Krabi Travel Forum

Hi,
does anyone knows if its advisable to travel to Krabi during early July for things like snorkeling and rock climbing? Cause I heard its the monsoon season during that time of the year. Will it be dangerous? Please advise!!! Thanks alot!

Rock climbing will be dangerous if the rain is falling and visibility for snorkeling will be terrible, and July definitely qualifies as monsoon season in the Krabi Province.

It is highly probable that it will be raining.

This is NOt dangerious unless
- you go into the sea , so during this low season there is no snorekelling and similar trips, except to Phi Phi;
- go climbing on the wet rock surface,a sit is very slippery after the rain - like climbing on Ralay beach.

Still if you stay on the shore - teh sea is warm and pleasant, rain comes in raining sessions, i.e. few hours, not the whole day and mostly afternoon - so you will defintely have opportunity to spend some time on the beach. But eb ready to find for you other alternative activities while it is raining - spa, indoors sports, Thai cooking classes.

But you shoudl not realy on avaiability of snoreklling( if not from teh shore) and rcok climbing at that time of the year.

oh and it has to be during the late june/early july period as a friend will be in town only during this time. If it isn't advisable to travel to krabi during this time is there an alternative place anyone would recommend? Maybe somewhere on the east coast of Thailand or Malaysia where the monsoon doesn't hit during the period(correct me if i'm wrong) where we can snorkel and do some rock climbing?

I think Malaysia is the same thing, and it is naturally attracts more rains over teh eya as it is closer to equator.

Siam Bay - Koh Samet Is. and Pattaya has less rains than Andaman sea at that time, but hardly you can call them exciting snorekelling destination.

Samui and around, I mean Koh tao, in general over the year re rainier, but I think you still can go there for some snoreklling at the end of June - sea shoudl not such rough like Andaman one. I personally do not like Koh Samui as destination,I consider this to be one of the worst places in Thailand to visit, but having priority a snorekling in June/July, it gives to Samui some more credit for this season.

But as I mentioned from Karbi even in moonsoon season you can go to Phi Phi, and still in July there are few snorekling spots at or around Phi Phi Lay. You will not be able to go to other snoreklling trips which are oferred during high season, but do you plan just to snorkel all-over-the-day? ;)

Heh, not exactly snorkeling the whole day, but the main focus of the trip would be centered around snorkeling and rock climbing. As mention, is there any place on the other side of Thailand where the monsoon doesn't hit during that time?

Unfortunately NO. That is why June-September considered as low season in Thailand. Some places has less rain thatn another one, but it is raining all over the Thailand.

If you still can do snorkelling during the rain if the sea is not rough, but rock climbing of course not.

Any idea about Malaysia then? Redang and Tioman region?

In Malaysia it is raing all-over-the-year, so noone can tell whether today it will be raining or not. Virtually there is SOME rain everyday, but it intensifies during November-March, so in July there is much less rain, than e.g. in January.Such climate looks like that you still can enjoy the day on the beach but possible few hours blackout because of rain. In repsect of snorekling I think you should be able to do that.

Rock climbing? I can't comment so much for Malaysia, I know that I have seen few advertised tours for climbing at other part of the country , Kota Kinabalu at Borneo Is., but it has similar climate as other parts- so how do they do that in safe manner for average tourist, it is unclear.

Hi..
I'm from Malaysia and there is some routes for climbing in Tioman and Batu Caves (K.L) If You're heading to Tioman go to Kampung JUARA (Juara Village)
Over there they have about 50 (more or less) routes for climbing.

I'm going to Krabi in July myself. I've book the ticket flights already. My plan is t stay in Krabi for a few days then take a boat to Phuket. I wont be bringing my ropes, just my runners/ shoes and of cause my harness. Well, we just pray :) the rain wont be so heavily in that month.

Happy Climbing!

If you are planning to snorkel in Redang island, I would advice that early June to mid June is the best time. I had worked there during April - July, the peak season for Redang island. However, weather is unpredictable sometimes. The East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia is more sunny during the mid year.