East Island dam coastal hike

(updated 2021-03-01) 

Duration: 

(7 kilometers)
3 hours

Cel phone coverage: None

Water needs: 2 liters. Not shaded.

Difficulty: 7/10 because there's some steep descents.

Appreciation: 10/10. Nice views, nice beach. Amazing views on part of Hong Kong Geopark.

Map & Details: 

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/285297622

Exercise Area: No

Transportation: From SaiKung, takes the Taxi to the East Island Dam. Stop at the blue "anchor" (High Island Reservoir Monument - 紀念碑（萬宜水庫）). Return on cab to SaiKung. About $125 cab fare one-way.

Why it's worth it:

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Start at the powder-blue, anchor like thing right before the East dam.

If you trace back your steps on the road for 25 meters or so, there a set of stairs to climb.

Can get quite steep on the way down.

Follow the coast. Lots of sandstone.

Can't really get very lost if you keep following the coast. Print the Garmin map to be safe.

Nice views

You'll go by the two pebble beaches.

Back to bushwhacking after the 1st beach.

Village on the right. Go straight.

The cave option.

Pak Lap beach in sight

Pak Lap beach. There's a restaurant there.

Back on actual trails.

Sha Kiu Tau where you head back towards the reservoir road.

At reservoir road. Hail a cab from there.

Maclehose 1, part of 2, to Long Ke beach

Duration: 

(11 kilometers)
3 hours

Difficulty: Section one is a road, 90% flat. Really easy. Section 2 to Long Ke is about 300 meters climb. I'd say 6/10.

Appreciation: 9/10. The views of the reservoir are quite nice. Long Ke is magnicifent.

Transportation: Better go on a Sunday as the other days make transportation harder. From Diamond Hill MTR station, KMB 96R will take you directly to Tai Mong Tsai Road where you get off on the stop right after Pak Tam Chung stop. Otherwise, you can take bus 92 to Sai Kunk, then 94 to the same stop. Return by backtracking from Long Ke beach and hailing (or calling) at cab at the pavilion at the dam.

Why it's worth it:

Long Ke

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/227983163

Hoi Ha loop (Marine park and Sai Kung West country park)

Appreciation: 6.5/10. Little bit boring. Some nice views still and a small beach. But it is so far away from everything; takes a while to get there... unless you live in Sai Kung. Note that there are boat tours that are available to you shall you decide to check out the corals that grow in the bay.

Why it's worth it: 

Duration: 

6k
50m elevation gain  (mostly flat)
Total: 2-3 hours 

Difficulty: 

3/10. 

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere. But watch-out for roaming.

Water needs: 1 liter.

Transportation: Minibus #7 from Saikung and back.

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Quite simple. Just a loop.

At the Sai Kung minibus terminus, just take #7 green minibus  which comes by about every 25-30 minutes.

After a 30 minutes ride, you'll arrive at Hoi Ha, a tiny village that does have a few restaurants. Go through the village. You will be heading right. There's only a single trail in that direction at that point.

Keep walking. Follow Wan Tsai directions.

To go towards Hoi Ha Marine Park...

... instead, go straight. From that point on, you can't really go wrong. You'll go by a first campground in about 100 meters or so. Then, about 3 km in, another one where the views are quite nice. Then you'll reach the end of the loop.
Make your way back to Hoi Ha.