Hong Kong’s top 10 hikes
With such a wide range of hiking trails, Hong Kong has options for everyone from newbie walkers to experienced ramblers
The Great Outdoors is never very far away in Hong Kong, a city embraced by nature. Almost 70% of the destination is made up of green spaces, which means outdoor-loving visitors can enjoy a boundless playground packed with wildlife wonders and striking scenery.
This short training video encompasses the city’s natural highlights:
For the chance to win 1 of 20 Great Outdoors goody bags comprising a bamboo water bottle, a Sttoke coffee mug, chocolates, a notebook and a Hong Kong Hiking and Cycling Guide, simply answer two questions about Hong Kong, as featured in the video above.
Keen hikers will find a plethora of paths to explore within easy access of the city centre, and with trails ranging from easy to challenging, travellers of every ability have the opportunity to get back to nature in Hong Kong.
Here are 10 of the best trails to suggest for a client’s Hong Kong itinerary.
1. EAGLE’S NEST
Distance: 4km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: Very easy
Walkers on the Eagle’s Nest trail are likely to cross paths with the likes of monkeys and wild boar as they make their way through Lion Rock Country Park. Breathtaking vistas include those of Kowloon Reservoir, Kowloon Peninsula and the central New Territories mountain range. Suggest clients keep their eyes peeled for Shiuying bamboo, which can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
2. MACLEHOSE TRAIL (SECTIONS 1 & 2)
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.
3. LAMMA ISLAND
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.
4. SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK
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.
5. THE PEAK CIRCLE
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.
6. TUNG CHUNG TO TAI O
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.
7. TSING YI NATURE TRAIL
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.
8. SUNSET PEAK
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.
9. PLOVER COVE
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.
10. SIU SAI WAN TO SHEK O
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.
Recommended For You
Most read features
Competitions
Upcoming events
TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies 2025
Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
