Krabi Climbing Through Amateur Eyes:
Best Routes, Costs & Local Tips

This is my fifth blog about my 2024 Krabi climbing trip, where I celebrated a full year of lead climbing outdoors. My first two days were spent climbing at a well-known spot called The North Wall. If you're curious about what it was like for an amateur climber like me, you can check out my previous blogs: The North Wall (Day 1) and The North Wall (Day 2) .

Or maybe you’re more interested in my adventures at one of the most famous and breathtaking climbing destinations in the world—Railay Beach! In that case, you can read about my Day 3 at Railay Beach and Day 4 at Railay Beach.

As promised in my last post, I'll be sharing highlights of my krabi climbing trip, favorite routes, local food, and cost breakdowns for amateur climbers in Krabi. But before we get into that, let me tell you about one last climb I squeezed in on Day 5 before catching my flight back to Bangkok.

Pie, my climbing buddy, and I had the entire morning free before our evening flight. Our hotel was only a 15-minute walk from The North Wall, so what better plan than heading back for one last climb?

A friend in Bangkok and a few climbers I met at Railay told me about a must-try 6a route at The North Wall called "Keep Yourself Alive." Naturally, I wanted to give it a shot.

When I got there, though, the route looked intimidating. It’s a 25-meter wall, and to top it off, there weren’t many climbers around, so I couldn’t even ask someone if I could try top-roping it first. I guess that’s a sign—it’s officially on my list for my next trip!

Since The North Wall has only a few 5-grade routes, Pie and I decided to climb Carrie On . If you remember from my second blog, this route starts tough—the first two bolts require good balance on tiny holds. Pie is great at that, so she agreed to clip the first two bolts, and then I would lead the rest of the route and set up a top rope for her.

For the full details of my experience climbing this route, you can check out my day 2 blog .

Now, let’s get into the real meat of this blog—some local-style tips, costs, and recommendations for amateur climbers in Krabi! Since I’m sharing from my perspective as a Thai climber, some things might be different if you’re visiting from abroad, but a few things are unavoidable, especially in a world-famous spot like Railay.

I was in Krabi during peak season in December, which means everything was more expensive, especially hotels. If you're planning to stay in Railay Beach, expect higher accommodation costs. An alternative is staying in Ao Nang and taking a wooden passenger boat to Railay Beach, which is only a 15-minute ride

You might wonder if it’s worth staying in Ao Nang and commuting to Railay for climbing. While Ao Nang hotels are slightly cheaper, keep in mind that during peak season, all accommodation in Krabi gets pricey. I stayed in a 2-3 star hotel about 1 km from Ao Nang Beach, which cost around THB 800 (~$23, Dec 2024 rate)/ night. That was much more reasonable compared to Railay Beach, where prices were nearly triple depending on where you stay.

Another highlight of staying in Ao Nang is, of course, the beautiful boat ride to Railay and back. It costs about THB 200 (~$6, Dec 2024 rate) per trip. In the morning, you get to see a golden sunrise, clear blue water, and stunning limestone cliffs. And in the evening, you experience it all again under a breathtaking sunset. So, when you combine the cost of accommodation and transportation, staying in Ao Nang is still cheaper than Railay, plus you get to enjoy the scenic boat ride. I’m not against staying in Railay, but I wanted to lay out an alternative and the benefits that come with it.

Another advantage of staying in Ao Nang is the variety of food options. As a Thai person, I love authentic local food, especially southern Thai cuisine —which is known for its bold spices and seafood. However, since Krabi is a tourist hotspot, many restaurants serve Westernized Thai food.

After some searching, I found two must-try local restaurants:

1. Wang Sai Seafood – Located a bit farther from Ao Nang Beach, this beachfront spot is a favorite among locals. I’ve been there twice, and it never disappoints. The seafood is fresh, the flavors are authentic, and the prices are reasonable.
2. Ruenmai – About 10 km from Ao Nang, this restaurant is famous for its Krabi-style southern food. The setting is beautiful, with traditional Thai architecture and a peaceful atmosphere. The food is excellent, though slightly pricier than Wang Sai. If you're craving spicy southern Thai dishes, these two places should be on your list!

Staying in Ao Nang also gives you easy access to The North Wall—you can either walk from your hotel (depending on location) or rent a motorbike. As an amateur climber, I found The North Wall limited in beginner-friendly routes. There are only two 5-grade routes, and between the two, I’d recommend "Psycho Killer" . If you’re interested in climbing this route, check out my day 1 experience.

For amateur climbers visiting Railay Beach, I highly recommend Thaiwand Wall . It has a few excellent 5-grade routes with stunning views. My favorite was one next to "It" —I can’t recall the exact name, but it was a juggy climb with solid footholds, about 20 meters high, and the view from the anchor was unreal. I’ll update the name when I find it! You can read more about it in my day 3 blog . to see why it was my favorite.

I can’t believe how fast this trip went by, but every moment was worth it. Looking back at my progress since I started lead climbing in 2023, I’m amazed at the achievements, memories, and friendships I’ve made—belay-tionships, if you will!

Before I started climbing, I never understood the deeper meaning of experiences. Vacations were just about having fun. But climbing taught me that trips like this require preparation, effort, and learning, which makes them so much more rewarding.

Have you ever heard of a Thai city called Lopburi ? It’s about 2.5 hours from Bangkok and famous for its mischievous monkey gangs and breathtaking sunflower fields in December. But did you know it also has an awesome climbing spot that’s popular among Thai climbers?

It’s actually where I first learned to lead climb! So in my next blog, I’ll take you on my New Year climbing trip to Lopburi—including my attempt at a 6b+ lead climb! But I’ll leave it there as a cliffhanger. See you in the next blog!

Until then, thanks for reading

ByrdieOnTheRocks :)