 Central
Thailand. Chon Buri
and Lop Buri province are the leading
climbing destinations in the central region. In Chon Buri province,
Ko Sichang is one of the last few relatively less commercialized
destinations in the country. Try the rock spires on the southern
point of Had Tham Phang beach as well as some rock cliffs facing
Wat Tham Yai Prik. Caves are also a big draw here the biggest being
Tham Saowapha, just north of the stairs down to Had Sai Kaew.
Just 2-hours away from Bangkok
in Lop Buri is Khao Cheen Lair where some great limestone continues
to be the focus of routing activities for Bangkok
residents. Khao Jeen Lair is accessed via a temple and is a sacred
place of worship. To get to the cliff you actually have to walk
through the temple and up to the main face. The abbot has requested
that all climbers come and say hello before going up. Furthermore,
there is actually a sacred cave in the cliff. They have asked that
no-one climb above the scared cave at all; climbing along the sides
is allowed. If access is to be maintained it is essential that this
is observed. The monks here are friendly and welcoming and of course
always happy to receive donations and see people making merit.
Lan Sak district in Uthai Thani
is 3.5 hours away from Bangkok
and home to 60 metres of spotless limestone and some great routes.
 Northern
Thailand. There are many great rock
climbing locations close to Chiang
Mai. Being a mountainous region, northern
Thailand is home to many challenging climbs, some of which have
not been officially mapped out. Local knowledge is usually the main
guiding reference.
San Kamphaeng is 45 km from town with more than a 100 climbing
routes. The most famous and popular climbing site is called Crazy
Horse - a rock formation resembling a horse. Crazy Horse is 80 metres
high and leads to an interesting 40 metre cave.
A lesser-known climbing site is at Chai Prakan district. Not as
challenging as Crazy Horse, the site is home to a 25 metre sheer
face in limestone cliffs with roughly 10 routes. Chaiprakhang is
a rather scenic and rewarding experience with views of the valley,
dropping away 200 metres below.
A newer climbing site is located in Chiang
Rai at Mae Kok River. Called Corner Climb, it comprises five
acres within a 10-minute walk of the river - which can also be viewed
from the upper reaches of the rock. Most routes have never been
climbed and are limestone rocks. The longest route here is about
200 feet straight up. This climbing site is a 5-minute bicycle ride
from downtown Chiang Rai and
is also a rather scenic site for climbing.
Southern Thailand.
Khao Yoi in Phetchburi province,
located just 90 minutes south of Bangkok
is home to climbs graded between the 6a- 6c range.
Southwest Thailand, Andaman Sea. Despite being more popular
and famous for its pristine beaches, southern
Thailand is the climbers hang-out. Probably the most famous
climbing sites are Rai Lay Beach and Ton Sai in Phra Nang Bay. Both
are located in Krabi, Thailand’s
most developed and extensive climbing area. With over 500 bolted
routes in walking distance, Rai Lay has become one of the world’s
top climbing destinations. Over 650 routes
have developed since the late 1980’s. Routes here follow limestone
crags, steep, pocketed walls, overhangs and hanging stalactites.
Some are accessed by boat while others are approached via a jungle
walk or by abseiling above the sea.
Phi Phi Island
is another popular rock climbing destination.
The majority of the climbing here is conducted on Phi
Phi Don. It should be noted that Phi
Phi is an archipelago of 2 islands,
Phi
Phi Ley and Phi
Phi Don.
Mountain climbing can also be conducted
at Khao Sok National Park. Expeditions here are usually a combination
of jungle trekking and visits to waterfalls within the park, as
well as kayaking or bamboo rafting.
Southeast Thailand,
Gulf of Thailand.
Ko Tao,
accessible through Surat Thani
at Ko Samui, is a relatively new
destination for climbing. Located Northwest of Ko
Samui and Ko
Pha-ngan, Ko
Tao and is the smallest and most isolated of these three islands
in the southern end of the Gulf
of Thailand. Climbing in Ko
Tao is a completely different experience as the rocks here are
granite boulders as opposed to Krabi’s
overhanging limestone walls. This type of climbing is referred to
as “bouldering”. More well known as a dive learning destination,
Ko Tao
is a destination with more than 40 mapped routes that offer solitude
as opposed to the lively atmosphere in the Andaman destinations.
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