Rawai is located at the southern tip of Phuket and is quickly becoming one of the most popular areas to live on the island, teeming with artists, Thai and expat entrepreneurs, and a service sector that, for the most part, moved here from somewhere else.
For a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a real Thai 'working beach', Rawai Beach is hard to beat. Some fishermen caulk their vessels while others mend their nets; catches are hauled ashore while restaurant operators on nearby islands load crates of beer and bags of rice aboard longtail boats. All you have to do is sit and take it all in!
There are no jetskis, banana boats, ambulant beach vendors or any of the trappings of a west coast beach — this is Thai beach life at its most authentic.
The region is defined not just by its beaches but also by its lush coastal hills that rise steeply and tumble into the Andaman Sea, forming Laem Phromthep — Phuket's beautiful southernmost point — providing wonderful sunset views across the ocean.