Rock Climbing

Sport climbing on limestone karst walls, with routes for beginners and experienced climbers alike

Green Climbers Home, about 6 kilometres south of town, runs guided climbing days and multi-day courses for all levels. They have their own accommodation on site for those who want to spend several days climbing rather than making a daily commute from town. Equipment rental is available and the guides speak good English.

Even if you have no climbing experience, a half-day introductory course is worthwhile. The beginner routes are genuinely manageable and the experience of standing on a karst face with the valley spread below is something you don't forget. Advanced climbers should ask about the harder routes on the cliff faces further from the main areas.

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A story
The karst limestone around Vang Vieng offers some of the best sport climbing in Southeast Asia — the rock is solid, the routes are bolted, and the setting, with rice paddies and river below and jungle above, is difficult to match. The main climbing areas are on the cliffs across the Nam Song from town, with several dozen bolted routes ranging from beginner slab climbs to challenging overhangs. Green Climbers Home, an operation that pioneered climbing in the valley, established most of the routes and trained most of the local guides.