Need to get high? SE Asia's got your fix. Much of SE Asia's geology is comprised of limestone and karst rock formations, shaped into impressive buttresses, outcrops and sheer faces formed by wind, water and time. The jungle takes over quickly here, and you will likely spot your ancestors swinging from the trees around you. If you are a climber, surely you've heard of the cliffs of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam; world-class climbing routes in Tonsai, Thailand, and the heart-stopping high walls in China. Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, almost every country in SE Asia offers spectacular walls and routes, each place unique in the kind of rock and terrain you'll be traversing.
Climbing adventures can take you far into remote areas, and some crags can take a while to get to. Parachute hammocks have become a necessary item for the FS team when we go climbing, and it's only 1 kilogram to carry! The long straps come in really handy to stretch from trees that are spaced a little too far.
Our local crag in Chiang Mai is called Crazy Horse, named after the horse head rocks that dramatically tower over the main crag, poising as an equestrian God of stone watching over us. There are over 300 bolted climbs at Crazy Horse, set among limestone cliffs, dripping karst stalagtites and deep caves with chillingly high ceilings. One of most famous climbs to work yourself up to, "Gatekeeper", will make your palms sweat just looking at it. Only those with guts of steel will be able to crimp up this diagonal line that drops hundreds of meters below you into a dark abyss. There is a plethora of beginner routes, advanced technical routes, multi-pitches and cave routes that will keep you climbing new lines for at least a year.
We get to the crag and pop up the hammock on any two trees. Fortunately there is plenty of vegetation around, proving well-needed shade for belayers. The hammock is a necessary resting place for any third wheel or odd one out in a climbing group, and anyone coming fresh off a route gets dibs to recover. We also use it to keep our food and bags off the ground, because the ants will find our stash FAST. If there aren't too many climbers around, our favorite place to hang it is dangling off low bolts on the rock.
Where are the best spots to climb in SE Asia?
Oh man, I am glad you asked. We've told you about Crazy Horse, so here is a list of some other MUST-VISIT crags of SE Asia. Heck, even if you're not a climber, these places are spectacular and will take you off the pancake trail. Since we have yet to visit them all, please comment below with other epic climbing places you recommend!
Tha Kek, Laos
Green Climber's Home is a climbing camp situated just outside the small town of Tha Kek, Laos. It was founded by a German couple and is built among some of the most impressive and humbling rock formations. There are bungalows, dorms and tents available, and one central hall serving amazing food and cold beer where you can chat with everyone else and meet new climbing partners. Green Climber's Home is nothing short of an amazing experience that will take you outside of society for a while, and they have everything a humble climber needs, so you won't need to venture into town much. You'll probably want to stay for at least a week, the journey is worth it and there are just so many routes and areas to explore. Be ready to pet some goats and cows.
Tonsai and Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand
This spit of land off Krabi province is guaranteed to impress you. There are endless routes to climb, and local rock shops in Railay can get you started and point you in the right direction. You'll probably want a guidebook to find these climbs, and there will be plenty of other climbers around to help you out. The walls are ancient limestone and karst, dripping with stalactites and funky features that will make it one of the most fun (and challenging!) places to climb. Beware many routes can be polished and queued up in busy season, it's a popular place. Tonsai and Railay are two seperate beaches in the same bay, connected by a short intermediate-level walk through the jungle. Railay is home to 5-star resorts and honeymooners, while Tonsai hosts the shoestring climbers there for the epic sends, cheap bungalows and beer, reggae music and other offerings of herbal nature.
Cat Ba Island, Vietnam
The towering cliffs of Ha Long Bay make Cat Ba a stunning destination for climbing and deep water soloing. It's a small town on an island that takes a day to get to by ferry, and it's not an entirely popular destination, surprisingly, even though it is a highly developed area for sport climbing for SE Asia. Cat Ba doesn't have too many routes below a 6a, so it's a good destination if you have some experience. Gear and chalk is not readily available in Cat Ba last time we checked, so be sure to stock up on anything you need before you go. There are plenty of epic day trips and outdoor adventuring to do outside the town, so give yourself enough time to explore on those rest days!
Batu Caves, Malaysia
Located in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, yes right in the city, this crag has all kinds of routes scattered throughout a limestone buttress, home of the famous landmark, the Batu Caves. Most people go there to climb the steps to the giant buddha and stand among the cliffs. Climbers get great views of the city and can hang along big tufas, pockets and vined walls. It's not the most popular climbing destination because there are only 18 routes, but the climbs are tried and true and certainly worth a stop if you're in the area.
Nam Pa Pa Yai Climber's Camp, Thailand
This climber's camp is highly recommended for anyone serious about checking out the climbing culture in Thailand. Located about 130 kilometers north of Bangkok in Saraburi province, it's a different world from Bangkok and a nestled in stunning mountain scenery. A popular place for Thai climbers, this camp makes a great effort to promote sustainability, healthy living and provide an outdoor haven for guests. The limestone cliffs are well developed and have all varieties of routes, rocks and styles to try out.
Yangshuo, China
Yangshuo is a top destination for climbers in China, tucked away in a rural area in the south. Known as a backpacker's mecca, and famous in China for it's stunning scenery, it's packed with (over 400) routes of all levels, including the famous "moonwalker" route, stretching across an enormously high arch. There are plenty of local climbing guesthouses and rock shops to get you started with a guide, a course, or to connect you with other climbers. Yangshuo holds an annual climbing festival, dates TBD, but always held sometime between August-November. It includes a weekend of climbing competitions, bouldering, slacklining and other fun activities.
Long Dong, Taiwan
Long Dong is a rocky sandstone coastline in the northeast of Taiwan, about an hour from Taipei. It's a phenomenally scenic place in Taiwan, one that locals come to just for the mountain and ocean views. For a 2 kilometer stretch, nearly 600 routes are lined up along the Pacific Ocean and generally don't see too many other climbers out here - for now! This rock is great for trad climbing, and sport routes are well bolted too. Homei is the nearest little fishing village you can stay in, and I hear there is free camping in this area too!
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