Coastal Hike + Secret Beaches: Tai Tan Country Trail (Medium)

2017’s hiking theme seems to be ‘secret beaches’, as I stumbled on so many this year! Unfortunately I never got into my bikini to take a dip in any of them, as I wouldn’t be prepared to swim every time

Distance: 6.7 km

Duration: 2 hr 45 min

Difficulty: Medium – Downhill for most of the first part, some uphill sprints, mostly towards the end. I would rate it 2/4 rather than the 3/4 given by the government

Wong Shek Pier in the foreground. Still need to get to Grass Island one day.

Last Saturday I finally managed to get Natalie W to do a trail with me for the first time ever. Crazy since we’ve been friends for a few years now! Since she lives in Tiu Keng Leng, I went for Tai Tan Country Trail towards the same general direction. except I think it took us 1 hr 30 min to get to the actual starting point of the trail from MTR Hang Hau Station. Haven’t been back to Sai Kung in a while, so I’ve forgotten how bad the traffic can get on weekends — especially on sunny, cool ones.

How to get there

From MTR Hang Hau Station (left from Exit B2), take minibus 101M to Sai Kung Town.

From Sai Kung Town’s minibus terminal close to seafood street, take minibus 7 to Hoi Ha. Get off near Hau Tong Kai. I prefer doing the hike south to north because at the end of the hike, there’s a minibus terminus where you’re sure to get seats on the bus. The last one leaves from Hoi Ha at around 6.30pm if I remember correctly.

There are many trails that start and end in this area; make sure you find the right one. After we got off the road on the left, we crossed the road and backtracked to this signpost.

Would I recommend this trail?

Yes. It’s quite far – I had actually never been in this part of Hong Kong prior – but worth it. There were several student campers on the trail that day, there must be a campsite somewhere. We were treated to beautiful views of sea and forest.

Walking past a mangrove area, skipping over the stepping stones at an estuary

Natalie fretting at the start of the trail that she would die. BUT SHE DID NOT. She kicked ass.

Is that sharp peak I see on the horizon? Yas.

They rarely tell you how far you’ve gone or how long you have left… so you’re on your own. Thank god for Google Maps?

Sunset on secret beach #1. There were at least 2! Reasonably clean but not the finest. Sorry, PH standards

Taking a break and insta-hoeing

Beautiful trail, honestly

There was a supermoon (2017’s last) the next night. You can even see it here as a speck

The Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre. Closed

Thanks to The North Face PH for my trusty hiking boots 😉

Where to eat?

Honestly YOU need to tell ME what’s new with restos in Sai Kung! We just ended up at Classified. To be fair, my tripple cheese olive oil ravioli was amazing. Natalie’s spaghetti and meatballs were not.

Happy hiking! x