Rawai —
Infrastructure Development
and Future Prospects

Rawai is one of the fastest-growing areas in the south of Phuket. It has more than 7 beaches and 10 nearby islands, viewpoints, a pier, and a harbor where speedboats and water taxis are based. The area has well-developed infrastructure, with plenty of restaurants and cafés, massage shops, sports clubs, kindergartens and schools, small and large shops and supermarkets, as well as Rawai Park with children’s play areas and water attractions, and a new family restaurant.

Rawai is home to both local residents and a large number of expats living in private villas. In recent years, Rawai has also become increasingly popular with families traveling with children.

Location, Infrastructure and Beaches
The southern part of Rawai is bordered by the sea, while to the north it borders Chalong. The main road in the area, Wiset Road, starts at Chalong Circle and leads to Rawai Pier. From there, it continues towards Promthep Cape — the southernmost point of the island and one of Phuket’s most photographed landmarks. On the west coast of Rawai are popular beaches such as Nai Harn Beach, which is among the top three beaches in Asia according to TripAdvisor, and Ya Nui Beach, a small and comfortable beach that is especially suitable for families with children. The east coast is generally not suitable for swimming because of strong tides, but there are also well-equipped beaches here, such as Laem Ka and Friendship Beach, with calm waters all year round.

7 Beaches of Rawai

1. Friendship Beach – on the east coast, with kite schools, horse riding, hotels, and beachfront properties.
2. Laem Ka – a small, quiet beach where longtail boats leave for nearby islands.
3. Rawai Bay (Rawai Beach) – a quiet bay all year round, with water taxis, a waterfront promenade with restaurants, cafés, massage shops, a pier, a seafood and souvenir market.
4. Ya Nui – a small and cozy beach on the west side, with coral reefs and a café.
5. Nai Harn – one of the top 3 beaches in Asia and one of the most popular beaches in Phuket, with a large park area around Nai Harn Lake and a Buddhist temple of the same name.
6. Ao Sane – one of the “secret beaches.” The entrance is from Nai Harn Beach. The road passes under The Nai Harn hotel and leads to a small, cozy beach with views of the bay, the windmill, and Promthep Cape.
7. Nui Beach – another “secret beach” in Rawai. Its difficult access makes it a quiet and comfortable place to spend time.

To the northwest, Rawai borders Karon District. The beaches of this area — Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon — are located 5–10 kilometers away. The drive along the winding coastal road, passing the Karon Viewpoint with its beautiful views of the island, takes about 15 minutes by car or motorbike.

9 Islands of Rawai

1. Bon Island (Ko Bon)
2. Ko Kaeo Yai
3. Ko Kaeo Noi
4. Ko He (Coral Island)
5. Ko Lon
6. Ko Aeo
7. Ko Mai Thon
8. Ko Racha Yai
9. Ko Racha Noi

Geographic Location

Rawai is 50 kilometers from the airport. The way to the Rawai waterfront is marked by signs saying “Rawai Beach” and featuring photos of one of Phuket’s most famous landmarks, Phromthep Cape. Watching the sunset from the viewpoint at the cape is part of almost every sightseeing tour of the island. The view of the cape is one of the most famous images of Phuket, featured in countless travel guides and tourism publications. Next to the viewpoint, there is a small souvenir market, vendors selling Thai snacks, as well as cafés and restaurants.

The area’s attractions also include the Seashell Museum and the Sea Gypsy Village. Both are located near Rawai Pier. At the Sea Gypsy Village, you can buy fresh seafood caught by local fishermen, enjoy ready-made dishes at one of the many cafés, or buy pearls, souvenirs, and shell products.

Every day, dozens of boats leave the pier carrying tourists to nearby islands, some of which are also part of the Rawai area.

Development Prospects

The lack of large hotels, combined with a well-developed private sector of standalone houses and villa communities, makes the area relatively quiet. At the same time, developers are gradually filling the gap in residential properties by building new projects.
The development of the pier and waterfront infrastructure, the construction of Rawai Park, and growing interest from tour companies that see the benefits of accommodation near well-developed infrastructure are encouraging investors to choose Rawai as a promising place to invest in property. The waterfront area is also popular with buyers who want to live within walking distance of the sea.

Real Estate in Rawai

In recent years, the Rawai waterfront has been changing rapidly. New townhouses are being built, along with villa communities and condominiums such as Title Condominium, The Tree, Rawai Beach Condo, Rawai Beach View Residence, Nai Harn Beach Condominium, and The Beachfront Phuket. Among the newer villa developments are our company’s projects, Rawai Private Villas (8 villas) and Rawai VIP Villas, a children’s park, is located just 300 meters from the waterfront.