Hike to the beach

Hong Kong has no shortage of great hikes, and for that matter no shortage of great beaches either, so a combination of the two is not so rare. In fact many of the well known hikes in the city feature an ending at a lovely beach, Dragons Back Dragons back hike in Hong Kong for example, which ends at Big Wave Bay. So when I heard abut this hidden gem of a beach named Long Ke, which many say is the most beautiful in the city, AND it was accessible via a nice long scenic walk, I HAD to try it out for myself. Long Ke Wan, also called Long Ke Beach, is a white sand paradise nestled between the hills and capes of Sai Kung East Country Park, facing the South China Sea. Apart from its silky sand, the pristine beach is known for its crystal clear waters, gentle waves and spectacular ocean views. It is dubbed as one, if not the most beautiful beach in Hong Kong. This trail is actually Maclehose stage 1, and is a long straight walk of around 11km, it is flat and well paved and actually is not very difficult at all. The reservoir provides some of the drinking water for the city and die to the geology of the area, leave the water looking a lovely colour. Not for swimming sadly, no matter how beautiful it looks. As you walk you’ll be granted supremely picturesque photo opportunities, and sweeping panoramic views of nature. On the one side you see rain water used for drinking, on the other you see natural ocean water. During the walk you will no doubt encounter the local wildlife that roams freely in this area. They are protected animals and have the rule of the land, but are very friendly and happy to interact with you. You may even see a cute baby or two Be careful walking on the trail as the taxi’s zip past at quite a speed and can be a bit annoying. After 10km or so you will reach the end of the Dam trail and then you will see the breathtaking view of the beach below you, pristine and golden, waiting for you to enjoy. A short descend later and you’re there. The beach is super quiet, with soft clean sand perfect to sprawl out on and relax. The water is clean and warm, ready and waiting for you to dive and float around. With the big yachts behind you and the golden sand in front of you, it almost feels like you could be anywhere in the world such as Dubai or Monaco. One negative is the waves are small, so no surfing here, on the plus side it makes it easy to swim and to play around in, especially for families and kids. After finishing at the beach, you can move onto Maclehose stage 2 which provides great sunset views of the beach, mountains and ocean below you. Unlike stage 1 this is not flat and straight; it is a bit rocky and it is up hill to around 300m high. The scenery below is gorgeous and incredibly picturesque, especially on a clear day when the orange orb slowly sets. #hkinsider #hongkong #hiking #naturalwonders