Koh Samui resorts and villas for a luxurious serenity by the sea

For Conrad Koh Samui Resort and Spa, picture high-end villas on a hill above Koh Samui’s southwestern coast. Take to your sundeck overlooking the Gulf of Thailand to catch some of the best sunsets on the island, or cool off in your private infinity plunge pool.

The hotel’s Turtle Kids Club has a full programme of activities so you can drop off your troop for the day. With your time freed up, attend a cooking class in Jahn’s kitchen and perfect a spicy curry paste. You can enjoy your creations at a candlelit dining experience, or swing for fresh sea bass by the pool at Azure Bar and Grill.

High on a hill above Mae Nam Beach, Four Seasons Resort looks across palm treetops to the sea. In your stand-alone villa, drink creamy sweet tea on the private terrace with panoramas of the Gulf of Thailand just beyond your plunge pool. It’s a romantic escape for two, or you can bring the brood and set up in the three-bedroom Residence with a dining pavilion and two pools.

If you want to eat out, head to oceanfront grill Pla Pla to tuck into blue crab salad or Australian short ribs slow-cooked for 72 hours. Alternatively, visit the Koh Thai Kitchen to sample local cuisine like grilled red snapper marinated in curry paste.

The Anantara Lawana Resort and Spa‘s design is a swanky throwback to early Sino-Thai settlements. In your room or pool villa, admire Chinese-influenced vintage items like hurricane lamps and hand-painted fabrics. You can choose between direct access to the communal pool, or your own plunge pool complete with sundeck and a suspended swing.

If you can tear yourself away from your luxury digs, there’s a tempting day spa where you can indulge in a coconut and mint scrub or a Thai herbal compress massage. Stroll over to the infinity pool and nestle into a soft, canopied daybed overlooking the ocean.

On the absolute beachfront, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort and Spa is a luxe collection of shingled buildings dotted around a central infinity pool. After a morning of stand-up paddleboarding or jet skiing, drop onto one of the sunloungers lining the golden sands. Baan Ling Noi Children’s Club keeps kids entertained with stone painting, balloon art and Thai origami. Meanwhile, you can take part in Muay Thai classes or a cooking session that includes a trip to the local market.

Contemporary rooms and suites combine traditional Thai design with modern comforts. Pad barefoot onto your balcony overlooking the hotel’s gardens or the sea. For something more opulent, you can book a one-bedroom villa with your own plunge pool and courtyard.

Sala Samui Resort and Spa is a five-star resort on Choengmon beach in northwest Koh Samui. Sink into your oversized soaking tub to start your stay, or book into a villa for an open-air rain shower. Walled away for total privacy, you can stretch out on an outdoor daybed or plunge into your personal pool.

You can explore Choengmon by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, then soothe your muscles with a traditional Thai massage at the poolside sala. In the evening, take a romantic stroll along the beach or watch a movie under the stars.

Hotel ShaSa Resort and Residences is an exclusive hideaway for the whole family. Perched over Laem Set Beach, the resort combines manicured gardens and sparkling ocean vistas with contemporary digs. Settle in on a shaded cabana on the lawn, a beanbag on a wooden deck or a sunlounger by the pool.

Little guests will find the latest video games, a library and the largest collection of LEGO bricks on the island in their own dedicated club. That leaves you free to take to the water in a kayak or pamper yourself at the spa. The poolside bar is the perfect spot for sundowners, where you can watch the kids play in the sand while you sip a refreshing cocktail. At Siamese brasserie Beyond the Sea, you can sample local coconut milk curries and freshly caught seafood.

Surrounded by seven acres of tropical plantations, Bo Phut Resort and Spa is a hop-skip from bustling Fisherman’s Village in the heart of Bophut. This tucked-away haven has a palm-lined pool with an adjoining children’s area for smaller swimmers. Recline on a turquoise sunlounger to soak up ocean views, or head to the shore to take part in windsurfing and kayaking.

The onsite gym will keep your fitness routine on track, or you can try out a Muay Thai, yoga or aqua aerobics class. For something more chilled, soak in a honey milk bath or detoxify with a ginger caramel scrub at Bo Phut Spa.

Nikki Beach Resort is a triple threat of music, entertainment and dining. You’ll learn first-hand that this stylish resort on Lipa Noi beach prides itself on showing guests a good time.

As the sun sets, watch the pool area transform into the Nikki Beach Club with resident DJ sets. Grab a mojito and hit the dance floor, then head back to your room for a restful night’s sleep. The next day, your recovery cure is a trip to the seaside massage pagoda for an aromatherapy treatment set to the soundtrack of the ocean.

Make sure to catch the signature Sunday Brunch at Café Nikki, a vast buffet of hot and cold favourites both local and international. Top it all off with a dessert boat loaded with coconut honey cheesecake, ice cream and fresh fruit.