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In a travel guide’s list of top things to do in Hong Kong, you would normally find experiences involving shopping, eating and nightlife.
What you may not expect to find is a hike in a far-flung part of the New Territories which leads you to one of the most beautiful bays in Hong Kong.
“Tai Long Wan” translates to “Big Wave Bay”, describing a 3-km stretch of coastline that includes four pristine beaches. The two most popular ones are Sai Wan Beach and Ham Tin Beach. If you want to surf in Hong Kong, mark down this destination.
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Itinerary for your hike to Sai Wan Beach
Sai Kung Town to Sai Wan Pavilion
We start today’s itinerary at Sai Kung Town. You can catch a mini bus or a taxi here from Hang Hau MTR station. Filled with relaxed cafes, al fresco dining and a peaceful waterfront, Sai Kung Town emanates cool vibes. Look at the bottom left of the picture below, there are cows in this neighbourhood!
The wider Sai Kung peninsula is popular for nature activities in Hong Kong. Verdant landscapes dominate a vast green view, filled with untouched forests and adventurous hiking trails. Along the coastline, locals love water sports including snorkelling, surfing, and kayaking.
From Sai Kung Town, catch a green coloured taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion. This type of taxi operates in the New Territories of Hong Kong. They are less common compared to red coloured taxis, which operate on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
For extra information, blue taxis run on Lantau Island. For some reason these different coloured taxis remind me of the Pokeballs in Pokemon.
The taxi trip from Sai Kung Town to “Sai Wan Pavilion” should cost around 120 HKD. Once you reach the Pavilion, you will see a sign which indicates the start of the hike to Sai Wan Village.
Hiking in Sai Kung East Country Park
There are two different trails you can take from Sai Wan Pavilion to Sai Wan Village. If you take the “easy” route, it will be around 45 minutes. The path is paved well and you will see stunning views of the country park.
My group took the “harder” route, and it took around 1.5 hours. It was a sweaty experience that brought us uphill, downhill, and carefully treading through less-maintained trails. The views of Tai Long Wan, its crystal blue waters and the rolling landscapes were well worth it!
During your hike in Sai Kung East Country Park, you will come across some of the best landscape photo spots in the city. While the metropolitan side of Hong Kong is commonly pictured by tourists, Sai Kung is a destination off the beaten track. It’s a favourite among locals!
Dive into rockpools at Sheung Luk Stream
We were drenched in sweat as our descent from the hill finally met flat terrain. Luckily, there were fresh and natural pools of water awaiting. Not far from Sai Wan Beach, one can find “Sheung Luk Stream”, also known as “Sai Kung Rockpools”.
To get to Sheung Luk Stream, you need to be careful. There is a bit of climbing and the rocks can be very slippery! My tip is to keep your centre of gravity forward. If you do fall, fall forward – that way at least you are not hitting the back of your head.
You will know when you have arrived. The Sai Kung Rockpools cascade with its streams of water. Look up and make sure you Instagram that beautiful view of rolling hills! I was reminded of imagery from Skull Island, the movie with King Kong.
At the top of the series of rockpools, there is a waterfall. The cliff and rock formations here are great for natural rock climbing in Hong Kong.
Enjoy afternoon tea at Sai Wan Beach
After our hike in Sai Kung East Country Park and swim at Sheung Luk Stream, it was time for food. Sai Wan Beach is known by some as the “Maldives of Hong Kong”. To me, it looked like a scene from Thailand or Hawaii. Sai Wan Village is a jumble of slightly dilapidated, hut-style structures that fondly accomodate visitors.
Sai Wan Village overlooks the white sand of the beach and the blue waters beyond. It’s here that people come to sunbathe, kayak, play volleyball, and surf. If you have a drone and would like to capture breathtaking photos, fly it out.
“Tai Long Wan” (or Big Wave Bay), which houses four beaches including Sai Wan Beach, is ranked in Hong Kong’s top 10 scenic destinations.
My afternoon tea in Sai Wan Village was the most scenic one I’ve ever had. Instant noodles with spam and egg never tasted this good. On the wooden porch of Hoi Shan Restaurant, you can eat, drink beer or coconut water, and chat until the sun sets.
Sai Wan Beach is an ideal romantic getaway 😉
Catch a boat back to Sai Kung town
As the sun sets, the seafood restaurants at Sai Kung Town start filling up! Make it back in time for al fresco dining and wine. From Sai Wan Beach, you can hire a boat (we used Sai Wan Club) which will take you back while showing you parts of Hong Kong that few see.
The peaceful, giant land formations and vast greenery reminded me of Phuket, Thailand.
If you like seafood, Sai Kung Town is the perfect place to enjoy fresh catches. Fishermen from nearby villages trade it at the pier to restaurants in Sai Kung’s Seafood Street.
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