Thailand, one of the world’s most sought after tourist destinations, offers a wide variety of experiences, fun activities and must-see places for any tourist or traveller. A must-visit place is Koh Yao Noi, a small island in Phang Nga Bay between Krabi and Phuket. Koyao Island is well-known for its breathtaking landscape with limestone cliffs, hidden coves and the deep-blue tropical ocean. This is best enjoyed on a guided boat trip visiting several islands in one day. Sign up for one and enjoy a leisurely trip exploring the striking lime stone islands where you may stop for a dive, snorkel or simply go for a swim. Many of the Koh Yao Noi hotels offer boat trips packages so make sure you inquire at your hotel’s front desk.

Rock Climbing is one of the most exciting activities available on the islands is rock climbing. Most Koh Yao hotels and resorts offer easy access to very popular stacks available in Krabi for both skilled climbers and beginners. And right after you’ve exhausted yourself with all the rock climbing you want, you can conveniently saunter back to your Koh Yao hotel, for a refreshing dip in a nearby beach or pool or for a soothing massage. Another activity well-known in Koh Yao is bird watching. People who are fond of birds will surely enjoy the many interesting species that the island offers. If you are an avid bird watcher, you may choose to stay on Koh Yao hotels that are situated closer to mangrove forests where the regular feathered inhabitants include the fly eater, ruddy kingfisher, mangrove pittas, white-bellied sea eagles, and the mangrove whistler.

If you are looking for something more relaxing, you can simply step out of your Koh Yao Noi hotel and take a walk around the island and get to know the friendly Koyao island people. You can also explore the local community. Drop by the Krachang, the local fish farm where grow fish and lobsters to send to restaurants in Phuket. Souvenirs make a trip even more memorable. On Koyao island, there are plenty of opportunities to shop for souvenirs and crafts to take home as a reminder of your trip. Extensive shop strips, restaurants and souks are available at Ao Nang, Krabi. Here you’ll find cheap souvenir items as well as pricier art pieces by local artists. Excellent restaurants also abound in this area to refresh your strength after shopping or just to sample Koyao island fare.

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is bordered by Cambodia, Burma and Laos in the north and Malaysia in the south. The shape of the country is somewhat similar to Italy, and you’ll find similar differences between northern and southern Thailand that you do in Italy. For rock climbing enthusiasts, the south of Thailand is where the action is. The rock formations in Thailand are almost universally limestone. The level of climbing can be as simple as bouldering or as challenging as tackling over vertical cliffs. This makes Thailand a popular rock climbing destination since it has a little something for everyone. Located on the southern section of the “tail” of Thailand, Krabi has a wide variety of rock climbing challenges. Most of the climbs in this area are of the pre-bolted sport route variety. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of climbs with difficulty levels from beginner to multi-pitch knuckle crushers. The beauty of climbing in Krabi is…well, the beauty. While you might have visions of jungles and mosquitoes when thinking of Thailand, Krabi is an area of a different sort. Most of the climbs have been set up on cliff faces on the beach. Being natural capitalists, the Thai’s have built hotels, bars and so on at these locations. As a result, you can literally climb a multi-pitch route for five hours, cool off with a swim and then have a beer. If there is such a thing as a rock climbing heaven, many feel Krabi is it. Before you cash in your savings, keep in mind that Thailand is a seasonal vacation spot. If you go during the wet season, there is a good chance you’ll just end up sitting around drinking beer. While that isn’t too bad, you’ll go crazy looking at the climbs that are so close, but oh so far away. Generally, you want to head to Thailand from late November through maybe April. The summer months tend to be both incredibly hot and wet. Make sure you pull up forecasts for the area before booking a trip. Flying to Thailand is inexpensive, but flights are incredibly long with stopovers. Still, it is all worth it once you experience Thailand rock climbing.