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- Tai Long Wan (Sai Wan, Ham Tin, Tai Long beaches) — A string of impossibly clear, curved beaches tucked into Sai Kung’s eastern coast; silky sand, turquoise water and a handful of back-of-beyond villages make it feel like you’re a world away from the city. The MacLehose passes close enough that you can camp, swim or hit a seafood shack after a long day of hiking — and you’ll often see grazing cows and plenty of shorebirds that other Hong Kong trails don’t offer.
- High Island Reservoir and the Hexagonal Rock Columns — Part of Hong Kong’s GeoPark, these columnar basalt formations are dramatic and photogenic: a real geological showpiece where vertical pillars meet the sea. The MacLehose route runs near the dams and headlands, so you can combine coastal cliff scenery, calm reservoir views, and
- Tai Long Wan (Sai Wan, Ham Tin, Tai Long beaches) — A string of impossibly clear, curved beaches tucked into Sai Kung’s eastern coast; silky sand, turquoise water and a handful of back-of-beyond villages make it feel like you’re a world away from the city. The MacLehose passes close enough that you can camp, swim or hit a seafood shack after a long day of hiking — and you’ll often see grazing cows and plenty of shorebirds that other Hong Kong trails don’t offer.
- High Island Reservoir and the Hexagonal Rock Columns — Part of Hong Kong’s GeoPark, these columnar basalt formations are dramatic and photogenic: a real geological showpiece where vertical pillars meet the sea. The MacLehose route runs near the dams and headlands, so you can combine coastal cliff scenery, calm reservoir views, and an easy geology lesson in one stop.
- Sharp Peak (Nam She Tsim) — That jagged, pyramid-like peak rising above Sai Kung is the postcard image most people think of when they picture wild Hong Kong. It’s a steep, exposed scramble off the main trail (not for beginners), but the ridgeline views over islands and bays are some of the most raw and rewarding in the territory.
- Tai Mo Shan Summit — The highest point in Hong Kong; a sudden change of pace from coastal jungle to windswept grass and cooler air. If the clouds clear you get 360° panoramas over the New Territories and Kowloon — plus moody mist and rare cool weather in summer, which makes this section of the MacLehose feel very different from the rest.
- Shing Mun Reservoir and Lead Mine Pass — A quieter, woodland stretch with a reservoir, old waterworks and relics of mining and wartime history tucked into pine and subtropical forest. It’s a great spot for birdwatching, peaceful reservoir reflections and an easy-going contrast to the steep coastal sections — good for mid-trail rest and varied scenery.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.