In this article, I will help you to look at some of the best ways to get to Rawai from various locations in Phuket like the airport, old town, Patong, Karon, Kata, and Nai Harn. I will also show you some of the best ways to get around this beach town.
Rawai is a small town on the southern tip of Phuket. It is located on the east coast, around 15km south of Phuket Old Town. It is not as famous as the beaches on the west coast, but it is a good destination for trying seafood, experiencing local life, and a more relaxing atmosphere than other popular beach towns.
Generally speaking, Rawai is easily accessible from other parts of Phuket by local bus, metered taxi, and riding share services like Grab, Bolt, and Indrive. Although it’s located in a quiet, remote part of Phuket, it remains well-connected with various transport options available.
See more:
4 Popular Ways to get to Rawai
1. Riding share services (InDrive, Bolt, Grab)
Like many other tourist destinations in Phuket, riding share services like InDrive, Grab, and Bolt are available in Rawai. I prefer using them to avoid the hassle of negotiating prices with traditional taxi drivers, tuk-tuks, and local songthaews.
Grab is a more popular app, but Bolt and InDrive often offer better prices. You can use all three apps to check the availability and price before booking. Both Grab and Bolt accept cash and credit card payment but InDrive only accepts cash payment.
My favorite app is InDrive because it always gives me the best deals. If you are using this app, make sure to have enough cash in hand because you need to pay directly to the driver.
2. Metered Taxi
Traditional taxis are available in Rawai. Phuket is known for its aggressive taxi mafia and the taxi price is usually more expensive than other parts of Thailand. If you use traditional taxis, make sure to use a metered taxi or agree on the price before getting in.
3. Buses
Traveling by bus is the cheapest way to get from various locations to Rawai. It is a good way to experience local ways of travel but also time consuming. If you are on a budget or just want to experience the bus ride, there are several bus routes to Rawai for you to explore.
Rawai is well-connected with other popular beaches on the west coast, the airport, and the old town by buses. You can take the smart bus from the airport and other beaches like Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, and Surin to Rawai. To get from the old town to Rawai, you can use the local blue songthaews bus.
4. Renting a scooter/ car
Renting a scooter or a car gives are the most flexible way to explore Phuket and get to Rawai. The island has mountainous terrain with lots of sharp turns, so make sure you’re an experienced driver to rent one.
The price for renting a scooter for a day is quite reasonable, around 250-300 baht per day. If you rent multiple days, you can have a discount. The car is around 1000 baht per day.
From Phuket Airport to Rawai
Rawai is located around 46km south of Phuket International Airport. The ride between these two places is around 50 minutes to two hours depending on the traffic. You can take a metered taxi, Grab taxi, or smart bus to get from the airport to Rawai.
The taxi usually costs around 1000 baht. If you are on a budget, you can take a smart bus from the airport all the way to Rawai for only 100 baht. The bus runs daily from 8.15am to 11.30pm.
From Patong to Rawai
Patong is the most famous beach town in Phuket, known for its vibrant nightlife and shopping scene. Patong is located 20km north west of Rawai. The time to travel between Patong and Rawai is typically from 30 to 55 minutes depending on traffic.
You can take a metered taxi, Grab, InDrive, Bolt, or smart bus to get from Patong to Rawai. The taxi ride usually costs around 600 baht.
If you can use a smart bus from Patong for Rawai for 100 baht. You can catch the bus near Jungcelon Mall in Patong and get off at the last bus station on Rawai Beach Road.
From Phuket Old Town to Rawai
Phuket Old town is a historic town full of historical and cultural attractions. It is located around 15km north of Rawai Beach. The travel time between the old town and Rawai is around 25-55 minutes.
You can use a metered taxi, InDrive, Bolt, Grab, or blue songthaew bus to get from the old town to Rawai. The taxi ride is around 500 baht.
Taking the local bus is a budget-friendly option and is a great way to travel between the old town and Rawai. The bus is only 50 baht. It runs daily from 6am to 6pm. You can catch the bus near the Central Market on Ranong Road of Phuket Old Town.
From Karon to Rawai
Karon is a popular beach town on the west coast, located around 11km north west of Rawai. You can take a metered taxi, Grab, Bolt, InDrive, or smart bus to travel from Karon to Rawai. The travel time is around 15 to 35 minutes.
The taxi ride usually costs 400 baht. The smart bus cost 100 baht for any destination. You can catch the bus near Karon Circle or Karon Stadium in Karon and get off at the last station in Rawai on the beachfront area.
From Kata to Rawai
Kata is a family-friendly beach town located 10km north west of Rawai. Similar to Patong and Karon, you can use traditional taxis, Grab, InDrive, Bolt, or smart bus to get from Kata to Rawai. The travel time is 15-30 minutes.
The taxi ride costs around 300-400 baht. The bus ride is only 100 baht. The bus stops on Kata Road near the Night Market and Kata Palm.
From Nai Harn to Rawai
Nai Harn is a popular beach destination located near Rawai. Many people stay in Nai Thar for nightlife and tourist amenities, then take day trips to Nai Harn Beach.
Nai Harn is located only 5 minutes drive away from Rawai. You can use metered taxis, Grab, InDrive, or Bolt to travel between these two places. It will cost around 200 baht.
How to Get Around Rawai Beach
Walking
The main area of Rawai is centered around Rawai Beach and its beach road. The beach is around 2km long, and is easy to explore on foot. Most tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, shops, convenience stores, boat agencies, and motorbike rentals are located within walking distance from each other.
If you are tired of walking or want to avoid the heat, you can always jump in a traditional taxi, or use riding share services like Grab, InDrive, or Bolt.
Grab, Bolt, InDrive, and metered taxi
Rawai is not as popular as other beaches like Patong, Karon, or Kata, but it still has a large number of tourists staying in the area. Getting riding share services in Rawai isn’t too difficult.
Metered taxis, Grab, Bolt, and InDrive are available in town to take you to old town and other beaches on the west coast like Patong, Karon, and Kata, as well as places in the southern tip like Nai harn Beach, Promthep Viewpoint, Windmill Viewpoint, or Yanui Beach.
Renting a scooter
Rawai is a relatively flat area, so it is easy to drive around. You can consider renting a scooter to explore the area. The price is around 250-300 baht per day and gives you more freedom for exploration.
See more:
So there you have it, my brief guide on how to get to Rawai and how to get around. Phuket is the most famous tourist island in Thailand, so you will have access to most transport forms in many towns on the island including Rawai. Traditional taxis, Grab, Bolt, InDrive, and buses are widely available in Rawai.