Major city · Thailand
Rawaiหัวหิน
Spend a half‑day in Rawai for the sea‑gypsy village, Phromthep Cape sunset and a seafood lunch; add a night if you want beach‑front bars.
Rawai is a quiet seafront village at Phuket's southern tip, known for its sea‑gypsy community, a small rocky bay, and easy boat links to nearby islands. It lacks a swimable beach, so most visitors use it as a base for short excursions, a sunset viewpoint and seafood meals.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season, calm seas)
- avoid May–Oct (monsoon, high tides)
- Airport
- HKT
- Nights
- 0.5–1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Rawai191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Rawai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyRawai is generally safe; keep an eye on belongings at night and avoid swimming in the mooring area.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHKT Phuket International Airport.
- Getting aroundMotorbike hire is cheapest (≈120 THB/day for longer hires, 150–200 THB/day otherwise).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealSeafood dinner (restaurant)฿200–500 (≈ US$7–16)
- Street or quick mealStreet food plate฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4)
- Budget bedGuesthouse or budget hotel, a night, per person฿800 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBoutique hotel room (double), a night, per room฿3,500 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedBoutique hotel room (double), a night, per room฿5,000 (≈ US$160)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿800 (≈ US$25) · Mid ฿1,500 (≈ US$50) · High ฿2,500 (≈ US$80)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HKT Phuket International Airport
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Jul (14 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Rawai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
3 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
5 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
9 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
12 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
11 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
6 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
3 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Motorbike hire is cheapest (≈120 THB/day for longer hires, 150–200 THB/day otherwise). Taxis and local songthaews are available but slower.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Phromthep Cape
goDoor to door: ≈15 min total
Motorbike or taxi, 10 min south of Rawai
Sunset viewpoint with lighthouse and shrine.
Ko Kaeo island
goDoor to door: ≈1 h round trip
Boat from Rawai pier, 30 min
Small island with beach and underwater scenery.
Nai Harn Beach
goDoor to door: ≈10 min total
Motorbike, 5 min north
Best swimable beach near Rawai.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Phu NaNa Boutique Hotel
Quiet area near Nai Han and Rawai; rooms from 2,800 THB+ per night.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿800–1,200 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿1,200–2,000 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed
- High
- ฿2,000 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Boutique hotel room (double)1 × 1 night × ฿3,500 | ฿3,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ฿1,500 | ฿3,000 |
| Motorbike hire, 1 day2 × ฿150 · check | ฿300 |
| Sea‑gypsy village boat rental (short trip)2 × ฿300 · check | ฿600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿740 |
| Trip total≈ ฿4,070 per person per day, bed included | ฿8,140≈ US$300 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights and long‑term accommodation excluded.
Prices of common things
| Street food plate | ฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Seafood dinner (restaurant) | ฿200–500 (≈ US$7–16) |
| Motorbike hire (daily) | ฿120–200 (≈ US$4–7) |
| Boat to Ko Kaeo | ฿300–400 (≈ US$10–13) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Rawai Beach is a mooring area, not for swimming; use Nai Harn Beach instead.
- Tides are strong; boats may be stranded at low tide.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
- Tourist police
- 1155
Pocket card
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Rawaiหัวหิน
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ที่อยู่นี้ครับ/ค่ะTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance1669
- Tourist police1155
Embassy
US consulate in Phuket (check address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Motorbike hire, 1 day: ≈ ฿120–200 (check)
- Boat to nearby islands: ≈ ฿300–400 per person (check)
Say or show
- ขอโทษ — Excuse me / Sorry (khǎ̌w thôt)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khàwp khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much is it? (thâo rài)
- เช็คบิลได้ไหม — Can I have the bill? (chék bin dâi mái)
- ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the bathroom? (hâwng nám yùu thîi năi)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Rawai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, calm seas) · avoid May–Oct (monsoon, high tides) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Rawai
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