Rock Climbing on Koh Phangan

After island hopping around Southern Thailand, we had finally found our perfect tropical island paradise on Koh Phangan. For our first two days on the island we had been complete beach bums, just lazing in the sun, swimming in the warm tropical water and swinging in our hammock, so we thought it was finally time to get up and see more of the island than just our one little perfect beach.

Our perfect little beach

Failing to hire a scooter

With intentions of renting a scooter to explore the island, we went to a shop nearby which was recommended to us by the owner of the bungalows we were staying in. The shop owner was a lovely elderly man who spoke good English, and with more care than any other shop owner we had come across, he completely talked us out of renting a scooter as I didn’t have the riding experience. We walked out of the shop feeling quite bewildered. We hadn’t come across someone in Thailand who would do his best to talk us out of a sale, but we appreciated his honesty and consideration for our safety.

A deserted beach on Koh Phangan

Now that our plans of riding around the island were out the window, we decided to use our feet instead and headed up the road in hope of finding another beach to explore. After a couple of kilometers and climbing up and over a headland, we came to a lovely little deserted beach where we took a much needed dip in the ocean.

We didn’t really want to head back the same way along the road back to our bungalow, so we decided to explore the end of the beach and see if we could make our way around the headland back to our own beach.

Rock climbing on Koh Phangan

At first the going was quite easy, with small stretches of sand between clusters of rocks and boulders. A few easy rock scrambles then bought us to our first big obstacle. Ahead lay what seemed to be the rocky tip of the headland – a large rocky outcrop sticking out into the water and blocking our way. We had come too far now to want to turn back, so with a closer inspection I decided that we could definitely scramble and climb our way up over it.

The rocky outcrop that we climbed over

The rock was heavily weathered and contoured, so there were lots of hand and foot holds to make our climb quite easy. With a lot of scrambling and climbing we were soon on another section of beach on the other side.

The hardest part was now over and the rest of the way had only smaller outcrops scattered between the small sections of sand. The great part was that we certainly had the entire place to ourselves. No one else was crazy enough to go here!

Standing on top of some rocks

After a few more hops and scrambles we eventually made it back to our lovely little beach, where we went back to being beach bums and relaxing after our morning of adventure. And of course, we watched yet another beautiful Koh Phangan sunset.

Watching the sunset on Koh Phangan

Although our original plans didn’t work out, we ended up having a great adventure and seeing a part of Koh Phangan that we never would have seen otherwise. Sometimes it’s best to just go with the flow and see where it takes you.

Safety Tips

If you’re going to attempt something like this, please make sure you’re prepared and experienced. I’m confident in my rock scrambling abilities and know how to assess the situation, but if you are inexperienced or lack the fitness, it’s best to avoid these situations. Here are some things to consider before attempting any rock scrambling or rock climbing.

Rock scrambling can be an exciting and rewarding outdoor activity, but safety should always come first.

• Before starting, research the route, check weather conditions, and wear appropriate gear, including sturdy footwear with good grip (I wore flip flops on this route – not a good idea).
• Always test handholds and footholds before putting your full weight on them, as loose rocks can be unstable. Maintain three points of contact at all times to ensure stability, and move deliberately to avoid slips.
• If scrambling in a group (recommended), communicate clearly and avoid dislodging rocks onto those below.
• Carry essential safety gear such as a helmet (for rock climbing or where large falls can occur), first aid kit, and sufficient water.
• Know your limits—if a section looks too difficult or risky, consider an alternative route.
• Lastly, let someone know your plans before heading out, especially in remote areas, to ensure help can reach you if needed

Have you had a great experience that happened due to a change of plans? I’d love to hear about it.