Bouldering, Climbing, Camping - Our Top Tips

Autumn is just around the corner and so is the popular ´Rock`tober for all climbing and bouldering fans. October is considered the peak of the climbing season. Unfortunately, Rocktober is only 31 days long and if you want to go climbing or bouldering during the golden autumn season, it's helpful to have a plan and to be mobile.

We have THE solution: climbing vacation with your campervan! Climbing, bouldering and camping fit together perfectly! You're super flexible, mobile and have all your equipment with you as well. Have you climbed an area? Then simply drive off to the next one.

Basti from our Off team is also a passionate climber. He told us his highlights and where you should spend your Rocktober.

The Frankenjura is known worldwide for its climbing and hiking opportunities. Especially autumn is the best season for a bouldering route or climbing tours. Even if the temperatures drop, the grip on the rock increases.

The quiet sunny Camping Betzenstein is located in the middle of the climbing paradise ´Franconian Jura`. Around the campsite there are many possibilities for leisure activities. Only a few minutes walk away, the heated outdoor pool or one of the most beautiful climbing parks are awaiting you. Hiking trails open up the entire area, caves invite you to visit and marvel. The 'Franconian' is known by climbers worldwide. Many rocks can be found in the immediate proximity of Betzenstein. Should the weather not play along, then there's a bouldering hall near Betzenstein that makes every boulderer`s heart beat faster!

In the middle of nature, on the edge of the beautiful nature reserve Geigelstein in Chiemgau, you'll find the campsite Zellersee.

You can camp directly at the lake and the climbing area ´Zellerwand` is only a 10 minute walk away. Other climbing areas are reachable within a few minutes: Klobenstein, Weißbierwandl, Pleitewnadl, Auerwald, Hochwand and many more. Here, both beginners and professionals will get their money's worth. If you need to cool down in between, a jump into the Zellersee is worthwhile or you can get some nice food at the camping kiosk.

Climbing areas in Austria - the world-famous bouldering area Maltatal and the climbing areas in Carinthia are at the forefront! Here you'll find many of the most beautiful climbing gardens, bouldering areas and via ferrata around Carinthia. The bouldering areas in the Maltatal are truly unique. You are offered more than 500 wonderful boulder in all difficulty levels. Due to the location from about 850m to about 1500m above sea level and the location in the forest and next to the Malta River, you can boulder quite well all year round. Nevertheless, you also have the choice to go to numerous bouldering halls in case of bad weather.

The Maltatal Terrassencamping is situated in a panoramic location between the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Nockberge Biosphere Park. In addition to climbing fun on rock walls there are a lot of other outdoor activities such as hiking, archery course, canyoning and cycling on Carinthia's most beautiful bike path!

Lake Garda has more to offer than just pizza and cappucino. The surrounding landscape invites you to go climbing. For example, the boulder paradise of Arco with around 80 limestone walls - the climbing mecca of Europe. From short sport climbing routes to well-secured multi-pitch routes and the most exciting via ferrata routes. There's something here for beginners as well as professionals.

Camping Zoo of Arco is a 3-star facility in the heart of nature in Trentino and just a few kilometres from Lake Garda. From trekking, climbing, bouldering, mountain biking to canyoning, there are many sports and activities you can enjoy here. When the strength in your fingers wears off, a hot tube, whirlpool and sauna are at your disposal. Thanks to the great location of the campsite in the heart of Alto Garda, you can reach different climbing areas directly on foot from Camping Zoo. Between the rock faces of Arco, the Monte - Colodri and the famous Massi (boulder) of Prabi, everyone can find the right one for himself and choose from a wide range of offers for all needs - from quite easy routes in the 3rd degree to bouldering. Here you can find other great bouldering areas in Arco and its surroundings.

Camping by beach? You can do that in Croatia at the Camping Paklencia! You're surrounded by 4 national parks (Paklencia, Plitvice, Krka, Kornati) within a distance of 100 km - so you can easily reach them with your camper.

Paklencia National Park convinces boulderers and climbers with hundreds of 100m high steep limestone rocks. Boulderers will find plenty of opportunities at the foot of Anika Kuk to spread out their pads and pull their fingers along dozens of blocks of all sizes. You can find overhangs here and variety is guaranteed as well! The Klanci sector, the narrowest and perhaps most impressive part of the gorge, is where much of the climbing takes place. Here you'll find a variety of well secured (bolts) sport climbing routes of 10 - 30 metres in length but also some multi-pitch tours.

Bouldering is climbing without a harness and rope at jumping height. The advantages of bouldering are quite simple: it's uncomplicated and makes you fit.

The trend sport has various positive effects and training effects on the whole body. It requires not only body awareness but above all body control.

Bouldering can be done indoors or outdoors, on real or artificial rocks in a bouldering hall.

Boulderers also remain flexible beyond that, because they don't necessarily need a climbing partner for safety. All you need is a pair of bouldering shoes, some skills and the fun can begin.

Bouldering is easy to learn and any novice can get started from the very first minute. Complex rope and belaying techniques, as is the case with sport climbing, are not required.

With Basti's tips nothing stands in the way of your Rocktober autumn vacation. All that's left to say is: rent your camper, pack your friends and let's go climbing!