Climbing has been a popular sport for years, but now people actually want a bit of the action by experiencing it themselves. Climbing is an absolutely thrilling activity. A lot of people now frequent climbing gyms, but I personally don’t think you can get the full experience by doing just that. Don’t get me wrong, climbing indoors is fun but it doesn’t compare to the thrill and the amazing views of climbing real rocks in the great outdoors. Here are the top 10 climbing spots.
- Kalymnos, Greece.
- Zermatt, Switzerland.
- Rocklands, South Africa.
- Tonsai and Railay Thailand.
- New Zealand.
- The Dolomites, Italy.
- France.
- Mallorca, Spain.
- Patagonia (Chile and Argentina).
- China.
KALYMNOS GREECE
Kalymnos is an amazing place to start, whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber, this Mediterranean destination is the place for all kinds of climbers. Kalymnos is known for its limestone and its amazing views, weather, and food which makes it a perfect vacation spot for climbers. You have accessibility to most of the routes by foot all year round because of the amazing weather, this can’t be said for some of the other locations on this list, so this is definitely a place you should check out.
ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
Zermatt has a unique alpine environment, so if you love high mountains this is the place to consider, with access to 38 peaks of over 13000ft in height all within close range. The scenery is amazing which is enough to justify your visit but if you are not into climbing. There is also a fine bouldering climbing to indulge in.
ROCKLAND, SOUTH AFRICA
Rockland is a well-known destination for bouldering, so you may need a bit of experience to be able to enjoy this place. It has a stunning desert landscape with hundreds of boulders to climb, with shorter routes that are closer to the ground. This place is always getting developed more and more each year, professionals from all over the world go there to develop more climbing routes which make this an even special location. You will also find some local African wildlife like Baboons and Springbok.
TONSAI AND RAILAY, THAILAND
Tonsai and Railay are the best in offering a blend of sun, beach, limestone walls, and amazing views. This is a bit laid back as it is perfect for a relaxing vacation. The climbing routes vary in their level of difficulty and you also have the option of taking a guided tour, or if you are more like me, traveling solo. After a day of climbing, you can enjoy a relaxing stroll on the beach, locally made Thai food, and good company. There is also the option of deep-water solo climbing over the ocean with no ropes needed while climbing up limestones facing above the ocean and then dropping into the water. It is a very affordable and fun vacation for climbers.
NEW ZEALAND
Castle hill and flock hill in New Zealand is known for their sports climbing and bouldering on limestone rocks.
New Zealand is a very beautiful and exotic land with unique and interesting locations. I personally think it is hard to top New Zealand when it comes to breathtaking landscapes and adventures. Fiordland national park on the south of the island has hundreds of routes to choose from for different levels of skills. Other locations like Wharepapa, Secret Valley, Smith rock, and Froggatt edge also have different at awesome routes that are easy to access and all packed with adventures you will remember for a lifetime.
THE DOLOMITES, ITALY
Dolomite, Italy has one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. It gives you a very interesting alpine climbing experience with long hikes to different climbing routes, varying temperatures, and green fields full of colorful flowers.
If you love the Yosemite National Park in the U.S then Dolomite is definitely a location you should check out. In my opinion, this is such a great place for climbers, not only for its large number of routes but also for the different options that are available to climbers.
FRANCE
France is a definite destination for climbers with amazing places like Verdon Gorge, Chamonix, and Fontainebleau. The climbing routes in Verdon Gorge may not be suitable for beginners as it requires both skill and athleticism. Verdon Gorge has been a popular spot since the 1970s with breathtaking scenery and epic rock climbing. Chamonix has an all-year-round activity that involves skiing in the winter, to rock climbing in the summer. It is a very accessible, because of the gondola system which makes climbing this alpine mountain more fun.
Fontainebleau is home to sandstone boulders. It is family-friendly, easy to access, and has amazing scenery. So, if you are looking for a vacation that involves bouldering and family time, this is a place to check out.
SPAIN
Mallorca has amazing climbing opportunities with warm weather, lovely beaches, and limestone cliffs which are perfect for all types of climbers at different levels. Deep water soloing is also common here, where you climb up rock cliffs and towers without ropes and safety equipment so when you fall you land safely in the water below. To me, that is pretty awesome.
Costa Daurada in Spain is known for its single pitch climbing. Places like Rodellar, Margalef, and Siurana are all very accessible.
PATAGONIA
Patagonia is home to one of South America’s best climbing routes. Stretching from the southern part of Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is an alpine paradise for climbers. Although the weather in Patagonia is maybe a bit challenging, you have to wait for the perfect opportunity to climb. But I promise you it’s completely worth it. There are plenty of routes that you can use to test out your skills. You can also consider bouldering, as Patagonia is such a large space.
CHINA
Liming is a small village located in the South-Western part of China. If you’re looking to escape the crowds of popular destinations and experience amazing sports climbing and amazing food and scenery in China, then you should check this place out.
China is also home to a small town near Guilin called YANGSHUO. They are famous for their Karst mountains with hundreds of climbing routes.
When it comes to climbing destinations, there are a lot of amazing options to consider, but it’s very important to take into consideration your skill level, and the safety of routes when picking your destinations. Now that you have this list, why not take that vacation you have been putting off for years?
