Bisayang Latagaw Travel Log: Conquering The MacLehose Trail

Spanning 100 km across Hong Kong’s New Territories, the MacLehose Trail runs from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung to Tuen Mun, winding through mountains, beaches, and reservoirs. Here’s a recap of how I took on this unforgiving trail.

I had long planned to do a birthday trail this year, but the missing piece was choosing which one. Then I thought, why not try the longest trail in Hong Kong? And so it happened. With the desire to try something new, I packed my bag and went on a weeklong trip.

My MacLehose journey began with Sections 9 and 10, which stretch from Route Twisk to Tuen Mun. 

 

 

 

After that, I did Sections 7 and 8 in reverse, starting from the endpoint of Section 8 at Route Twisk and heading toward the trailhead of Section 7. Interesting points on this hike include Needle Hill and Lead Mine Pass, where you can appreciate some wonderful rock formations. 

 

   

On my third day of hiking, I picked up where I left off, walked to the exit point of Section 6, and continued toward its trailhead. I wanted to call it a day, but my legs seemed to want more, so I went on to Section 5 and exited off-trail at a practical point. Somewhere along the way, I also encountered a red-necked keelback, a venomous and poisonous snake. Lucky or unlucky, that’s part of the story now. Additionally, the Lion's Rock viewpoint offers a panoramic view of Hong Kong.

  

 

 

The fourth hike took me through the treacherous Section 4, which is considered the hardest part of the trail. To make it more challenging, I did it solo and as a night hike. I didn’t meet a single soul the entire time. It was just me and nature. By the time I finished this section, my legs were already feeling the effects of the consecutive hikes. When I reached my hotel, I slumped into bed and slept like a log.  Fun fact: Section 4 is the steepest and most punishing part of the entire trail, with endless stone steps that locals jokingly call "the leg breaker".

     

     

After regaining some strength and determined to finally seal things off, I completed the last three sections of the trail, which cut through the Sai Kung Country Parks including the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.

 

 

What started as a random plan ended up becoming a wonderful feat for the not-so-active me. I never thought I could hike on consecutive days, much less cover a hundred kilometers. I pushed my limits this time, and it was all worth it.

And now, off to the next trail... 👌 

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Why I backpacked alone and why you should

On this day two years ago, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I did my very first international backpacking alone. It took me to my mid-twenties to do so due to a number of reasons but mainly because I was hesitant and fearful that it could turn awry for me.  But there I was, forging memories in a foreign land.

As humans, we are designed to be social beings. We generally appreciate the joy of company and are always looking for the safe and secure feeling of being with the people we trust. The truth is that when you go on unchartered territories and in this case to a new country, you'd certainly want to spend it with people who matter to you not just because you want to share the moment with them but more importantly because you find it comfortable. 

But as they always say, what makes you comfortable does not let you grow. Well, this is very debatable and certainly a cliché. But in this case, I can personally attest that it holds a lot of merits. Traveling alone can really open you to new frontiers. It will let you discover other sides of yourself that you have not taken notice of. You will embark on new experiences that you would have never done had you been with people who know you. 

While I do not discount the fact that it is still a hit or miss adventure and is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, going solo in another country is something worth exploring and I do recommend that you try it even just once. 

So I’m telling you right now, give yourself a chance to explore things you have never done before. Travel and try to travel alone. There is so much to discover in the world beyond those boarding gates and there is way more to know within thyself especially when you take a path that you've never been before. 

Laag na!

Tips:

👌 Plan and travel within your budget (Ayaw pangutang para ilaag)

👌 Go light and seek for authentic experience (I prefer less touristy places and mga open access.)

👌 Meet people. (I have had many chance encounters with a lot of great people during these travels.)

 👌 Enjoy every moment. You are given 86,400 seconds each day. Don't let a second spoil the remaining 86,399. 

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