Rock climbing in Tonsai and Railay

The crazy rockformations of limestone mountains around Ao Nang/Krabi are a rock climber's Shangri-La.

A popular destination?

Tonsai and Railay Beach!

have been the climbing destinations since the early 90th and a secret paradise within the climbing community.

Tonsai itself is a small beach reachable by Longtail boat from Ao Nang; it has over 300+ climbing routes, and Railay, the next beach accessible by foot through a little jungle path, impresses with another 400+ routes.

As rock climbing has been a well-practised sport among both foreigners and locals, the climbing areas and facilities are well maintained, along with nearby restaurants and lavatories.

Quite a few climbing schools and climbing gear rental outlets are located directly in Railay and Tonsai, which makes it obviously a great choice to stay overnight here on the Pra-Nang Peninsula, in Krabi Region. The two beaches give off a more island-like vibe, as they are only accessible by boat. To me, it is always a good idea to wake up in paradise and explore as the first thing in the morning before the first boats arrive.

If the map doesn’t work please click here to show the location with Google maps.

The answer to “at what beach to stay” is more easily found than you think by answering these 2 questions:

1. Do you like to have 24h a day accessible electricity,good wifi connections, a pool, warm water shower, lively entertainment and/or air-conditioning? Yes, then, Railay is your place to go.

2. Do you like an eco-lodge vibe- wake up in nature, stay away from the crowds, and focus on climbing? Yes, then Tonsai is your place to be.

Tonsai is tiny, and the accommodations are more “basic”, mostly located in the jungle, which are little bungalows and huts. Some accommodations rent out shared rooms in a hostel-style setup. There used to be the option to set up a hammock or rent one on the beach for a few bucks, but that's a thing of the past. If you're staying at Tonsai, make sure to have breakfast at Mama’s Kitchen; she has the most delicious pancake variations and great Burgers. The nightlife here is laid-back; fire shows and rope dancing are a big part of it, as are live music and some great (pop-up) concerts. Tonsai has an everything-goes vibe, and you will wake up to unique and beautiful scenery, with wildlife at your doorstep and sometimes even closer.

Take care of your belongings; the monkeys still owe me a bikini and a whole lot of fruits and snacks. This applies to both locations, Railay and Tonsai. Good luck with that, friend!

Let's get back to where we started: Rockclimbing!

Here comes a short list of rock climbing schools and guides located at Tonsai and Railay:

Tonsai:

Max Rockclimbing, located next to the Chill-Out Bar and Accommodation, knows the entire area very well as he has been around for many years - climbing with legends in this sport, teaching beginners with great know-how and never short on passion and good vibes.
Basecamp Tonsai, located between the garden view resort and the sunset bar, is also a well-known climbing school here and has been around for a long time with great knowledge and climbs.

Railay:

Have a look at The Wandering Climber Blog here you will find destination guides, crag descriptions and much more.

“the most complete guide for Tonsai climbing available online”

-The Wandering Climber-