Hansen's Hikes
... exploring Hong Kong's other side ...
MacLehose Challenge
The dates for the next challenge have yet to be fixed
Hong Kong’s longest hiking trail, the MacLehose Trail, begins along the deeply indented
and wild east coast of Sai Kung, before climbing onto the rugged peaks of the central
mountains, including Hong Kong’s highest, Tai Mo Shan. As it winds to its end at the
western part of the country, the Trail skirts impressive valley reservoirs.

Generally crossing higher land, the Trail offers memorable countryside experiences –
and the adventure of sustained hiking. Some stages of the MacLehose Trail are
surfaced roads, but most follow hillside paths. Hiking conditions are mostly easy to
moderate, with only a few sections needing strenuous effort.

Responding to requests, we have put together the following 6-hike challenge itinerary
covering most of the MacLehose Trail. The official trail is a mere 100-km, but as not all
stages of the Trail begin at a transport drop-off point, the total distance of the
MacLehose Challenge hikes comes to a whopping
127.5 kilometres.

Due to space limitations, we have given only a brief outline of each hike here, but please
feel free to
contact us, should you have any questions regarding our MacLehose
Challenge.

As the minimum number of participants required for these hikes is just
3, the cost for
each individual hike is
HK$250 per person, but there is a discount of HK$20 for
everybody should more than 4 people turn up for a hike. As an added incentive, all hikes
will go ahead as scheduled unless it is absolutely bucketing down with rain…

Within the Sai Kung Country Parks, we will be passing a few stores and – even –
restaurants, but once we reach Ma On Shan, we will have to carry all supplies needed
ourselves. Thus, please bring plenty of water and of your favourite snacks. Except for
the Eastern Hills hike, all legs of the MacLehose Challenge will incorporate a cooked
meal, either a late lunch or an early dinner. However, you might want to bring a light
lunch for the longer outings all the same...

To sign up for the Hansen's Hikes MacLehose Challenge or to receive more information,
please contact
Michael .
MacLehose Challenge Schedule
Click on this map
for complete
MacLehose
Challenge
route
Click on this map for the full MacLehose Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
the first hke
Click on this map for an idea of the route for this leg...
Click on this map
for complete
MacLehose
Challenge
route
Click on this map for the full MacLehose Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
hike 2
Click on this map for an idea of the route for this leg...
Click on this map
for complete
MacLehose
Challenge
route
Click on this map for the full MacLehose Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
hike 3
Click on this map for an idea of the route for this leg...
Click on this map
for complete
MacLehose
Challenge
route
Click on this map for the full MacLehose Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
hike 4
Click on this map for an idea of the route for this leg...
Click on this map
for complete
Challenge
route
Click on this map for the full MacLehose Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
hike 5
Click on this map for an idea of the route for this leg...
Click on this map
for complete
MacLehose
Challenge
route
Click on this map for the full MacLehose Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
the last hike
Click on this map for an idea of the route for this leg...
Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information.
Date to be confirmed
The Sai Kung Coast
 
The official MacLehose Trail begins with a long and rather boring stroll following the
road along the – granted – impressive High Island Reservoir, so we will start our route
with a diversion following a slightly more undulating dirt trail along the northern shore
of Port Shelter before reaching the reservoir’s west dam.

After a brief spell along the road, we turn off for another detour to take in the
waterside hamlets of Tung A and Pak Lap, before rejoining the official trail at the main
(east) dam.  Beyond the quiet Long Ke beach, we climb Sai Wan Shan (314m) before
paying a visit to the famed beaches of Sai Kung's Tai Long Wan.

We will stop for a (late) lunch on the beach before tackling the last 6 km.
 
Distance:
27.5 km
Meeting Time & Place:
8:00 am
at Choi Hung Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
6:15 pm
at Choi Hung Railway station
Time Spent On Trail:
8.5 hours
Walking 7 hours + Breaks 1.5 hours
Difficulty:
8 out of 10
due to length of hike
Food & Drink:
Snack stops on beaches at Pak Lap (10.5 km ), Long Ke
(14.5 km) & Sai Wan (18 km - store)
Late Chinese lunch at restaurant at Ham Tin Wan (21 km)
Date to be confirmed
The Sai Kung Hills
 
With the beaches behind us, the MacLehose Trail hits the real hills in earnest. Right
from the busstop, this hike becomes a matter of tackling a number of long natural
staircases. The first takes us to Ngau Yee Shek Shan and then onto the Cheung
Sheung plateau, but the toughest is the last one up and over Kai Kung Shan (399m).

Hiking this rugged and steep land, it is hard to believe that not so long ago, Hakka
villagers were eking out an existence growing tea, indigo and vegetables all around
us...
Having enjoyed panoramic views over Port Shelter, Three Fathoms Cove, Ma On Shan
and Pat Sin Leng, a steep stepped descent and a moderately undulating – partially
closed - road section that will lead us into Sai Kung town.

We expect to arrive in time for a late, but well-deserved, lunch and a cold one...
 
Distance:
14.5 km
Meeting Time & Place:
8:30 am
at Choi Hung Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
2:30 pm
in Sai Kung Town
Time Spent On Trail:
5 hours
Walking 4.5 hours + Breaks 0.5 hour
Difficulty:
8 out of 10
Food & Drink:
Snack stops at Cheung Sheung (4 km)
& Kai Kung Shan (9 km)
Lunch at restaurant in Sai Kung town (15 km)
Date to be confirmed
The Eastern Hills
 
This section of the MacLehose Trail includes dramatic mountain scenery and some
fairly tough climbs. Our route winds its way from Sai Kung through the Ma On Shan
Country Park to the peaks above Kowloon.

We climb the impressive eastern slope of Ma On Shan and then follow the ridges
southwards. We cross the serene grassland plateau below Pyramid Hill – complete
with herds of feral cattle - and then continue along wonderful boulder pathways past
Buffalo Hill.

Our last climb of the day is Tate’s Cairn, where we get a glimpse of a few historic
military installations.The last part of the hike follows a fairly quiet public road along the
ridge of the Kowloon hills offering superb cityscape views.

We end the day by visiting the large and popular Sik Sik Yuen Temple in Wong Tai Sin.
 
Distance:
18 km
Meeting Time & Place:
8:30 am
at Choi Hung Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
4:00 pm
at Wong Tai Sin Railway Station
Time Spent On Trail:
6.5 hours
Walking 5.25 hours + Breaks 1.25 hour
Difficulty:
8 out of 10
Food & Drink:
Snack stop at Ngong Ping (4 km)
Lunch stop at Gilwell Scout Camp (9 km) - bring lunch box
Snack stop at Sha Tin Pass(14 km) - store
Date to be confirmed
The Central Hills
 
A long and tough day starts with the conquest of the iconic Lion Rock (495m).
Composed of granite, this hill owes its nick name to centuries of weathering and
erosion…

The climb up nearby Beacon Hill (457m) is relatively easy, but the descent via Piper’s
Hill to Tai Po Road can be a pain. Fortunately, the suffering is partly eased by the antics
of the monkeys we meet.

Before consuming our lunchboxes at the impressive Shing Mun Reservoir, we will
inspect a number of WW II installations.Then, fortified, it is a matter of conquering the
aptly named Needle Hill (532m) before we hit the long and winding road up the equally
aptly named Grassy Hill (647m).The last 4 km to Tai Po is all down hill and mostly along
rather rough dirt trails.

We suggest ending the hike with a well-deserved Thai dinner here…
 
Distance:
22 km
Meeting Time & Place:
8:30 am
at Wong Tai Sin Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
6:00 pm
at Tai Po Market Railway Station
Time Spent On Trail:
8.75 hours
Walking 7.5 hours + Breaks 1.25 hour
Difficulty:
9 out of 10
mostly due to length of hike
Food & Drink:
Snack stops at Beacon Hill (4 km) & Needle Hill (17 km)
Lunch stop at Shing Mun (12 km) - bring lunch box
Possibility to enjoy early Thai dinner at Tai Po
Date to be confirmed
Tai Mo Shan
 
Following a track through the woodlands on the western bank of the Shing Mun
Reservoir, we reach Lead Mine Pass, where the Trail changes to a dirt track as we
climb onto the ridge that will take us to Hong Kong’s highest mountain, Tai Mo Shan
(958m). Just below the peak, we join an alpine road enabling us to take our eyes off
the ground and truly enjoy the scenery.

Once we reach the top of Tai Mo Shan, it is (almost) all down hill. At first we snake our
way down to Route Twisk, then we enter the woodlands of Tai Lam Country Park. We
check out an old village school and stop at a "secret" watering hole, before ending the
long day at Sham Tseng where tables have been reserved at one of the famous
roasted goose restaurants...
 
Distance:
25.5 km
  8:20 am
at Tsuen Wan Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
5:30 pm
in Sham Tseng
Time Spent On Trail:
8.25 hours
Walking 7 hours + Breaks 1.25 hour
Difficulty:
8 out of 10
 
Food & Drink:
Snack break at Lead Mine Pass (4.5 km).
Lunch stop Tai Mo Shan (10 km) - bring lunch box
Snack and refreshment break at stores at Route Twisk
(14.5 km) and Tsing Fai Tong (23 km)
(Optional) Chinese dinner at Sham Tseng (25.5 km)
Date to be confirmed
The Tai Lam End
 
From the crest of the winding Route Twisk, through peaceful woodlands and via the
bamboo lined northern banks of the impressive Tai Lam Chung Reservoir to Tuen Mun,
the last two stages of the MacLehose Trail are generally downhill or - even - all flat...
The MacLehose Challenge is completed upon reaching the waterfront restaurants at
the Gold Coast Marina!
 
Distance:
20 km
Meeting Time & Place:
8:45 am
at Tsuen Wan West Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
2:15 pm
at Gold Coast Marina
Time Spent On Trail:
5.25 hours
Walking 4.5 hours + Breaks 0.75 hour
Difficulty:
5 out of 10
 
Food & Drink:
Snack stops at Tin Fu Tsai (7 km)
& along Tai Lam Chung Reservoir (13 km)
Possibility to enjoy late lunch at the Gold Coast (20 km)
Hansen's Events
38 D, Tower 2, Sham Wan Towers
3, Ap Lei Chau Drive
Ap Lei Chau
Hong Kong

Tel:
(+852) 9552 0987     E-mail: info@hansens-hikes.com
Sha Kiu Tau village, Sai Kung Country Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
Pyramid Hill, Ma On Shan Country Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
Ngong Ping, Ma On Shan Country Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
Needle Hill, Shing Mun Country Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
Kwun Tam Temple, Sha Tin Pass, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Shing Mun Country Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
Tai Lam Country Park, New Territories, Hong Kong