Ao Railay
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.
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.
Crazy Horse Cliff
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.
(TAT)
