The MacLehose Trail

"Many visitors are surprised to learn how many great hiking trails there are around Hong Kong . In fact, believe it or not, roughly three-quarters of Hong Kong (which, remember, comprises Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories) is undeveloped land. The mother of all hikes is the 62-mile MacLehose Trail, which winds across much of the New Territories from Pak Tam Chung to Long Ke. It’s considered one of the most gorgeous hikes in the world. The undulating trail snakes along gorgeous beaches, past sea caves, sea stacks, and interesting columns of volcanic rock, and in the middle, climbs to Hong Kong’s highest peak, Tai Mo Shan, at 3,140 feet. Do the whole thing or what most people do, just a part; MacLehose is divided into 10 sections ranging from three to 10 miles, with campsites set up along the way (one of the best is Stage 2; the starting point is the end of Sai Kung Man Yee Road along the High Island Reservoir). Keep your eyes peeled for rhesus monkeys, wild boar, and barking deer."

"Stretching 62 miles across Hong Kong’s New Territories, the MacLehose Trail is often counted among the world's most beautiful hikes. Though the trail is divided into 10 stages, most travelers gravitate toward Stages 1 and 2, which are some of the more accessible and scenic sections, located around Sai Kung. Stage 1 is mostly on a road that wraps around the edges of High Island Reservoir. It takes about three hours, culminating with two big payoffs: fascinating rock formations, created by the eruption of a super-volcano millions of years ago, and beautiful Long Ke Wan beach. From there, hikers can continue another 8.3 miles along Stage 2, which undulates across the Peninsula’s coastal hills, before curving into the shadow of Sharp’s Peak and finishing in Pak Tam Au." - Kate Springer