Places
MacLehose Stage 2: Sai Wan and Ham Tin, not the full hundred kilometres
The MacLehose Trail is ten stages, about 100 km. First visit: Stage 2 only. The point is the Sai Wan and Ham Tin coast. Longer than Dragon’s Back; a full day. Weekend access from Sai Kung. No rainstorms.
Notes dated 2026-09
MacLehose Stage 2 is first the Sai Kung coast people mean — Sai Wan and Ham Tin, not the full ten-stage trail of about 100 km. Longer and hotter than Dragon’s Back. Budget the bus back.
How to reach it
- Reach Sai Kung town first (bus from Diamond Hill — see the Sai Kung page).
- Full Stage 2 (Long Ke to Pak Tam Au): on weekends and public holidays, green minibus 9A from Pak Tam Chung to High Island East Dam, then walk toward Long Ke for the stage start. Weekdays 9A is often absent — taxi or another plan.
- Sai Wan and Ham Tin only: taxi or a residents’ bus from Sai Kung to Sai Wan Pavilion (often NR29 — confirm that day), then walk down to the beaches. Shorter than climbing Sai Wan Shan from Long Ke.
- A common exit is bus 94 at Pak Tam Au back to Sai Kung; weekends add 96R, 289R and similar — check 1933. Do not cut it fine for the last trip.
Pack
- More water than you think. Sai Wan and Ham Tin have kiosks; hours are not a promise. Do not bet lunch on them.
- Hat, sunscreen, shoes with grip. Not flip-flops.
- Charged phone, offline map. Some saddles drop signal.
Questions
Average fitness — must I finish all of Stage 2?
No. Official Stage 2 runs Long Ke to Pak Tam Au, about 13.5 km and often five to six hours, including the climb over Sai Wan Shan. First time: drop from Sai Wan Pavilion to Sai Wan and Ham Tin, then reverse or continue to a bus at Pak Tam Au. Watch the weather and the last bus. Do not add the other eight stages.