4 of Hong Kong’s Most Unmissable Hikes

Hiking? In Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is a hiker’s paradise, which isn’t something you might expect before visiting. The region is host to a variety of multi-day walks and countless day hiking options with a mixture of different terrains, difficulty levels, and remoteness.

Surprisingly, most of Hong Kong’s landmass is actually mountainous, with its bustling population centred tightly on the island’s only flat areas. In fact, a third of Hong Kong’s landmass is designated parks and nature reserves! How epic!

Whilst the mountainous nature of the region makes building skyscrapers difficult, it does lend itself to Explorers like you and I.

The trails in the region traverse the remote ridgelines of the many country parks. They follow pristine coastlines with some of the most stunning beaches you’ll ever set foot on.

There are also many easily accessed hikes right on the city’s edge with sweeping views of the Hong Kong skyline. There’s something for everyone, from first-time hikers to highly experienced trekkers and everyone in between. Let’s take a look at some of my favourite Hong Kong trails that I explored on a recent visit to this incredible part of the world.

1. Deserted Beaches Hiking Tour

Distance: 11km
Duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate

The Deserted Beaches Hiking Tour might be one of the most spectacular hikes in Hong Kong, with the track leading you along remote beaches and across scenic ridgelines in Sai Kung Country Park. Located on the eastern side of Hong Kong, the trail loosely follows a section of the multi-day MacLehose Trail (which is roughly 100km long and winds throughout the entirety of Hong Kong). I was guided along this route by Gabi from ‘Walk Hong Kong’ and it was an incredible welcome to the region for my first taste of the local trails.

We began our trek at Sai Wan Pavilion within Sai Kung Country Park after about an hour’s drive from the city. The hike began with a descent down to Sai Wan village, located directly on the beach and an absolutely beautiful beach at that.

The trail surface starts as a concrete pathway that residents of the village use to carry goods in and out of town. After leaving the cosy Sai Wan village, the beaches became our trail, as we followed the coast for an hour to our lunch stop at another small coastal village, Ham Tin.

The village cafe spoiled us with local cuisine like fried rice, and after a quick ocean dip we moved away from the coast and up into the mountains. While the coastal walking was amazing, the steep single track up onto the ridge was a little more adventurous and a lot of fun.

We climbed to about 250m above sea level and the views from the top of the ridgeline felt like they came straight out of a movie. We had 360° vistas of the stunning Sai Kung Country Park with all its mountains, beaches, and bays. After an equally enjoyable descent, we made it to Ko Lau Wan Ferry Terminal and caught a water taxi to a nearby road.

2. Tai Mo Shan + Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls

Distance: 10km
Duration: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate

Tai Mo Shan is Hong Kong’s highest peak at 957m above sea level, and considering the sea is only a stone’s throw away, it’s definitely a mountain to behold. Luckily for those who don’t want to climb almost 1,000m in a single hike, there’s a road that takes you almost all the way to the summit. We took a taxi within 3km of Tai Mo Shan summit and arrived just before 6am with the goal of reaching the peak for sunrise. Unfortunately, low clouds were obstructing our view for most of our climb but we did get glimpses of the incredible vistas Tai Mo Shan has to offer.

The hike wasn’t over at the summit though and we started our descent on the opposite side of the mountain, intending to visit a variety of waterfalls on the way down to Ng Tung Chai Village.

We visited four beautiful falls along our 7km descent, each unique and tranquil in its own right. ‘Main Fall’ was a highlight with a 35m drop over a cliff edge, surrounded by lush forest.

The sounds of water flowing and birds chirping were ever-present throughout the entire descent and while the trail was steep and technical in some parts, most hikers will find it to be an enjoyable trek.

After a total of three hours walking, we made it to Ng Tung Chai Village and caught a taxi back to the city, amazed to have seen a whole different side to Hong Kong hiking.

3. Lion Rock

Distance: 5-7km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate

After spending a few days hiking in Hong Kong already, I had been recommended the Lion Rock hike multiple times. It’s a favourite with the locals and I was excited to experience the trail at sunset, with hopes of some incredible views. Lion Rock is an imposing and iconic peak separating Hong Kong’s Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories further to the north, and unlike any trail I’d walked up until this point. We began the trek at Lion Rock Park, easily accessible via taxi or public transport, and had a relatively steep climb of 400m to the summit.

The climb featured multiple viewpoints, each more spectacular than the last, and some sections of the trail required big step-ups and careful foot placement. We encountered a troop of monkeys and a very friendly boar during our ascent, the first sign of large wildlife so far on the trip.

It took approximately one hour to reach the top of Lion Rock, with a small scramble to reach the highest viewpoint. The incredible views I’d hoped for were delivered, a 360° panorama of the surrounding Lion Rock Country Park alongside the expansive metropolis of Hong Kong. As the sun set, the city came to life, with hundreds of skyscrapers and apartment buildings lighting up. We soaked in the view for a while before switching on our headlamps for a descent down a different route.

Another large troop of monkeys accompanied us along a section of the downhill trail, and before long, the dark of night had taken over the forest and the lights on our heads were our guides. Night hiking is an incredible experience and I really enjoyed this last section of the trail before reaching the road where our taxi awaited.

4. Dragon’s Back

Distance: 5-8km
Duration: 1.5-4 hours
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate

Dragon’s Back is one of Hong Kong’s most popular hikes and for very good reason. The trail is easily accessible and provides sweeping coastal views of south-east Hong Kong Island. It’s also beginner friendly with very little technical walking and manageable inclines. We started our trek on the northern edge of Shek O Country Park, a short drive from Hong Kong city.

The trail begins with a short ascent along the side of the hilltop which after 2km, reaches the main ridgeline. Once atop Dragon’s Back ridge, you’ve got views for days!

We almost spent more time jumping between vantage points than actually hiking! There are a multitude of small villages dotting the coastline amongst pristine beaches and greenery, which make for a diverse landscape to peer down on from high above on the trail.

The route extends outwards on the Shek O Peninsula with the beautiful Tai Tum Bay to the right and the seemingly never-ending South China Sea to the left.

While Dragon’s Back is a short hike, only about 5km long, it’s well worth checking out. The hike itself took us about 1.5 hours with an extra hour or so spent taking in the sights. We descended back down to the road to catch a taxi to the city. I spent the whole ride wondering how roads were even built alongside these incredible coastal hills.

You’ve Gotta Go Hiking in Hong Kong!

Hiking in Hong Kong was a truly special experience and one I think every Explorer should add to their bucket list (just be sure to read up on hiking tips before you get there!). December to February are the best months for walking in the region, with cooler temperatures and less rainfall than the rest of the year. If you find yourself in Hong Kong during any season though, it’s still well worth getting out for a hike. There are countless other trails that I didn’t get a chance to explore but these four are a great starting point to get a taste of what Hong Kong has to offer.