Akuvara

Linked by beautifully kept tropical gardens are two well-appointed garden-view guest bedrooms, a self-contained upper-floor guest suite and a large master bedroom just a couple of steps from the pool, the sala and the beach. At the other end of the pool is an outdoor dining deck, and inside is a choice of three lounge areas, a modern kitchen and an indoor dining pavilion.

Although not as large or grand as other luxury private villas on Samui, Akuvara, with its modern glass architecture, is ideal for gatherings of friends and families of all ages.

Akuvara is Sanskrit for ‘The Sea’, a simple but entirely apt name for a villa that lounges right next to the Gulf of Siam, a huge bay that is, for much of the year, as flat as glass and as blue as a lover’s smiling eyes. Between the large pool and the sea is Lipa Noi Beach, white and almost deserted. Stretch. Relax. Breathe. This is your home for now.

This Samui villa has been designed with self-indulgent indolence in mind. Just take a look at the spacious sala right next to the pool and beach, equipped with two large loungers that invite a snooze, a quiet chat, a good book or simply an invitation to gaze at the sparkling cobalt sea.

If lazing on the beach under the sultry tropical sun gets a little too warm, the pool and the sea compete for your attention.

As the sun slides down towards the horizon, dropping behind the silhouettes of the Five Islands, the nightly spectacle begins, with the blazing reds, purples, pinks and greens of the tropical sunset that reluctantly but inevitably give way to the deep violet of the night as billions of stars come out, seemingly just for you.

It's an event that’s worth celebrating - every night - with a glass or two, perhaps, before Akuvara's Chef presents your dinner. A feast not just for the taste buds but for all the senses.

You don’t have to be indolent for your entire stay at Akuvara, though you can be - just waft a hand in the air and the staff, who seem to know what you want before you do, will take care of every whim. But if energy levels start to build up, jump into the villa’s kayak for a paddle out to sea, or take on the others at a game of beach football or volleyball.

You arrive at Akuvara through the main gate, and into a courtyard with a two-car garage. From there, sandstone-flagged paths lead through the garden and past the rooms to the social centre of the villa, the long blue pool and the sun-drenched pool deck - large enough for alfresco dining.

The master bedroom is to the left of the pool, the sala in front of it, and the lounge and dining room pavilions at the other side. Beyond all this, just a couple of steps, is the beach.

The indoor social focus of Akuvara is the lounge, with its glass doors opening out onto the pool deck. Here, a large L-shaped sofa and armchairs arranged around a teak coffee table demand relaxation. A big TV screen connected to satellite and cable, a sound system, an iPod/iPhone dock and a media streamer with capacious hard drive provide entertainment.

Behind the lounge is a smaller sitting room with two large armchairs, a chess board and another big TV with DVD player. Perhaps a place to send the kids off to - or to escape from them.

In between these two rooms is a small but well equipped kitchen, with a hatchway through to the main lounge. It is fitted with a large fridge, an oven, a microwave and an electric hob. Probably better to let the Chef do the work, though.

A unique feature of Akuvara is the relaxation room above the lounge. Under the sloping eaves, this room, too, has glass doors overlooking the sea and two very comfortable day beds.

Just in case the weather misbehaves, a dining pavilion with an eight-seater table awaits just behind the kitchen.

Whether you enjoy swimming in the warm tropical sea, as comforting as a lover's embrace; or cooling off in the fresh water of a pool, at Akuvara you can have it both ways. The pool is just a couple of steps away from the beach.

Next to the pool, at the end of the large deck, is the sumptuous sala. You may have to get up a little early to claim one of the two uber-comfortable day beds set up in the shade here. But if not, a lounger alongside the pool makes a good sun-drenched alternative.

The gardens that weave between the buildings at Akuvara offer hidden groves where a shady seat can be set up to enjoy quiet and privacy.

For more energetic types, there's a kayak for exploring the waters around the villa, and Akuvara also has the equipment to set up games of beach football or beach volleyball. Or there's the option of a quiet jog along the beach, which is almost deserted most of the time.