Whether you’re a backpacker, a digital nomad, a tourist, holiday maker or adventurer, Rawai is the perfect place for you to explore. Full of adorable little cafes, quiet beaches, secret spots to explore, stunning views and surrounded by islands for you to discover, Rawai is the perfect spot for anyone who likes to relax and soak up chilled vibes.
Just entering our little corner of the island, you feel like you can take a deep breath and experience something that feels somehow different to the rest of Phuket. There’s a lot to love about this part of paradise, but today, we are here to share some awesome backpacking activities in Rawai for you to get the ultimate experience of this stunning location.
Strap yourself in, slap on some sunscreen, grab a bottle of water, and let’s head out on the adventure of a lifetime as we explore some backpacking activities in Rawai.
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Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai
First off, the best place to start your day of backpacking activities in Rawai is Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai. Located smack bang on the peaceful, local beach of Rawai, you’ll immediately fall in love when you see the view (and taste the coffee).
Picture this: calm turquoise waters, green tropical islands dotted around, long tail boats bobbing in the water, three wheeled tuk-tuks puttering by and tall palm trees leaning over the beach. How picturesque, am I right?
And that’s just the view from the front facade and the bar of our cafe. Once you step in to our beautiful cafe, you’ll be cooled by our refreshing air conditioning and seated at one of our comfortable leather seats. That’s where the fun starts! We’ve got the best food on the island with our Melbourne-inspired cafe menu filled with all your Aussie cafe favourites.
That’s right, I’m talking soft, moist banana bread, delicious smashed avo on toast, the classic ham, cheese and tomato toasted sandwich and so much more. For those who want to deviate a little from your classic breakfast, may I recommend the amazing pulled pork eggs benedict. Fresh sourdough bread topped with slow roasted pork shoulder that falls apart to the touch, along with rich apple cider hollandaise sauce, zesty grated green apple, 2 creamy poached eggs and sprinkled with fresh mint. How good does that sound?
We’ve also got the ever popular breakfast burrito, complete with avocado salsa and smokey scrambled eggs. Or how about our pulled pork breakfast wrap, our big breakfast with eggs your way or our delicious zucchini breakfast fritters with sweet chilli sauce. It’s all so good, how could we choose?
Of course, if you like your breakfast on the healthier side, we’ve got loads of options for you that don’t miss when it comes to flavour or freshness. Why not try our quinoa power porridge topped with apple and cinnamon? We’ve also got yummy fresh breakfast panna cotta, chia pudding, homemade granola parfait and lots more!
If you’re a lunch for breakfast kind of person, you’re in good company. All our meals are served all day, so you can order what you feel like anytime! We’ve got a whole range of salads for those looking for something a little lighter. Try our grilled chicken Cobb salad with crumbly blue cheese and ranch dressing. Or how about our quinoa, beetroot, feta and roasted pumpkin salad drizzled with some tangy balsamic? Top tier salad, that is!
We’ve also got 3 deliciously juicy stacked burgers (and one of them is even vegetarian!). Try our spicy house burger that is packed with flavour, jalapeños and melty Monterey Jack cheese! Don’t forget to taste one of our delicious sandwiches, wraps or bagels too on one of your visits. My personal fave is our halloumi bagel, smothered with smoked bbq cream cheese, onions and pickles. Ooh, that hits the spot!
Of course, it’s not even just the food and view that makes us one of the best backpacking activities in Rawai, it’s the coffee! Phuket boasts some of the best coffee you’ll ever drink. It might not be what our little island is most famous for, but once you come for a visit, you’ll be hooked by our brilliant coffee and Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai is the best of the best when it comes to coffee.
We carefully select our beans from only the best local roasters and we leave it to our master baristas to de-gas, grind and brew the very best cups of coffee. It’s smooth, rich and flavourful. So, whether you’re an iced coffee person, or you’re into fluffy cappuccinos or specialty brews, we’ll serve you a cup of coffee that will make your day and taste perfect every time.
Not a bad start when it comes to the best backpacking activities in Rawai, am I right?
Ya Nui Beach
On to the next of the backpacking activities in Rawai! Ya Nui Beach is located in between Rawai Beach and Nai Harn beach. It’s quiet and has a really interesting tiny island that you can even swim to. Don’t forget your snorkelling gear (or you can hire some on the beach if you have forgotten it) as this little island has some stellar coral reefs you can explore.
If snorkelling isn’t your thing, there are also kayaks for rent or you can sit in the sun and soak up the rays. Ya Nui is a total dream when it comes to backpacking activities in Rawai.
Coral Island
Speaking of dream backpacking activities in Rawai, while this one is not strictly in Rawai, Coral Island can be reached from Rawai Beach by a short long tail boat ride.
There are 2 beaches to explore: the stunning Banana Beach which is perfect for sunbathing and Long Beach which boasts some pretty incredible coral reefs and interesting sea life.
The water here is extra turquoise, it’s crystal clear and the sand is powdery white and soft. If you’re not into sunbathing, you can try the kayaks, canoes and banana boats which are available for rent from Long Beach.
Rawai Fishing Village
One final recommendation when it comes to backpacking activities in Rawai is a visit to the Sea Gypsy village which is cloistered right at the end of Rawai Beach.
This gives you an interesting glimpse into an old, traditionally Thai way of life, with the sea gypsy community only recently getting electrical hookups. You can also visit local stalls to purchase shells, fresh coconuts or the fishermen’s catch of the day. You can choose your fresh fish and they will carry it to a restaurant to have it cooked for you.
This is a great cultural experience for those looking for backpacking activities in Rawai but please be respectful to the people group who live here by covering your shoulders and knees when visiting.
So, what are the best backpacking activities in Rawai?
Well, there are lots of fun activities to choose from but of course, you should always think about starting off your day of adventures at Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai. Sip on you epic coffee with an incredible view of the sea and tuck into a delicious, nourishing breakfast as you watch the long tail boats bob by. Whatever you’ve got planned in your day, it can always get a little bit better by starting it off at Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai!
If you enjoyed this article, why not try one of our other recommendations such as Best Breakfast in Nai Harn: It’s Systematic. It’s Hydromatic. Why, it’s Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai!
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