The heavy wooden double-doors part as we set foot in the villa for the first time. Taking in the expansive interiors, we look past the floating pathway of the minimal water feature, across the sunken living area and the L-shaped infinity pool, and on to the majestic jungle foliage. Samui’s golden Buddha, set in Wat Phra Yai Temple, glistens in the distance amid the wild landscape, before the greenery touches down in the turquoise waters. We’ve arrived in a little slice of paradise that will be our temporary home for a week – but for the villa owners, this is their prized reprieve whenever they need to get away from it all.

It’s easy to grasp why it’s fashionable for city dwellers to invest in second homes found in sunny locales such as Samui, particularly when this tropical refuge is a mere three-hour direct flight from Hong Kong. While Samujana’s initial investors share a common British expat heritage, and reside in Hong Kong and Singapore, new investors from the region are entering the pool of lucky owners that call one of the 30 spacious villas home.

The exclusive development is currently in its second phase, unveiling eight smart, sleek residences for those with deep enough pockets. For the rest, the villas are available on a short- and long-term rental basis, and come with all the perks of a five-star resort.

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