Every rock, every summit, and every route on the same cliff is unique and beautiful in its own way. There is no one most beautiful rock in the world! Some prefer snow-covered peaks, while others are drawn to cliffs cascading into the water.
This overview highlights the most scenic climbing spots in Thailand, France, Spain, Mallorca, the USA, Ireland, and Greece.
Climbing in Thailand
The combination of sea and rocks is beautiful in and of itself! Add to this the perfect opportunity to alternate between passive relaxation and active adventures, all while enjoying the comfort and amenities offered by hospitable Thailand.
In Krabi Province, you’ll find limestone cliffs that are perfect for solo climbing above the water. To characterize this place, one might draw a parallel: as Bali is to surfers, Krabi is to climbers.
The cliffs of Railay Beach
Due to the diverse terrain, climbers can practice a variety of techniques:
- on smooth vertical walls;
- in cracks;
- on stalactites;
- on overhangs.
The best time to visit for rock climbing is from November to March. True climbing enthusiasts will appreciate Railay Beach and Tonsai in Krabi Province. With over 600 routes, climbers of all skill levels can find their perfect path. It’s hard to describe the thrill of the breathtaking view from the summit you’ve conquered.
Cliffs of Thailand
An unforgettable route leads to the Railay Lagoon. The trail is very interesting, and for those familiar with climbing ropes, it’s not too challenging. Beginners can test their skills learned on climbing walls and experience an incredible adrenaline rush. The beauty of the lagoon makes it all worthwhile!
skali-v-lagune-reyley
France
France can boast not only the Eiffel Tower but also some of the best bouldering spots in Europe. The French system of short, challenging routes was pioneered here, and French athletes were among the first to achieve the 8a difficulty grade—thanks to the rapid development of bouldering, supported by the presence of excellent climbing rocks. These include the famous L’Elephant boulders and Trois Pignons near Fontainebleau. Climbers here are rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding forests and white sandy beaches.
Elephant and Trois Pignons
The mecca of French climbing is the Verdon Grand Canyon area in the French Alps, also known as the Provencal Alps. This region is renowned for its long and varied routes:
- alpine routes;
- aid climbing (AID);
- bolt-protected sport climbing routes.
Verdon Canyon
Just 100 kilometers separate the leisurely beaches of Nice from this stunning gorge. It’s said that this area was once covered by the sea. Beginners can test their resolve on the routes of the Verdon Grand Canyon to determine whether the spirit of climbing lives within them—and whether this hobby could become a lifelong passion.
Spain
Spain is considered to have more climbing regions than any other country. The Rodellar area offers routes ranging from 5c to 9a+ in difficulty on limestone cliffs. The climbing season here spans from May to November.
Climbing in Spain
Climbing on columnar formations leaves green streaks on your clothing, as if you’ve been climbing through bushes rather than on rock. But what climber would let that stop them?! Just as they wouldn’t let scraped knees or raw fingertips hold them back.
Two hours from Barcelona is the picturesque climbing area of Siurana. Climbers have been drawn to this region since 1959. Initially, routes were tackled in alpine style, but in the 1980s, with the development of sport climbing, the first routes of grade 7 were established here.
Slacklining in Siurana, Spain
Today, this area boasts about 600 routes of various difficulty levels. However, there is still room for pioneers: many of the cliffs remain unclimbed. Siurana features a year-round climbing campsite, but the best times for climbing are early spring and late autumn. This is also where you’ll find the pinnacle of modern climbing: the 9a route “LA RAMBLA Direct”. The ninth grade of difficulty is like a ticket to the upper echelons of climbers. Every year, elite climbers from around the world come here to test their skills. And let’s not forget about Rodellar, Margalef, and the island of Tenerife…
9A Route La Rambla, Spain
Climbing on the Island of Mallorca
The largest island of the Balearic Islands is Mallorca. Here, you can not only relax on beautiful beaches but also practice rock climbing. Both amateur beginners and professionals can do this. Mallorca is called a climber’s paradise.
Rock climbing on the island of Mallorca
In the northern part of the island, there are sports routes with difficulty levels classified up to 9a. In total, guidebooks describe more than 1,100 climbing routes in this area. The most popular and beloved are the cliffs of Sa Gubia and Fraguel.
Climbing in Mallorca
In the southern part of the island, the cliffs descend into the water. Guidebooks count about 300 routes in this area. The most famous and attractive is Cala Serena. Mallorca welcomes visitors year-round.
Recently, the government has banned popular festivals like Deep Water Solo (DWS), or more precisely, prohibited jumping from cliffs into the water, which was the foundation of these festivals.
Greece
The Greek island of Kalymnos became a climbers’ discovery just 20 years ago. This place has long been known to underwater diving enthusiasts, but it became a mecca for climbers after an accidental visit by the Italian alpinist Andrea di Bari.
Andrea di Bari in Kalymnos
The limestone walls and caves captivated the Italian. In 1997, Andrea di Bari and his like-minded climbing enthusiast friends opened about 40 climbing routes. The Italian was so fascinated by Kalymnos’ cliffs that he returned with a photographer who later published extraordinary photos in a German climbing magazine. The photographs were a hit!
kalymnos-climbing
Two small towns, Massouri and Armeos, due to their proximity to climbing areas, became tourist centers. Here, climbers rent rooms (studio apartments) with stunning views of the sea. There are also shops selling climbing gear.
Climbing the cliffs of Kalymnos is described as magical, and there’s even an opportunity to take a break from climbing with some diving in the Aegean Sea. The best time to visit Kalymnos for climbing is during September-October. There are up to 1,000 routes ranging from levels 5 to 9 in difficulty. Some routes are forty meters long, requiring a seventy-meter rope.
Kalymnos also hosts the annual Kalymnos Climbing Festival , one of the most significant international climbing festivals. Both professional climbers and amateur enthusiasts can participate in these competitions held in natural terrain.
USA
Trout Creek
I’ll only talk about Oregon, but there are plenty of incredible climbing spots across the United States. Central Oregon is home to Trout Creek. This mountain range extends into northern Nevada. There are no nearby towns or major roads.
Basalt lava, frozen at a height of 150 meters, makes this place ideal for practicing crack and chimney climbing techniques. Just don’t come here in the summer—it’s unbearably hot.
In contrast, autumn and early winter are the perfect times to visit. This is because the climate here is semi-arid. The rainy season lasts from March to June. The area is quite remote and is primarily used by hunters and tourists.
Ireland
This country cannot be called popular among climbers, and even professional climbers are rare here. However, in Northern Ireland, there is the stunningly beautiful Mourne Mountain Range, which was immortalized in a song by William Percy French back in 1896.
Rock climbing in Ireland
Those who have watched the film “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” will recognize the landscapes of the Mourne Mountains as the fantastical land of Narnia. These granite mountains are considered one of the most beautiful places in Ireland. A little over 10 peaks in this mountain range exceed 600 meters in height.
Features of climbing in Ireland include:
- Climbing is only possible when the weather is suitable—not rainy (which isn’t often!);
- There are no bolted routes (but descriptions are available!);
- Artificial climbing aids (AID) are not used.
Most climbing in Ireland takes place on cliff faces that drop straight into the ocean. However, even in the summer in good weather, the water warms up to a maximum of +17 degrees, so taking a dip isn’t very appealing.
Still, in good weather (it’s worth noting—there’s no snow in Ireland!), you can truly enjoy climbing the Irish cliffs and the breathtaking views that open up to climbers.
Around the world, there are many amazing, unusual, fascinating, and beautiful places for climbing. Every professional has their own favorite spot where they’ve climbed, climb, and will continue to climb. Let every climber have their own favorite, the most beautiful spots!
