Rock climbing in Thailand: Phang Nga waiting to be discovered
Eliya Ponder, of Shawnee, and myself scramble up a Class 3 section of rock in Thailand.
Most of the things I post here have to do with activities here in Oklahoma, things close to home or people from here living out their outdoor adventures wherever they may be.
Today will be a little different. Out There is really going “out there,” as in the southeast Asian nation of Thailand.
Thailand has long been a major tourist destination, especially among Europeans and other Asians. It’s catching on in America as well.
But aside from the beaches in and around Phuket and, let’s just say some of the more “interesting” attractions of Bangkok, Thailand is becoming more well known for its outdoors opportunities. Particularly in southern Thailand’s Phang Nga Province.
Some Aussie climbers hitting a 5.8 route near Railay in southern Thailand.
Rock climbers are finding out that this area of the world offers some prime limestone rock walls and countless opportunities for first ascents, as many of the mountainous regions of Phang Nga haven’t been climbed all that much.
Before I go on, let me offer a disclaimer. I’m not much of a rock climber. I have little experience here, but what I can do is relay information. That said, let’s move on.
The prevalence of limestone mountains and steady erosion caused by heavy rains have given Phang Nga a radical landscape of vertical rock faces scattered across the Malay Peninsula. Some are inland, some are along the coasts. Either way, there’s lots of places to test your skills.
I was there a year ago and managed to play around on some Class 3 and 4 scrambling sections. I can’t report much there except that the rock is mostly solid, there are tons of handholds/footholds and some of the rock walls are 200 feet or more. Online reports I’ve read offer caution, as some limestone sections can be rotten on the surface or, at times, underneath what appears to be solid rock. Always test those holds.
Vertical and overhang faces on the limestone cliffs at Railay, Phang Nga Provice, Thailand.
Erosion has worn some holds down to some pretty sharp edges. So you can expect rough treatment on your hands, feet and knees. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
And one last admonition from a friend of mine who lives there: Where there is jungle, there are snakes. Some are poisonous (vipers, cobras). And they like to hide out in the brush and cracks on the rock faces.
Despite all this, I saw plenty of people who tried their luck on the rock walls. You can expect sheer faces, overhangs and good crack climbing. Some routes pointed out to me rated 5.8 or higher (way above my meager skills).
The opening of a cave. Easily explored, with a reward on the other side.
Some bonus activity: In the areas around Krabi and Railay, you can find some pretty cool caves to explore. One cave near Railay went through the middle of a cliff and opened up to the other side overlooking a pristine bay. A little Class 3 scrambling had to be done inside the cave, and be sure to bring a headlamp.
Eco-tour outfits also offer open water kayaking and snorkeling. And yeah, the beaches are superb.
On the other side of the cave. Worth the scrambling effort.
One last piece of advice: Do your homework on your target areas and stay away from the pricier lodging in Phuket, Krabi or Railay. Instead, find an inexpensive guest house in Phang Nga city and use that as your base. You’ll have to sacrifice some western-style amenities, but you’ll save a lot of money on lodging and you’ll be able to eat cheaper in Phang Nga than you would in the more touristy areas.
Bob Doucette
A sign advertising the rock climbing opportunities in Phang Nga.
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That looks truly amazing. Some of those sea cliffs must be well over 100m. Oh well, better get saving.