Must-Do Hikes in Hong Kong: A Five-Day Hiking Itinerary

May 21, 2026

Five days in Hong Kong. Most itineraries spend all of them in the city. This one doesn't — because the city makes more sense from the ridge above it. Here are five trails that cover the full geography of Hong Kong: the island, Kowloon, the New Territories coast, and the outlying waters. Done over five days, they add up to something close to a complete picture of the place.

All five trails are featured in Iconic Hikes Hong Kong. All are accessible by public transport. None require any specialist gear.

Day 1 — The Peak (Victoria Peak)

Hong Kong Island | Get your bearings from above the city

Difficulty: Easy Time: 2 to 3 hours Distance: 3.5km

Start here. The Peak is where first time visitors realise that Hong Kong is not what they expected — and locals are reminded why they stay. The Peak Circle Walk is a 3.5km loop through dense subtropical forest that most tourists miss entirely. Lugard Road Lookout delivers the best unobstructed view of Victoria Harbour anywhere on the island.

Take the Peak Tram up for the full experience (go early to avoid queues — more on that in our guide to how to get to the Peak Hong Kong). Walk the circle. Then take bus 15 back down to Central and spend the afternoon in the city with a completely different perspective on it.

→ Browse the Iconic Hikes art print collection.

Day 2 — Dragon's Back

South Hong Kong Island | The trail that earns its reputation

Difficulty: Moderate Time: 3 to 4 hours Distance: 8.5km

Dragon's Back sits on the southeastern edge of Hong Kong Island, running through Shek O Country Park toward the coastal village of Shek O. It is consistently voted one of Asia's best urban hikes and the name earns itself — the ridge genuinely feels like moving along the spine of something vast and old.

The views are a collision of worlds: the South China Sea to the south, the dense urban fabric of Hong Kong Island to the west, and between them, miles of untouched green. The trail drops toward Big Wave Bay or Shek O, where a seafood lunch and a swim are standard. Give yourself the full afternoon.

Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan, then bus 9 to To Tei Wan (the trailhead). Read the full breakdown in our Dragon's Back Hong Kong trail guide.

→ The Dragon's Back art print — the ridge, the sea, the full scale of it.

Day 3 — Lion Rock

Kowloon | The silhouette that defines a city

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard Time: 3 to 4 hours Distance: 6km

Lion Rock is Kowloon's defining silhouette — the rocky lion head that watches over the city from the ridge between Sha Tin and Kowloon. From the summit, the view looks south across the urban density of Kowloon and out to Victoria Harbour, with Hong Kong Island rising behind it. It is one of the most layered views of the city in existence.

The ascent is steeper and more demanding than the Peak or Dragon's Back. The final approach to the summit involves some rock scrambling. But the views reward every step of it — and for a city that draws so much meaning from this particular peak, standing on it changes something.

Get there via MTR to Kowloon Tong, then minibus toward Sha Tin Pass Road. Allow the full morning. Check the AFCD trail page for current conditions before you go.

Day 4 — Brides Pool

New Territories Northeast | Forest, water, and a completely different Hong Kong

Difficulty: Easy Time: 2 to 3 hours Distance: 4 to 6km

By day four, Brides Pool offers exactly what the previous days don't: something quiet. Waterfalls, freshwater streams, dense subtropical forest, and almost no drama. This is Hong Kong with its more spectacular instincts set aside — and it is surprisingly moving for it.

The trail runs through Plover Cove Country Park in the northeast New Territories, ending at a series of waterfalls that pool into clear water below. It is one of the most genuinely restorative walks in Hong Kong and completely unlike anything on the island.

Take the MTR to University station and then a taxi, or KMB bus 75K from Tai Po Market station. Morning visits are quieter. Weekends can be crowded.

→ The Bride's Pool art print — water, forest, stillness.

Day 5 — Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui Chau)

Photo credit by Drone & DSLR

Sai Kung | End on the water

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Time: 2 to 3 hours hiking Distance: 5km

End the five days on the water. Sharp Island — Kiu Tsui Chau — sits in the outer Sai Kung archipelago and is one of Hong Kong's most striking and accessible outer islands. A tombolo (a sand bar that appears at low tide) connects the main island to a smaller outcrop, and the coastal views across the Sai Kung waters are the kind that stay with you.

Get to Sai Kung Town by bus or taxi from Diamond Hill or Sai Kung. From the waterfront, take a sampan or kaido boat to Sharp Island — the ride takes around 15 minutes and costs a few dollars. Combine the hike with swimming, lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants in Sai Kung Town on the way back, and a slow end to five days of trails.

Sai Kung is one of the most underrated parts of Hong Kong. Sharp Island is a good reason to finally see why.

Planning Notes

Best time of year: October through March — cooler temperatures, lower humidity, the clearest skies. Summer hiking is possible but demands early starts and significant water. Always check the Hong Kong Observatory before heading out, particularly in summer when thunderstorms develop quickly in the afternoon.

Getting around: All five trails are reachable by public transport from Central. An Octopus card covers MTR, buses, and minibuses. Taxis fill any gaps.

The book: All five of these trails — along with 21 others — are featured across two pages each in Iconic Hikes Hong Kong. The left page is a full vintage-style poster. The right page is prose that captures what each trail actually feels like. It works as a companion before you go, and a keepsake after.

→ Get the book.

→ Browse the full collection — prints, postcards, and the book.

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