Featured Trip Report – Thailand
By JSmith
This year, we finally made the move to experience the sport climbing paradise of Railay Beach, Thailand. After shredding 5″ of October shrub/snow hybrid on Teton Pass, we promptly embarked on three days of Xanax, wine and airplanes – JH, SLC, LA, Tokyo, Bangkok, Krabi – to ultimately be dumped off by long-tail boat 100m off the shore from East Railay Beach.
Without further ado, this Ungrounded featured video edit by Michelle Smith tells the tale best of all:
Wanna go? Here are Ten Thai Tips…even radder than Herman Cain’s 999 plan.
1. How much you’ll spend: Unless you fly from LA directly, it’s probably going to cost $1,100 – $1,500.
2. Once there…$1,200 for three week trip is easy for two people living kinda large and succumbing to the occasional silly tourist splurge. You’ll eat the most epic food ever straight from the source with each dish costing all of $1.50 – $2.00. You’ll never feel the same about spending $12 for Pad Thai in the States again.
3. Railay.com is a starter one-stop shop to get some essentials and book a place for a few nights when you arrive.
4. Diseases and poisonous things? Nothing seemed too bad. There are supposed to be cobras and rad vipers in that part of Thailand, but we saw none. Bring a headlamp for nighttime walking to the bar for good measure as poisonous millipedes may be creeping around your toes.
5. It sucks but is necessary to drink bottled water. Be sure to seek out the big re-usable 5 gallon tubs of clean drinking water. Thailand is also working on recycling, which is encouraging.
6. We managed to avoid the bug, but maybe we were just lucky. If in doubt, stick to hot food boiled or stir fried right there – an easy proposition with Thai food.
7. Climbing Gear: 12 quickdraws + a few long-slings. 70 meter rope. As far as guidebooks, the new edition by King is the most current.
8. Safety check: Before going, learn about the unique way in which the seaside Thai air beats poopy out of fixed protection. Visit Thaitanium Project to get a complete read on the situation and learn how you can help.
9. Favorite climb: Maybe Monkey Love (6b+/10c) on the incomparable Thaiwand.
10. Best rest day journey: Book a self-paddle sunset sea kayak tour of the incredible caves and coves of Phang Nga.
Category: Mission
What a fantastic adventure! Loved the footage! Awesome job! The music is just mesmerizing too! Makes me want to back up my bags!
Ungrounded rules!
Just checking out the new site, Epic Ungrounded Clip!
[...] Check out more photos from Michelle’s trip on Get Ungrounded here. [...]
Railay is one of the most epicly beautiful places on this planet. Would love to make it back there. I couldn’t imagine being in Bangkok with all the flooding… it’s not a particularly clean place to begin with. How long were you in Railay and where did you stay?
Hey Brett, we were in Railay for two weeks and stayed in one of the bungalows in Tonsai.