That place in the Indian Ocean with the really really old rock.

Alright, so here's my plan. I'm blowing off all my responsibilities, my job, and the degree which I really need to finish for a semester or so and am off to travel somewhere exotic for four hedonistic months of travel, climbing, and surfing. The problem is, I need a destination. I have no idea where to go. I'd like somewhere where I have relatively easy access to both breaks and crags. Both surf and rock climbing are important to me, and I'm having a hard time finding places with both. Political situations don't really phase me, and neither do distances or language barriers. If anything, I'd prefer something off the beaten path. If you have had any great trips and you don't mind sharing, I would really appreciate some suggestions.

Get the fuck out of here. Seriously. You won't regret it.

My fiance and I traveled around the US for three months in my 98 Saturn SL2 on less than half your budget. In that time we traveled through 28 states, 12 national parks, every climate the USofA has to offer and covered over 14K miles.

Not sure if you really wanted to stay in the US, but given your budget and amount of time off, you could do all the activities you want to and not be pressed for time doing any of them. And serious scratch could be saved on travel expenses.

Just saying.

I pulled a year on around 3.5-4 grand and I spent WAAYYYYY too much money in some places.

Never been there, and I don't surf, but it seems as if Australia would be a good place for both.

Jesus Christ 4 months on 12 GRAND! I haven't spent that much money in the past two years I don't think, and I've spent nearly 2000 on flights!

If I were you I'd dirt bag the US and Mexico. You could make that money last AT LEAST two years.

As has already been said, SE Asia has some amazing climbing but you'll have to travel with a partner if you want to climb off the beaten path. On the path however, is still pretty cool and easy to find partners.

If you decide to head this way, shoot me an email and I'll show you some of the best limestone that you've never heard about.

ryan.tyler.williams@gmail.com or catsclimbingshop@gmail.com

...the swells are going to be mental down in California this winter, head on down. World class surfing and climbing (yosemite, tahoe, lower elevation Sierra crags, and then places like Rincon, Steamers Lane, Ocean Beach, Mavericks, California Street, Malibu, and all the excellent smaller uncrowded spots)

and the Sierra rock is never more than 3 hours from the coast

I have surfed exotic locations in far off lands (been surfing for 26 years) and they always seem better because you had to take a plane, boat, or a 4x4 truck to get there. But hit epic Rincon, Malibu, Steamers, C-Street, Hazard Canyon, Big Sur, THE RANCH (which is where I reside) you will learn that the waves in Cali (especially the off the beaten path line ups) are as good as anywhere if you're good enough to separate yourself from the pack. And from hwy 101/hwy 1 the Sierra is never farther than 3 hours east.

Well, I factor consistency in with "World Class Status", and SoCal doesn't have it. I'll give it to the big breaks north of Point Concepcion, and yes of course Rincon when it's on. Malibu? Please, the only reason why it's on the map is because it's warm in the winter (and also in the shadow for north swells) and there's 10 million people in the county so naturally it's packed. Breaks like Trestles or Blacks will show it up 99 times out of 100.

The exotic-ness certainly factors in, be it surfing or climbing, but there is some fantastic breaks out there that pound year round; much better than Cali. Costa Rica certainly isn't the most beautiful, but there's almost always something coming through if not head+, not to mention 80 degree water. It may not have the appeal of Hawaii, but it doesn't have the crowds either. In my book, more "World Class" than the islands.

Obviously you're from NorCal and I'm from SoCal, so we see this differently. SoCal surf isn't World Class for the most part and we're more like 5 hours from the Sierras. However, you guys go off in the winter, and you're not going to be getting on much Sierra rock then, unless axes and crampons are your style.

And for the record, if you live on The Ranch then your vote doesn't count - you get better, uncrowded surf than the rest of Cali combined. That's kickass.