Travel Solo as a Climber - Suggestions! Climbing hostels, campgrounds etc!

I have just returned from an amazing solo climbing trip in Spain.  I was amazed, staying at a climbing hostel in El Chorro (the olive branch), by the instant group of climbing partners, friends and community atmosphere.  Finding a climbing partners was not an issue... which surprised me, so I'm curious, what other places/climbing hostels/campgrounds are like this?  and are they seasonal?  I have dear friends I love climbing with, but when they aren't available I'm excited for my next solo adventure to meet really cool folks, both in the US and abroad!  

Thanks for all your advice.  It was amazing to not have to do any networking before showing up somewhere and have a plethora of climbing partners, and new friends!  

So far, I know the finca and olive branch in el chorro.  The climbing hostel in chulilla, for any climbers out there looking for a fantastic winter solo adventure!  

Southeast Asia has a lot of options,  Green Climber's Home in Laos was my 2017 trip, http://www.greenclimbershome.com/climbing/. I always figured females could find climbing partners anywhere though.

Arapiles in Australia.  The campground is awesome

Steve Pulver wrote:

Southeast Asia has a lot of options,  Green Climber's Home in Laos was my 2017 trip, http://www.greenclimbershome.com/climbing/. I always figured females could find climbing partners anywhere though.

Thanks for your recommendation!  that seems like a rad place to climb.  Where all have you climbed in SE Asia?  and did you feel the areas you went were relatively safe.  

While finding partners (for males or females) is generally not a problem, I really loved the genuine experience of showing up to a place without networking before-hand and find a climbing family.  It was nice to connect with someone over making dinner at a climbing hostel, know you have personalities that mesh, then go out and climb together the next day, rather than network before you get there, and learn upon arriving that perhaps you are your climbing partner really don't enjoy each others company. 

Additionally, saying female can find partners anywhere is not cool.  We are all climbers, no need to throw genders around.  

As far as the US is concerned: The New River Gorge. There is an AAC campground and a really incredible community. Also has the best single pitch cragging in the US.

Also Red River Gorge has a community around Miguels and the other climbing campgrounds. RRG is generally more packed, more raucous, and more beginners/gumbies. (The Red has more moderates, softer grades, and closer bolting)

Both of them are seasonalish (fall/spring is best) and i find the weekdays to be nicer than the weekends. The weekdays are all the dirtbags/consistent community but on the weekends all the college climbing teams and weekend warriors and such show up and makes things a little less fantastic. 

Nicole K wrote:

Thanks for your recommendation!  that seems like a rad place to climb.  Where all have you climbed in SE Asia?  and did you feel the areas you went were relatively safe.  

While finding partners (for males or females) is generally not a problem, I really loved the genuine experience of showing up to a place without networking before-hand and find a climbing family.  It was nice to connect with someone over making dinner at a climbing hostel, know you have personalities that mesh, then go out and climb together the next day, rather than network before you get there, and learn upon arriving that perhaps you are your climbing partner really don't enjoy each others company. 

Additionally, saying female can find partners anywhere is not cool.  We are all climbers, no need to throw genders around.  

My only other SE Asia experience was Thailand. Krabi/Tonsai is a great area with lots of other solo climbers, plus it's gorgeous.

 Regarding safety there are a lot of young people (European/Australian/non-climbing) that solo backpack SE Asia without problems. Accidents are probably the most likely issue. You have to be careful with things like drunk inner tubing in Viet Viang, renting scooters, and checking the condition of bolts on some routes.

(Regarding Arapiles, I was able to find a partner, but there seemed to be a lot fewer solo climbers even during peak season, and particularly mid week you might have issues finding someone) YMMV

There's a website called climbcation.com that I used once to plan a vacation, you can filter to find areas that are in season.

another vote for railay/tonsai in thailand. great climbs, feels safe, lots of people at the hostels/bars.etc. to meet and climb with. food is iffy, a lot of people get "tonsai tummy". chiang mai in the north has cool climbing as well.

in california, joshua tree and bishop area are pretty easy to meet a partner for the day.

Nicole K wrote:

I have just returned from an amazing solo climbing trip in Spain.  I was amazed, staying at a climbing hostel in El Chorro (the olive branch), by the instant group of climbing partners, friends and community atmosphere.  Finding a climbing partners was not an issue... which surprised me, so I'm curious, what other places/climbing hostels/campgrounds are like this?  and are they seasonal?  I have dear friends I love climbing with, but when they aren't available I'm excited for my next solo adventure to meet really cool folks, both in the US and abroad!  Are these places seasonal?  

Thanks for all your advice.  It was amazing to not have to do any networking before showing up somewhere and have a plethora of climbing partners, and new friends!  

So far, I know the finca and olive branch in el churro.  The climbing hostel in chulilla, for any climbers out there looking for a fantastic winter solo adventure!  

I am studying abroad in southern France right now but I did not bring any of my gear (besides harness, shoes and chalk bag). Do you think I would be able to go to El Chorro and find climbing partners willing to share gear?

I live in SW China right now and have made a couple random trips to Shigu (in Yunnan province, get there via Lijiang) by myself and had no problem joining a group of people or finding a partner. I also feel very safe. Most people that go to climb there stay at The Stone Drum or another climber's hostel close by that I personally haven't stayed at yet. In addition to being super knowledgeable about the area's climbing and its development, they have awesome local food at the hostel, a good atmosphere, and comfortable sleeping. The owner there is always helpful in letting me know if people are around looking for partners or willing to let someone join them. Up until recently I didn't have my own rope or draws, but they had a rope to rent so it was fine. Liming isn't too far away either if you wanted to do some trad climbing.  And it seems like most people that come through Shigu are making the trip from Yangshuo or Getu (where I hear it is also easy to find partners and have pretty popular spots that climbers stay at).

I will say, from my experience, that this part of China has significantly less English speakers than many parts of SE Asia or Europe.  Very very few.  So if you do come this way it is super helpful to have destination names, and each of the steps to get you there, printed out in characters so you can show it to people and they can point you in the right direction.  

La Mojarra in Columbia. Cheap lodging, a killer restaurant, and a bunch of wonderful locals and international folks. I cant recommend it enough!

Andie Mitchell wrote:

I am studying abroad in southern France right now but I did not bring any of my gear (besides harness, shoes and chalk bag). Do you think I would be able to go to El Chorro and find climbing partners willing to share gear?

most likely, when were you thinking of going? Most people are if you are a solid lead belayer and can clean :)   

Mike Mellenthin wrote:

A random plug for The Olive Branch:

In 2010 21 year old me showed up in El Chorro about a month into an around the world wander with a backpack and not a whole lot of money. It was the off season, but they put me up, let me eat and drink for free, and in return all I had to do was lift some rocks around their pool. And yes, I found folks to climb with even in the summer. At the time Gary and Mel seemed unsure if they were going to make it financially. They are good people. Every time someone mentions their place I am so stoked it worked out.

what month were you in el chorro in the summer?  how were the temps?  The Olive Branch was amazing.  by far one of my favorite experiences.  my only regret is not having more time to stay there.  what a wonderful little climbing community!

Mike Mellenthin wrote:

I think I was there in June, but it was a long time ago. I wouldn't go in the summer. The temps were hot and I think I only climbed early am and late pm. That trip wasn't really climbing focused. I've been to Mallorca in June though and had an awesome time. Don't know about meeting people though, and a car is kind of required.

I dirtbagged for a minute and in general found it easy to meet partners in most major climbing areas I went to. Squamish (summer), El Potrero Chico (winter), and Yosemite (swing season) are places that seem obvious omissions from this thread.

Cool!  were you deep water soloing in mallorca?  

Kemper Brightman wrote:

La Mojarra in Columbia. Cheap lodging, a killer restaurant, and a bunch of wonderful locals and international folks. I cant recommend it enough!

+1 https://www.refugiolarocacolombia.com/

Mike Mellenthin wrote:

 Yes, but not nearly as much as I was sport climbing. The sport climbing is really good. I've also heard there are a bunch of access issues with popular DWS crags now, but you probably want to ask someone who has been there more recently.

is there a climbing hostel in Mallorca?  

Bill 1552 wrote:

+1 https://www.refugiolarocacolombia.com/

thanks! I was looking and it was listing $30 per night, is that USD? and how close are the crags to the hostel?

Yangshuo, El Potrero Chico, Cat Ba, Geyikbairi, Vratsa, Hampi, Jtree, Bishop, City of Rocks.

Nicole K wrote:

thanks! I was looking and it was listing $30 per night, is that USD?

They have a lot of different options, small cottages, private rooms and dorms. I think dorm beds were about $10. The crag is very close to the hostel, 5 - 10 min walk. 

simplyput . wrote:

Yangshuo, El Potrero Chico, Cat Ba, Geyikbairi, Vratsa, Hampi, Jtree, Bishop, City of Rocks.

so, curious how close these are to major cities to fly in and out of/transportation to get to these places, how close the hostels/camping are to the crags, and if they are seasonal if you have any beta!  thanks!  

rockhard wrote:

Arapiles in Australia.  The campground is awesome

Any advice on where to fly in in an out of?  seasonal?  other beta?? 

Nicole K wrote:

so, curious how close these are to major cities to fly in and out of/transportation to get to these places, how close the hostels/camping are to the crags, and if they are seasonal if you have any beta!  thanks!  

Posting all the beta for each of those spots is a bit cumbersome. My suggestion would be to look up the places on MP and within the greater internet world. I find it much more edifying to do my own research than to rely on others, but if you have specific questions about a specific area, I'd be happy to share.