I visited Koh Lanta in May and stayed four nights at Rawi Warin Resort & Spa. Our local guide told us it’s the second best place to stay on the island. I booked a Deluxe Room with breakfast and had a genuinely nice stay. In this review I’ll tell you whether it was worth it, what it’s like during low season, and if I’d stay there again.
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Quick Overview: My Stay at Rawi Warin Resort & Spa
| Location | Just a few minutes north of Khlong Noen Beach, Koh Lanta |
| Room we stayed in | Deluxe Room |
| What we paid | ฿8,460.20 for 4 nights, including breakfast (roughly ฿2,115 / $63 a night) |
| Style | Very lush and green, with the traditional Thai resort architecture. The resort is built around a central lake, and it’s beautiful. |
| Best for | Families, couples wanting space, anyone wanting a comfortable base in Koh Lanta |
| My review | ★★★★★ |
Rawi Warin Resort & Spa Location
The resort is located on the west coast of Koh Lanta, right in the middle of the island, just north of Khlong Noen Beach. When you step out of the resort onto the main road, there’s really not much apart from a laundry place, a travel agency, and a few low-key restaurants.
There’s also Auntie Mae’s Bakery & Coffee, which I believe belongs to the resort, and if you continue further south, you’ll find a 7-Eleven, a pharmacy, and two other supermarkets. If you continue a bit further, you’ll reach Horizon Road, where Khlong Noen Beach starts and where you’ll find more bars, restaurants, and cafés along the way.
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Staying at Rawi Warin Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta: My Experience
How we got to Rawi Warin Resort & Spa
We flew from Bangkok to Krabi Airport, where we caught a minivan that took us all the way to the hotel. I booked the tickets via 12Go Asia, where you can actually purchase a direct transfer to your hotel, so just before you pay for the tickets, you add the address of your hotel.
The journey took nearly 3 hours, mainly due to the long wait for the ferry crossing. You can also take a taxi from the airport, or book a private transfer via 12Go Asia, where prices start at around 2,300 THB per journey.
The resort also offers a private shuttle service, which charges 3,300 THB for up to 4 people per journey.
Arrival and Check-In
The van dropped us off at the main entrance to the resort, and the first point of entry was a big gate with a security guard. We had one piece of luggage, and at this point I expected someone would take care of it, but it seems you have to arrive right at the reception entrance for that to happen.
When we stepped into the resort, there were parking spots on the left side, and then we continued another 50 metres to the reception. Even though check-in is officially from 2 PM, we got our room about 2 hours earlier, which was appreciated, though I assume it’s because at this time of year the resort wasn’t very full.
On arrival, we were given a small cold pandan drink. Pandan is known to relieve stress, reduce fatigue and calm your mind, so it was a nice touch.
We had to pay a security deposit of 3,000 THB on arrival. You can either pay in cash or by card. It’s not possible via Thai QR payment. It took well over two weeks to get the deposit back on the card.
Once that was done, we were taken to our room by hotel tuk-tuk, along with our luggage and a member of staff. It was a short ride, and she showed us around the room and explained a bit about the resort.
➞ If you want the full breakdown of every route and price option, I’ve covered it in detail in my How to Get to Koh Lanta guide.
First Impressions
Rawi Warin has 185 rooms, so the whole resort felt more like a little village. The property is built around a lake right in the middle of the grounds, and everything, the room blocks, the pools, the restaurants, is spread out around it rather than stacked into one central building. It’s beautiful and very green, with tall palm trees, bird sounds, lizards wandering around, and I even met a monkey; the architecture of the houses complements it nicely.
Going in May meant the resort was quiet, to the point that on a few mornings I had the main pool to myself before anyone else had come down.
The Room
We stayed in a Deluxe Room, and it was spacious with a proper balcony. Our room had an impressive 45 sqm and a huge, comfy king bed. The bathroom had both a bathtub and a separate shower, which I always rate as a small luxury. Everything was done in a traditional Thai wooden style.
There was also a welcome note and a bowl with oranges, and every day we were given two glass bottles of drinking water. There was also a small fridge with a mini bar, a kettle, some tea bags and granulated coffee (no coffee machine), and a few bottles of wine available for purchase.
My only complaint would be the air conditioning, which was loud enough to notice at night. I’m a light sleeper, so I found it difficult to fall asleep, though in the end we managed fine without it, since the room wasn’t especially hot.
Otherwise, the room was cleaned daily and was spotless. I really liked the room, but if I’m being honest, it didn’t quite feel five-star to me, mostly down to the room feeling more traditional than luxury-modern. I’d guess the more upscale room categories, like the pool villas and suites, close that gap, but I can only speak to what we actually stayed in.
I checked the website afterward, and it looks like only the suites and sunset/pool villas come with capsule coffee machines.
The Pools
The best thing about the resort for me was the infinity ozone pool. It’s absolutely massive, and in May I had it practically to myself. There’s another smaller pool just below it, also sea-facing. There’s also a lap pool to the left from the main pool, and another pool up on the hill that was already closed for the season.
At check-in, we were given two extra cards that we exchanged at the pool stand for towels. The pools open at 8 AM, which I honestly think is a bit late, especially if you like to exercise before breakfast.
The resort’s website also lists an ocean pool that isn’t available during monsoon season.
Facilities
Beyond the pools, the resort has a library, a gym, a boxing ring, a pool and football table, a yoga studio, a kids’ playroom, and a little diving centre where you can arrange a diving trip. There’s also a small shop with lovely accessories and gifts, and you can borrow a bicycle, though you’re only allowed to cycle around the resort grounds.
There’s also Warin Spa, which offers herbal, aloe vera, and all kinds of massages, as well as facials, body treatments, and spa packages. The prices reflect the fact that you’re in a 5-star hotel, so expect to pay multiple times more than you would at a regular massage salon.
➞ If you want to get off the resort and explore, I’ve rounded up my favourite things to do in Koh Lanta, including mangrove kayaking and the 4 Island Tour.
Food and Breakfast
Breakfast offered a big spread with both international dishes and Thai options, plus a surprising number of small desserts, including traditional pastries as well as little Thai sweets, which were lovely. My favourite station was the egg station, where they prepare all kinds of eggs, from scrambled to eggs benedict.
They also had an interesting selection of breads, including carrot and spinach bread.
The breakfast area is open-air, so it gets quite hot, and maybe that’s why there were a few too many flies around, which was a bit annoying. One thing I’ve learned that all Thai accommodations seem to have in common is mediocre coffee. I can’t quite get my head around that, since northern Thailand, around Chiang Rai, produces delicious coffee beans.
Was it the best breakfast I’ve ever had? Certainly not, but it did the job.
The resort also has a few restaurants on-site: Sushi Mizumi, The Watermark, Nawa Thai Cuisine, and the Pool Bar.
The Beach
There’s a small beach in front of the hotel, perfect for watching the sunset. There are no sunbeds, and there’s another resort next door where the beach ends, so it’s not really suited for long morning walks.
➞ If a longer beach with more bars and restaurants matters more to you, than Long Beach might suit you better. I compare all the main areas in my Where to Stay in Koh Lanta guide.
One Thing Worth Mentioning Before You Book
Our room was located about a half-minute walk from the main pool/beach and half a minute from reception. It was slightly up the hill, but completely manageable. They told us at reception that if needed, we could call and get the hotel tuk-tuk to pick us up, which felt unnecessary for our room.
On our last day, I was curious about the hillside pool, so I walked all the way up. Note that this pool, and the entire road leading to it, is surrounded by villas. From the top, I was actually able to see the beach, and the views were very impressive, but it was such a steep climb that during the busiest time of year, it might be worth considering and double-checking where your room is located, especially if you don’t want to wait around for someone to drive you up.
Final Thoughts: Would I Stay Again at Rawi Warin Resort?
To sum it up, we had a pretty comfortable stay. We were lucky to get an amazing deal, for 4 nights with breakfast we paid just 250 USD, and for that price and the quiet stay we got, it was totally worth it. I think the grounds of the resort, with the lake and greenery, are stunning, as well as the main infinity pool. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back under the similar conditions.
As someone who doesn’t enjoy big, overcrowded hotels and loud tourists, I’d think twice about coming during high season, but that’s just my personal preference.
➞ For the full picture of the island beyond this one resort, check out my complete Koh Lanta Travel Guide.
FAQ: Staying at Rawi Warin Resort
How many pools does Rawi Warin have?
Rawi Warin has the main infinity pool, a kids’ pool, and a lap pool, and these are open all year round. There’s also a hillside pool and an ocean pool, but these are closed during monsoon season.
Is Rawi Warin walking distance to the beach?
The resort sits directly on a small beach. Khlong Noen Beach, which is longer and has beach bars, is a 4-minute drive away, or a 17-minute walk.
Is Rawi Warin worth the price compared to other Koh Lanta resorts?
In mid-May (low season), we paid roughly $63 a night including breakfast, and for that price it was absolutely worth it. I checked the price for high season, January 2027, and it was $160 for the Deluxe Room. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that’s worth it.
Is Rawi Warin good for couples?
I came with my husband, and it’s totally good for couples, especially if you’re looking for a bit more privacy and don’t want to share every wall with someone else. The Deluxe Rooms are set up as small villas housing about 8 rooms each, so we didn’t get bothered by people walking past our room or slamming doors late at night.
