MacLehose Trail Section 2 (Sai Kung)

We set off for Sai Kung this Sunday to check out Section 2 of the formidable MacLehose Trail, a 100-km network of stunning scenery. We chose our section because it's a 13-kilometer stretch that is relatively flat (though there are two major uphill sections that last 10-15 minutes). This was our route:

From Sai Kung, we got dropped off at Sai Wan Pavilion, a good landmark to use for the start of Section 2! Although there's no signage for a good 20 minutes after this point, if you can follow other hikers or use GMaps to get started, you're soon rewarded with this view.

About 15 minutes later, you'll come upon a map of the whole MacLehose Trail that'll give you a good idea of where to go! The first major built landmark we came across was Sai Wan Village, which has a tourist information center, a couple of spots where you can grab a Pocari or something to eat, and a public toilet. Beyond the small booths was Sai Wan Beach, sprawling and scenic though slightly better suited to surfing than swimming (I guess, though I have a very low threshold for deeming a spot swim-worthy). 

After Sai Wan comes the first notable high-incline section, though very little requires walking on jagged rocks and the reward is Sai Wan Stargazing Site, a marked lookout that also features beautifully designed benches if you're in need of a rest. We forged ahead toward Ham Tin Beach, a full white sand beach that's worth a day trip and also accessible by speedboat. 

We scarfed down a delicious bowl of fried rice here, that they made veg for us! (Only catch was that walking from the beach to the row of local restaurants in high tide required basically "walking the plank" over a very thin beam of wood that made my life flash before my eyes.)

Taking this route was also required to continue the rest of the hike (about 6.5km), those lacking in balance bewarned. It's good we fueled up because after Ham Tin Beach comes the longest contiguous uphill stretch that is a cardio challenge. The next stunning stretch of water that comes along is Chek Keng pebble beach, featuring a stretch of hike where you walk so close to the ombré ocean that it's practically like being inside.

This 200-degree ocean vista was truly unique, and I'd go back to take a dip from the pier, that seemingly extends into nothing when there are no boats visible like yesterday.

From Chek Keng, the trick is to navigate to Pak Tam Au, for which you'll see signs along the way. Another 3 kilometers and the hike ended as suddenly as it started, spitting us out a 15-minute drive from beautiful Sai Kung, where we stayed nearly till the sun had set.

Notes:

Compared to other hikes we've done, this one doesn't have many amenities en route, so I'd strongly suggest packing water and snacks. We luckily did that, but didn't pack swimming gear, which would have come in handy at the 3 beaches on this route: Sai Wan Beach, Ham Tin Beach, and perhaps even Chek Keng Hau.