Come climb on your own. Or get guided. Or learn a new skill.
This newsletter wants to supply you with a handful of updates at the start of the this coming season so you can hit the rocks faster when you get to Tonsai or Railay. Most things are same, same but different, however, since it’s been a while, enjoy our updates!
This first edition of our newletter from Tonsai detailed the best weather for a climbing trip to Thailand.
In brief it’s between December and April aka high season in Southern Thailand. If your main interest is to join a DWS trip, please consider these months as during other months waves and winds are much more unpredictable.
The second edition detailed how to plan for a Deep Water Solo Trip.
This edition is on ALL ABOUT CLIMBING, either coming to climb on your own, wanting guidance or learning new skills.
After that please look out for an update on transport and accommodation, we are still collecting info and organsising a regular early morning boat transfer from Ao Nang to Tonsai which will be great for joining an early DWS trip or guided climbing group but just as well if you’re based in Ao Nang and want to spend a day climbing over here.
Also will be answering your questions in a future edition, so if there’s anything you like to see addressed, please let me know!
Here is the break-down:
Guided climbing
Climb On Your Own
Learning new climbing skills
Guided climbing
Even with all those unspent vacation days, you still may only have a few days to spend in Tonsai. Make the most of your time by joining a small group for 1000thb per half-day. This is also a great option even for someone who has never climbed before. No need to book ahead just be at Basecamp at 9am. After one session, our guide can recommend you how to continue. Just do it ;)
If you are staying on the mainland, please check out our next newsletter on early-morning boat transfers to Tonsai as this is usually a difficult time to get a boat. Returning later in the day is easy with day tourists from the beaches.
Climb On Your Own
Tonsai Beach in Railay Bay has been climbers’ Untited Nations for over 20 years and the people you meet here is what makes this place even more special than the amazing limestone routes or the fact that this ist the first climbing destination worldwide to replace all fixed equipment with titanium bolts.
If you are new to climbing, make sure to learn about the unique THAItanium Project, an international climber community effort to replace all fixed equipment with superior titanium bolts. Here’s what one looks like:
For a climbers who has never been to Thailand, bring one thing and plenty of it: time! You will be sorry to leave no matter how long or short your stay is and you will make friends for at least one climbing trip around the world. Apart from time, bring minimum 2 good pair of shoes. Make sure they fit comfortable as your feet will swell up in the heat and yes bring two pairs as you will climb a lot. If you want to bring all gear needed; 12 quickdraws and a 70m rope will suffice.
Tip: due to the current difficult resupply situation make sure not to forget your climbing shoes! It will be hard to buy shoes here. At Basecamp we were not able to get shoe inventory for next season... however, we still have full stock of gear for rent. If you do not want to carry your rope around the world, we have rental packages of 1000THB per day if both climbers have shoes and harness.
Guidebook Update for 2023 will be available at our shop Basecamp in Tonsai. All new crags and routes in Tonsai, recent rebolting and a pointer to all the new routes around Ao Nang.
It’s written for the 2018 guidebook edition, if you have that one the update is only 200THB. This is only available at Basecamp in Tonsai. Unfortunately, the copy cats have made financing new guidebook editions uneconomical and an update is the only way at the moment to get all new info out to visiting climbers. Correct access info is a safety issue, please speak out against half-baked copies. Topos from my guidebook are even on Vertical Life violating my copyright....who will update anything or create new topos if everyone just copies?
Our shop is open every morning between 9am and 11am and in the evening between 7pm and 8pm. Come by to chat!
We have a message board if you're looking for a climbing partner. Or join a DWS trip to get to know other climbers. Or just have a drink and chat to those climbers doing the same. Tonsai is the easiest destination for a solo travelling climber.
Learning new climbing skills
Like any sport, climbing is best enjoyed on a solid knowledge foundation. Basecamp is known for it’s quality course on leading skills. Up your level, get a comprehensive instruction book to keep for future check-ups and enjoy your new skill on the best climbing crags in Thailand.
The objective of our teaching is to give you the skills to confidently make your own decisions when climbing! This will alow you to be responsible for your own safety. Learn how to judge climbing situations as well as new climbing partners! All courses are customized to your current experience level. You do need to prepare, so please pick up your textbook one day before to study.
Thanks for subscribing! The next update will be on transport and accommodation, we are still collecting info and organsising on a regular early morning boat transfer from Ao Nang to Tonsai which will be great for joining an early DWS trip or guided climbing group but just as well if you’re based in Ao Nang and want to spend a day climbing over here. After that expect smaller updates on upcoming transfers, DWS trips and guiding schedules.
Don’t just hang there! Tell a friend to subscribe! There’s more to come....
See you in Tonsai!