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(Routes) The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Hong Kong
The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking in Hong Kong
Backpacking is one of the best ways to travel eco-friendly in any part of the world. Backpacking or trekking is a way of travel without any transportation but your own foot. It is often associated with the natural environment and outdoor activities. Hong Kong offers you a unique backpacking experience, a "city in nature" characteristics that you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the world.
Hong Kong, a city in nature, hiking trails are just within walking distances, and most of the hiking trails are interconnected, which you can almost walk your way through Hong Kong. One of the best things about backpacking in Hong Kong is all the campsites within the country park areas are free!! You just have to pay for your food and transportation to and from your starting point.
Yet, there is still a number of questions and issues to answer when planning your backpacking trip in Hong Kong. Good preparation is never wasted. The better you prepare yourself for the trip, the greater the experience. This is an Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Travel in Hong Kong.
NOTE: This article is just a part of The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Hong Kong.
Route Planning
Planning a backpacking trip in an unfamiliar area is not easy. I'm total with you. I believe if you are reading this long blog till here, you must be that kind of person who loves backpacking as much as I do. I wouldn’t let you leave with your hands empty. With all that information upfront, there are still uncertainties, and of course, there are numbers of issues to tackle when it comes to personal choices.
I’ve put some route information together so that you don’t have to work from scratch! The suggestions are from some of my backpacking trips, and some of them are composing with other’s opinions. I hope you will find them useful, and last but not least, see you in Hong Kong.
The information is put together in the following structure, the key is to let you have an idea of the suggested route in a glance and look for details more effectively.
Recommended Activities:
Countryside Map Index: (Details)
Trails:
Start Point:
Finish Point:
Campsites:
Water Sources:
Possible Resupply Point:
Trip Distance: km / miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints: (*)
Route Map
*Coordinates on Countryside Map of Hong Kong
There are 5 maps covering all the country parks in Hong Kong, more purchasing and map coverage information can be found in the following link: https://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/enpda/paper_map/pda_cm.htm
I leave the itinerary completely up to you. Don’t forget to check the sunrise and sunset time. And don’t forget to make a contingency plan regarding weather and route.
OVERNIGHT TRIPS
As a tourist visiting Hong Kong, average layover time is less than a week. Spending a couple of days outdoors is certainly a great choice to see the countryside of Hong Kong, while you won’t miss anything in the city. You may want to maximize the outdoor culinary experience during the overnight camp or dig a little deeper of what the countryside can offer.
Overnight camping doesn’t have to carry a heavy bulky bag and walking long distances. If you prefer resting next to a campfire sipping your favourite wine, or enjoy the sea breeze over a hammock reading your never-finish book. I got you covered.
Route Suggestion (1) - Winter Campfire
Recommended Activities: Short Hike, Campfire Cooking,
Countryside Map Index: Lantau Island & Neighbouring Islands
Trails: Lantau Trail Section 12
Start Point: Pui O Bus Stop
Finish Point: Mui Wo Ferry Pier
Campsites: Pak Fu Tin Campsites
Water Sources: Tap water from the toilet next to start point and stream next to the campsite
Possible Resupply Point: Village Store (HE 074 621) for drink mostly
Trip Distance: 8.5 km / 5 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Start Point: Pui O Bus Stop (HE 068 628)
Point 2 - Village Store (HE 074 621)
Point 3 - Additional Trail Option (HE 079 623) to Chi Ma Wan Country Trail (18.5 km / 11.5 miles)
Point 4 - Pak Fu Tin Campsites (HE 086 638)
Point 5 - Finish Point: Mui Wo Ferry Pier (JK 910 650)
Route Map
Route Suggestion (2) - Sea Sun Sand
Recommended Activities: Sun, Sand, Sea
Countryside Map Index: Sai Kung & Clear Water Bay
Trails: Maclehose Trail Section 2
Start Point: Pak Tam Au
Finish Point: High Island East Dam Pavilion
Campsites: Long Ke Wan Campsite, Sai Wan Campsite, Ham Tin Wan Campsite
Water Sources: Tap Water from the toilet at Pak Tam Au, Chek Keng and High Island East Dam Pavilion
Possible Resupply Point: Vending Machine at the start point, Village Cafe near Ham Tin Wan Campsite and Sai Wan Campsite
Trip Distance: 15 km / 9 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Pak Tam Au (KK 254 819)
Point 2 - Chek Keng Public Toilet (KK 275 819)
Point 3 - Ham Tin Wan Campsite (KK 297 805)
Point 4 - Sai Wan Campsite (KK 293 795)
Point 5 - Village Cafe near Sai Wan Campsite (KK 293 795)
Point 6 - Long Ke Wan Campsite (KK 296 766)
Point 7 - High Island East Dam Pavilion (KK 295 755)
Route Map
FRUITFUL DUAL DAYS
You are excited to see the countryside of Hong Kong, yet, you don’t have enough time to explore the other end. You are the kind of person who wants to make the very best out of every single day, again, you don’t have enough time to finish what you schedule for. If you have that kind of personality or mindset, The following suggestions may satisfy the inner you!
Route Suggestion (3) - Summer Fiesta
Recommended Activities: Easy Hiking, Fishing, Snorkelling, Sun Sand Sea
Countryside Map Index: Hong Kong Island & Neighbouring Islands
Trails: Unofficial Trail
Start Point: Ferry Pier
Finish Point: Ferry Pier
Campsites: Tung Lung Chau Campsite
Water Sources: Streams, Village Cafe
Possible Resupply Point: Village Cafe
Trip Distance: Less than 5 km / 3 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Tung Lung Chau Campsite (KK 214 636)
Point 2 - Lighthouse (KK 214 639)
Point 3 - Beach next to Second Pier (KK 212 638)
Point 4 - Main Ferry Pier (KK 206 635)
Point 5 - Island Peak (KK 210 627)
Route Map
Route Suggestion (4) - Sunrise Glory
Recommended Activities: Buddhist Ritual and Monuments, Lantau Peak Lookout, Winter Sunrise
Countryside Map Index: Lantau Island & Neighbouring Islands
Trails: Lantau Trail Section 3, Shek Pik Country Trail
Start Point: Pak Kung Au
Finish Point: Shek Pik Water Reservoir
Campsites: Ngong Ping Campsite
Water Sources: Toilet, Village Cafe, Convenient Store, Restaurants
Possible Resupply Point: Village Cafe
Trip Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Pak Kung Au (HE 033 633)
Point 2 - Ngong Ping Campsite (HE 004 639)
Point 3 - Shek Pik Water Reservoir (GE 606 987)
Route Map
MULTIPLE DAYS TRIPS
If you are an experienced backpacker, the following suggestions will taste more like your cup of tea. Multiple days trips may require extensive hiking, heavier backpack, plus the stuff you need for the activities you want to do, fishing for an example. These are my personal favourite route of choices. I hope you enjoy the trips as much as I do!
Route Suggestion (5) - Island Coastlines
Recommended Activities: Summer Sunset, Sea Sun Sand, Coastline Fishing, Visiting Ancient Village, Small Boat Excursion for Chinese White Dolphins
Countryside Map Index: Lantau Island & Neighbouring Islands
Trails: Lantau Trail Section 5 & 7
Start Point: Lantau Trail Section 5 Starting Point
Finish Point: Tai O Village
Campsites: Kau Ling Chung Campsite, Tsin Yue Wan Campsite, Nga Ying Kok Campsite
Water Sources: River Stream next to campsites, Toilet
Possible Resupply Point: Village Cafe
Trip Distance: 17 km / 10 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Lantau Trail Section 5 Starting Point (GE 981 627)
Point 2 - Junction Point (GE 948 584) 500m to Kau Ling Chung Campsite (GE 953 583)
Point 3 - Public Toilet with Water Supply and Cafe Village (GE 938 581)
Point 4 - Tsin Yue Wan Campsite (GE 933 586)
Point 5 - Junction Point (GE 941 615) 100m to Village Cafe (GE 943 616)
Point 6 - Nga Ying Kok Campsite (GE 941 620)
Point 7 - Tai O Village (GE 949 636)
Route Map
Route Suggestion (6) - From Forest to Coastline
Recommended Activities: Sea Sand Sun, Snokerling, Kayaking, Summer Sunrise, Visiting Mining Village
Countryside Map Index: Sai Kung & Clear Water Bay
Trails: Ma On Shan Country Trail, Maclehose Trail Section 4 & 3, Tai Tan Country Trail
Start Point: Ma On Shan Country Park Barbecue Site
Finish Point: Hoi Ha Village
Campsites: Ngong Ping Campsite, Shui Long Wo Campsite, Cheung Sheung Campsite, Hau Tong Kai Campsite, Wan Tsai West Campsite
Water Sources: Toilet, Village Cafe, Restaurants
Possible Resupply Point: Village Cafe
Trip Distance: 28 km / 17 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Ma On Shan Country Park Barbecue Site (KK 156 806)
Point 2 - Ngong Ping Campsite (KK 169 789)
Point 3 - Shui Long Wo Campsite (KK 194 800)
Point 4 & 5 - Exit Point & Toilet. The distance between is the main roads
Point 6 - Cheung Sheung Campsite (KK 231 827)
Point 7 - Exit Point & Entrance of Tai Tan Country Trail (KK 247 836)
Point 8 - Wan Tsai Campsite (KK 260 865)
Point 9 - Hoi Ha Village (KK 250 862)
Route Map
Route Suggestion (7) - Catch & Cook
Recommended Activities: Kayaking, Coastline Fishing, Water Reservoir Fishing,
Countryside Map Index: North East & Central NT
Trails: Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail, Wilson Trail Section 9, Lau Shui Heung Country Trail
Start Point: Tai Mei Tuk Public Car Park
Finish Point: Lau Shui Heung Campsite
Campsites: Lau Shui Heung Campsite
Water Sources: Toilet
Possible Resupply Point: N/A
Trip Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
Elevation Profile:
Waypoints:
Point 1 - Tai Mei Tuk Public Car Park (KK 153 877)
Point 2 - Toilet @ Country Park Management Center (KK 156 882)
Point 3 - Junction Point to Hok Tau Water Reservoir and Hok Tau Campsite (KK 096 906)
Point 4 - Junction Point to Lau Shui Heung Campsite (KK 085 899) and Hok Tau Campsite
Point 5 - Lau Shui Heung Water Reservoir (KK 087 905)
Point 6 - Lau Shui Heung Campsite (KK 085 899)
Route Map
If you have any doubts or questions would like to clarify or ask, just let me know at the comment section below. I will try my best to keep the information above updated from time to time. Happy Backpacking!!
NOTE: This article is just a part of The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Hong Kong.