Hong Kong is not the first place many people would think about when planning a trekking holiday. But Hong Kong has much more to offer the trekker than you might think. Over two-thirds of its land is open country, not city. And it has plenty to explore: mountains, coastlines and forests, most of it national parkland.
Not many tourists make it beyond Hong Kong’s city limits. They go for shopping and nightlife, and ignore the natural world beyond the skyscrapers. That’s a huge mistake. Hong Kong trekking is varied and fascinating, with plenty to see. Go trekking in Hong Kong, and you’ll see a side of the island usually only seen by locals.
The MacLehose Trail takes trekkers from one end of Hong Kong to the other. Its 100 km cover empty, wild countryside; up some of Hong Kong’s highest peaks; and then drops down to the coast, taking in white sand beaches and cliff tops. There are many ghostly abandoned villages along the way, with the now-wild cows left by the villagers grazing alongside the beaches.
Hong Kong’s long coastline makes for great trekking country, with the emerald green of the South China Sea providing a great background. Along the way, you can stop to snorkel and swim off empty beaches.
Or head for the interior and explore Hong Kong’s rivers. River trekking is popular in Hong Kong, involving scrambling, climbing and hiking over streams and boulders, as well as along riverside paths. It can be challenging, but it’s great fun!
Hong Kong trekking trips are the perfect antidote to the busy concrete city. Slip out of the skyscrapers and into the wild…
