Basecamp Tonsai
Basecamp Tonsai
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4.0
100 reviews
Excellent
54
Very good
17
Average
9
Poor
6
Terrible
14
Daniel G
12 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
I had a great time doing the DWS with basecamp! The climbing itself was really cool, we went to 2 different stops with a break in a beautiful small bay nearby. I felt that for 1500 baht it was good value for money. I would recommend to anyone who has some experience climbing - there was one 5a route, and a few 6a / 6b routes, with some harder looking routes up to 8a, so if you’re a complete beginner you may find it difficult. Overall I had a great time!
Written 28 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pedro Ventura Mayol
Girona, Spain3,625 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Tonsai is a city (town) that among many things houses and is suitable for all ages from rock climbing, wonderful hikes, or a simple walk, in the new section, in which a beautiful sculpture immortalizes the place ,
Written 20 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Stevenson
Denver, CO58 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
This is a hard review to write, as I am very mixed about how to express everything.
Most of you reading this probably already know TonSai is world class climbing, and attracts some serious climbers. There are a few climbing shops in town; which you really only need if you need to rent gear, or need instruction, or travelling solo. I fell into category #3.
I have been climbing for 20 years, and am comfortable with my skills, and really did not feel the need to expand on them or a refresher.
Now for the review. Basecamp is run by a german woman. I tried to explain to her I was simply looking for a guide and gear - not training. She was argumentative, stating she cant trust my word, its up to my guide. I thought fair enough. She then proceeded to put me with a group of 2 people who had only climbed once before. To make matters worse, she put me with a guide who was more than argumentative when I discussed leading or climbing something more difficult. He was downright rude and insulting and made me feel uncomfortable.
I have climbed in many different places and have never been made to feel this way. I understand safety, but I also believe a climbing shop should be eager to give their clients a positive experience, which would include an appropriate skill level and introduction to their climbing area. It seemed all basecamp wanted was my money (which is shortsighted when I told them I was there all week, and one good day would have most likely led to repeat business).
I did also do the Deep Watar Solo with Basecamp. This was great. It was well organized, and as the rocks we went to had many different options for different skills, I had no complaints. Likewise, both the guide and boat captain were friendly and helpful.
To summarize.
Tonsai is 5+ for climbing
Basecamp is 2 for customer service
Deep Water Solo also a 5
My advice is to find another shop who is willing to listen to you, and a guide who is friendly (I did this and had a fantastic rest of my week).
Most of you reading this probably already know TonSai is world class climbing, and attracts some serious climbers. There are a few climbing shops in town; which you really only need if you need to rent gear, or need instruction, or travelling solo. I fell into category #3.
I have been climbing for 20 years, and am comfortable with my skills, and really did not feel the need to expand on them or a refresher.
Now for the review. Basecamp is run by a german woman. I tried to explain to her I was simply looking for a guide and gear - not training. She was argumentative, stating she cant trust my word, its up to my guide. I thought fair enough. She then proceeded to put me with a group of 2 people who had only climbed once before. To make matters worse, she put me with a guide who was more than argumentative when I discussed leading or climbing something more difficult. He was downright rude and insulting and made me feel uncomfortable.
I have climbed in many different places and have never been made to feel this way. I understand safety, but I also believe a climbing shop should be eager to give their clients a positive experience, which would include an appropriate skill level and introduction to their climbing area. It seemed all basecamp wanted was my money (which is shortsighted when I told them I was there all week, and one good day would have most likely led to repeat business).
I did also do the Deep Watar Solo with Basecamp. This was great. It was well organized, and as the rocks we went to had many different options for different skills, I had no complaints. Likewise, both the guide and boat captain were friendly and helpful.
To summarize.
Tonsai is 5+ for climbing
Basecamp is 2 for customer service
Deep Water Solo also a 5
My advice is to find another shop who is willing to listen to you, and a guide who is friendly (I did this and had a fantastic rest of my week).
Written 4 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lykathea a
1 contribution
Mar 2016 • Solo
It's no longer possible to do DWS in Tonsai! Crew from Basecamp didn't bother to tell me about it when I asked and they tried to make me pay for accommodation first. Overall they obviously didn't care about gaining customers. Deep water solo was my only reason to go there and there is no information on the website that they don't do dws anymore.
Written 24 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charles m
27 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
I had been looking forward to doing a deep water for almost six months. I knew I would be traveling to Thailand and made a point to stay near Tonsai so I would be able to partake in this adventure. Tonsai base camp comes up in a google search as one of the top 5 places to do a deep water solo in the world. Unfortunately their customer service is beyond awful. I emailed before I arrived outlining what I would like to do. They suggested I come in and book in person. So I took the boat from Ao Nang beach (100 baht each person) to Tonsai and walked over to talk to someone. The place seemed deserted and it was a couple minutes before someone came over to see what we wanted. In the most rude and rushed way possible I learnt that I needed to put my name on a sheet and then wait for 4 more people to sign up also. They said they would email me when more people signed up. So I filled my days by seeing the other sights in Krabi and waited eagerly to hear from them. When I only had two days left in krabi, I emailed them again asking what's going on? I explained that I was on a schedule and was told I could book a private boat to take me out if no other people signed up. They said I needed to come in to book it which for me was impossible by that time. I made it clear that I would be there the next morning to pay in full for the private boat. It was at this point that they stopped writing back to me. I tried calling and sending more emails but didn't hear back from them again. I went in the next morning anyways and showed the emails and explained my predicament. The people working didn't seem to care at all. And on top of that, the list for the deep water solo was full and my name wasn't on it!!!!! I asked them why my name wasn't there and why no one emailed me saying more people had signed up. They didn't care at all and didn't want to help in any way. I wanted to climb so I ended doing a half day which was fine if not a little rushed and impersonal. But the whole experience sucked. For a place that's so well renowned as being one of the best in the world, they really made me feel awful and like they couldn't have cared less about the extent I went to to make it there to be able to climb with them.
Written 12 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisamcUk
uk37 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
We went deep sea soloing, the experience was amazing and we had a lot of fun but very unimpressed with tonsai basecamp as a company who rate them-self on experience and safety. The shop staff were rude but this is normal on Tonsai in general. The trip left over an hour and a half late and returned 2 hours early, we found out on the way back that the others only paid for half day where we paid for full day!!!! We had asked to do half day but were told it didn't exist. Our 'guide' and I use that word lightly didn't appear to speak English. In fact spoke about 5 words to us the entire time. The most unenthusiastic person I have ever met who clearly had no interest in being there. No safety brief at all, just shown a picture of climbs on the boat. As a group we discussed safely ourselves and agreed to go one at a time ect. No first aid kit on the boat at all!!! Had something of gone wrong we would of been in a whole heap of trouble.
We would rate the activity 5 and not to be missed but as we completely self led it with what could only be described as a boat driver. I would rate the company 1.
We would rate the activity 5 and not to be missed but as we completely self led it with what could only be described as a boat driver. I would rate the company 1.
Written 26 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
4 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
First, when showed up for the DWS and I noticed the attendant who took my money to be rude and not very friendly. So, great first impression. They took a group of people of around 20. I guess they are there for the business so they are going to take as many as they can. My problem with the trip was that from those 20 people, there where approximately around 5 decent climbers who knew how to move in the rock. The rest were, to my knowledge, begginers or less. This brings a few unsafe situations that I noticed. People who have no climbing experience have total disregard of the potential situations that may arise. They all climbed in top of one another (I tried to go when they all tired out). NO ONE ever yelled out when falling and there was a very close call when someone jumped a couple of inches next to someone swimming in total disregard. She was very lucky. The guides are nice people and great climbers but don't really know how to make this a safer trip. They are more helpers than guides.
My advise is that if you go DWS, just know that you must at least understand that most people don't know what they are doing and the guides will not really "guide" you. This is by nature a dangerous pass time, but it could be made a bit safer for everyone. Like most climbing shops in Thailand, the guides have this very laid back attitude when it comes to climbing.
This next comment has nothing to do with this shop, but in general Thai climbing instructors are very lazy belayers and they don't pay a lot of attention. I would stay away from having a first climbing experience in Thailand, but if you go ahead, just be extra cautious.
My advise is that if you go DWS, just know that you must at least understand that most people don't know what they are doing and the guides will not really "guide" you. This is by nature a dangerous pass time, but it could be made a bit safer for everyone. Like most climbing shops in Thailand, the guides have this very laid back attitude when it comes to climbing.
This next comment has nothing to do with this shop, but in general Thai climbing instructors are very lazy belayers and they don't pay a lot of attention. I would stay away from having a first climbing experience in Thailand, but if you go ahead, just be extra cautious.
Written 23 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SamuelTay2112
Singapore, Singapore1 contribution
Dec 2013 • Couples
We took the climbing 101 package.. its a halfday package for newbies. the routes and location were alright, we stayed on railay so we were told to wait at the beach at 9am. the guide only came at 9.50am.
there were 2 other climbers with my partner and myself. the guide, "Nah" was really rude to the girls. he was shouting out instructions on how to climb really rudely, to the point where all the other climbers around the vicinity turned to stare. when they got stuck at one area, he would yawn really loudly and appear really impatient.
There was even a point where he told my partner to put her foot at a certain spot, she said she knew, just that she couldn't reach it. He went "okay, you know everything so i'll just keep quiet" and then stopped guiding her up the wall.
recommend not to climb with Basecamp if this guy is gonna be your guide.
Wed did the DWS the following day and the guides for that were all very professional and friendly.
there were 2 other climbers with my partner and myself. the guide, "Nah" was really rude to the girls. he was shouting out instructions on how to climb really rudely, to the point where all the other climbers around the vicinity turned to stare. when they got stuck at one area, he would yawn really loudly and appear really impatient.
There was even a point where he told my partner to put her foot at a certain spot, she said she knew, just that she couldn't reach it. He went "okay, you know everything so i'll just keep quiet" and then stopped guiding her up the wall.
recommend not to climb with Basecamp if this guy is gonna be your guide.
Wed did the DWS the following day and the guides for that were all very professional and friendly.
Written 19 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucie D
8 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
When we booked we said that we climbed few times but never DWS. The lady at the office said that is was not a problem. But trust me this was not for beginners! First you need to be strong enough to climb the 3m high rope (no ladder as expected) and it starts at 6a. I couldn't climb more than 1m after the rope. And some "non fit" girls couldn't even climb the rope.
Then I think this is expensive for 4 tries in the all day.
The staff was kind and patient (not very helpful when you are bad at climbing) and lunch on the beach was cool
Then I think this is expensive for 4 tries in the all day.
The staff was kind and patient (not very helpful when you are bad at climbing) and lunch on the beach was cool
Written 30 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katana107
Abbotsford, Canada238 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
The deep water soloing at the first site was quite fun, although not many options for easy routes. I was too scared to go in the higher areas as people were often right behind you or below you and I was uncomfortable with this. I thought in my mind that the guides would be helpful in showing you how to do the routes, encourage you and such, but there was none of that. My expectations were too high I think. They weren't paying much attention at the people climbing and this also didn't give me the confidence to go higher up, as people were climbing underneath others, swimming underneath others climbing and I was scared to take an unsafe route. But it was still quite interesting, nice thing to try. After we went to the beach for lunch where there was bouldering if you desired, I did some snorkeling and really enjoyed it. Afterwards we went to a more advanced site, I tried a few things but it was too hard for my level.
Written 11 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello.
I was reading, the gouvernment forbid DWS in march 2016.
Is it available again, since the gouvernment "changed" a bit?
Written 17 July 2018
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