Learn to Rock Climb & Live On A Tropical Island!
Even if you have never been climbing before we can absolutely recommend the beginner rock climbing course, it is very addictive! One of the best ways to discover the jungle of the island, trust us, you will have the best views!
Looking back to the hills and at some of the higher sea cliffs in Koh Tao, there are a breath taking verity of large rock formations that you will never discover if you do not book this course.
If you are a bit more serious about climbing or you get really into it during your beginner course there is also the 4 to 6 week master courses!
Highlights Rock Climbing:
- Island Introduction by our rep and welcome meal on arrival
- Supervision by a staff with over 20 years of experience
- Stay on the beautiful Thai island Koh Tao
- Quality accommodation during full length of your stay
- Free equipment for hire included
- Island view abseil experience
- Stunning views!
Photos
Rock Climbing in Koh Tao
The climbing course exist of 2 parts a 2 day beginner course and 4 day advanced:
Beginner Rock Climbing Package
Unless you have a decent level of fitness you will be starting on the beginner rock climbing course. Our team will teach you the basics and lead you into the jungle to bould, clamber and climb all over the island. Koh Tao has a great selection of graphite pinnacles, walls and cliffs to master all the techniques. The beginner course is designed for people that are interested in rock climbing and introduces them to the sport.
- a pre-trip training session and
- a full day of field experience.
- a guided session to improve you basic climbing techniques and ability
- After doing this climbing course you will be able to completing the course, you will safely be able to climb on existing equipment with a partner anywhere in the world.
Knowledge and Skills covered:
Knowledge and Skills covered:
- Rock types
- Equipment types and use
- Safety considerations
- Types of climbing
- Climbing commands
- Knots (figure 8 with follow through, figure 8 on a bight, half hitch finishing knot, girth hitch)
- Belaying
- Basic climbing techniques
- Abseiling/ Rappelling
- Self anchoring
The beginner rock climbing course covers:
Day 1
- In depth overview of traditional lead climbing including history, ethics, evolution.
- Placed protection theory – cams, hexes, wires (pro’s and con’s)
- Racking your gear
- Ground practical of placing trad gear and self evaluation
- Outward pulls
- Wires in opposition
- Minimizing rope drag
- Practical traditional climbing
- Belaying a lead climber
Day 2
- Lots of climbing and placing gear
- Placed protection anchors
- Complex anchors
- Extending focal points
- This course is designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to Multi-pitch climbing
*note, this course is introduction only. Here on Koh Tao we don’t have a wide range of multi-pitch climbs. This course will teach you all the skills you need to know (and more) to put into practice in the multi-pitch arena elsewhere.
- In depth overview of Multi-Pitch climbing including variations, areas, ethics
- Belaying from top of climb
- Seconding a climb
- Climbing in a group of three
- Efficiency at belay ledge
- Swapping leads
- Communication in MP environment
- Falling factors and avoidance
- Double vs single rope techniques
- Abseiling from MP climb
In depth overview of rescue techniques and scenarios. The course is tailored (but not exclusive) to:
- Swapping belayers
- Top rope rescue
- Passing knots through belay devices
- Escaping the belay system
- Hauling a conscious climber
- Hauling an unconscious climber
- Rescuing an injured abseiler
Intermediate Rock Climbing Package
The Intermediate rock climbing course is 4 days (flexible schedule) and teaches you to construct fixed and natural anchors, this will lead to more independence in climbing and really gives you a good basic knowledge and understanding of how these techniques work.
On the second day we teach you about bouldering and introduce introduce you to advanced moves and we help you improve your technique on the rocks.
The intermediate rock climbing course covers
Knowledge and Skills covered:
DAY 1:
- In depth overview of rock climbing safety equipment
- Principles of top rope anchor systems
- Ground school including
- Equalization of rock climbing protection
- Route selection
- Top rope anchor site selection
- Assessing and backing-up fixed anchors
- On site basic anchor building on fixed bolts
- Advanced knots for climbers (clove hitch, fisherman’s knot, water knot)
- Building and evaluating anchor systems
- Rappelling on steep terrain
DAY 2:
- Introduction to bouldering
- Advanced climbing techniques such as heel hooks, stemming and layback’s
- Natural anchor theory and practice
- Natural anchor construction and more climbing
- With the intermediate course you will give you a comprehensive introduction to Sport lead climbing on day 3 and 4
DAY 3:
- In depth overview of Sport Lead climbing and the differences to other climbing disciplines.
- Commercialization, ethics, attitudes and grading systems.
- The process of developing and bolting a route.
- Preparing to climb, flaking ropes and other considerations.
- Seconding a climb.
- Lead climb belaying.
- Bolt layout, rope drag considerations, quickdraw placement.
- Self anchor and fixed lower off.
- Lead climb.
DAY 4:
- Self rescue techniques.
- Lowering off unfinished climbs.
- Fall training both anticipated and accidental.
- Lots of lead climbing and seconding.
Prerequisite: Beginner Course
- Advanced Package
- If you are looking for a comprehensive introduction to Traditional lead climbing, Multi Pitch Climbing and Rescue Training
Master Climber Package
Prerequisite: Completion of the Advanced package
The Ultimate climbing Package for people who have a passion for the great outdoors, a desire for adventure and a real drive to get into the amazingly diverse world of climbing.
Rock Climbing is a massively growing sport becoming more accessible to all levels of climber, but it is not without its risks and this is why it is always up to you to take responsibility for your own safety. Over the weeks you are with us you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to safely explore the vertical realm. But your training does not end with us, climbing is a sport that you can enjoy and progress at for a lifetime; we are here just to help you take that initial first vertical leap!
Accommodation
Our accommodation is one of the few places on the island with a swimming pool, which in 30 degrees heat is a god send after training. Your room, big and comfortable, will have an en-suite and there is a maid service. There is a laundry service (approx €1 per big bag load) as well. Linen and towels are provided.
Room options
See all the different room options on Koh Tao
Please note the standard fan room is the default room we provide unless upgrading room class.
Standard Fan Room
Recommended!!! Our most basic standard of accommodation, with your own bathroom, satellite television, twin beds, ceiling fan and private terrace to enjoy the garden view and socialising.
- Fan
- Satellite TV
- Internet WiFi
- Balcony
- Your own own Shower and Toilet
Comfort Fan Room
Our newest rooms, recently built they are beautifully decorated and furnished for your relaxation. Larger than our Standard Room range, they are very close to our swimming pool and sunbathing area.
- Satellite TV
- Internet WiFi
- Balcony
- Your own Shower and toilet
Standard Air-conditioning Room
Basic accommodation, with your own bathroom, satellite television, twin beds, air-conditioning and private terrace to enjoy the garden view and socialising.
- Air-conditioning
- Satellite TV
- Hot shower
- Internet WiFi
- Balcony
- Your own Shower & Toilet
More Accommodation Information
Follow this link to our Blog post with more details and pictures regarding the accommodation on Koh Tao.
Trip Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa?
If you are planning on travelling to Thailand for 28 days or less and you have British, Dutch or USA passport you can get a Visa exemption on arrival. This is valid for 28 days and cannot be extended in Thailand. If you are planning on being in Thailand longer than 28 days you will need to pre-arrange a Visa. You can prearrange a visa for 60 days which you can extend to 90 days in Thailand.
There are two ways of arranging your visa. When you are from the UK. You can either go in person to the Thai embassy in London, or you can post your passport along with the necessary documentation and fee to one of the Thai Consulates. In general this works the same for the other countries like The Netherlands and United States too, but please contact the nearest Thai Consulate for visa enquiries.
Please note that you are responsible for arranging your own visa. Xtreme Gap cannot be held responsible if you fail to travel with the correct visa. So please check with your local embassy personally. The previous information is meant as a guide, but visa rules change often and frequently. So do not take this as the current law.
When is the best time to go?
How do I get there?
In Bangkok you will be booked into a 4* hotel right next to the Koh San Rd, You just need to jump in a cab to the hotel on arrival. You will have two days to explore Bangkok at your leisure, before we take you to Koh Tao. Getting there is very easy and we arrange it all for you. Here is a video explaining how you get there. If you would like assistance with your flights, we can assist with sourcing the best value flight options, just indicate on your booking form.
What is the difference between the beginner and more advanced course?
What is the difference between the beginner and more advanced course?
Beginner Course
For the beginner we have a one or two week package that takes you from a beginner to an intermediate climber. This two-part course includes a pre-trip training session and a full day of field experience to learn the basics of rock climbing safely. After that you start an advanced course, wherein we teach you to construct fixed and natural anchors to give you more independence with your climbing. It also gives you a base understanding of how these systems work. The second day also includes a bouldering session to introduce you to more advanced moves and improve your technique on the rocks.
4 or 6 week master course
If you really have a thing for climbing, or really LOVE the great outdoors then this is the option for you. For 4 or 6 weeks you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to safely explore rock climbing. The course will run through basics, advanced and anchors, sport leading, traditional lead climbing, multi-pitch climbing and rescue training.
Master climbers also have access to:
- Climbing or bouldering with any groups.
- Use of climbing or bouldering equipment any time.
- Experience as a climbing guide.
- Experience as a abseil guide.
- Experience as a zip line guide.
- Experience at assisting teaching courses.
- New route finding, clearing and bolting experience.
How safe is it?
Is rock climbing a sport?
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls. Their goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route. Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport. It tests a climber’s strength, endurance, agility, and balance along with his or her mental control.
What kind of rocks are there on Koh Tao?
The rock type on Koh Tao is granite: a hard course-grained rock that forms from liquid hot magma boiling up from the earth’s crust. Climbing on granite is different from climbing on other types of rock such as limestone (like the majority of climbing in Thailand). Granite has a larger emphasis on technical footwork making it the ideal training rock from other types. It also places less emphasis on upper body strength and more on overall technique.
The Xtreme Gap Year Koh Tao experience.
Price
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Included
- Pre departure information
- 1 night in luxury hotel in Bangkok (3star!) in the most famous backpack area
- Breakfast in Bangkok
- Transfer from Bangkok to Koh Tao
- Pick up from the pier on Koh Tao by Taxi
- Introduction and meal on arrival at 4 PM including dinner
- Introduction to the climbing school
- All climbing equipment (Shoes, Chalk, Harness, Rope, helmet, etc..)
- All transportation from and back to the rock climbing centre
- Land entrance fees
- Supervision by our staff with over 20 years of climbing experience
- Beginner Package, Intermediate Package or Advanced Package
- Course booklet’s and practice rope for knots
- Bouldering training + your own bouldering guide to Koh Tao
- Island view Abseil experience
- Full equipment rental
- All accommodation at our quality resort
Excluded
- Flights
- Visa
- Insurance
- Meals and drinks
- Return back from Koh Tao to Bangkok.
Starting dates
Starts every Saturday except in October and November.
The programme starts with a night in Bangkok. The following day we have booked you on to the bus and boat to Koh Tao. When you arrive early we can book you in extra nights in the hotel in Bangkok.
“Got to say it was absolutely brilliant and would totally recommend doing it. Really good to push yourself and when you find yourself 30m up looking over the best view of the island it’s a true memory moment!”Mark D.
” The best thing about the course is the crew-they are all really good guys, very passionate about what they all do and very keen that you have the best experience possible. more reviews here.”Brigitte Bol
