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Laoliang Island in Thailand

Original Post
Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290
Koh Laoliang in Thailand was highly recommended to me but I am having trouble contacting the resort. Is the resort still open? Anyone know how to make reservations?
Top Rope Hero · · Was Estes Park, now homeless · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 1,150

Hey....it's been a while (three years?), but last I stayed there I contacted a Micheal Weitzman, an Aussie, who handled all the English-speaking bookings. This is the last email I had for him:

exploreint2000@yahoo.com

Also...it's only October. SE Asia only just got over it's monsoon season. Things don't really ramp up until end of Nov...so MAYBE that's why yer getting no responce.

One last thing? "Resort"--HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!

Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290

Thanks for the reply. Perhaps resort is not the right word; maybe beach tent is more appropriate. They have a new website and Facebook page:

wowlaoliang.com/main/eng/ho…
facebook.com/wowlaoliang/

That said no one responded to my Facebook message and their online bookings page is down. Michel Weitzman is no longer doing booking for them. I have furthermore contacted Basecamp Tonsai but they haven't heard anything this season.

Any other Thailand advice? Must climb routes? Recommended crags? Rest day activities? My wife and I will be spending a month climbing and sightseeing mid-December to mid-January. She enjoys 5.9-5.10d while I seek out 5.11b-5.12b single pitch sport lines. Climbing is important but not the entire focus of our trip.

Here is our current itinerary:

Bangkok (4 nights)
Tonsai (7 nights)
Khao Sok National Park (5 nights)
Kho Laoliang (4 nights)
Chiang Mai (4 nights)
Bangkok (4 nights)

Ned Horsey · · Shanghai, China · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 0

Hi Hendrixson!

When are you heading to Thailand?

I'm going to be in Chiangmai from 12/18-12/25. I like mostly 5.9-5.10a sport.

If we overlap it might be fun.

Adamant D · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 5

Your itinerary feels about right, thought I'd suggest compressing your Bangkok time a bit in order to spend a little more time out and about. Bangkok can be nice, but it's a hard place to love (my opinion). I'd try and stay away from the backpackers area, Khaosan Road. It's mostly chaos and bars, and then chaos. Personally, I'd do one night in Bangkok on arrival, and another, or maybe two, before departing. You can see a lot in Bangkok with a private tuk-tuk in a day or two. Some really amazing dining in that city, but I've been turned away for being under dressed - no exceptions for dirtbags, even if they are climbers. If you bring some decent (long) pants and a shirt with a collar for Bangkok, you'll be taken more seriously.

With the days saved from shrinking Bangkok, a jaunt into Cambodia to see Ankor Wat would be worth the time and potential hassle. Last time I was there (4 years ago) it was a little challenging (advantageous money changers and aggressive hotel touts) but if you keep your head down and go with the flow, it's not a place you'll soon forget.

bigdrew · · Sheffield UK · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 10

Did you have any luck booking anything?

I'm going over on my own and I was hoping to spend a few days on the island?

Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290

Ned, we will be in Chiang Mai around Jan 7-11. We haven't made final reservations for this portion of the trip. Bummer that our paths won't cross.

I have not received any response from Laoliang Island. Let me know if you have any luck communicating with them.

Top Rope Hero · · Was Estes Park, now homeless · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 1,150

"Any other Thailand advice?"

Yah. Go to Laos instead.

If not, then I’ll back up what Adamant D said: cut back on BKK time. The town issa riot on the senses, sweaty and desperate and loud and fast—not the funnest of places unless you want to shop until you drop or get laid strange. Chiang Mai is the bomb; put more emphasis here. Suuuuper good food everywhere and everything is fast walkable. And if’n you can’t hook up Lao Laing but want more island adventure, try Koh Yah Noi. Quite, rural, and the climbing is spectacular, if a bit hard to access.

OH! Yah…and if you DO manage to snag that booking at Koh Lao Laing, make it for three days or five. Five days you can climb two, take a rest day, then climb two more, and four days of climbing is about all that island will afford you. That or else hit it for the three days hard and then take off.

Luck to yah!

Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290

Koh Yao Noi sounds promising. That or additional time in Chiang Mai might work for us. Thanks for the input.

Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290

Here is the response I received from Elke at Tonsai Basecamp:

sorry, after several years of booking laoliang, there has been a management
change and neither Michael in Ao Nang nor I got contacted to continue
booking for them. The old phone numbers do not work. SO your guess is
as good as mine...

Nick Brennan · · PNW · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 110

It looks like there is current info on TripAdvisor... for what that's worth.

Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290

Amazing! I now have reservations!

Nate Ball · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 11,254

So how did you end up getting in touch with Laohliang? I'd like to update the MP page with the info.

Based on my very limited time in Thailand, if you are looking for a cultural experience in more pristine environs, my recommendation would be to spend as much time as you can on Koh Yao Noi. I've heard that the population of tourists in Chiang Mai has exploded over the years, although the climbing remains significantly less popular than Laem Phra Nang stuff. I've also heard Chong Phli is also quite awesome, while Phi Phi is decent if you happen to be stopping over between Phuket and Tonsai, but is otherwise a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Top Rope Hero · · Was Estes Park, now homeless · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 1,150

Good pilots, though. If'n you wanted to avoid any (pause) imperial entanglements.

Ned Horsey · · Shanghai, China · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 0

These are not the climbers you are looking for. *waves hand*

Hendrixson · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 3,290

I was able to book a reservation through TripAdvisor.com.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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