Found on a lush hillside near the top of Surin Heights private estate, Villa Sammasan is a short walk away from Surin Beach. This gorgeous 800-metre stretch of white sand has, since early 2016, been designated a ‘royal' park with no commercial activity permitted aside from some local food vendor stalls in a corner of the car park. Those in search of culinary or retail delights could instead explore the streets of the village, lined with a mix of modest local shops, cafes, upscale boutiques and resorts, including Oriental Spoon at Twinpalms with its sought-after Champagne Sunday brunch.
More choices and a range of leisure activities including golf and surf shops are a 10-minute drive north in the Bang Tao Beach area, home to the Banyan Tree Spa, Boat Avenue shopping centre and Laguna Golf Club. The family-friendly Kamala Beach is about the same distance away to the south. Within walking distance towards Kamala is Laem Singh Beach, a hidden-away cove of soft sand found at the bottom of the headland down a footpath. Though it's no longer a ‘secret beach', Laem Singh's clear waters and postcard-perfect tropical setting make it still worth a visit. See more details