6wks in Thailand

I'll be in Thailand for ~6wks starting in Feb.  Looking for an itinerary as I'm totally flexible as to where to go, with the exception that I'm traveling with my non-climber / non-dirtbag wife so while I don't need luxury at all, I do need a decent place with minimal stairs to get in/out of lodging.    Looking for 11's and 12's mostly.  Not in need of the party scene, but a nice social atmosphere, and of course access to partners.  

I'll also have my scuba gear with me, so looking to blow some bubbles as well.   Figure a couple weeks here and there to get a little tour.

railay and tonsai.

 there's a really fun wall right next to the freedom beach bar in tonsai. right on the beach. best climbing atmosphere i've encountered in thailand. you and your wife can spend all day in this area for weeks. great people. up the road a ways are a climbing shop with good english speakers, great food, and really nice bungalows.

cross a little point to get from tonsai to railay or vice versa. railay has less fun climbing, and is more touristy, but has more amenities.

Go to Chaing Mai, stay for a few days. Then rent a scooter, and go to Crazy Horse Buttress.  Stay at La Bhu Salah in the town of Mai On.  Spending a week or two of your trip at La Bhu Salah and climbing at Crazy Horse is a really good balance between staying in a NICE guest hose and relaxing, and getting to climb.  There are also some hot springs, several Wats, and a really cool cave that is also a Buddhist Temple down the road for rest days.  If you're looking for 11's and 12's Crazy Horse has plenty to keep you busy for a few weeks.

K. Le Douche wrote:

Go to Chaing Mai, stay for a few days. Then rent a scooter, and go to Crazy Horse Buttress.  Stay at La Bhu Salah in the town of Mai On.  Spending a week or two of your trip at La Bhu Salah and climbing at Crazy Horse is a really good balance between staying in a NICE guest hose and relaxing, and getting to climb.  There are also some hot springs, several Wats, and a really cool cave that is also a Buddhist Temple down the road for rest days.  If you're looking for 11's and 12's Crazy Horse has plenty to keep you busy for a few weeks.

I'm thinking about climbing in Chiang Mai either the week of December 16th or the week after January 1st. Is that a good time to be in Chiang Mai? How crowded is it? Going solo so I'll need to find partners. 

madek wrote:

railay and tonsai.

 there's a really fun wall right next to the freedom beach bar in tonsai. right on the beach. best climbing atmosphere i've encountered in thailand. you and your wife can spend all day in this area for weeks. great people. up the road a ways are a climbing shop with good english speakers, great food, and really nice bungalows.

cross a little point to get from tonsai to railay or vice versa. railay has less fun climbing, and is more touristy, but has more amenities.

If his wife has mobility issues getting to Railay will be a problem. Whilsts there is heaps of good climbing at Tonsai/Railay, there's not a whole lot to do for non-climbers, everything else will require boat travel to and from.

Working on refining the itinerary.  Plan is to fly into Phuket (Feb 3) and stay for a few days.  Then ~2wks on Phi Phi Don, ~2wks on Railay, and ~2wks for Chiang Mai.  

I'm 42 so not going to go get drunk every night with the 20-somethings (that said a lot of my climbing partners and friends are in their 20's), so trying to get a sense of the atmosphere in places so I can divide the time most appropriately.    My wife is pretty happy sitting on a beach for days - I think each place we are planning is ok for her but not quite sure how to divide the time.  

Jeremy Lubkin wrote:

Working on refining the itinerary.  Plan is to fly into Phuket (Feb 3) and stay for a few days.  Then ~2wks on Phi Phi Don, ~2wks on Railay, and ~2wks for Chiang Mai.  

I'm 42 so not going to go get drunk every night with the 20-somethings (that said a lot of my climbing partners and friends are in their 20's), so trying to get a sense of the atmosphere in places so I can divide the time most appropriately.    My wife is pretty happy sitting on a beach for days - I think each place we are planning is ok for her but not quite sure how to divide the time.  

Im mid 50's and i enjoy Tonsai, I Stay at The Tonsai Beach Resort (I'll be there for a week in April) $260AUD for 6 nights A/C room for 2. 2 min walk to the beach, 15 min walk to Raily (at low tide) The bar on the beach (Chill Out Bar) is laid back and cruisey in the PM. The strip outside the resort has decent food and the night life is always active. Slack lining, fire Twirling etc...

2 Weeks in Tonsai will be enough for you and you wife, it cost beans to get a Longtail from Tonsai beach to Railey or Prah nang. you can organise a snorkel trip and other actviites also.

Thanks Squeak.  She prefers to stay on Railay West beach - for her getting in and out of a long boat is 10X the ordeal of 'normal' people, and she will mostly be sitting on the beach relaxing while I dive or climb.  Have you been to Chiang Mai or Phi Phi for climbing?  I'm wondering how to divide my climbing time.  My roommate went to all these places but didnt dive or climb - he liked Chiang my by far the best, and didnt really like Phi Phi.   So I'm leaning towards 3wks for Chiang Mai - doing more touristy things.

Jeremy Lubkin wrote:

Thanks Squeak.  She prefers to stay on Railay West beach - for her getting in and out of a long boat is 10X the ordeal of 'normal' people, and she will mostly be sitting on the beach relaxing while I dive or climb.  Have you been to Chiang Mai or Phi Phi for climbing?  I'm wondering how to divide my climbing time.  My roommate went to all these places but didnt dive or climb - he liked Chiang my by far the best, and didnt really like Phi Phi.   So I'm leaning towards 3wks for Chiang Mai - doing more touristy things.

I've treked around Chang MAi but not climbed. IT's an interesting place lots of hustle and bustle, and in the Mountains the villages are great. 

I've not been to Phi Phi as I see it more like the standard "Bali" type experience, lots of 20yo running about having fun and staying up late partying. Not really my scene.   

Jeremy Lubkin wrote:

Have you been to Chiang Mai or Phi Phi for climbing?  I'm wondering how to divide my climbing time.  My roommate went to all these places but didnt dive or climb - he liked Chiang my by far the best, and didnt really like Phi Phi.   So I'm leaning towards 3wks for Chiang Mai - doing more touristy things.

phi phi has pretty cool diving, but it's a major party scene. i'd not recommend it because of this. most people sleep most of the day and party all night. i spent a few days there, i wouldn't go there just for the climbing, but it is beautiful. chiang mai has really good climbing at crazy horse. i went to a gym in town, "no gravity", and met some locals who told me about a service that buses you to and from the crag. i don't remember what it's called but the gym staff will be happy to tell you about it.

crazy horse is definitely worth while. you can climb there for a few weeks. and there is a lot to do in the city!

Varun Singh wrote:

I'm thinking about climbing in Chiang Mai either the week of December 16th or the week after January 1st. Is that a good time to be in Chiang Mai? How crowded is it? Going solo so I'll need to find partners. 

That would be a great time to be there.  You can find partners at Crazy Horse, or go to the climbing shop in Chiang Mai.  You shouldn't have trouble meeting up with someone.  If you are going to be there for New Year's Eve, I'd suggest staying in Chiang Mai.  They have a pretty good New Year's Eve celebration.

K. Le Douche wrote:

That would be a great time to be there.  You can find partners at Crazy Horse, or go to the climbing shop in Chiang Mai.  You shouldn't have trouble meeting up with someone.  If you are going to be there for New Year's Eve, I'd suggest staying in Chiang Mai.  They have a pretty good New Year's Eve celebration.

Yep, think I am decided on Chiang Mai. Thanks for the beta!