Mountain climbing and canyoneering

Thailand has become a major climbing destination in Southeast Asia. So far, the climbing has been limited to technical rock climbing. There exists a couple of other equally exciting sport that PaddleAsia is pioneering. Tropical mountain climbing and canyoneering offer adventurous travelers the chance to see areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Armed with your sense of adventure, you can join our small group trips to remote regions in Southern Thailand. Our main areas of focus are Khao Sok National Park and Phang Nga Province. Khao Sok is part of the largest old-growth and primary jungle in Southern Thailand. Phang Nga Province offers jungle that is just as impressive, but much easier and less costly to access as it's only one hour north of Phuket.

Phang Nga Province offers something for everyone. There are extremely easy routes in additions to the more challenging routes. If you are looking for a day hike from Phuket, Phang Nga Province is perfect. If you'd like a multi-day trip with a mixture of difficulty levels, that is easy to arrange.

Technical rock climbing is also offered. In fact, you can combine mountaineering with rock climbing to access even more unique areas. One thing is for sure, if it takes a lot of effort to reach an area, chances are you're the first or one of few humans who has been there. Our goal is always to go where others don't go or haven't been. Climbing makes this a reality.

The View from the Top

From the summits of mountains you will get a bird's eye view of the world. There is a feeling of harmony with Nature as you sit atop of mountains. Few places in Southern Thailand can rival the feeling of being on the summit of a mountain in Khao Sok National Park. The park is over 700 square kilometers in size and the vast 165 square kilometer reservoir provides breath-taking views. Some unusual animal encounters are faily common this very special national park.

Looking down on the jungle canopy, you get a different view of some of the common wildlife in the park. Great Hornbills are plentiful. Their two-meter wingspan bestows noise to the usual silent setting. Seeing them from below is wonderful; seeing them from above is magical.

The call of the White-handed Gibbon rings throughout the jungle. Gibbons usually park themselves on top of the tall high-canopy trees to help their songs touch the farthest regions of the jungle. Watching this happen from above is blessed event.

Skills needed

It would be foolish for us not to offer trips for folks who aren’t athletic and who don’t thrive in risk-taking situations. Our easiest climbs are actually hikes. Creekbeds provide easy access to otherwise impenetrable foliage. This type of hike is for those who love nature and who like walking on uneven trails/creekbeds. Sturdy footwear and a sense of adventure is all that needed.

For those who are a bit fit and don’t mind a bit of struggle and its equivalent reward, there exists mountains that don’t require athletic prowess. The trails are typically trails we’ve made and you’ll need to use your hands to assist you in the climbing. No rock climbing skill is necessary.

Further up the scale, you can participate in bona fide mountain climbing. These trails are steep and serious attention must be paid to proper hand and foot placement. Failure to do so often results in scrapes and possibly cuts, as the limestone in Southern Thailand is pretty sharp. On some of the short technical sections, might get close to vertical. In these cases, ropes will be employed. Aid climbing, using ropes, slings and mechanical devices will utilized where considered necessary.

Click here to read more about our climbing rating system.

Potential danger and a total commitment drives some toward mountain climbing and canyoneering. These same things are what drives other away. Whether you thrive on risk-taking and its retrospective gratification or not, we offer climbing and canyoneering trips for you. First-timers can hike up gentle slopes. Seasoned climbers can climb some of our tougher routes or join us on an exploratory trip. New routes and mountains that have yet to be climbed are numerous.

If you'd like, you could combine mountaineering with technical rock climbing. The combination allow you to reach places where others have never been. No experience is needed for the technical rock climbing. We will teach you all you need to know. If you'd like to get vertical but don't particularly want to climb the rock itself, we can lead the climb then you can ascend the rope by mechanical rope ascenders.

First-timers are welcomed. All you need is a sense of adventure.