The dry season
November to April: dry, sunny and the most comfortable months; the roads and the schools' traffic are busiest, and the beaches nearby are calm.
Sai Yuan
Area · Rawai
Rawai's residential heart between Wiset Road and the hills: villa estates off Saiyuan Road, schools, gyms and play parks, minutes from Nai Harn and Rawai Beach.
Sai Yuan in photographs
- Quiet
- Residential lanes, villa estates
- Children
- Schools, play parks, a clinic
- Access
- Nai Harn and Rawai Beach 5–10 min
- Facilities
- A cash-and-carry and health food
- Food
- Cafés along Saiyuan Road
About Sai Yuan
Sai Yuan is the inland, residential middle of Rawai, at the southern end of Phuket. Our area runs from Wiset Road, the main road south from Chalong, west along Saiyuan Road and its side lanes towards the wooded hills behind Kata Noi. Nai Harn's beach and lake and Rawai's waterfront are each a few minutes' drive away.
The name is the council's village Moo 7, Ban Sai Yuan, which split from Ban Nai Harn in about 1991. The council's history says the place was a forest of sai trees where yuan bees made their nests, and the village took its name from both.
Today it is one of the island's main neighbourhoods for long-stay foreigners and their families. Villa estates, small housing projects and low-rise condos line the lanes off Saiyuan Road, with gyms, Muay Thai camps, cafés, a coworking space and clinics among them, and several international and bilingual schools stand on its edge.
There is no beach and no sight to speak of: people come to live here, or for a children's rope park, an activity café and a cash-and-carry on Wiset Road. A car or scooter comes with most homes.
What is good about Sai Yuan
A place to live
The lanes off Saiyuan Road are quiet and well kept, lined with villa estates, small housing projects and low-rise condos rather than hotels and bars.
Schools on the doorstep
Lighthouse International School's Rawai campus and its Salika campus, the French school Jean de la Fontaine and HeadStart's Rawai campus are all within a few minutes.
Play for children
Ko Fun, a netted rope park for ages 4 to 12, is on Soi Saiyuan, and Youtopia Adventure Club, with a pump track, trampolines and a zip line, is a short drive away.
Beaches nearby
Nai Harn's beach and lake and Rawai's waterfront are each about 5 to 10 minutes by car; the airport is about 45 minutes or more.
Everyday shopping
Makro Rawai, a cash-and-carry on Wiset Road, keeps long hours (06:00 to 23:00 on the day checked); Organic Lover sells organic and vegan groceries Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 18:00.
A walk-in clinic
Bangkok Phuket Clinic, run by Bangkok Hospital Phuket, sees everyday problems daily from 08:00 to 20:00 on the area's edge.
Things to do at Sai Yuan
Sai Yuan. Sai Yuan. Sai Yuan.
Family
Ko Fun kids' rope park
An outdoor park of net tunnels, rope bridges and a low obstacle loop for children aged 4 to 12, all wrapped in netting, so no harness is needed; open 09:00 to 22:00.
Family
Youtopia Adventure Club
A café with a pump track for surfskates, trampolines, a zip line and board games; 350 THB for three hours of everything, daily 07:00 to 20:00.
Sport
Train at a gym or camp
Gyms, Muay Thai camps and yoga studios are spread around Rawai and Nai Harn; larger gyms charge about 4,500 to 8,000 THB a month, drop-in classes 200 to 300 THB.
Shopping
Makro Rawai
A cash-and-carry on Wiset Road for food, drinks and household goods in bulk.
Shopping
Organic Lover
Organic produce, vegan groceries and supplements, Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 18:00.
Nature
A walk round Nai Harn Lake
The lake behind Nai Harn beach, about 1.5 km west, has a loop path popular with walkers and runners morning and evening.
Culture
Wat Sawang Arom
A quiet neighbourhood temple founded in 1942, about 1 km south-west of the area; free.
Food and drink
Seafood at Rawai
The seafood market by Rawai Pier, about 1 km away, 11:00 to 21:00: buy fish and shellfish by the kilo on the stalls and have it cooked at a restaurant across the road.
A day at Sai Yuan
A loop of Nai Harn Lake before the heat. Nai Harn Lake
Drop the children at one of the schools nearby, then a class at a gym or Muay Thai camp.
Stock up at Makro on Wiset Road or at Organic Lover. Makro Rawai
The rope park on Soi Saiyuan, or the pump track and trampolines at Youtopia. Ko Fun Kids Rope Park
Seafood from the market on Rawai's waterfront, a few minutes' drive away. Rawai Seafood Market
Places in Sai Yuan
Our picks
Ko Fun Kids Rope Park
Adventure park · Sai YuanAn outdoor rope and net park in Rawai for children aged 4 to 12, on Soi Saiyuan a few minutes inland from Rawai Beach.
Youtopia Adventure Social Club & Playground
Activity centreA café for children and adults with outdoor activities, in Rawai.
Makro Rawai
Wholesale store · Sai YuanA Makro store in Rawai, in the south of the island; Google Maps files it as a supermarket.
Organic Lover
GrocerA health-food shop with branches in Chalong and Rawai.
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Rawai
ClinicA walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Rawai.
Lighthouse at Rawai International School (secondary campus)
Lighthouse's secondary campus in Rawai, for grades 6 to 12.
Lighthouse at Phuket International School (Salika campus)
The primary campus of Lighthouse on Soi Salika in Rawai, for children from kindergarten to grade 6.- No photograph yet
École française Jean de La Fontaine (French bilingual section at Lighthouse)
A small French bilingual learning centre on the Lighthouse campus in Soi Salika, Rawai, from maternelle to collège. 
Nai Harn Lake
Park · Nai Harn BeachNong Han, the lake at Nai Harn in the south of the island.
Wat Sawang Arom
Buddhist temple · Rawai BeachA Mahanikaya temple in Rawai founded in 1942 by Phra Bunrod Thammakamo, on about 9,600 square metres.
Rawai Seafood Market
Seafood market · Rawai BeachA strip of about a hundred metres along Wiset Road beside Rawai Pier: seafood stalls on one side, restaurants that cook what you buy on the other.
Restaurants
Gagarin Chaihana
Restaurant · Sai YuanA Central Asian restaurant (a chaihana) in Rawai, with parking next to it.
Groov Gastrobar
Restaurant · Sai YuanAn evening gastrobar a little off the main road in Rawai: a large, modern room with art on the walls and careful lighting, signature cocktails, a terrace where pets are welcome, and its own parking.
NIBE Authentic Italian Aroma
Restaurant · Sai YuanAn Italian restaurant on Wiset Road in Rawai, opened in December 2023 by a young Italian couple, Nicolò and Beatrice.- No photograph yet
Pinzeria
Restaurant · Sai YuanA family Italian restaurant in Rawai with an Italian chef, a spacious room and sunset views; parking.
Cafés
Elysium Café & Bathhouse
Café · Sai YuanAn all-day breakfast café and co-working room on the Kata–Sai Yuan road, a few minutes north of Rawai; the bathhouse is still a plan.
KenKen Coffee
Café · Sai YuanA small, homely coffee house in Rawai.- No photograph yet
Liberica Coffee
Café · Sai YuanA modern coffee house in Rawai. 
Wilson's Cafe
Café · Sai YuanAn Australian café on Soi Saiyuan in Rawai, serving breakfast all day and a short Thai menu from 3 pm.
Muay Thai
- No photograph yet
Cookie Muay Thai Gym
Muay Thai camp · Sai YuanA Muay Thai gym in Rawai mixing traditional technique with modern methods. - No photograph yet
Kru Bird Muay Thai
Muay Thai camp · Sai YuanA Muay Thai and Muay Boran gym in Rawai run by its coach, a certified trainer with over a hundred fights. 
Kru Oh Muay Thai
Muay Thai camp · Sai YuanA traditional Muay Thai gym in Rawai with students from many countries.- No photograph yet
Sinbi Muay Thai
Muay Thai camp · Sai YuanA Muay Thai camp in Rawai founded by a champion boxer: a large open-air training area with three full-size rings and an equipped gym.
Gyms
- No photograph yet
Born to Roll
Martial arts club · Sai YuanA Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Rawai. - No photograph yet
Phuket Action Point Fitness Retreat
Gym · Sai YuanA fitness centre near Nai Harn Beach, on Soi Saiyuan 10, running fitness, weight-loss and wellness retreats with yoga, Muay Thai and personal training. 
The Cult Fitness Society Rawai
Gym · Sai YuanA fitness club in Rawai with a gym and group functional classes.
Yoga
InDepth Yoga Academy
Yoga studio · Sai YuanA family-run international yoga school in Rawai, accredited by Yoga Alliance, with classes, meditation and teacher training.
Padel and tennis
- No photograph yet
Shark Bites – Pool Bar and Pickleball
Pickleball courts · Sai YuanA pickleball centre in Rawai with a swimming pool and a bar.
Water sports
- No photograph yet
Aum Scuba
Dive centre · Sai YuanA dive centre in the Saiyuan area behind Rawai Beach that teaches both SSI and PADI, with its own multi-level training pool. 
Thailand Divers
Dive centre · Sai YuanA PADI dive shop on Soi Saiyuan in Rawai, with more than 18 years of courses and day trips; the boats leave from Chalong Bay.
- The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Buddhist temple
Park
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Café
Café
Café
Wholesale store
Grocer
Seafood market
Adventure park
Activity centre
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Martial arts club
Yoga studio
Pickleball courts
Dive centre
Dive centre
Homes in Sai Yuan
Villa estates with private pools, small housing projects and low-rise condos along the lanes off Saiyuan Road, many let long term to families. A guide of May 2026 put a 3 to 4-bedroom pool villa in Rawai at 40,000 to 70,000 THB a month; a 2025 guide put a 3-bedroom inland pool villa at 90,000 to 120,000 THB.
2 homes for rent in Sai YuanSai Yuan through the year
The monsoon months
May to October: frequent showers and storms; some lanes flood briefly after heavy rain, and the west-coast beaches nearby get rough. Rents for long stays are easier to negotiate.
Sai Yuan with children
One of the island's most family-minded neighbourhoods: villa estates with gardens and pools, several international and bilingual schools within minutes, a netted rope park and an activity café for children, and a walk-in clinic. There is no beach on foot; Nai Harn is the family beach, a short drive away.
- Lighthouse International School has campuses in Rawai and Salika, and the French school Jean de la Fontaine is close by.
- HeadStart has a campus on Sai Yuan Road.
- Ko Fun's rope park suits children aged 4 to 12.
- Youtopia Adventure Club costs 350 THB for three hours.
- Bangkok Phuket Clinic is open daily, 08:00 to 20:00.
- Nai Harn's beach and lake are about 5 to 10 minutes away by car.
Getting to Sai Yuan and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 45–75 min
- From Phuket Town
- 20–35 min
Sai Yuan lies off Wiset Road in Rawai, about 45 minutes or more from the airport and 20 to 35 minutes from Phuket Town. The Smart Bus from the airport ends near Rawai Pier, 1 to 3 km away; most residents drive or ride.
- By car. From Chalong's circle take Wiset Road south towards Rawai, then turn west into Saiyuan Road or one of the sois.
- By scooter. The usual way around: the lanes are narrow and the beaches and shops a few minutes apart.
- The Smart Bus. Smart Bus route 1 (airport, Patong, Rawai) costs 100 THB and leaves the airport hourly from 08:15 to 23:30; it ends near Rawai Pier, 1 to 3 km from the area.
- Grab and taxis. Taxis and ride apps reach every estate; drivers may need the estate's name or a map pin.
Parking. Homes and estates have their own parking; shops and gyms on Saiyuan Road have small car parks or roadside spaces.
Who will love Sai Yuan, and who will not
Will love it
- Long-stay residents who want a villa and a neighbourhood rather than a resort.
- Families with school-age children: several schools and play parks within minutes.
- Remote workers: a coworking space, cafés and gyms close together.
- Retirees who like a settled expat community and the south's quieter pace.
Will not
- First-time visitors: there are no sights or beach to walk to.
- Night owls: evenings are quiet; Patong is about 40 minutes away.
- Travellers without a scooter or car: buses do not reach the lanes.
Tips for Sai Yuan
Get a scooter or car
Homes are spread over a wide area, buses do not run through the lanes and the beaches are a drive away.
Visit a home after rain
Low-lying lanes can flood briefly in a storm; see a house in the wet season before signing a long lease.
Ask for the estate's name
Many homes sit in named estates off Saiyuan Road; drivers find them faster with the name or a map pin.
Compare rents carefully
Guides of 2025 and 2026 give very different rents for the same kind of home; see several before choosing.
Check school runs at rush hour
Wiset Road and Saiyuan Road are busy around school times; time the drive before choosing a home.
Book the rope park in the cool
Ko Fun is outdoors; late afternoon and evening, up to 22:00, are cooler for children.
Questions about Sai Yuan
Where is Sai Yuan?
In Rawai, at the southern end of Phuket: the residential area west of Wiset Road along Saiyuan Road, between Rawai's waterfront and Nai Harn. It is the council's village Moo 7, Ban Sai Yuan.
Is Sai Yuan good for families?
Yes. It has villa estates with gardens, Lighthouse International School's campuses and the French school Jean de la Fontaine close by, HeadStart's Rawai campus on Sai Yuan Road, a rope park for children and a walk-in clinic.
Is there a beach in Sai Yuan?
No. Nai Harn's beach and Rawai's waterfront are each about 5 to 10 minutes away by car.
How much does a villa cost to rent in Sai Yuan?
Sources disagree widely: a guide of May 2026 puts a 3 to 4-bedroom pool villa in Rawai at 40,000 to 70,000 THB a month, a 2025 guide puts a 3-bedroom inland pool villa at 90,000 to 120,000 THB. Utilities add about 8,000 to 12,000 THB a month.
Is there coworking in Sai Yuan?
Yes: a guide of 2025 names Project Phuket, a coworking space on Saiyuan Road, and there are many cafés along the road.
How far is Sai Yuan from the airport?
About 45 minutes or more by car, among the longest drives on the island; Phuket Town is 20 to 35 minutes.
Where do people shop in Sai Yuan?
Makro Rawai, a cash-and-carry on Wiset Road, opens early and late; Organic Lover sells organic and vegan groceries, and Rawai's seafood market is about 1 km away.