Dan's Adventure

Let me start by saying Railay is a shit hole. Never have I been more disappointed by a place. There are two main areas. One filled with expensive resorts and the other with budget accommodation and restaurants. The latter side smells like a sewer and when the tide is out the beach is exposed as a rubbish tip. It is disgusting. Although the other side does have a stunning beach with cliffs enclosing the bay, it is always mobbed. I don’t like spending time lying on the beach at the best of times, but when its busy and noisy I am even less inclined to do so. Railay’s only redeeming feature is the climbing opportunities on offer.

There are several graded climbing walls around Railay with routes suitable for everyone from the novice to the experienced climber. None have a permanent top rope, they require someone to climb up and secure the rope through the bolted anchors. Each of the routes have points to clip into on the way up so it is also a good place to learn how to lead climb. Some of the routes overhang the sea, but the wall I climbed on was further inland. I spent an afternoon climbing five different routes with a guide and three others. I was enjoying it until I reached an overhang on one of the routes at which point my fear of heights kicked in and I couldn’t continue. This was my first taste of climbing outdoors. Previously I had only ever climbed indoor climbing walls which somehow felt safer. Climbing outdoors was very different and to be honest I’m in two minds over whether I’ll try it again.