Karma Sawet is an intimate hilltop estate of just thirteen free-standing villas, set in the wooded hills behind Maenam on Koh Samui’s north coast. Every villa faces north across the Gulf of Thailand toward Koh Phangan, ten kilometres offshore, and each has its own private balcony to take the view from. The swimming pool shares that same uninterrupted outlook. Villas come in four layouts, Hotel Unit, Studio Double, One Bedroom for Two and Two Bedroom for Four, all with air conditioning, a minibar and fridge, kettle, hot shower and hairdryer.

The name is worth knowing. Sawet is the elevated Thai word for white, reserved for royal and sacred contexts and most associated with the white elephants of the Thai monarchy. The north coast has grown into one of the island’s more sought-after stretches, yet Karma Sawet stays deliberately small. There is no restaurant on the estate; instead Karma Two Palms Beach serves a full menu nearby, and Maenam’s four kilometres of flat, calm sand and the restaurants at Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village are a short drive away. Samui International Airport is about fifteen minutes out.