Ton Sai is a beach near Krabi
in Thailand, offering a combination of inexpensive
accommodation and great rock climbing routes that
make it popular with both backpackers and climbers
alike. Compared to neighbouring Rai
Leh and Ao
Nang it's relatively rough around on the edges;
in particular, the beach is unsuitable for swimming
and becomes quite rocky as the tide goes out.
How to get here There's no overland access to Ton Sai, so all
visitors arrive by boat. Rai Leh is a two minute
long-tail ride or a 10-15 minute walk away, while
long-tails from Ao Nang to Rai Leh will also stop
at Ton Sai on demand.
There are three ways to reach Rai Leh on foot:
1) At low tide it's possible to
walk around the rocky outcrop which separates
Ton Sai from Rai Leh (10 minutes).
2) At high tide, most opt for the
steep path which climbs up and over the rocky
outcrop, which is densely covered with foliage
(10 minutes).
3) The least used option is a longer
trail which starts on the northern, forested,
edge of Ton Sai and meanders past bungalows, thick
jungle, and eventually to the back of Rai Leh,
near the Diamond Cave area (20 minutes).
None of these options are possible at night without
a flashlight/torch, and the jungle paths can be
slippery and treacherous after the rain. At any
time all three routes can be awkward and tricky
for all but the fit and able-bodied so don't feel
bad about taking the easy, scenic, and relaxing
long-tail to get across.
Getting around
The only way to get around Ton Sai is on foot.
The beach and the main road act as the primary through
fares for the area. It may take five minutes or
less to cover the entire area. During heavy rains,
the dirt road becomes muddy and treacherous.
What to do
Rock climbing is the primary draw for visitors,
with Ton Sai offering as many routes as Rai Leh,
and hosting a number of climbing schools and guiding
companies, including:
PhraNang Adventures [1] specializes
in all inclusive custom packages. Many Western
guides. Located on TonSai beach offering climbing
on Railey/Ton Sai and on many offshore islands.
Offers camp and climb on Koh Lao Liang.
Wee's Rock Climbing School
[2] offers a variety of courses and has a gear
shop. Course prices range from 800 baht for intro
courses to 8000 baht for five day advanced courses.
Playing with fire -- Ton
Sai could well be the world centre for fire tricks:
light something on fire, twirl it in the air,
that's the basic idea. A lot of climbers can be
found on the beach during their rest days practicing.
Eat
There are several restaurants and bars on the beach
and most bungalow operators have restaurants as
well. Beware that many operations in Ton Sai are
not electrified throughout the day meaning that
unless they are careful with food storage you'll
end up with a nasty case of food poisoning.
Drink
There are several bars on the beach, several of which
(oddly enough) feature non-stop reggae music. A
popular climber's hang out is Dum's Kitchen, at
the east end of the beach, where the routes begin
at the foot of the bar.
About Ton Sai Krabi Thailand
