Koh Samui is in a gorgeous enclave in the Gulf of Thailand. Fondly known as coconut island, the year-round, perfectly formed tropical island is ideal for sun-seeking travelers. It’s got all the right ingredients for a family holiday with almost daily sunshine, azure skies, and the gentle lapping of warm water on the white sandy shores. The island is the second largest after Phuket. It offers a lazy-days atmosphere perfect for a ‘toes-in-the-sand’ holiday. The Little Steps team has chatted with parents visiting and living in Koh Samui to round up the ultimate guide of villas suitable for families.

More?  Click here for this mega guide on things to do with kids in Koh Samui!

Thailand is world-renowned as the land of smiles and its exotic appeal, attention to detail, and exemplary service offerings. You can choose from little own-service beach huts on the south coast, fully staffed villas in the mountains with open-plan living and areas for poolside entertaining,  or urban-inspired luxury with every mod con and full butler service. Koh Samui presents a beautifully curated collection of luxury villas for families, large and small. Numerous villas on the powder-soft sandy shores give access to clear emerald waters under gravity-defying coconut trees that provide shade from the sun. Samui has everything for a much-needed break with your family.

Koh Samui is synonymous with tropical luxury and is easy to navigate; it takes just an hour to circumnavigate the freshly-laid beach ring road. There isn’t much public transport other than costly taxis and the charabanc-style songthaews converted pick-up trucks with wooden benches that can fit up to 10 people. The island is packed with a wide variety of delicious restaurants, from street-side Thai to freshly imported oysters in a wine bar or lavish lobster in a luxury hotel. There is something for every tastebud and pocket. The Ang Thong National Marine Park is a protected archipelago of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand with towering limestone karsts, waterfall-filled jungles, and white-sandy beaches with hidden coves to explore.

Private yachts and rickety longtail boats are always on hand for watery quests. You can explore tiny islands, watch pink dolphins play, swim with pigs, or laze in remote boat-only bays. There are plenty of Instagrammable moments with pretty swings, random dinosaurs, secret gardens, and ethical elephant sanctuaries. If you have an adventurous nature, there’s ziplining, hiking, 4X4 island tours, diving, waterfall climbing, paintballing, or trying your hand at the art of eight limbs, Muay Thai.