Hong Kong Walking Tour: the Dragon's Back Ridge to Big Wave Bay

The Dragon's Back is the ridge that runs along the south-east shoulder of Hong Kong Island, named for the shape of its skyline, and it is the walk people mean when they say Hong Kong has more to it than towers. The climb up from the trailhead takes well under an hour; the ridge itself is a few kilometres of undulating path with the sea on both sides — Big Wave Bay and Shek O to the east, Tai Tam and Stanley to the west — ending with a drop to the beach at Big Wave Bay.

Allow roughly two to three hours on the ridge at an easy pace. The ground is uneven in places and much of the route is unshaded, so a hat, water and closed shoes matter more than hiking boots; the walk is not technical but it is not a pavement either. Lunch and the transfers to and from the trailhead are included. If you would rather walk somewhere flatter, the same slot can be run as a Sai Kung coastal walk or a circuit of the Shing Mun Reservoir — say which when you book.

• The Dragon's Back, the ridge along Hong Kong Island's south-east shoulder
• Sea on both sides: Shek O and Big Wave Bay east, Tai Tam and Stanley west
• A high point just under 300 metres, reached in under an hour
• Down to Big Wave Bay, with time on the beach
• The prehistoric rock carving above the beach
• Trailhead transfers and lunch included; no admission fees

• Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (breakfasts and lunches as shown)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
• English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)
• All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them
• Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme
• Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them
• Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

• International air tickets and any domestic flights not listed in the itinerary
• China visa or visa-free entry documentation fees
• Meals not specified in the daily itinerary and all beverages/alcohol
• Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff (suggested USD 8-12 per person per day)
• Personal expenses: laundry, telephone, minibar, shopping
• Optional activities and any item not listed under Price Includes
• Single-room supplement if a traveller requires a room alone

A private ridge walk inside Shek O Country Park, part of the country park system created under the ordinance of 1976, along the skyline that gives the Dragon's Back its name, with the sea on both sides for most of it. The climb from the trailhead takes well under an hour and the ridge itself is a few kilometres of undulating path, ending with a descent to the beach at Big Wave Bay. Transfers to and from the trailhead are included.

How hard is the Dragon's Back?

Moderate and short: under an hour up, two to three hours in total. The ridge undulates rather than climbs, and the high point is just under 300 metres. Anyone who can walk five kilometres on uneven ground can do it, which is why it is the hike people are told about first.

What do you see from the ridge?

Sea on both sides: Big Wave Bay and Shek O to the east, Tai Tam and Stanley to the west. The ridge is narrow enough that both coasts are visible for most of its length, which is unusual on an island this size. On a clear day the islands to the south are visible as well.

How long is the walk in kilometres?

About 8.5 kilometres point to point, with roughly 300 metres of ascent. The first climb is the steepest part by some distance; after that the path rolls along the crest. Allow three hours with stops, and longer if you swim at the end.

Is there anything at the Big Wave Bay end?

A beach, and a prehistoric rock carving above it. The carving is a declared monument, a geometric pattern cut into a boulder a short walk from the bay, and it is one of the few such remains on the island. Your guide will point out where to look, because it is easy to walk past.

What should I bring and wear?

Shoes with grip, water, and sun protection. The path is stone and earth and the ridge has no shade whatsoever. A swimming costume and a towel are worth packing if you want the beach at the end, which most people do in summer.

Is the walk suitable in summer?

It is hot, and we start early or late. Hong Kong summers are humid and the ridge is fully exposed, so between June and September we begin at first light or in the late afternoon. Winter and spring are the comfortable seasons for this one.

What happens in bad weather?

We move it, or we shorten it. Under a typhoon signal or in heavy rain the ridge is genuinely unpleasant and the exposed sections are not worth it. Your guide will offer the Shek O and Stanley side of the island instead, which works in worse weather.

Are transfers to the trailhead included?

Yes, both ways. The trailhead is on the south-east of the island and the bus connection is slow, so we drive you in and pick you up at Big Wave Bay. That is what turns a half-day hike into a half-day rather than a full day of connections.