Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ern end of Hat Railay West and offers a sheer limestone cliff with some of the most chal-
lenging climbing routes.
Diamond Cave
(another beginner-to-intermediate favourite) and
Ao Nang Tower
(a three-pitch
climbing wall reached only by long-tail).
The going rate for climbing courses is 800B to 1000B for a half-day and 1500B to
2000B for a full day. Private instruction runs 3000B for a half-day and 5000B for a full-
day. Three-day courses (6000B) involve lead climbing, where you clip into bolts on the
rock face as you ascend. Experienced climbers can rent gear sets for two people from any
of the climbing schools for 800/1300B for a half-/full day - the standard set consists of a
60m rope, two climbing harnesses and climbing shoes. If you're planning to climb inde-
pendently, you're best off bringing your own gear from home; be sure to bring plenty of
slings and quickdraws, chalk (sweaty palms are inevitable in the tropics) and a small se-
lection of nuts and cams as backup for thinly protected routes. If you forget anything,
some climbing schools sell a small range of imported climbing gear but they might not
have exactly what you need or the right size. A woven rattan mat (available locally for
100-150B) will help keep the sand out of your gear.
Several locally published books detail climbs in the area, but
Rock Climbing in Thail-
and
, by Elke Schmitz and Wee Changrua, is one of the more complete guides. There's a
similar book by a non-resident author available through traditional booksellers.
Base Camp Ton Sai
ROCK CLIMBING
8am-9:30pm)
Arguably the most profes-
(
08 1149 9745;
www.tonsaibasecamp.com
;
Hat Ton Sai;
sional outfit in the area.
Highland Rock Climbing
( 08 0693 0374; highlandrockclimbingthailand.weebly.com; Hat Railay East)
If you're bunking on the
mountain, the owner of this outfit is the man to climb with.
ROCK CLIMBING
Hot Rock
ROCK CLIMBING