The breath-taking coastal views and verdant tropical surroundings at Baan Rak Talay 2 clearly inspired the property's design: the open-plan living and dining area is a marvel of modern residential architecture, combining open space with glass in a two-storey pavilion topped with a striking roof made from Canadian cedar and Burmese teak. Being so high up means you feel completely removed from the bustle of Samui and the sense of peace more than compensates for any lack of beachside atmosphere. Three adjacent guest bedrooms on the middle floor will satisfy the shared needs of most families or groups, without sacrificing privacy, especially with the bonus of a spacious communal terrace and lawn out front to spill onto. By contrast, the master suite by the pool deck is essentially a private villa in itself. The interior feels like a lovers' retreat, with a centrally placed king-size bed and awe inspiring views not only from your pillow, but also from the generous ensuite double bath tub (black out curtains and electronic blinds provide instant privacy when needed).

The pool personifies the concept of infinity. A huge stone urn at the edge provides a sense of perspective, but floating in its blue-tiled immensity, you can imagine yourself literally pouring into the seascape beyond (incidentally, this is not a villa for vertigo sufferers). The addition of a separate outdoor dining pavilion and pool bar means daytimes and evenings easily become mutually exclusive pleasures: the sunshine hours spent lazing by the water, drinking and dining alfresco, night time spent lounging upstairs in air conditioned comfort with the twinkling lights of Bo Phut in the distance.

With a maid, private chef (breakfast is included but other provisioning on guests' account) and keen villa manager constantly on call to deal with everything from buying batteries to booking personal spa treatments, this is the ultimate place to absorb the natural tropical atmosphere in absolute pampered comfort. Baan Rak Talay 2 is a clever blend of inspirations. Varied spaces, sensitive service and a dramatic location allow you to choose between back-to-nature peace and privacy, or fully serviced, technologically enhanced extravagance – in equal measure.

Baan Rak Talay 2 sits within a luxury development of six villas (including sister villa Baan Rak Talay 1), set high in the hills behind Bo Phut Fisherman's Village. You reach the villa via a side road that leads up a steep hillside surrounded by tropical forest and coconut palms. The other high-end properties close by are all walled and gated, and the fact that it is entirely residential and a fair distance from the island's main road means the location remains quiet and undisturbed apart from occasional construction noise (there is an empty piece of land to the left of Baan Rak Talay 2 that was being cleared in late Aug 09). There are no shops or restaurants nearby, but with a car provisioning is easy as the island's two main supermarkets are just a short drive away, as are the restaurants and bars of Bo Phut.  Read More/Google Map

An ornate gateway at Baan Rak Talay 2 ushers you over a peaceful water feature into the vast living area overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The villa is built over three levels, but the bulk of the accommodation is contained in the large, two-storey pavilion at its heart. The upper level houses the open-plan living, dining and kitchen space and guest bathroom. A square, wooden dining table comfortably seats eight and a marble kitchen island has tall chairs for informal breakfasts. The kitchen comes fully equipped with a dishwasher, wine fridge and all other appliances and amenities expected in a villa of this quality. A glass-fronted balcony runs the entire length of this level providing uninterrupted views. The living area is decorated in a neutral palette, with a soft, L-shaped sofa and low, marble coffee table. A state-of-the-art surround-sound and home theatre system awaits movie buffs, while music can be piped through to all areas of the villa from a central remote panel.

Downstairs, the three guest bedrooms sit in a row, each one identical except for the bed configuration (the middle bedroom has twin beds; the outer two king-size). The bedrooms all have TVs and DVD players, a safe, bar fridge, built-in wardrobes and ensuite bathroom with rain shower. They overlook a small lawn with a free-standing hammock taking pride of place. Staff quarters, a small utility room and an office are also located on this level. An outdoor staircase leads to the pool area and the master bedroom suite. The latter is in a separate pavilion and boasts a spacious bathroom with a molded sandstone bathtub overlooking the 12m pool and view beyond. The bedroom opens on two sides to the pool deck with floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Windows near the ceiling flood the area with even more natural light, but privacy is guaranteed with electronic blinds. At the other end of the pool deck a spacious sala is furnished with a square, wooden dining table as well as a sofa and bar area overlooking the pool. Along the length of the pool deck deep red sun loungers, canvas umbrellas and two circular day beds offer hours of relaxation.