Mountain and rock climbing is actually not a completely new activity in Thailand. But strangely enough, it didn't first start in the mountainous areas of the north. Instead, climbing was discovered almost a decade ago at Ao Railey in Krabi province, in the south of Thailand.
Groups of young backpackers discovered that the rugged limestone cliffs there offer excellent potential for climbing. Unlike many other countries, the cliffs are very close by - no need to travel for hours before arriving at the site. Today, thousands of travelers come to Thailand for rock climbing because it's easy, cheap, safe and convenient yet still offers challenging climbs for beginners through to hard-core experts.
Most experienced rock climbers usually bring their own equipment. But for those who just want to have a go at rock climbing, some local tour operators offer rock-climbing courses for beginners at reasonable prices. Full equipment is usually provided.
Apart from Ao Railey and other sites in Krabi, rock climbing is available at a private resort in Prachinburi province. Here, rock climbing is available in a scenic mountain setting and the weather is relatively cool - much more pleasant for mountain climbing.