Lantau Trail

A well-marked, facility-rich island circuit that can be hiked as a multi-day trek or in shorter day-hike chunks.

Time to Hike: Most walkers split the 70 km loop into 2-4 days, but it is also easy to do as individual day hikes because the route crosses roads and transport links.

Best Time to Go: Late autumn to early spring is generally the most comfortable for Hong Kong hiking. Summer can be hot and humid, and exposed ridgelines feel harsher in full sun.

Getting there: The loop starts and finishes in Mui Wo on Lantau Island (New Territories). Most walkers arrive via ferry or MTR-connected buses to Lantau, then start walking from Mui Wo.

Costs: There is no single trail fee to walk the loop. Budget mainly for transport to trailheads and accommodation if you are not camping.

Difficulty: Hard overall due to sustained climbs and long ridge walking, though many sections are straightforward underfoot thanks to clear signage and frequent distance posts.

The Lantau Trail (Chinese: 鳳凰徑) is a 70 kilometres (43 mi) long-distance footpath on Lantau Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Opened on 4 December 1984, it is a signed, stage-based loop starting and finishing in the rural town of Mui Wo.

A big part of what makes the route workable for international visitors is how well it is managed: visitor facilities are frequent, the route is well marked, and information boards and maps appear at junctions between stages. Distance posts numbered L000 through L140 are placed roughly every 500 metres, so it is easy to track progress and plan water and exit points.

Route details do change. Notably, the Section 3/4 changeover near Ngong Ping has been rerouted in the past (with much of Section 4 following Ngong Ping Road), and the Section 7 issue at Yi O has been contentious historically. According to the provided notes, the original trail is open to pedestrian traffic as of October 2024.

• Stage 1: Mui Wo to the south-coast hills (km 0-10) A gentle start out of the loop’s rural trailhead, easing you into Lantau’s mix of village edges, woodland and steady climbing.
• Stage 2: Interior climbs and viewpoints (km 10-20) Longer ascents bring broader island views; good waymarking and frequent distance posts make pacing straightforward.
• Stage 3: Approaching Ngong Ping (km 20-30) Ridges and junctions lead toward the Ngong Ping area, where stage transitions have been rerouted at times.
• Stage 4: Ngong Ping roads and connectors (km 30-38) This section can include road walking on Ngong Ping Road depending on the current routing, with clear signposting through the area.
• Stage 5: Northwestern Lantau and quieter paths (km 38-46) The loop begins to feel more remote, with longer stretches between settlements but continued trail infrastructure.
• Stage 6: Coastal-facing hills and campsites (km 46-54) Rolling terrain with a mix of climbs and descents; this is a practical place to plan around campsites and road exits.
• Stage 7: Yi O area and past diversions (km 54-60) Historically affected by a closure and diversion across private land at Yi O; per the supplied information, the original line is open again as of October 2024.
• Stage 8: Return arc toward Mui Wo (km 60-70) A final sequence of hills and descents completes the loop back to Mui Wo, with navigation kept simple by frequent distance markers.

For comfortable temperatures and clearer views, late autumn through early spring is generally the easiest window for tackling multiple long days on Lantau. Conditions are typically better for extended climbs and exposed ridges than in midsummer.

In hotter months, plan early starts and carry more water than you think you will need. Year-round, check local weather and any official notices before committing to longer, more remote sections.

The loop starts and finishes in Mui Wo on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. For most international travellers, the simplest arrival is via Hong Kong International Airport (on Lantau) or via central Hong Kong, then onward to Lantau by MTR-connected bus routes and/or ferry links that reach Mui Wo.

Because it is a signed loop, you can walk in either direction; many people choose the direction that best matches their schedule and preferred highlights. The frequent road crossings and transport options also make it easy to start or finish at other points if you are hiking only part of the trail.

Check local authorities or the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for any access rules, site-specific restrictions or temporary closures before you go.

If you plan to use campsites or other facilities, follow any site-specific rules and current notices. Pay attention to any temporary trail reroutes or closures announced for safety or land-access reasons.

Because the trail is a loop with many access points, accommodation can be flexible: you can base yourself in towns and use transport to stage starts, or you can move each day. Mui Wo is the obvious place for before-and-after nights.

There are visitor facilities and campsites along the way, making it feasible to camp for a more continuous trek. In busier periods and weekends, it is sensible to keep plans adaptable and have backup stage endpoints in case your preferred stop is full or you decide to shorten a day due to heat or weather.