Rawai

Raway, Phuket

Rawai, at the south end of Phuket, is a busy village with a stony and flat beach. It is an excellent location for a good meal and a few drinks while enjoying the many nearby island sights.

However, Rawai does not have much of a beach for water sports or swimming. Most of the beach area is, therefore, used for long-tail boats anchoring. With so many islands around, Rawai is a great place to catch a long-tail boat on your way out for a day on a more or less isolated beach.

Rawai is indeed well known for its long-tailed boats, the Sea Gypsies Fish Market, and its numerous seafood restaurants. Also in the area is the Phuket Seashell Museum, with displays of rare shells from Thailand and around the world. To the south, you will find Promthep Cape with its lighthouse and magnificent views over the Andaman Sea. Offshore islands like Koh Lon, Koh Bon, Coral Island, and Racha islands are quite easy and fast to reach!

The name Rawai derives from the Thai word “Rao Wai”, which translates into “I Pray”. The legend has it that Buddha left his footprint in front of the famous Cape Promthep when he set foot on Phuket Island.