Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25166
lip, named after features found at the Hueco Tanks bouldering area in Texas) of all sizes. Tufas (porous rock formed as a deposit from springs) and giant stalactites drip from the walls like candle wax, offering a delirious variety of hand holds. Phra Nang is a complete package: stellar rock climb- ing, stunning beaches, travelers from all over the world, and a whole catalogue of rest-day activities from snorkeling and div- ing to sea kayaking and jungle exploring. If you are a beginner, Phra Nang is a good place to Gulf of Thailand get some fundamentals down. The rock also has no lack of exciting, gymnastic challenges for the experienced rock climber. Most routes are just one rope length long, but some rise hun- dreds of feet above the jungle and beach. Local Thai climbers have established a number of guiding services and will provide a full day of guiding for roughly $25. All the guides speak flu- ent English, and are experienced climbers familiar with the intri- cacies of the rock and the routes in the area_ There is beachfront accommodation in the form of AndamanSea cheap bungalows, and open-air restaurants scattered among the coconut trees_ The sunsets are spectacular; the nightlife is decidedly casual. Phra Nang is surrounded by cliffs and accessi- ble only by boat, making it much more laid-back than the resorts on neighboring Phuket or Ko Phi Phi. The heat and humidity in southern Thailand can be oppressive at certain times of the year. The best season for rock climbing is from November to April, when the days are cooler and less sticky. Then again, you can always lower down from a climb for a dip in the ocean or a cool mai tai under the coconut trees_-Will Hair Imagine a world -class rock-climbing destination with towering walls of limestone, situated in a trop- ical paradise of swaying coconut trees, white sand beaches and dense jungle. In the past decade, Phra Nang in Krabi, Thailand, has grown from a backwater tropical resort for budget travelers into an internationally recognized mecca for rock climbers in search of the perfect climbing playground. There is amazing climbing right off the beach, and the rock is considered among the world's best. Hundreds of climbing routes have been set and they range in difficulty from beginner to expert. The rock on this peninsula is the most surreal a climber could imagine. Streaked with bril- liant hues of orange and yellow, it's dotted with huecos (beautifully shaped pockets with a positive OUT F IT TE RS TEX ROCK CLIMBING, Thailand Tex, a Krabi local climber, was the first to start teaching basic rock climbing at Phra Nang and started the local mountain rescue team_ 3 days, $450, year round, 66-75-622-491, www_texrockclimbing.com KING ClIMBERS, Thailand King has been teaching climbing in Phra Nang for over ten years_ 3 days, $110, year-round, 66-02-151-108361, members_ozemail.com_au/ - jayhawk/ki ng/ :s c:i z :;;: :I: >- :I: "- z ~ ci z « C!i z iii ,. 5: :J u "- o VI ,. o '" z ~ 42 ~ :I: "- vi ii: