It doesn't sound right the first time I heard a place in Hong Kong can do cliff jumping. More…read moresurprised to know this scenic spot is actually one of the world's most photogenic spots for that (check videos in instagram)! Desperately to explore the stream before winter comes, we went there last week and concluded Double Deer Stream is EPIC! Also known as Sheung Luk Stream, Double Deer Stream is number of natural rock pools linked together by several giant waterfalls. You can swim in peaceful turquoise pools, chill on a rock, enjoy the powerful waterfall flowing from the majestic cliff, also to admire the beauty of stream when you hike up high. Then, you can see the eight-meter cliff right next to the waterfall in the second rock pool. Several people were jumping when I got there, some even did backflip - it seemed easy. But when I stood in the edge looking down, the cliff seemed very high indeed, that was the moment I wondered if I would die... I reluctantly took a deep breath, whispered to myself, and not sure how, I screamed (really loud) and stepped out. That was liked the longest five seconds in my life, but once I went into the cool water, my mind and body were relaxed and felt super refreshing. Just amazing! You don't have to jump (it's fun though), but the scenery is worth to visit anyway! Plus, you don't have to be an expert hiker to get to the stream. The 15 minutes walk from Sai Wan Beach to the Stream is tricky due to the rocky narrow passages, but carefulness and a pair of non-slip shoes are good enough to help. Transportation note - Grab a taxi from Sai Kung to Sai Wan Pavilion, hike 40 minutes on a paved path to reach Sai Wan Beach, then another 15 minutes walk from the beach. In end of the day, take a speedboat from the beach to arrive Sai Kung Pier.

Most people goes to Sai Kung for seafood but did you know there are a lot of boats by the pier…read moreoffering half-day to day trips to the geopark? It's a good activity for schools and companies groups alike - very healthy and suitable for all ages. (They cater to smaller groups as well so you can go with your friends or even by yourself if you want.) We stopped at Leung Shuen Wan (糧船灣) for a seafood lunch - some of my friends raved about the freshness of the seafood here but I thought it was only ok. There was a small beach at Leung Shuen Wan where you can go swimming (no lifeguard).

Who would have thought, volcanic rock islands in Hong Kong? Not me, even after visiting Sai Kung I…read morehad no idea these eight mini islands existed. It was not until a friend of mine invited me on an excursion did I witness them. It took more than a bit of persuading to get me up and out of bed early enough to enjoy a day out in Sai Kung but I hadn't been out of my cave in a while. We arrived in Sai Kung just after eleven in the morning, stuffed ourselves with a quick Subway sandwich then hurried along to the pier. Luckily for me my friend is a local Hong Konger meaning we didn't get ripped off! Now, from here there are a couple options. You can just as easily organize a group outing on a catered boat as rent a private little sampan, of course its more expensive the fewer wallets you have around but at the time it was just the two of us. We negotiated a reasonably fair price (I think) and hopped onto the rickety boat. The captain took as around the eight islands slowly enough for us to marvel at the volcanic rock structures, which were quite amazing even for a non-nerd. The coolest of the islands were off limits for humans but we managed to land on a smaller one and explore the beach and rocks from a closer perspective. Nothing to write home about. I think the captain took us there because it was closest to the pier, the other seven islands were about a hundred times more interesting. On the way back we found out that the Geo Park was not just the islands but included the coast opposite them, too. With enough time and motivation I'd go back and test some of the hiking trails in the area as I know there are a few hidden beaches lying around. Anyway, volcanic rocks - fun, beaches - fun, landing on the wrong island - not so fun.

My absolute favorite place in Hong Kong!…read more The hike to get here is not easy, but it's not hard. It is a well-defined path and parts of it are shaded. The hike has lots of trees and vegetation along the way. The beaches though are fantastic! White sand and clear water! I am from San Diego, California, and these beaches are way better than any beach here. We came during the week, and there were other people in the trail, but very few. Once we got to the beach, we walked passed the first ones and stayed at the third beach (the one with couple cute tiny restaurants in the back). We were the only ones in the water. My fiance grew up coming to this place several times per year, so these beaches are something special to his family. I am very happy they took me here :)

At the Kiu Tsui Country Park, the biggest attraction is the "bread" rocks, which cracked because of…read morethe thermo reaction. It's pretty interesting. At low tide, a path will form where you can walk to a connected island. You can hike a little if you want for another view. The hike is short and easy for most. Because it's a geopark, it is protected and people are not supposed to take away anything. Yet you will see a lot of people disregarding this rule. Our guides told us to remind anyone we see about the "rules" but most of them won't listen anyway. It's pretty sad because that's how people are destroying the geopark with their arrogance and ignorance!

My favorite beach in Hong Kong. I know it sounds weird but I put this string of beaches up against…read moreeven beaches in Thailand. The water is almost completely clear, there are very few people, there's almost no litter and the sand is pretty soft. I'd say the only issue is accessibility. First you need to get to sai kung. Then you need to take a bus or taxi to the pavilion. If you want to take the easy way, there's a nice walk to the first beach, sai wan. The beach is still super clean, there's food, there's a boat that can pick you up. You can walk another 20 minutes to the sai kung rock pools which I highly recommend. The water is so nice and cool. Perfect on a hot day. If you want to get workout in, you can go up and down the mountain to get to the rock stream and the first beach instead of the leisurely walk. From the first beach and rock pools, you can take another short hike to the second beach, Ham Tin. The sand and water is even better here than the first. They have food and boat pickup here. This beach reminded me of Thailand and Hawaii. Highly recommend these beaches if you have the time. Distance: 2.5km Duration: 45 minutes Difficulty: 1 out of 5 Top tip: We suggest to hike from Sai Wan Pavilion to Sai Wan Beach, then hike to the other beaches (Ham Tin Beach, Tai Wan Beach, and Tung Wan Beach) and finally take the speedboat back to Sai Kung from Ham Tin Beach. It's easy to hike from one beach to another as the trails are clearly marked. It's up to you if you want to see all four beaches. Speedboats operate till 5 or 6 PM. Tickets are limited so make sure that you buy your ticket the moment you arrive at the beach from where you'd like to leave!

If there's one place I call paradise in Hong Kong, I'd have to name Ham Tin Wan. Away from the…read morehustle and bustle in the city, Ham Tin Wan is definitely THE most beautiful beach in Hong Kong. Unlike some of the beaches that are packed with tourists, such as the Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Stanley Beach, Ham Tin Wan is not accessible by any transportation. You could only get there on a hike. As such, the beach remains free from litter, the sand is very soft and the water is as clear as it can be. Ham Tin Wan is on the MacLehose Trail. Start your hike in the morning at Sai Wan Pavillion, takes about 1.5-2 hours to get to Ham Tin Wan. Enjoy a local meal at a cafe in Ham Tin Wan and set off for the second part of your hike towards Chek King. The entire hike takes about 4 hours or so (excluding lunch and resting time). Go on a sunny day in the winter months (December to March) and you'll be guaranteed the best view in Hong Kong you can ever imagine. It's definitely a delight every time I come back here for a hike every few years!

What a pleasant an unexpected surprise from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong's urban environment…read more We drove here from Central. It took less than an hour and traffic was light that day. We saw many minibuses on the way heading to the same destination. Then we arrived and hiked for a couple of hours in the most serene beautiful paths. The streams, sounds of birds chirping, trees and lack of crowds was amazing and a much needed reprieve from the city. The pictures speak for themselves. This is a must for visitors who appreciate some space, serenity and solitude.

When picturing Hong Kong, shopping, delicious food, and skyscrapers come to mind. Never had I…read morethought to pay a half-day visit to Sai Kung East Country Park. Of course, if you were only visiting Hong Kong for one or two days, I wouldn't prioritize Sai Kung. But if you have three or more days, I highly recommend a day visit here. Sai Kung East Country Park is great for hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and lying on secluded beaches. Starting from HK Central or Kowloon, the best transportation is the mini bus, which will take you to Sai Kung town. From there, you can catch another bus that brings you to Sai Wan Pavilion or hire a taxi. Given how the park is nearly 45 sq km (about 17 sq mi), start your day early and bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and some food for fuel. From Sai Kung town, the taxi driver drove us to the HK Geopark by the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir. Here, 140 million year old volcanic remains form phenomenal polygonal columns, which can be appreciated throughout a 2.2 km (1.3 mi) round trip trail hike. Parallel to the East Dam is the manmade Dolosse Wall: concrete geometric structures laid out to minimize the erosion from ocean waves. Along the East Dam is section 1 of the 100 km long MacLehose Trail, which connects eight country parks, with Sai Kung East Country Park being one of the larger ones. The hike along MacLehose Trail from the East Dam towards Long Ke Wan is mild to moderate, but the lush green countryside views are beautiful. Plus, once you reach Long Ke Wan beach, you'll appreciate the untouched pristine blue waters and beautiful white sand. There's much more to Hong Kong than city life; the secluded and peaceful countryside with breathtaking views is such a worthwhile getaway, and you never would've thought you were still in Hong Kong.