Hong Kong’s top 10 hikes

Distance: 16km | Time: 6 hours | Difficulty: Very difficult

Dubbed Hong Kong’s most-challenging hike, the Maclehose Trail is not for the faint-hearted. Sections one and two of the ten-section route visit the 140-million-year-old hexagonal rock formations in Hong Kong’s Unesco World Heritage Geopark and give visitors the chance to cool off during a swim at Ham Tin Wan beach.

Distance: 5km | Time: 1.5 hours | Difficulty: Easy

Lamma Island’s nature trail isn’t just a treat for the eyes, it’s a treat for the tastebuds too. Walkers can stop off to try fresh seafood in harbour-side restaurants, visit the Tin Hau Temple and finish off with a sundowner at Yung Shue Wan.

Distance: 13km | Time: 5 hours | Difficulty: Difficult

Just 30-60 minutes from the city centre, Sai Kung – or the “back garden” of Hong Kong as it is also known as – gives visitors the chance to stroll along the High Island Reservoir, take on the towering Sharp Peak and tuck into traditional Hakka cuisine.

Distance: 5km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: Easy

A classic among Hong Kong walking trails, The Peak Circle is a must-do for visitors keen to get a bird’s eye view of Victoria Harbour and the city. Suggest hikers head out in time for sunset to get the best skyline photos and/or get the tram to the halfway point.

Distance: 14.5km | Time: 4.5 hours | Difficulty: Difficult

This hike's destination, Tai O, is one of Hong Kong's oldest fishing villages. Ramblers on this route will find themselves on a journey through the city's cultural heritage, passing ancient villages, traditional agriculture and iconic stilt houses built on tidal flats.

Distance: 4km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: Very easy

The Tsing Yi Nature Trail is dotted with pavilions and viewpoints providing sweeping panoramas of the South China Sea. It’s great for all abilities and is easily accessible from the city centre.

Distance: 9km | Time: 4.5 hours | Difficulty: Very difficult

Sunset Peak, Hong Kong’s third-tallest mountain, is a favourite for photographers who often hike to its summit before dusk to capture the sunset. Other sights on this popular pathway include bays and beaches, as well as the 20th-century Luk Tei Tong Watch Tower.

Distance: 8km | Time: 3.5 hours (or 7 hours roundtrip) | Difficulty: Difficult

Visitors to Plover Cove Country Park can hike through paddy fields, rustic walled villages, mystical woodland and the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark, which is home to spectacular geological features.

Distance: 7km | Time: 3 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Great for lovers of beach vibes, the trail that runs between Siu Sai Wan and Shek O passes through Big Wave Bay and Shek O Beach, which is a well-known surfer paradise and hotspot. This route is one of Hong Kong’s most popular and also offers views of Hong Kong Island’s east coast.

Find out more about the Great Outdoors of Hong Kong at discoverhongkong.com.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also developed short training videos showcasing fast facts and essential information about the city, as well as its local culture, cuisine and nightlife:

Visit the tourism board’s trade hub at partnernet.hktb.com.