha statues and friezes on the temple walls. Beyond that, Choeng Mon and Chaweng both offer water sports options from the beach, including sailing and jet-ski rentals, while for shopping, Chaweng is undoubtedly Samui’s top location. The 5 km beach strip has everything from street stalls selling souvenirs to upscale boutiques and an international supermarket, which stocks quality imported food and drink. Land based tours and adventures include nature trips to waterfalls and viewpoints, plus monkey and crocodile shows for the children, as well as elephant and canopy rides in the jungle and ATV safaris. There are also two top quality golf courses on the island. Khun Oy, the Villa Manager will happily provide details and book tours and trips for guests at the villa.
Facilities
Two fully air-conditioned Master Bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom.
Two fully air-conditioned Guest Bedrooms (one twin, one double) with en suite bathrooms.
Spacious open-plan Living/ Dining Pavilion with large covered terrace.
Exterior decks and balconies, pool terrace, and Thai sala for relaxation.
Fully equipped Kitchen.
Freeform Swimming Pool.
A car is based at the villa, and is available for rent by the villa’s guests, either as self-drive or with a driver. (An INTERNATIONAL Drivers Licence from country of origin, or an ASEAN member country’s licence, is required by Thai law).
Safety Deposit Boxes.
WI-FI broadband Internet.
A baby-cot or a child’s bed can be provided on request.
Services
The villa’s staff are at the guests’ service throughout their stay.
Bed linen is changed every third day, while towels are changed as necessary.
Pool towels are provided and replenished as required.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner can be provided and prepared according to guests’ wishes, and the provisions for these will be obtained on guests’ account. The villa also stocks some good wines.
Complimentary airport transfers – one in each direction (maximum 7 persons).
Concierge service for all tours and activities; private tours or car rental can also be arranged.
Baby-sitting on site.
In-villa spa treatment with extended menu.
Drop-off to or pick-up from the beach provided.
Entertainment
Stereo music system for CDs
iPod dock
Satellite TV
DVD player
Music and DVD library
Plentiful supply of books
Staff
Khun Oy and Khun Wally have been resident managers at the villa for 7 years and their pride in the house and its gardens is obvious. They are trusted friends of the owners and live onsite in separate quarters. Khun Oy prepares delicious Thai and western meals in a specially designed service area downstairs. Wally is something of Barista and makes fabulous coffee. The couple are a mine of local information and treat all their guests like family, attending to every need and request with gentle courtesy and a constant willingness to please. Additional staff maintain the property inside and out and ensure the rooms are kept clean and tidy during guests’ stay, as well as providing security for the premises. The resident cat, Tassana, wanders freely through his domain, but the staff will keep him out of the way on guests’ request.
Koh Samui Private Villa
TLS100, Plai Laem Beach, North Coast, Koh Samui
Taken from http://asianluxuryvillas.com/villa_details.php?pid=517
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