Thailand Rock Climbing

Author: Rick Chapo

Article:Mention Thailand and images of beaches, elephants and Bangkok
come to mind. Less known is the fact Thailand rock climbing is
some of the best in the world.

Thailand Rock Climbing

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is bordered by Cambodia,
Burma and Laos in the north and Malaysia in the south. The shape
of the country is somewhat similar to Italy, and you'll find
similar differences between northern and southern Thailand that
you do in Italy. For rock climbing enthusiasts, the south of
Thailand is where the action is.

The rock formations in Thailand are almost universally
limestone. The level of climbing can be as simple as bouldering
or as challenging as tackling over vertical cliffs. This makes
Thailand a popular rock climbing destination since it has a
little something for everyone.

Krabi

Located on the southern section of the "tail" of Thailand, Krabi
has a wide variety of rock climbing challenges. Most of the
climbs in this area are of the pre-bolted sport route variety.
There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of climbs with
difficulty levels from beginner to multi-pitch knuckle crushers.

The beauty of climbing in Krabi is...well, the beauty. While you
might have visions of jungles and mosquitoes when thinking of
Thailand, Krabi is an area of a different sort. Most of the
climbs have been set up on cliff faces on the beach. Being
natural capitalists, the Thai's have built hotels, bars and so
on at these locations. As a result, you can literally climb a
multi-pitch route for five hours, cool off with a swim and then
have a beer. If there is such a thing as a rock climbing heaven,
many feel Krabi is it.

Before you cash in your savings, keep in mind that Thailand is a
seasonal vacation spot. If you go during the wet season, there
is a good chance you'll just end up sitting around drinking
beer. While that isn't too bad, you'll go crazy looking at the
climbs that are so close, but oh so far away.

Generally, you want to head to Thailand from late November
through maybe April. The summer months tend to be both
incredibly hot and wet. Make sure you pull up forecasts for the
area before booking a trip.

Flying to Thailand is inexpensive, but flights are incredibly
long with stopovers. Still, it is all worth it once you
experience Thailand rock climbing.

About the author:
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com/climbing.cfm -
makers of rock climbing journals. Personal climbing journals
make great Christmas gifts for rock climbing, mountain climbing
and ice climbing. To read climbing articles and stories, visit
http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com/mountain_rock_ice