The eight villas of the exclusive Miskawaan Estate offer enviable luxury alongside tranquil Mae Nam beach on Samui’s north coast. Five-bedroomed Villa Champak enjoys no less than 25m of sand-swept shore, with the warm, eminently swimmable waters of the Thai Gulf just a few steps from its fan-cooled sala. Views stretch across to the island of Koh Phangan and boats sail by offering an ever-changing ocean vista. But this breezy outlook doesn’t compromise guest privacy: neighbouring villas are discreetly screened by walls and tropical foliage, and a slightly raised garden means that the beach and ocean can be seen from the villa, but not vice versa.
Villa Champak’s five bedrooms all slide open onto the garden or the large blue-tiled pool lying at the heart of the property, and the master suite has the added bonus of sea views straight from the pillow. There’s ample space to drift between rooms, garden, pool and beach during the day and gather for meals in the dining sala – ocean on one side, swimming pool on the other – in the evening. A circular table in the open-plan living pavilion makes an alternative air-conditioned dining venue; meals served from the adjacent, fully fitted western kitchen.
The helpful villa manager is always on call and visits every morning to discuss meal arrangements (breakfast is included and other meals are charged according to grocery costs, plus 30% service). The varied in-villa menu includes a good choice of Thai and western dishes, so eating out is by no means a necessity – although several restaurants are within walking distance along the beach. Being part of the fully managed Miskawaan Estate, Champak enjoys regular attention from the security and maintenance teams, and an English-speaking estate manager is available to give holiday advice, make recommendations for excursions or help with practical requests.
Mae Nam beach lines one of the island's largest bays and is much quieter than the beaches on Samui's more developed east coast. This makes Villa Champak a particularly appealing option for those who prefer to disappear into their own private world.
Villa Champak is part of the exclusive, eight-villa Miskawaan Estate. The other villas on this beachfront estate are four-bedroomed villas Hibiscus Acacia and Bougainvillea, and five-bedroomed Waterlily, Frangipani, and Gardenia and Lotus . All the villas’ gardens open onto a quiet section of Mae Nam beach, with Hutcha and Hammock resorts a few hundred metres to the left, and local eateries only a short stroll along the sands. This part of the beach is never crowded, although the occasional tourist may wander by. The villas at Miskawaan sit side by side, but are hidden from one another by walls and tropical foliage so you feel pleasantly cosseted, while still benefiting from a range of 24-hour on-site services. The village of Mae Nam offers a selection of local shops, restaurants, bars and modest tourist services such as foot massage, water sports and a pharmacy, while more cosmopolitan Chaweng is a 15-minute drive away.
A private road backs the Miskawaan Estate's eight beachfront properties, each of which boasts its own parking area.
Elegant five-bedroomed Villa Champak combines classical architecture and furnishings with modern facilities. Three pavilions cocoon the pool and courtyard, offering a sense of privacy. To the villa's rear are a large family bedroom (a king bed and twin beds) and two twin rooms, while the pavilion to the pool's right houses a king-bedded guest room with outdoor bathroom as well as the master suite (also with king bed). All five bedrooms feature fixed headboards incorporating Thai artwork, have tasteful furnishings which include a writing desk and plenty of built-in storage, and have polished wood floors. However, only the master bedroom has a TV. The ensuite bathrooms are fitted with glassed-in rain showers, while the beachfront master bedroom and one king room also have bathtubs. Low-noise air conditioning and blackout curtains guarantee peaceful sleep for every guest and bright, tropical artwork adds a splash of colour to the rooms.
In the pavilion opposite the master suite, a cook’s dream kitchen leads into the airy, open-plan dining and living room. Cool tiled floors and comfortable furnishings are complemented by wooden cabinets and a round ten-seater dining table, ideal for social gatherings. Burnt-orange sofas and a large coffee table sit in front of a flat-screen TV/DVD with surround-sound system. The living and dining space slides open onto the pool on one side and to the open-sided, fan-cooled dining sala, which has pool and beach views. Here, below a vaulted wood ceiling, another table seats eight guests. A built-in bar occupies one corner and a barbecue is conveniently situated just outside. The pavilions are surrounded by a landscaped garden and are connected by tiled, covered walkways.
The garden at Champak is lined with hedges for privacy and the turquoise pool is bordered by lawn and tropical gardens A sala lies between the pool and the beach, furnished with comfortable rattan couches, each poised to absorb the stunning sea views; while sun loungers on the grass overlooking the ocean provide the perfect place to top up a tan.
BEDROOM 1 - MASTER
King
5m x 6m
BEDROOM 2
King
4.5m x 6m
BEDROOM 3 - FAMILY
King+Twin
6m x 7m
BEDROOM 4
Twin
4.5m x 5.5m
BEDROOM 5
Twin
4.5m x 5.5m
