Climbing to new heights

On Nov 24, The Rock Climbing Festival Thailand Championship 2007 (www.hyperventure.com) opens in Chiang Mai. For beginners or amateurs like us, it’s an entertaining spectacle that may inspire you to get “high” yourself.

Getting Started

There’s nothing quite like vertigo to get the blood pumping. Once regarded as an extreme sport, rock climbing is now more popular than ever, thanks to more accessible facilities and safer equipment. It’s also a fantastic form of exercise—climbing a natural rock wall burns about 700 calories an hour (a session can last up to six hours), and develops all major muscle groups. 

Chaivudh Buthdong, president of the Sport Climbing Association of Thailand, says it’s not only good for physical training, but also good for training your mind. “Every sport has its strength and for rock climbing the emphasis is on physical strength and imagination,” he says, “You need to imagine yourself in different positions—where you should put your hands and your feet—and know what your limits are.”

People who are afraid of heights always say no to this sport, but the fact is, mountain climbing is very safe. “It’s a sport where you fight with yourself; you have to conquer your own fear,” said Chaivudh. “On the equipment side, I can say it’s more than 100 percent safe. Every piece of equipment people are using in Thailand has reached international standards; a rope can lift objects of up to 2,000 kilograms. By comparison, a man’s weight is nothing.”

If you’ve never been rock climbing before, you can’t just leap into it. Go to one of the places listed here for professional instructors to watch your back and hook you up with the right gear.

Outdoor Climbs

Krabi is a must-go for climbers, in the top five of the world’s best spots for mountain climbing no less. Climbers can’t resist the breeze, the smell of the sea and the emerald water down below that Krabi has to offer. The Southern provinces boast many spots for all levels from beginners to professionals with over 700 routes. One popular climbing spot is the east side of Railay Beach. Ton Sai Bay Resort (075-622-584, www.tonsaibayresort) is perfect for climbers and is near both Railay and Ao Nang. The resort’s climbing club sports all standard equipment and provides instructors. Rooms start from B2,800.

Just a two-hour drive from the south of Railay is a new hot climbing destination, Ao Loaliang, in Trang. The beach is still intact and less busy there, as it is a part of the national park—no concrete, no permanent hotels, bars, etc. The beach is backed by limestone cliffs and provides about 500 climbing routes—the reason why it draws more height lovers each year. There, they offer luxurious and spacious tents. A three-day/two-night mountain climbing package is B5,200 for weekdays and B5,900 for weekends. The package includes accommodation, meals, climbing equipment and tours around the island. They have a half-day beginners program for B500. Contact Excite Diving and Traveling at 02-730-0935 for more information.

If you have just started, hit Pa Ngam Mountain Lodge (02-435-6923, www.pangam.com) in Prachinburi, which is a three-hour drive from Bangkok. They offer lots of activities like Flying Fox—you sail on a wire with a handle—Sky Coaster, wall climbing and actual cliff climbing. There you will be able to climb down the cliff of Weerawan waterfall with splashing water down under (B800 per person). A room for two starts from B1,400.   

More rock climbing places with a sea view pepper Phuket: Check out Gecko Extreme (35/1 M.4, Chalong, Muang, Phuket. 08-9474-4776, 08-9474-0662. www.geckoextreme.com). They offer both day and overnight trips. Choose from Pan-yee Island, Phang Nga, Phi Phi Island and more.

Indoor Climbs

Climbing walls are a great option for those who want to make sure they're fit and trained when they go for that big trip to Krabi. Centers provide all the necessary equipment and have instructors on hand. And like diving, climbers need a buddy, or so-called “delayer,” so you can take a friend.

You can start at the Sport Climbing Association of Thailand (08-1666-4000, www.scatclimbing.com). They welcome visitors, but it’s better to have a membership (B300). They have skillful instructors and provide all the necessary equipment, but again they focus more on the sports side and not the leisure.

Proclimber Adventure (www.proclimbingthai.com, 02-411-1949) is recommended by the climbing association. They have three types of courses: Kids (7 years old up), basic and Interluxury. Each course comes with a one-day trip to a real climbing site outside Bangkok. Here you can get rock climbing tools as well. They regularly organize climbing trips out of town for their members, too.

The Capitol Club Bangkok (99/397 Sukhumvit Soi 24, Klongton, Klongtoey. 02-661-1210-26 Ext. 5001-2. www.thecapitolclub.com) is a luxury sport club at the center of Bangkok, and they have a 10-meter-high rock-climbing wall meant for all ages. To climb here you need a membership, but you can also use your membership for all their other facilities such as tennis and squash courts, swimming pool and yoga class.