Rawai Beach (Ra Wai)

Gateway to the scenic offshore islands, Rawai Beach is at the southern tip of Phuket between Chalong Bay and Promthep Cape, incidentally the best viewpoint on the island.

Rawai Beach is a peaceful haven compared with other beaches in the area, although it is a working beach with a pier. There are no sunbed rentals or jet skis so bring your own towel and find a quiet spot beneath the shady trees at the east end of the beach. Local fishing boats are hauled up the beach and locals can be seen working on their nets.

The calm waters make it a good place to embark on a day trip to the offshore islands such as Coral Island, Bon Island and the Racha Islands. You can go fishing and snorkelling but the water is not really deep enough for swimming.

When hunger strikes, the seafood restaurants are excellent being so close to the Rawai Seafood Market and Sea Gyspy Village near the pier. You can even buy or catch your own fish and take it to the beachfront restaurant to have it cooked for a small fee.

The nearby Seashell Museum is well worth a visit and there’s a gift shop selling jewellery made from seashells and pearls.