5 Best Beaches Near Rawai, Phuket: Where to Actually Swim

Featured image: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Which beach should you pick?

Rawai's waterfront is a place to eat and board boats. A 2022 traveller guide describes a line of colourful longtail boats along the sand and a seafood strip behind them. Fishermen have reportedly sold their catch at the nearby Sea Gypsies fish market for over 100 years. For swimming, pick from the situations below. For the pier itself, see our Rawai waterfront guide.

• No motorbike
  • Book a boat from Rawai pier to Coral Island, or arrange a taxi to Nai Harn. Taxi and app availability varies, so check locally.
• Sunset plan
  • Nai Harn works for a swim at dusk. Windmill Viewpoint sits between Yanui and Nai Harn.
• Quick morning dip
  • Yanui is a small cove, and a 2022 guide called it the best morning stop from Rawai.
• Boat day
  • Banana Beach and Long Beach on Coral Island, plus Bon Island for snorkelling.
• Rainy day
  • Skip the sand. Try these wet-weather plans around Phuket.

5 Best Beaches in Rawai, Ranked

Distances and fees below are marked "check locally" because the sources we hold give none. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment of swim suitability and ease from Rawai. For wider options across the island, see our Phuket beach guide.

• 1. Nai Harn Beach
  • A long white-sand beach just up the road from Promthep Cape. A 2022 guide reports walking and swimming here at sunset.
  • Getting there: drive or taxi from Rawai. Check the fare and time locally.
  • Skip it if you only have an hour and no ride back.
• 2. Yanui Beach
  • A small cove around the corner from Nai Harn. A 2022 guide reports kayak rental at 100 baht, so confirm the current rate.
  • Getting there: same road as Nai Harn.
  • Skip it if you want space for a long beach walk.
• 3. Banana Beach, Coral Island
  • Reached by longtail boat from Rawai pier on a half-day or all-day trip. Swim conditions and fees: check locally.
  • Skip it if the sea looks rough on the day.
• 4. Long Beach, Coral Island
  • Sits on the same island as Banana Beach, so boats can combine both. Ask your boatman which stops are included.
  • Skip it if you want facilities you can confirm in advance.
• 5. Bon Island
  • Reported as the snorkelling and lunch stop on island trips from Rawai. Current routes and prices: check locally.
  • Skip it if you prefer a classic sand-and-sunbed day.

Boat trips to island beaches from Rawai pier

Dozens of traditional boats line Rawai's shore, and a 2022 guide says you can show up and name your destination without booking ahead. Negotiate directly, and agree the full price, route and stops before boarding. Ask to see life jackets, and confirm the boat is licensed for passengers. A half-day or all-day trip can combine Bon Island, Coral Island and Koh Kaeo, which is reported to have two large golden Buddha statues. Prices are unsourced here, so ask at the pier and compare two or three boats. For national park fees, check the official park authority.

Sunset add-ons near the beaches

Promthep Cape is a viewpoint, not a swim beach. A 2022 guide says its upper viewpoint draws hundreds of people each night and describes two locations for sunset, including a hike below. Windmill Viewpoint sits directly between Yanui and Nai Harn and works with a picnic. More options are in our sunset spots around Phuket. For evening plans back in town, see Rawai after dark.

Getting around without a motorbike

A 2022 traveller paid about 4,000 baht for a one-month motorbike rental and used it to reach every beach from Rawai. Treat that figure as a dated anecdote and check current rates. Scooters carry real crash risk on hilly roads, so only ride if you are licensed and insured. Without a bike, use a taxi or a pier boat, and confirm the fare before you go. For other options on land, browse non-beach plans in Rawai. If you want a longer west-coast beach, Bang Tao's long beach is a separate trip. Weighing a base? See choosing where to stay.

Best time and sea conditions

We hold no sourced dates for monsoon or red-flag periods. Check the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Phuket local authorities for current sea conditions, and obey lifeguard flags.

Common mistakes

A few errors cost travellers a beach day around Rawai.

• Expecting to swim at Rawai pier
  • Head to Nai Harn or Yanui instead.
• Boarding without agreeing a price
  • Fix the total, stops and return time first.
• Trusting old prices
  • Kayak and boat rates come from a 2022 guide. Confirm them on arrival.
• Treating viewpoints as beaches
  • Promthep Cape and Windmill Viewpoint are for sunset, not swimming.