Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Tonsai Tower

International > Asia > Thailand > S - Islands & B… > Koh Phi-Phi
Warning Access Issue: Warning! Stainless steel bolts are suspect near the coast! DetailsDrop down

Description

The main climbing wall on the beautiful island of Ko Phi Phi Don; not to be confused with Tonsai Wall or Tonsai Beach on the Phra Nang Peninsula. A large wall with nearly 30 moderate routes and a few hard ones as well. Two routes summit the 450 foot tower.

The protection on Tonsai Tower is completely made up of titanium and stainless steel glue in bolts, and all have been placed after the year 2000. The stainless bolts are much newer, and were of better quality to begin with, than most of the bolts in Railey. The correct, Red Hilti RE-500 Glue was used as well. There have been NO failures... compared to about one per week in Railey! The slings and anchor threads are regularly changed and can be trusted, but as always in Thailand, inspect all of the protection you are clipping!

EVERY SINGLE ANCHOR on Tonsai Tower has at least one Titanium Bolt.

The wall is popular with climbing schools, but the guides rarely work on the left side of the tower, or on anything above 5.8. Most of them are very accommodating if you really want to climb something they are using.

The increasing number of gumbies climbing here in high season is the largest hazard, followed by monkeys that will take your food if you leave it laying around.

The tower is packed full of routes and this does take away from some of the climbs. However, the features allow the entire wall to be climbed so that is what happened. See the route descriptions to find out what routes to do and which ones to skip.

Getting There

Head out of Phi Phi town toward Tonsai bay and continue west along the beach towards the towering (aptly named) Tonsai Tower (“Tonsai” meaning tower). You can’t miss it. When the Tsunami Evacuation Path turns right toward the Drinking Wall, stay straight on the beach and you'll see the tower.

Follow the beach to the end and say hello to Pi Dar and Bong Dot at Phi Phi Popular Beach Resort. Walk UNDER the left side of the last bungalow, and head up and right the rocky scramble with fixed ropes, 5 min to the wall.

The trail comes out where Gladiator heads up and left, and three other climbs are packed in on the right.

Routes from Left to Right

5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 4
● The Severed Garden
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 3
● Spanish Caravan
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 3
● Crisis? What Crisis?
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 11
● Sut Yawd
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 5
● Picking Beans in Guatemala
Sport
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 6
● Sol y Sombra
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● Brian Fagman
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● Latitude Eight
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 8
● Baron Von Tok
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 6
● Trong Pai
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 10
● Lois Lane
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
● High Noon (Formerly Mr. Phi Phi)
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 13
● Seven Samurai
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 23
● Gladiator
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 6
● Three Musketeers
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 10
● Pai Noon Mai
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 12
● Ban Dai
Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 12
● [Redacted]
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 13
● Andrea's Spine Line
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 6
● So, So, Sooo...People Come & Peo…
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 15
● Hanna's Gift
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 10
● Jug City
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 13
● Golden Copulation
Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● Stir Fried Water
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 1
● Peyote Detour
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
● British, Russian, or Nineteen
Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 9
● Mr Viper, Mr. Pit Viper
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 7
● Birthday Boy
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 3
● Pirates of the Andaman
Sport 2 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 3
● Vertical Vision
Sport
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 7
● Stolen Russian Submarine
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 3
● 3D Zone
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 5
● Rev de Phi Phi Don
Sport 6 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
● Kiss the Serpent
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 5
● Going Dutch
Sport 4 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 8
● Cottonbrains of Infancy
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b PG13
 1
● Baron Von Tok, le Retour
Sport 2 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 1
● Way to the Whiskey Bar
Sport 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● The Severed Garden
 4
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
● Spanish Caravan
 3
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Crisis? What Crisis?
 3
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Sut Yawd
 11
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Picking Beans in Guatemala
 5
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Sol y Sombra
 6
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Brian Fagman
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Latitude Eight
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Baron Von Tok
 8
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Trong Pai
 6
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Lois Lane
 10
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
● High Noon (Formerly Mr. Phi…
 14
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Seven Samurai
 13
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Gladiator
 23
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Three Musketeers
 6
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
● Pai Noon Mai
 10
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Ban Dai
 12
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● [Redacted]
 12
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
● Andrea's Spine Line
 13
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● So, So, Sooo...People Come…
 6
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Hanna's Gift
 15
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Jug City
 10
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Golden Copulation
 13
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
● Stir Fried Water
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Peyote Detour
 1
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● British, Russian, or Nineteen
 5
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Mr Viper, Mr. Pit Viper
 9
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
● Birthday Boy
 7
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Pirates of the Andaman
 3
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport 2 pitches
● Vertical Vision
 3
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Stolen Russian Submarine
 7
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● 3D Zone
 3
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Rev de Phi Phi Don
 5
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport 6 pitches
● Kiss the Serpent
 4
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Going Dutch
 5
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport 4 pitches
● Cottonbrains of Infancy
 8
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Baron Von Tok, le Retour
 1
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b PG13 Sport 2 pitches
● Way to the Whiskey Bar
 1
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport 2 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Re-bolting at night, Tonsai Tower
[Hide Photo] Re-bolting at night, Tonsai Tower
Tonsai Wall at sunrise. Saw a couple of people climbing one afternoon. Glue in bolts looked good. Anchors rope strands looked faded and dusty.
[Hide Photo] Tonsai Wall at sunrise. Saw a couple of people climbing one afternoon. Glue in bolts looked good. Anchors rope strands looked faded and dusty.
One of the easier climbs to the climbers right of Andrea's Spine Line. Not sure of the name/not on mountain project. If anyone knows the name would love the info! Bolts look great, threads a bit dusty.
[Hide Photo] One of the easier climbs to the climbers right of Andrea's Spine Line. Not sure of the name/not on mountain project. If anyone knows the name would love the info! Bolts look great, threads a bit du…
Tonsai Tower
[Hide Photo] Tonsai Tower
Right side base. Note the chunky nature of the rock. This is where the easiest routes are.
[Hide Photo] Right side base. Note the chunky nature of the rock. This is where the easiest routes are.
Deanna Lee on Tonsi Tower
[Hide Photo] Deanna Lee on Tonsi Tower
looking down from Tonsi Tower
[Hide Photo] looking down from Tonsi Tower
Macaque at the base of the tonsai tower. Watch out, these things will creep close slowly and innocently, and then bum rush your packs. Chase them off when they wander close, or they will pilfer your stuff while you climb.
[Hide Photo] Macaque at the base of the tonsai tower. Watch out, these things will creep close slowly and innocently, and then bum rush your packs. Chase them off when they wander close, or they will pilfer y…

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Ryan Kelly
work.
[Hide Comment] These were all taken from memory and pieced together with what little notes I took in my guidebook. And of course, info learned from Lightner's book. If anything seems severly out of whack, drop me an email and I'll fix it up. Have fun in Thailand. Aug 1, 2007
Ken H
Granite, UT
[Hide Comment] We were here in 2007 (against the rumors of sewage on the beach from the Tsunami) and there was almost no one and you probably could get a bungalow on the beach for 800 baht. We are back and I think those are now 3,000 bath and booked full (Feb 2011). We got a fair private room (with bathroom) in town for 1,200 for 2/1,500 for 3 and people are waiting everyday to see if we are checking out. Feb 12, 2011
TAvance154
[Hide Comment] BRING BUG SPRAY! I had the time of my life climbing at this crag for a few days. But I've never had more bug bites in my entire life. You could play connect the dots on my leg for hours. Also..Don't feed the monkeys either, or they'll never leave you alone.

I stayed at the Popular Beach Resort which happened to be the closest place to the routes. Ended up being about 90 bucks(in April) a night(US dollars) which was alright split between 3 people. A/C room with private bath and tv.

Can't say enough how much fun I had out there! The people at the Deaf Gecko are awesome too, they will answer any question you have and are really close to the tower. Dec 3, 2012
Austin Adair
[Hide Comment] A lot of this wall has morning and afternoon sun. Way too hot for me to climb. Best time would be early morning like just after sunrise or late afternoon. Just keep an eye on the wall when you walk up. If the suns on the wall chances are you're gonna fry. Nov 20, 2016
Cooper Uliano
[Hide Comment] anyone know the name and grade of the climb all the way to the right under the trees in the forested section? Jan 20, 2020
Anthony L
Hobo gulch
[Hide Comment] The monkeys are super duper territorial here. We got to the trailhead and were met by at least 15 monkeys and they chased us away. Then the monkeys proceeded to terrorize the nearest restaurant.

I think the lack of climbers has maybe allowed the monkeys to take over. Anywho, we bailed because getting bitten by a monkey didn’t sound worth it. Dec 24, 2021
Michael Dom
[Hide Comment] This wall is closed. Thai Rangers showed up and told us if we were there again we faced a 5,000 Baht fine. Mar 23, 2022