Planning an Epic Climbing Trip Part 2

So, you’re planning an epic climbing vacation. But what else is on the menu? You can’t climb 24/7—even if that’s all you want to do. Take these tips and tricks into consideration for entertaining evenings and action-packed rest days.

To Sleep or Not to Sleep?

Where you sleep is more than just a place to rest your head after an all-day climb fest. Whether you’re camping or staying in a hotel, where you sleep should obviously provide comfort and, to some extent, entertainment.

If climbing in the backcountry, there’s probably no 5-star spa package included at your campsite, but Mother Nature provides just a few forms of entertainment. Bring along a travel-sized stargazer’s guide and identify visible constellations. You probably already packed your DSLR camera, so you might as well pick up an affordable intervalometer and practice your night photography skills. Who doesn’t like star trail pictures and timelapses?

Staying close to town or in the city? Why not check out the local watering hole? Many small towns have fairs and festivals – even demolition derbies – on weekends during the summer. If you’re in or near a city, the options are limitless. You might even find an old rock quarry that’s perfect for cliff jumping like this one in Chiang Mai.

Rest Day Hijinks

The likelihood of a rest day on a one-week climbing vacation isn’t high, but you should consider it. Definitely add a rest day into the mix if your trip is longer than a week or you don’t plan on visiting the locale again anytime soon. For instance, if climbing in Zion or Indian Creek, you’ll be kicking yourself in the harness if you don’t mountain bike Moab’s iconic Slick Rock Trail.

Don’t stop at the familiar; get out and try something new! Have you ever bungee jumped? Ridden an alpine roller coaster? Snorkeled? Scuba dived? Sandboarded on massive dunes? It’s a climbing trip, after all; don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone—even on your “rest” day.

Grab some Culture

If you’ve truly planned an epic climbing trip, you may be in a completely foreign environment. This is the perfect time to learn some history, eat exotic food, mingle with people that barely speak your language and see sights unimaginable back home.

For instance, if you go climbing in Wadi Rum, Jordan, take a moment to learn the history of the Bedouins, taste the tea and float in the Dead Sea. While the climbing is world-class, the culture is out of this world. 

Don’t just Climb

There’s plenty to distract you while on a climbing vacation. It’s hard to give up an entire day when climbing days are already limited, but if you can, tack on a day or two on either end of your trip. Be a tourist. Try something new, eat something crazy, go somewhere wild—we guarantee some of the best memories from the trip will be off the (climbing) wall