Koh Samui is Thailand’s exhibition of beautiful secluded beach resorts and boutique hotels, with more creativity and fine design per meter of sand than any other place in Thailand. There is a new trend among creative architects and designers to seek out hidden shores, like rocky coasts, remote beaches and deeply forested corners, in which to craft their new creations.
The very essence of a holiday on Samui is embraced by the first caress of the sun’s rays in the morning and the sound of waves breaking on the shoreline. Samui’s specialty is sunrises. Most of the island’s resorts face eastward and with them being right on the coast, there is nothing to interrupt the view. The sight of the sun rising over the Gulf of Thailand brings another perfect day in paradise.
Underneath you find our Top 10 selection of first-class beach resorts and boutique hotels on the island, for sure one of them will fit your taste.
1. Sareeraya Villas & Suites (*****)
From pool villas to outdoor jacuzzi suites, Sareeraya wholly embraces Koh Samui’s culture of zen luxury – the infinity pool overlooks the vast stretch of ocean right in front of the hotel, the décor is a harmonious meeting of wood, silky fabrics and openness, while the resort’s location on the northern end of Chaweng Beach guarantees a relaxing time with easy access to all the local amenities, restaurants and nightlife. Sareeraya offers 49 rooms in exceptional style that come in suites with either ocean views or an outdoor jacuzzi, or in villas with private plunge pools.
2. Four Seasons Resort (*****)
This super luxury beachfront hotel is so thoroughly hidden from view on Samui’s far northwest coast, that some visitors even realize it is there. A hill cuts off and hides the amazing little bay and beach around which this Four Seasons Resort is built. Heavily forested hills push up steeply from the private beach, which is one of the prettiest on the island. An extensive area behind the beach is shaded by the thick groves of coconut. Many of the rooms (villas) have their own small swimming or plunge pools, and extend from just by the beach to high on the hillsides, catering to preferences for either beachside or panoramic views. The room interiors are beautifully designed, and carry many luxuries for a bountiful, tropical holiday.
3. Banyan Tree Samui (*****)
A tropical sanctuary awaits. Come into a universe where water meets sky and cascading terraces are fringed with hill coves and an unparalleled view of the Gulf of Thailand. Surrounded by waters that invite, Banyan Tree Samui is infused with a timeless air of delicious mystery. Overlooking the scenic Lamai Bay this Samui luxury resort, featuring elevated structures designed to reflect traditional Thai architecture, is nestled in a series of cascading terraces on a private hill cove in the southeastern coast of Koh Samui. Retreat and relax for hours in the Rainforest Spa that grants a holistic and innovative wellness experience designed to heal and soothe.
4. SALA Samui Resort and Spa (*****)
On the soft pristine sands of Choeng Mon beach, this idyllic retreat boasts a comfortable and relaxing ambiance, created by a harmonious blend of traditional Thai architecture with modern facilities and amenities. Stylish rooms and villas feature sweeping Thai roofs and cool, crisp white decor, surrounded by scented gardens, many of them with private pools. Ideally suited for a romantic getaway, the ultimate rejuvenation can be found in the exclusive spa, the perfect place to relax, unwind and escape from the outside world.
5. Samui Six Senses (*****)
The pleasant surprises that greet visitors to Six Senses Samui are, perhaps, the idyllic location and blend-into-the-environment design. Virtually impossible to see from the outside, Six Senses occupies an entire headland jutting from the island’s northeast coast. The shore is rocky, though on one side the resort enjoys a direct frontage onto the beach in pretty, peaceful Samrong Bay. Of the 56 rooms (villas), all luxuries and facilities that can be expected of a super luxurious, 5-star resort are in place.
Yet the most memorable part of the Six Senses Koh Samui experience may come from “Dining on the Rocks”. The remarkable series of elevated decks protrudes, at different angles, out over the shore at the headland’s extremity. Built entirely in wood and bamboo, this atmospheric restaurant presents one of the grandest views found on the island.
6. Outrigger Koh Samui
Chic luxury boutique resort, Outrigger Koh Samui, formerly Akaryn Samui, is an inspirational discovery. Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort is the kind of resort where living is easy and “intuitive luxury” is practiced perfectly. Nestled among lush tropical gardens, guests arrive to discover private, luxury stand-alone suites and villas, embellished with private pools, shaded by tropical trees and foliage and fronted by a private crescent bay. Or indulge themselves in the Navasana Spa, and pick fresh herbs for a culinary lesson. Paradise seems to become attainable.
7. Belmond Napasai (*****)
Welcome to Belmond Napasai, a secluded resort in seventeen acres of lush tropical vegetation, on the island’s fashionable north coast. Nestling on gentle slopes leading down to the unspoiled white sand of Baan Tai beach, it offers a selection of beautiful Thai-style cottages, set into the cliffside, as well as stunning two and three bedroom villas that sit within 17 acres of tropical gardens, rich with cashew and coconut trees, hibiscus and bougainvillea.
Tempting aromas of fresh local cuisine drift through the air, and staff greet every request with a warm smile. Life is as quiet or as lively as you desire. Spend all day beside the infinity pool or in the relaxing Napasai Spa. Alternatively plunge into the vibrant island scene with our wide range of action-packed resort activities.
8. Vana Belle Resort (*****)
Offering stunning views of sunrise and crystal clear water yet surrounded by lush green plantation, Vana Belle Resort is located in a sheltered cove near the famous white sands of Chaweng Beach. “Beautiful forest” is the concept of the resort’s orientation and design and is also the meaning of the resort name. Vana Belle is luxuriously designed with a verdant landscape of lush greenery that creates the peaceful and refined ambiance to the resort.
The resort features 80 splendid appointed Pool Suites and Pool Villas which offer expansive outdoor spaces including the tropical gardens or the cerulean waters views. The resort’s location is the most charming and attractive places for diving and snorkeling to explore the wonderful sea world.
9. W Retreat outstanding design, beautiful hill & beach location
Located between Maenam and Bo Phut, the W Retreat has the finest and most pristine location that puts the resort on top of a quaint, stand-alone hill that provides grand panoramas. Just in front of W Retreat, a unique sand spit juts out into the ocean where the currents from Bophut and Maenam beaches clash, creating a superb setting for swimming.
Photo by W Worldwide
The 74 private pool retreats offer the indulgence and luxury you could possibly “wonderlust” for, with custom-designed furniture, private patios, breathtaking views, spa-ready bathrooms and more. Loose yourself in a whirlwind swirl of high energy interiors, vivid design, cutting-edge technology and uniquely modern amenities to fulfill every wish.
10. Conrad Koh Samui Resort & Spa (*****)
Conrad Koh Samui offers a selection of truly unique luxury villas, situated on the stunning Phang Ka Peninsula.
Experience complete luxury at the stylish, west facing Conrad Koh Samui, set just a few steps from an idyllic white-sand beach and the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand and featuring stunning sunset views. Comprising of 80 private villas, each featuring their own infinity pool overlooking the pristine Aow Thai beach and sprawling across 25 acres of dramatic hillside, this incredible resort in Thailand boasts unobstructed ocean views and a range of sumptuous amenities and modern conveniences guaranteed to please the most discerning traveler.