The route in four stages
| Stage | What it is like |
|---|---|
| 1. Out of the airport area | You leave the north of the island and join the main road south, Highway 402. |
| 2. Through the middle of Phuket | The longest part. The road runs south through the interior of the island and skirts Phuket Town. |
| 3. Chalong | The busy bay in the south-east, one of the island's boat harbours. From here Rawai is roughly 5 to 10 minutes away. |
| 4. Down to Rawai | The last stretch heads for the southern tip, with the pier and the seafood market at the waterfront. The driver follows your pin to the hotel door. |
The 47 km is the distance to Rawai itself. A hotel on the far side of the area can add a few minutes.
Why 47 km can take less time than 46 km
Look at the table below. Kata Beach is 46 km away and takes 1 hour 15 minutes. Rawai is one kilometre farther and takes 15 minutes less. Distance and time do not travel together on Phuket, because each destination has its own approach road and its own bottlenecks.
| From the airport to | Distance | Time by road |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket Town | 36 km | 50 minutes |
| Kata Beach | 46 km | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Rawai | 47 km | 1 hour |
| Nai Harn | 48 km | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Use the time for the place you are going to, not the kilometres.
What changes the time on the day
- The built-up middle of the island is where delays collect. Phuket Town and Chalong are busier than the open roads at either end.
- Late at night the road is quiet and the drive is at the short end of the estimate.
- In heavy rain expect a slower drive all the way, so allow extra time.
- The time is driving only. It starts when the car leaves the airport, after you have cleared immigration and collected your bags.
If you have a boat to catch or a check-in deadline, add a margin and do not plan to the minute.
What the 47 km costs
A sedan is 999 THB for the whole car. The other cars cost more. Prices and what they cover are on the Rawai price page, and this page leaves the money there.
Questions about this transfer
How many kilometres is Rawai from Phuket airport?
47 km by road. The airport is at the northern end of the island and Rawai is at the southern tip.
Is Rawai closer than Nai Harn?
In kilometres, Rawai is 47 km and Nai Harn is 48 km. In time, Rawai is about 1 hour and Nai Harn about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Why does Kata take longer than Rawai when it is nearer?
Kata Beach is 46 km but takes 1 hour 15 minutes. Each destination has its own approach road, and time on Phuket depends on the roads and the traffic more than on the kilometres.
Does the time include immigration and baggage?
No. It is driving time from the airport to Rawai. The driver waits at the meeting gate while you clear immigration and collect your bags.
Which road runs through Rawai itself?
Viset Road follows the coast, and Saiyuan Road is the other main name in the area. Send your hotel's map pin so the driver takes the right one.