Rock climbing is an adventurous activity for those who love challenge, excitement and outdoor sports. At the beginning, rock climbers were mostly foreigners who traveled to Thailand, especially at Ao Railay in Krabi. Railay Bay is home to beautiful white sandy beaches, blue sea with stunning limestone cliffs towering into clear blue sky.
Although it is considered a dangerous activity, rock climbing is increasingly popular among international and domestic tourists. As a result, many more travel agencies have added rock-climbing activities in their tour programs, and some have also included rappelling, jungle and waterfall trekking, as well as cave exploration in the trip.
Ao Railay
Many new rock-climbing sites have been introduced; each has its own uniqueness and beauty.
Ao Railay – Two bays, over 600 trails towards a cliff hanger’s haven
The glamour of climbing at Railay Bay is the surroundings decorated by limestone cliffs, emerald sea water, beaches reaching out to the corners of the sky, and cliffs that are ideal for real cliff hangers.
Ao Railay
Railay Bay is separated into 2 sides: Eastern Railay Bay and Western Railay Bay. Tourists who claim to be true cliffhangers and crave excitement will need to get on a boat at the western bay because the limestone cliff on that side has the suitable height for climbing. There are over 600 rock-climbing routes; this presents numerous challenges for individuals of various levels of skills and experience. The towering cliffs of Railay Beach and Ton Sai Beach attract rock climbers from all over the world and have steadily gained fame as one of the premier rock-climbing destinations.
Ao Railay
For tourists who would love to see Phra Nang Cave, take a boat to the western side of the bay. The shore on this side of the bay has beautiful sand and clear water. Inside the cave is the Phra Nang Shrine where mariners perform their religious practices. In the past, fishermen would pray for safety as they left the shores and asked that no obstacles or dangers emerge. Furthermore, the beach in front of the bay is also a destination for people who love to play in water or sunbathe.
Ao Railay
Festivals: Krabi tourist authorities hold an annual climbing event divided into 3 types: Lead Climbing Marathon, Speed Climbing and Deep Water Soloing. During the night, there is a fire contest to spice up the event.
Tips: When you reach Phra Nang Bay, do not forget to trek into the woods and up the mountains to get a breathtaking view of both sides of Railay Bay.
Travel Info: There are many local buses leaving from Krabi town to Hat Ao Nang or Chao Fa Pier, and then take a long-tail boat about 20 minutes to Ao Railay.
Google Geocode: 8.011828,98.837467
Contact: Railay Rock Climbing Club, +668 9294 0686, +668 1797 2517.
TAT Krabi Office: +66 7562 2163, +66 7561 2811-2
Facilities & Services: Rock climbing instructor & equipment, food, long-tail boat and restroom.
Crazy Horse Cliff – Ideal for an adrenaline challenge
The mountain at Mueang On Cave has its own beauty with its height reaching 150 m. There are two sides of the mountain, with the first side being a huge and stunning cave where tourists can enjoy exploring and view the peculiarity of animal-shaped stalagmites and stalactites. The other side of the mountain is a steep limestone cliff with a height of 60 – 80 m. This huge and spectacular cliff is very much suitable for climbing.
Crazy Horse Cliff
Due to the unique shape of the rock, it looks very similar to the shape of a horse’s head. That’s why it is named as “Crazy Horse”. Cliff climbers are able to walk around this hill in order to find preferable climbing trails depending, of course, on the skills and experience of each individual. Trails range from beginner up to expert.
For novice climbers, you will be trained in the Introduction to Top Rope Climbing Course to learn the necessary basic techniques that will allow you to enjoy cliff climbing safely. Once you have been trained in the Top Rope Course, you will be ready for the thrill of abseiling from the 50 m cliff to the cave entrance. These two brief courses are perfectly suitable for beginners who have never climbed before but would like to have a fun experience in climbing here.
Crazy Horse Cliff
Know before you go: You do not need to have any cliff climbing experience because there are professional trainers available to teach you the basic skills here.
Recommendation: Don’t forget to explore the amazing stalagmites and stalactites and pay respect to the Buddha image inside the Mueang On Cave.
Safety: “Our professional cliff climbing trainers use high quality climbing equipment and are qualified from reliable institutes in North America. They are highly skilled and are able to provide first-class technical support.”
Travel Info: From Chiang Mai City, drive along Highway 1006 (Chiang Mai-San Kamphaeng-On Luai) and turn left to Highway 1317 (Chiang Mai-Ban Sahakorn), then follow the sign toWat Tham Mueang On.
GPS Location: N18° 47.325’, E99° 14.286’
Contact: The Peak Adventure, +66 5380 0567 to 8 – www.thepeakadventure.com
Facilities & Services: Climbing gear, trainer, transfer, toilet, food and parking.
Crazy Horse Cliff
