Did you know that about 75% of the total area in Hong Kong is comprised of natural landscapes, including grassland, woodlands, reservoirs and hilly terrains? Many of these areas are part of nature reserves and country parks and are located throughout Hong Kong Island, Island District and the New Territories.
For anyone who wants to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, there are plenty of easy hiking trails in Hong Kong. And you don’t have to be an experienced or advanced hiker to try out some of the best Hong Kong hiking trails.
In this post, I put together a list of easy hikes in Hong Kong for anyone who wants to see things outside of the city centre. All you need is a pair of light hiking shoes, water and an adventurous spirit!
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Hiking in Hong Kong: What you need to know
Before you put on your hiking shoes and try one of these short hikes in Hong Kong, take a look at my Hong Kong solo travel guide and get an overview of HK first.
Here are a few additional tips for tying these easy hiking trails in Hong Kong:
- Wear comfortable, light hiking shoes for any of these suggested trails.
- Always bring plenty of water for your day hike.
- The best time to go hiking in Hong Kong is late fall, winter and early spring as the summer is humid and hot. But it is possible to go during the warmer months; ensure you bring enough water.
- If you want to avoid the crowd, go hiking on a weekday.
- Get an Octopus Card, a rechargeable smartcard for taking public transportation and use it for taking public transportation to any of these Hong Kong hiking trails. It costs $100HKD, but you can use $50 stored value and get your $50HKD refundable deposit when you leave HK.
Tips for Solo hiking: How to Hike Safely by yourself
Hiking alone is not ideal especially if you have never been before. If possible, hike with at least one other person so you can be there for each other.
But if you have to hike alone, take a look at some of these solo hiking safety tips. It doesn’t matter if you are new to solo hiking or you are a seasoned solo hiker, you will always have to keep yourself safe.
- Always bring a mobile phone (in case of emergency and to navigate) and ensure there is enough battery for the day
- Always bring enough water and food
- Attach a whistle on your hiking backpack
- Wear appropriate hiking clothes (extra layer and/or waterproof)
- Wear reliable hiking shoes
- Know your strength and select a hiking trail that is suitable to your technical skills
- Plan your hiking route in advanced so you know exactly where you are hiking and you know it is not too difficult
- Make sure to tell someone where you are going and how long you will be hiking
17 Easy Hiking Trails in Hong Kong
Below are some of my favourite easy hikes in HK. Many of them can be completed in half a day if you can only spare a few hours. But if you have a full day, I highly suggest combining a few of these trails or visit one of the islands.
Click on the hyperlink and it’ll take you directly to the specific section.
Hong Kong Island
- Victoria Peak Trail
- High West Hike
- Mount Davis
- Red Incense Burner Summit
- Mount Nicholson
- Cape Collinson Hike
- Rhino Rock Hike
Island District
New Territories
- Tsing Yi Nature Trails
- Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung
- Pineapple Mountain
- Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail
- Trio Beach Hike
- Tai Tan Country Trail
Easy hikes on HK Island
1. Victoria Peak Trail
If there is only one easy hiking trail you need to hike, it is Victoria Peak Trail. The trail is near the top of Victoria Peak on the western side of Hong Kong Island. The flat and paved circular trail is the easiest hike in Hong Kong. And most of all, the circular route has the best views of Kowloon, Victoria Harbour, and the north side of Hong Kong Island.
There are many ways to get to the start of the Victoria Peak trail and so choose one that suits you.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Distance: 3.6km
- How to get there: five ways (walking, bus 15, minibus 1, Peak Tram and taxi) to get to the Peak Tower & Peak Galleria, which is the start of the hike
2. High West Hike
High West is one of the peaks on Victoria Mountain on the west side of HK Island. And as one of the best sunset spots in Hong Kong, many people prefer to hike this short hike in the late afternoon.
The short hike up High West takes about half an hour from Victoria Peak Trail. This is the easiest way to get up to the peak. When you walk beyond the railing, you can see Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town to the west, and Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport and Lamma Island to the south.
- Duration: 25 minutes from Victoria Peak Trail
- Distance: 650 meters
- How to get there: hike anti-clockwise on the Victoria Peak circular loop and start at Lugard Road and Harlech Road junction
3. Mount Davis
Mount Davis is a 269m tall mountain on the west side of HK Island. It is an old military site with many war ruins including five gun emplacements, ammunition stores, and accommodation buildings.
Even if you are not a history buff, you can still enjoy the Mount Davis hike. It is an easy and short trek up the westernmost hill via a paved road. At the top you can see a triangulation station and High West in the distance. When you done roaming around the old military site, retrace your steps back to Victoria Road.
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes round trip
- Distance: 2.8km
- How to get there: take subway to Kennedy Town MTR Station and walk 25 minutes or take bus 1, 54, 54S, 58, 58A, 58M, 59, 43M, 47P, 971, or A10 to the start of the trail.
4. Red Incense Burner Summit
The Red Incense Burner Summit on Braemar Hill has to be one of the shortest hiking trails in Hong Kong, especially if you take public transportation to the start of the trail. Plus, the trail itself is not difficult or hard to navigate. After hiking for 15 minutes and a quick climb over several rocks, you can see panoramic views of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Many people will visit the sunset viewpoint because it is one of the best sunset spots in Hong Kong. And if you stay for the night view, bring a headlamp or torch so you can navigate your way back.
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Distance: 500m
- How to get there: take bus 23B, 25, 25A, 27, 81A, 85, 85A, 85P, 108 or minibus 25, 49M to Braemar Hill Bus Terminus. Then walk 5 minutes to the trailhead.
5. Mount Nicholson
Mount Nicholson hike is a short hike with panoramic views of southern Hong Kong and hidden whimsical rock statues. It starts at the base of Mount Nicholson and continues on Blank’s Link and Hong Kong Trail Section 4 to Wan Chai Gap Road.
The entire hike is quite short but it involves a bit of climbing at the beginning. It’s not difficult if you wear proper shoes and have a pair of gloves handy. But I can guarantee that the views are worth it.
Google Maps only shows a part of the trail but “Hiking Trail HK” app has all the trail details. Or follow the detailed route in my post on hiking Mount Nicholson.
- Duration: 1.5 hour
- Distance: 4km
- How to get there: take bus 5, 6, 41A, 63, 66 or 76 and alight at the Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park bus stop, just in front of the Sinopec gas station.
6. Cape Collinson Hike
Cape Collinson is a cape on the easternmost part of Hong Kong Island between Siu Sai Wan, Ngan Wan and Big Wave Bay. The easy hiking trail weaves through the cape while visiting a lighthouse, ancient rock carvings, and Cape Collinson Battery via the Leaping Dragon Walk.
The “hardest” part may be finding the entrance to cape battery. And you’ll have to hop over the railing. The rest is easy peasy.
You can retrace your steps after seeing the battery or continue forward via Pottinger Peak Country Trail and finishes at Big Wave Bay Beach. Either way, the hiking path is easy to navigate.
- Duration: 2 hours if you retrace your steps or 4 hours for point-to-point trail
- Distance: 5.4km or 6.5km
- How to get there: take a bus to Island Resort Public Transport Interchange in Siu Sai Wan
7. Rhino Rock Hike
There is a rock statue in the shape of a rhinoceros head hidden in Stanley Peninsula on Hong Kong Island. And the only way to see the rocky rhino is by hiking the Rhino Rock hiking trail.
This short hike takes about 40 minutes to Rhino Rock and 20 minutes to go back. Some parts of the trail may seem a bit too steep or slippery, but it shouldn’t be too difficult if you wear proper hiking shoes.
The trickiest part is navigating to Rhino Rock because Google Maps doesn’t show the route. But the “Hiking Trail HK” app shows the hiking trail. If you want to see a detailed map, I included one in my post on hiking Rhino Rock.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Distance: 2km
- How to get there: take bus 6A to Stanley Fort (last stop)
Easy hikes in the Island District
1. Lamma Island Family Trail
The Lamma Island Family Trail connects the two biggest villages on Lamma Island, Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan. The short trail zig-zags through the island where you can see temples, grottos, lookout pavilion, beaches and panoramic views on both sides of Lamma Island.
The hiking trail is paved the entire way with slight inclines. The well-maintained path is suitable for everyone, even if you are a beginner. In my opinion, the best way to hike the Lamma Island Family Trail is to start from Sok Kwu Wan and end at Yung Shue Wan so you can finish the day with good food in Yung Shue Wan.
- Duration: 70 minutes
- Distance: 4.8km
- How to get there: take a ferry from Central Ferry Pier No.4 or Aberdeen Pier to Sok Kwu Wan Pier on Lamma Island
2. Cheung Chau Island
Cheung Chau Island is a favourite weekend destination for locals and it is only 10km southwest of HK Island. During your day trip to the “dumbbell island”, you can explore all the hiking trails linking all the secluded beaches, temples, rock formations and hidden cave.
You can hike either northern part of Cheung Chau, southern part or all of it. If you want to see everything, I highly suggest starting around 9:30am. I detailed all the hiking routes in my 1-day Cheung Chau itinerary so you can see all the paths. The trails are all marked and paved. There are some hills but the actual route is not difficult at all.
- Duration: 1.5 hour northern route + 2 hours for southern route
- Distance: 3km for northern route and 5.6km for southern route
- How to get there: take the Sun Ferry (ordinary or fast ferry) from Central Pier #5
3. Peng Chau
Peng Chau is a lesser known island and is off the coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. It is one of my favourite islands to visit especially on a weekday when there is less of a crowd.
When you spend one day in Peng Chau, you can hike around the island by following the walking trail and see rock formations, admire old temples and panoramic views from Finger Hill. Plus, you can visit several secluded beaches where you can have the beach all to yourself.
If you hike the whole loop around Peng Chau, it is around 7km. The trail itself is not hard. There are some stairs and hills but still relatively easy.
- Duration: 4 hour
- Distance: 7km
- How to get there: take Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (HKKF) from Central Pier No. 6
4. Po Toi Island
Po Toi is the main island from the group of Po Toi Islands. And it is the southernmost island of Hong Kong which is why it is known as the “South Pole of Hong Kong“.
When you visit Po Toi, you can see many famous well-weathered granite rocks and prehistoric rock cravings by hiking the three hiking trails which makes up the Po Toi Country Trail. Each trail is a loop that overlaps with at least one other route and are clearly marked. Some parts are hilly but the paths are paved and well-marked.
For my Po Toi itinerary, I included all the highlights on both Route 1 and 2 and parts of Route 3. I think it is the best way to see the island especially if you are visiting on Tuesday (the shortest amount of time you can spend on Po Toi Island).
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Distance: 6km
- How to get there: take the Kaito ferry from either Aberdeen or Stanley
Easy hikes around New Territories
1. Tsing Yi Nature Trails
Tsing Yi Nature Trails is a network of hiking paths that crisscrosses through the hills on the northwest side of Tsing Yi Island. It has over 6.4km of easy hiking trail including Ching Hom Path, Ching Wan Path and Kwai Tsing Celebration of Reunification Health Trail.
Even though it is not a simple point-to-point path, I put together a Tsing Yi Nature Trails hiking itinerary where you can walk around the network of trails and see all the best attractions including views of Ting Kau Bridge, and Tsing Ma Bridge in Ma Wan Channel.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 2.5km
- How to get there: take subway to Tsing Yi MTR Station and take Exit A1
2. Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung
Right next to Tsing Yi Nature Trails is another easy hiking trail called Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung. The mountain, “Sam Chi Heung”, got its name from the silhouette of the three peaks which has the same profile as the three joss sticks used in religious rituals.
The hiking trail goes through the three peaks and has an elevation gain of 333m. It is relatively easy as the trail is made of paved paths and stairs.
Once you reach the last peak, instead of continuing forward down the Tsing Yi peak on the southeast side of the island which is very difficult, I suggest retracing your steps.
And it is possible to hike both Tsing Yi Nature Trails and Sam Chi Heung on the day same. All you have to do is start early so you can have time to hike both.
- Duration: 3 hours or 5 hours to hike both
- Distance: 3.5km or 6km to hike both
- How to get there: take the subway to Tsing Yi MTR Station and take Exit A1. Take bus 68E or 279X to Ching Wan Court on Tsing Yi Road West. Or if you are hiking both trails, the end of Tsing Yi Nature Trail is the start of Sam Chi Heung.
3. Pineapple Mountain
Many people may not know that Hong Kong has its own version of the Grand Canyon. The easy hiking trail in Tuen Mun resembles the crackly crust of a pineapple bun, an HK classic food. Hence, they named the mountain Pineapple Mountain.
The hike up Pineapple Hill is a steady incline but not difficult. The hiking path itself is not hard to navigate. Google Maps shows a clear path across the mountain. There are parts around the canyon where it might be slippery, but it shouldn’t be an issue if you are wearing proper hiking shoes.
But the most rewarding part of the short hike is seeing the Grand Canyon-like landscape of Pineapple Hill. You won’t see anything else like this anywhere in Hong Kong. Along the way, you can see views of New Territory and Shenzhen, China.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 6km
- How to get there: take Lightrail 505 at Siu Hong MTR Station and walk 5 minutes to the trailhead.
4. Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail
Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail is an easy hiking trail along the southern coast of Ma Shi Chau, a small rocky island in Tolo Harbour in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong.
The island literally means “horse dung island” in Cantonese. It doesn’t sound appealing but Ma Shi Chau is actually quite special because it has sedimentary rocks that were formed 280 million years ago. These are the second oldest rocks in the region.
Anyone, even beginners, can hike across Yim Tin Tsai and Ma Shi Chau to see the colourful rocks and views of the mountain ranges in the area. It is a wonderful day hike around this Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Distance: 7km
- How to get there: take subway to Tai Po Market Station, take Exit A3. Then take minibus 20K to the last stop
5. Trio Beach Hike
Trio Beach is a small secluded beach at the end of Pak Sha Wan Peninsula in the Sai Kung District. And the only way you can get to the sandy beach is by a hiking trail or a sampan boat.
For my Trio Beach hike itinerary, I included both hiking and sampan boat option (because I like variety and not retracing my steps).
The day starts with exploring the easy rugged trails through Pak Sha Wan Peninsula including Tai Ngam Hau, which is the east side of the peninsula that has a rocky headland at the end of the trail. Then the day hike ends at the white sand beach and a quick sampan boat ride to Hebe Haven.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Distance: 8.5km
- How to get there: take subway to Choi Hung MTR Station, and take Exit C. Then take minibus 1A to last stop in Sai Kung. The meander through Sai Kung Town and housing estates to the start of the trail.
6. Tai Tan Country Trail
Tai Tan Country Trail is a scenic coastal trail on the northeast side of Sai Kung West Country Park. Along the route, there are two secluded beaches, a historical landmark and one of Hong Kong’s best marine park, Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park.
The easy hiking trail starts from the village of Tai Tan and ends in Hoi Ha Village. It is possible to hike any time of the year and it is suitable for hikers of all ages.
Most people will hike other well-known trails in Sai Kung but I quite like this one. It’s off the beaten-path and you can include an afternoon of kayaking if you wish.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Distance: 7km
- How to get there: take subway to Choi Hung MTR Station, and take Exit C. Then take minibus 1A to last stop in Sai Kung. Then take bus 94 to Tai Tan Stop.
Interested in tours in Hong Kong? Try one of these tours below:
Which of these easy Hong Kong hiking trails will you try?
There are some of the best hikes in Hong Kong and are some of my favourite easy hikes. I’m sure there are more! And when I discover them, I will include them in this post. So make sure to bookmark this page and return often.
And in the meantime, which of these easy hiking trails in HK will you try? Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading my post on easy Hong Kong hiking trails
You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Hong Kong
Hong Kong posts
- Hong Kong solo travel guide: everything you need to know
- 7 boutique hotels: where to stay in HK for solo travellers
- Hong Kong food culture: 15 must-try food
- 10 best HK coffee shops for coffee lovers
- 15 places to watch sunset in Hong Kong
- HK off the beaten path: 11 hidden gems
- How to get to Lamma Island
- Macau itinerary: things to do for solo traveller
- My honest review of HK Express, HK budget airline
Other Hong Kong Island Hikes
- Dragon’s Back Hike: the most popular day hike in HK
- Violet Hill and the Twins: hike over two mountains with over 1,000+ steps
Other Island District Hikes
- Tung O Ancient Trail: hike the coastal trail in Lantau North Country Park
- Lo Yan Shan Hike: hike Chi Ma Wan Country Trail in southern Lantau Island
- Fan Lau Hike: explore the southwest tip of Lantau Island
Other New Territories Hikes
- High Junk Peak: one of the three sharpest peaks in HK
- Ma On Shan Hike: hike across the horse-saddle mountain to Sai Kung
- Pat Sin Leng Hike: hike over 8 peaks named after Chinese Mythological immortals
- Po Pin Chau: hike around hexagonal rock columns in Sai Kung
- Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail: hike around HK’s largest reservoir
- Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff: See HK’s most dramatic cliff
- Robin’s Nest Hike and Lin Ma Hang Cave: explore northern HK near the Shenzhen border
- Kai Kung Leng: hike the Rooster Ridge in Lam Tsuen Country Park
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