Hiking In Hong Kong With HK Trampers

Written on March 20, 2008 by Tezza

A little known fact about Hong Kong is it offers those keen on experiencing the great outdoors an abundance of walking trails. Hong Kong is largely made up of mountain ranges formed millions of years ago from volcanic activity. While no active volcanoes exist today it´s legacy is whole regions that are largely uninhabited due to the terrain.

The vast majority of Hong Kong´s population live in the low lying regions close to the coast and thus you have huge tracts of beautiful, untouched national parks with wonderfully maintained walking trails. The tourism information centres can provide you with maps and once on the trail there is sufficient information provided to keep you from getting lost.

However, if your not keen on walking on your own then you might tag along with a hiking group or tour. I tagged along one Sunday with an informal hiking group called ¨The Hong Kong Trampers.¨It is largely made up of ex-pats working and living in Hong Kong who just enjoy the outdoors and hiking. Anyone is welcome to come along and there is no fee or cost involved. It is not a membership based group and there is no tour leader as such but usually somebody has been put in charge for planning the day.

The group meets at a designated spot every Sunday, usually at the exit of the closest MTR station of the hike and information about upcoming hikes are posted on their website days in advance including the relative difficulty. There is no booking system, if you are interested you just turn up at the designated place and time.

On a nice Sunday morning I joined the group for the hike on Lantau island. It was a long 6 hour plus hike but it was a beautiful, albeit cold day. The views more than made up for it though. Upon meeting everyone for the first time I found some were regulars while others were on their first outing with the group like myself. Regardless you were immediately made to feel welcomed and part of the group.

If you are visiting Hong Kong and you have a Sunday free then it is well worth your while seeing Hong Kong´s countryside away from all the bus loads of tourists. You´ll meet a fantastic group of people who have a wealth of information about what to see and do from the perspective of a local.

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Posted in Hong Kong, Travel and Recreation