The dry season
November to April: the calmest sea of the year, Nai Harn and Ya Nui at their best, and boats to the islands almost every day. December to March is the busiest stretch, with the most visitors and traffic on the road from Chalong.
Rawai
District
The subdistrict at the south end of the island: Nai Harn, Ya Nui and Rawai's fishing waterfront, nine offshore islands, and Phuket's longest-settled expat community.
Rawai in photographs
Rawai. Rawai. Rawai.
- Food
- Seafood cooked by the pier
- Views
- Sunsets from Promthep Cape
- Water sports
- Boats to Coral and Racha islands
- Walking
- A 2.1 km loop round Nai Harn lake
- Quiet
- A low-rise, lived-in coastal town
About Rawai
Rawai is the southernmost subdistrict of Phuket, in Mueang district, about 11 km from the district office in Phuket Town. Its land on the island covers about 23 square kilometres between Chalong to the north and Karon to the west; nine islands offshore, among them Ko Lon, Ko He and the two Racha islands, add about 15 more.
The coast road, Wiset Road, runs along the shore to Rawai's waterfront, then climbs over Promthep Cape and turns north past Ya Nui and Nai Harn towards Kata. Rawai Beach itself is a working harbour of longtail boats and seafood restaurants; the swimming beaches are Nai Harn and Ya Nui, about 2 km away.
The subdistrict has seven villages, from Ban Nai Harn and Ban Sai Yuan to Ban Ko Lon on its island. Rawai village was settled in the late 19th century, and a community of Chao Le, the Urak Lawoi sea people, still lives near the pier.
Over the decades Rawai has become the island's most established home for long-stay foreigners: many have lived here ten or twenty years. It feels like a lived-in coastal town rather than a resort strip, with gyms, Muay Thai camps, cafés, clinics and schools spread along Sai Yuan Road and the roads around Nai Harn lake.
What is good about Rawai
Choose your fish, then dinner
At the seafood market on the waterfront you pick fish, prawns or crab by weight and a restaurant across the road cooks them for a set charge per kilo. Salaloy and Mook Manee nearby are listed by the Michelin Guide.
Three lookouts
Promthep Cape is the island's classic sunset point; the Windmill viewpoint above Ya Nui and the Black Rock viewpoint above Nai Harn are quieter.
The gateway to the southern islands
Longtails and speedboats leave Rawai's pier for Coral Island, about 15 minutes by speedboat or 20 to 30 by longtail, and for Ko Bon and the Racha islands.
A lake to walk around
A paved 2.1 km path circles Nai Harn lake, behind the beach: a favourite for early runs, walks and birdwatching.
Two swimming beaches close by
Nai Harn, a wide bay with the lake just behind it, and the small cove of Ya Nui are both about 2 km from Rawai's waterfront.
Schools on the doorstep
Several international schools stand inside the subdistrict, and HeadStart has a campus on Sai Yuan Road, 5 to 10 minutes from most homes.
Things to do at Rawai
Rawai. Rawai. Rawai.
Food and drink
Dinner from the seafood market
Buy fish, prawns or crab by the kilo at the waterfront stalls, then have a restaurant across the road cook them for a set charge per kilo; ask the price first.
Boat trips · dry season
To Coral Island and beyond
From Rawai's pier, speedboats reach Coral Island in about 15 minutes and longtails in 20 to 30; Ko Bon and the Racha islands are further out.
Nature
Sunset at Promthep Cape
The southern tip of Phuket, where the sun sets behind a scatter of islands. Free and open at all hours; it fills with tour buses around sunset.
Nature
The Windmill viewpoint
A hilltop by a giant wind turbine between Nai Harn and Promthep, looking down on Ya Nui and the islet of Ko Man: a quieter place for the sunset.
Sport · dry season
Walk up to Black Rock
A hiking path from the Nai Harn lake area climbs to the Black Rock viewpoint; go early, before the heat.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Kayak and snorkel at Ya Nui
Kayaks and snorkels are hired on the sand at Ya Nui, a small cove facing Ko Man.
Culture
Wat Nai Harn
A temple near Nai Harn Beach whose present building, in traditional Thai style, dates from 2017. Entry is free.
Culture
Wat Sawang Arom
A neighbourhood temple in Rawai founded in 1942, with a large seated Buddha and no crowds.
Sport
Train like a resident
Gyms and Muay Thai camps line the roads around Rawai; drop-in classes cost about 200 to 300 THB and gym months 4,500 to 8,000 THB (2025).
Shopping
Sunday markets
On Sundays there are markets in the Nai Harn beach car park and in Rawai, with local produce and cooked Thai food.
Nature
Run or walk round the lake
The paved loop round Nai Harn lake is 2.1 km, flat and shaded in parts; busiest at dawn and dusk.
A day at Rawai
Walk or run the 2.1 km path round Nai Harn lake before the heat. Nai Harn Lake
From November to April Nai Harn's bay is usually calm enough for a long swim; Ya Nui is the smaller alternative.
Take a longtail or speedboat from Rawai's pier for a half day at Coral Island. Rawai Pier
Paddle out towards the islet of Ko Man and snorkel along the rocks. Ya Nui kayak and snorkel rental
Promthep Cape for the classic view, or the Windmill viewpoint for a quieter one. Windmill Viewpoint
Pick dinner at the seafood market and eat it cooked across the road, at low tables by the water. Rawai Seafood Market
Places in Rawai
Our picks
Promthep Cape
Viewpoint · Rawai BeachThe southern tip of Phuket island, a headland that is the island's most popular place to watch the sunset.
Windmill Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Ya Nui BeachA hilltop lookout beside a large wind turbine between Nai Harn and Ya Nui, looking down on Ya Nui Beach and the islet Koh Man.
Black Rock Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Ao Sane BeachA lookout in the south of Phuket just before Nai Harn Beach, at the end of a dirt road off the coast road.
Wat Nai Harn
Buddhist temple · Nai Harn BeachA temple by Nai Harn in Rawai whose new building, in traditional Thai style, was completed in 2017 on the site of a modest older temple.
Wat Sawang Arom
Buddhist temple · Rawai BeachA Mahanikaya temple in Rawai founded in 1942 by Phra Bunrod Thammakamo, on about 9,600 square metres.
Nai Harn Lake
Park · Nai Harn BeachNong Han, the lake at Nai Harn in the south of the island.
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.
Rawai Pier
Pier · Rawai BeachA long concrete pier at Phuket's southern tip, where longtail boats leave for the southern islands and dive boats tie up.- No photograph yet
Ya Nui kayak and snorkel rental
Ya Nui BeachVendors on Ya Nui Beach renting snorkel gear (100 THB), kayaks (about 100 THB an hour, for two adults or one adult and two children) and stand-up paddleboards (300 THB an hour). 
Salaloy Seafood Restaurant
Seafood restaurant · Rawai BeachA large, busy local seafood restaurant on the seafront at Rawai; the staff carry the trays across the road from the kitchen.
Mook Manee
Seafood restaurant · Rawai BeachA large beachfront seafood restaurant on Wiset Road in Rawai, beside the seafood market, listed in the MICHELIN Guide.
Nikita's Beach Restaurant
Restaurant · Rawai BeachA seafront restaurant at the southern end of Rawai Beach, under old shade trees.
Rock Salt
Restaurant · Nai Harn BeachThe waterfront restaurant of The Nai Harn hotel, across the road from it, above Nai Harn Beach.
Royros Restaurant
Restaurant · Ya Nui BeachAn open-air Thai restaurant at Ya Nui Beach, beside the road down to Promthep Cape.
Ya Nui Restaurant
Restaurant · Ya Nui BeachA local Thai restaurant across the road from Ya Nui Beach, in the shade of tall trees.
Summore Day Cafe
Café · Ya Nui BeachA hillside café, restaurant and bar on the road up to Promthep Cape, with terraced gardens above the Andaman Sea and Ko Man in the middle of the view.
Reflections Rooftop Bar
Rooftop bar · Nai Harn BeachThe rooftop bar of The Nai Harn resort, with views over Nai Harn Bay and Windmill Hill.
ISP Phuket — Innovative Sustainable Pathway International School
A small British-curriculum school in Rawai for Years 1 to 9, built on a five-rai green campus.
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.
Rawai Park Language School
Rawai BeachA small learning centre in Rawai that calls itself a language school and runs a full-year programme in English along Cambridge lines, with Singapore maths and Russian lessons for Russian-speaking children.- 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.
Restaurants
Baan Rimlay
Seafood restaurant · Rawai BeachA local Thai seafood kitchen at Rawai whose dining room is built out over the water, with the islands off Rawai in front.
Bon Island Restaurant
Restaurant · Rawai BeachA beach restaurant on Ko Bon, a small island just south of Rawai reached by long-tail boat, on the island's second beach (the first was the landing of the closed Evason resort): thatched roofs and wooden salas by a small white-sand beach.
BOOST Cafe & Restaurant
RestaurantA busy café-restaurant in Rawai with a large, modern room; often full.
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.
Kan Eang@Pier
Seafood restaurant · Chalong BayA large seafood restaurant under old shade trees on the shore of Chalong Bay, next to Chalong Pier; it began as a small eatery in 1973.
Cafés
Caffeine x Gasoline Café
Café · Rawai BeachA coffee shop in Rawai that doubles as a tattoo studio: breakfast and laptop work downstairs, tattoo sessions upstairs.
Cannelle Bakery & Co
Bakery · Nai Harn BeachA bakery and all-day café on Naiharn Lane, a few minutes from Nai Harn Beach, baking everything on site.
Crepes Factory
CaféA family café in Rawai known for its crepes, with two children's play areas.
CUP Cafe Rawai
Café · Rawai BeachA two-storey café in Rawai with a terrace and home cooking from three cuisines — Russian, European and Thai.
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.
Shops
Food For Foreigners (Rawai)
Grocer · Rawai BeachA supermarket of imported foods, pantry staples and hard-to-find Western products for expats, with a branch in Rawai.
GO Wholesale Rawai
Wholesale store · Chalong BayThe second GO Wholesale store on the island, in Rawai near Chalong Circle (the guide lists its branches as Chalong and Phuket Town).- No photograph yet
L'Épicerie du Siam
Grocer · Rawai BeachA French gourmet grocery in the south of the island. - No photograph yet
Macrobiotic World
Grocer · Nai Harn BeachAn organic health-food store in the Nai Harn and Rawai area. 
Makro Food Service Chalong
Wholesale store · Chalong BayA Makro Food Service store near Chalong Circle; Google Maps names it "Makro Food".
Makro Rawai
Wholesale store · Sai YuanA Makro store in Rawai, in the south of the island; Google Maps files it as a supermarket.
Health
- No photograph yet
Bang Khonthi Pharmacy
Pharmacy · Chalong BayA pharmacy in Rawai that Google Maps shows as open 24 hours. 
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Rawai
ClinicA walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Rawai.- No photograph yet
Dr Thiti Clinic
ClinicA private medical clinic on Viset Road in Chalong. 
SmileLab
Dental clinicA dental clinic in Rawai with Russian-language consultations.
Work
- No photograph yet
Grind Time Coworking Space (Rawai Beach)
Coworking space · Rawai BeachGrind Time's Rawai centre near Rawai Beach: a coworking space with a quiet space, a fun space with games, a meeting room and phone booths. - No photograph yet
Let's Work
Coworking space · Rawai BeachA coworking space on the beachfront road in Rawai, with a sea view and its own coffee shop and food service. - No photograph yet
Selina Cowork
ColivingThe coworking room of the Selina Serenity Rawai resort by the sea in Rawai, sold by the day, week or month.
Kids
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.
Rawai Park Kids Club
Kids' club · Rawai BeachA family play park near Rawai Beach with indoor and outdoor play areas and a splash pool for small children.
Youtopia Adventure Social Club & Playground
Activity centreA café for children and adults with outdoor activities, in Rawai.
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. 
KB Muaythai Phuket
Muay Thai camp · Rawai BeachA small traditional Muay Thai gym in Rawai.
Keh Muay Thai Gym
Muay Thai campA small, family-friendly Muay Thai gym in Rawai.- 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.
Phuket Muay Thai
Muay Thai camp · Rawai BeachA Muay Thai training camp in an open-air gym in Rawai.
Gyms
AKA Thailand
Martial arts clubA large combat-sports resort in the south of the island, run on the training curriculum of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, with rooms and a pool on site.- No photograph yet
Born to Roll
Martial arts club · Sai YuanA Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Rawai. 
Nai Harn Gym
GymA well-kept, air-conditioned fitness club between Nai Harn and Rawai, with Life Fitness equipment in two zones: cardio and machines, and free weights and floor work.- 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. 
Phuket Grappling Academy
Martial arts clubA Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling gym in Rawai.- No photograph yet
PhuketFit
Gym · Rawai BeachA fitness and weight-loss retreat in Rawai with personal programmes: daily training, meals from its own restaurant, and workshops on nutrition and fitness.
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.- No photograph yet
The Yoga Shala Rawai
Yoga studio · Rawai BeachA yoga studio and café in Rawai, set back from Wiset Road in a garden. - No photograph yet
Wise Yoga Studio Rawai
Yoga studioA small yoga studio in Rawai that treats yoga as practice for body, mind and wellbeing. 
Yoga by Niti
Yoga studio · Rawai BeachA yoga studio and healing centre near Nai Harn Beach, on Sai Yuan Road, with yoga classes and crystal-bowl sound meditation.
Padel and tennis
FifteenLove Tennis & Padel Club
Padel courtsA tennis, padel and pickleball club.
Padel Phuket @ Chalong
Padel courtsA padel club with three open-air courts, the Chalong club of Padel Phuket.
Phuket Sports and Tennis Club
Tennis courtsA small, low-key tennis club in Rawai with well-kept grounds.
Rawai Padel
Padel courts · Rawai BeachA padel club in Rawai with three covered courts.- 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. 
Kiteboarding Asia
Kitesurf schoolA kitesurf school with two bases: Rawai, open all year, and a Nai Yang shop open from May to October.
Local Dive Thailand
Dive centre · Chalong BayA PADI dive centre on Sunrise Road in Chalong that runs its own day boat, the M/V Kepsub, a converted fishing vessel and former liveaboard.
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.
Sports
- No photograph yet
CONNECTION dance studio
Dance studio · Chalong BayA social-dance studio in Rawai, above all bachata. - No photograph yet
KB Football Club Chalong
Football pitchA small football club in Rawai with an artificial-turf pitch. - No photograph yet
Me&My Dance Studio
Dance studioA dance studio in Rawai teaching feminine styles such as high heels.
- The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Buddhist temple
Buddhist temple
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Park
Rooftop bar
Seafood restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Café
Bakery
Café
Café
Café
Café
Café
Wholesale store
Grocer
Grocer
Wholesale store
Wholesale store
Community mall
Grocer
Supermarket
Seafood market
Pharmacy
Clinic
Dental clinic
Coworking space
Coworking space
Coliving
Adventure park
Kids' club
Activity centre
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Muay Thai camp
Martial arts club
Martial arts club
Gym
Martial arts club
Gym
Martial arts club
Gym
Yoga studio
Yoga studio
Yoga studio
Yoga studio
Padel courts
Padel courts
Tennis courts
Padel courts
Pickleball courts
Dive centre
Kitesurf school
Dive centre
Dive centre
Pier
Dance studio
Football pitch
Dance studio
Homes in Rawai
Low-rise and villa-dominated: pool villas and villa estates around Nai Harn and along Sai Yuan Road, townhouses and low-rise condos in the Rawai Beach corridor. Building is mostly low-rise, and homes are spread over a wide area, so a scooter or car comes with most of them.
42 homes for rent in RawaiRawai through the year
The monsoon months
May to October: swell reaches the west-facing beaches, red flags go up on many days and island boats depend on the weather. Residents stay, gyms and cafés stay open, and the town is quieter.
Rawai with children
Rawai is one of Phuket's most popular areas for families who settle: international schools are inside the subdistrict, the swimming beaches are close, and daily life does not depend on tourism.
- Several international and bilingual schools stand inside the subdistrict; HeadStart has a campus on Sai Yuan Road.
- Nai Harn's beach and the lake loop are easy outings with small children.
- Big supermarkets are in Chalong, 10 to 15 minutes away; minimarts and fresh markets are on every main road.
- Clinics in the area handle minor problems; the large hospitals are 15 to 25 minutes away.
Getting to Rawai and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 45–75 min
- From Phuket Town
- 20–30 min
Rawai sits at the end of the island's roads, about 46 km from the airport. Most residents use a scooter or a car; the Smart Bus from the airport ends here, and ride apps work everywhere.
- Grab and taxis. Grab, Bolt and inDrive all work; a ride to the airport costs about 600 to 1,000 THB and to Phuket Town 200 to 300 THB (2025).
- The Smart Bus. Route 1 of the Smart Bus runs from the airport down the west coast and ends at Rawai: a flat 100 THB (2026).
- By scooter. The usual way to get around: Rawai is spread out and not walkable between its parts.
- By boat. Longtails and speedboats leave Rawai's pier for Coral Island, Ko Bon and the Racha islands.
Parking. Free roadside parking along the waterfront and at the Nai Harn beach car park; busy at sunset at Promthep Cape.
Who will love Rawai, and who will not
Will love it
- Long-stay residents who want a real community: many neighbours have lived here for ten years or more.
- Retirees who like a quiet routine, clinics nearby and seafood by the sea.
- Families with school-age children: several international schools are inside the subdistrict.
- Remote workers: coworking on Sai Yuan Road, gyms and cafés for the rest of the day.
- Runners and hikers: the lake loop, the hill paths to Black Rock and quiet early roads.
Will not
- Night owls: the bars are small and few; Patong's nightlife is a long drive away.
- Swimmers who want the sea outside the door: Rawai Beach is a harbour, and the swimming beaches need a short ride.
- First-time visitors who want everything within walking distance: Rawai is spread out.
Tips for Rawai
Swim at Nai Harn or Ya Nui
Rawai Beach is for boats and seafood; both swimming beaches are about 2 km away.
Ask the cooking charge first
At the seafood market, agree the per-kilo price of the fish and the restaurant's cooking charge before you buy.
Beat the sunset crowd
Promthep Cape fills with tour buses at sunset; arrive early or drive on to the Windmill viewpoint.
Big shopping is in Chalong
Villa Market and Makro are in Chalong, 10 to 15 minutes north; Rawai itself has minimarts and fresh markets.
Respect the Chao Le village
The sea people's village by the pier is a home, not a show; ask before photographing anyone.
Clinic prices
A visit to a small clinic costs about 300 to 700 THB and a private hospital consultation 800 to 2,000 THB (2025).
Boats in the monsoon
From May to October island trips depend on the wind; book on the morning itself and keep a spare day.
Sunday market mornings
The Sunday markets at the Nai Harn beach car park and in Rawai are the place for fruit and cooked Thai food.
Questions about Rawai
Is Rawai Beach good for swimming?
No, not really: Rawai Beach is a working harbour full of longtail boats. Swim at Nai Harn or Ya Nui, both about 2 km away, best from November to April.
How far is Rawai from Phuket airport?
About 46 km, usually 45 to 75 minutes by car depending on traffic. The airport Smart Bus also ends at Rawai, for a flat 100 THB (2026).
What is Rawai known for?
Its seafood market by the pier, boats to the southern islands, sunsets at Promthep Cape and the island's oldest expat community.
How does the Rawai seafood market work?
You choose fish, prawns or crab by weight at the stalls, then a restaurant across the road cooks them for a set charge per kilo. Ask both prices before you buy.
How do I get to Coral Island from Rawai?
By boat from Rawai's pier: about 15 minutes by speedboat or 20 to 30 minutes by longtail. Ko Bon and the Racha islands also leave from here.
Is Rawai good for families?
Yes. Several international schools are inside the subdistrict, HeadStart has a campus on Sai Yuan Road, and Nai Harn's beach and lake are close.
Do I need a scooter in Rawai?
Mostly yes. Rawai is spread out and not walkable between its parts; ride apps work, but most residents use a scooter or car.
Where is the nearest hospital to Rawai?
Chalong Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Siriroj are 15 to 25 minutes away by car. Small clinics in Rawai handle minor problems.
Where is the best sunset in Rawai?
Promthep Cape, the island's southern tip, is the classic spot. The Windmill viewpoint above Ya Nui is quieter.
Which islands belong to Rawai?
Nine: Ko Lon, Ko He, Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Ko Bon, Ko Man, Ko Aeo, Ko Nok and Ko Kaeo, about 15 square kilometres in all.