Victoria Peak Hike – 6 Hiking Trails To The Peak

At 552 metres, Victoria Peak is the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island. I can confidently say that almost everyone has seen at least a photo of the iconic views from The Peak towering over one of the most hyper-urbanised and densely populated cities in the world. A visit to The Peak is a must-visit for both locals and tourists.

But for those living in Hong Kong, hiking or walking to The Peak is a very popular activity. And due to its popularity, there are multiple hiking routes to The Peak to choose from. In fact, most of the trails to The Peak are easy hikes.

Name clarification

Before proceeding, I think it’s worth clarifying the location’s names that I use interchangeably in this post.

Victoria Peak is the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island. Unfortunately, its summit is closed to the public because it’s occupied by radio and telecom towers. The closest one can get to the summit is a small grassy, seating area on top of a freshwater service reservoir. The seating area also serves as a viewing platform, directly below the summit. But it doesn’t have the best views.

The Peak District consists of very high-end residential homes and commercial real estate that occupy the area around Victoria Peak. And not to forget, the many stunning gardens located at The Peak!

The district consists of four hills, Mount Austin, Mount Kellett, Mount Gough, and Victoria Peak.  In a general sense, this whole area is “The Peak”.

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The commercial area at The Peak is a huge tourist attraction and consists of two malls, Peak Galleria and Peak Tower. This is also where the Peak Tram Station is located. In my experience, this area is what is most commonly referred to as “The Peak”.

Victoria Peak Hike, Hong Kong

I’ve been able to map six different hiking routes to The Peak, from these locations:

1. Central / Mid-Levels
2. Sai Ying Pun / Mid-Levels
3. Kennedy Town / HKU
4. Pok Fu Lam
5. Aberdeen
6. Wan Chai

Just a reminder that when you hike to Victoria Peak, you can hike to the summit or end it next to the malls, where the bus terminus and taxi stand are located. I have highlighted the two routes to the summit, via Mount Austin Road or Governer’s Walk, below.

So, with that out of the way, let’s get started.

Peak Hike From Central / Mid-Levels

Perhaps one of the most popular walks on Hong Kong Island is the one to The Peak via the Old Peak Road from Mid-Levels.

This heavily trafficked route is a favourite among walkers, joggers, and casual hikers.

The route – Old Peak Road

Distance: 1.1 km

Map:

If you’re starting the hike from Central, the first task is to make it to Robinson Road. The easy way is to take the Central to Mid-Levels Escalator to Robinson Road. Or challenge yourself by walking up the inclined roads to Robinson Road.

If you’re taking the escalator, turn left on Robinson Road towards the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden. Old Peak Road starts above the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden, at the intersection of Robinson Road and Albany Road.

Once you turn onto Old Peak Road, you’ll still have to walk another 550 metres among the residential complexes before Old Peak Road converts itself into a pedestrian-only path. This part starts right behind Hillsborough Court.

At the start of the pedestrian path, don’t forget to check out the old boundary stone for Victoria City.

From this point, simply follow the Old Peak Road up the hill as it twists and turns and finally meets with Plantation Road, right under the tracks for the Peak Tram.

At the intersection of Old Peak Road and Plantation Road, you can turn right and stay on Old Peak Road till it meets Lugard Road. Or go straight under the tracks, and then take the ramp up Findlay Path. I recommend taking Findlay Path.

Peak Hike from Kennedy Town / HKU

If you’re looking for a challenging route to hike to The Peak, then consider hiking to it from Kennedy Town or HKU.

The hike consists of a mix of steps and inclines and stays away from motorable roads. The route cuts across Lung Fu Shan Country Park and Pok Fu Lam Country Park, making it quite serene.
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The starting point

If you’re starting the hike from Kennedy Town, first make your way to the Sinopec gas station on Pok Fu Lam Road. This will require climbing up the steps behind Sands Street or walking up Pokfield Road.

If you’re starting the hike from the HKU MTR Station, take the exit to Pok Fu Lam Road and walk towards the Sinopec gas station.

Next to the station, are the flight of steps that mark the starting point of The Peak hike from Keneddy Town / HKU.

The route

Distance: 3.1 km

Map:

Climb the steps at a comfortable pace. They’re very steep and it’s a long way up to Ping Shan Path. Once at Ping Shan Path, turn right, and then immediately left to follow the signs for Pinewood Battery.

Once again, keep climbing the steps and walking up the inclined path. Further ahead, the trail ends and gives way to a paved road. Keep walking on the road and admire the views from the pavilions at each turn. There are quite a few viewing points on this path.

500 metres into the paved road, turn left onto Hatton Road. From this point, the route is fairly straightforward. Follow Hatton Road, till it meets with Harlech Road. And then follow Harlech Road till it ends at The Peak.

Alternate route via Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail

The good thing about Hatton Road is that there are no steps. It’s just on a constant incline. But that also makes it slightly crowded.

But if you prefer a less crowded, shorter router (with steps), take the steps on the right when you reach Hatton Road.

The steps follow the Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail that passes through the Pinewood Battery. For those unaware, Pinewood Battery is a historic military site that was once the highest coastal defence battery in Hong Kong.

The steps finally rejoin Hatton Road, just before Harlech Road. And once on Harlech Road, follow it to The Peak Tower.

Peak Hike from Sai Ying Pun / Mid-Levels

The hike to The Peak from Sai Ying Pun is quite similar to that from Kennedy Town / HKU, in that the route starts at the beginning of Hatton Road.

The route – Hatton Road (The Morning Trail To Victoria Peak)

Distance: 2.8 km

Map:

Hatton Road, also known as “The Morning Trail” is another very popular paved road, that is popular among walkers, joggers, and casual hikers.

The road starts at the northern end of Kotewall Road and it is possible to reach here by foot or bus. Bus number 13 plies between City Hall and Kotewall Road. Alternatively, you can walk to the start of Hatton Road via Kotewall Road or Conduit Road.

Popularly known as The Morning Trail, Hatton Road is a 2.8 km steep, paved, and vehicle-free road that merges with Lugard Road and Harlech Road at The Peak.

Once on Hatton Road, simply follow the signs for The Morning Trail to The Peak Tower.

Alternate route via Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail

Similar to the route from Kennedy Town / HKU, you can take the parallel Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail when you reach the Lung Fu Shan Country Park sign on Hatton Road.

This route is slightly shorter, but involves climbing steps, as opposed to the longer Hatton Road which has no steps.

Peak Hike from Aberdeen

The hike to The Peak from Aberdeen is a continuous, uphill walk on a road known as Peel Rise.

Peel Rise essentially connects Aberdeen to Gough Hill and is perhaps the least crowded of the hiking trails on this list. It’s also one of my favourites, especially during the rainy season when the route is flanked by waterfalls and streams!

The route – Peel Rise

Distance: 4.1 km

Map:

Peel Rise connects starts from Aberdeen Reservoir Road between St. Peter’s Secondary School and Pui Tak Canossian College. The best way to arrive there is via bus (or taxi).

Once on Peel Rise, simply follow the path as it gently makes its way up to The Peak through Aberdeen Country Park.

The route overlaps with the Hong Kong Trail but as long as you follow the signs for The Peak, you won’t get lost.

Peek Rise ends at Gough Hill Path at The Peak. From here all you need to do is walk towards Peak Road and walk on it to Peak Galleria.

For more detailed instructions and what to expect, make sure you read the Aberdeen to The Peak Hike via Peel Rise guide.

Peak Hike from Pok Fu Lam

Pok Fu Lam, located close to Aberdeen, is the second approach from the south side to The Peak on this list. And like the Aberdeen approach, this route runs on a single road – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road.

The route – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road

Distance: 2.7 km

Map:

The hike to The Peak from Pok Fu Lam starts from the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir. The reservoir can be reached via a short walk on Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road, opposite The Bethanie Campus of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Once at the reservoir, continue on Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road. Once again, there are signs to The Peak all along the way. The road stays at a moderate to gentle incline to The Peak.

Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road ends right opposite The Peak Galleria.

You can learn more about the Pok Fu Lam to The Peak Hike in this dedicated and detailed guide.

Peak Hike from Wan Chai

It is possible to hike to The Peak from Wan Chai via Wan Chai Gap. The route is the only route on this list that approaches The Peak from the east.

As most of the land east of The Peak is developed, the second half of this route is primarily on motorable roads. However, as we’ve completed the Wan Chai to The Peak hike on numerous occasions, we eventually mapped a route with the least traffic.

The route

Distance: 3.6 km

Map: Google refuses to map the route.

The hike from Wan Chai to The Peak starts from Wan Chai Green Trail, on Kennedy Road. The starting point is an easy 5-minute walk from the Wan Chai MTR.

Wan Chai Green Trail is a very steep, uphill path between Kennedy Road and Wan Chai Gap. We advise you to take it slow on this section of the hike.

From Wan Chai Gap, the route follows Coombe Road, Peak Road, and then Barker Road. This section of the route is shared with vehicles. So, watch out for passing cars.

After Barker Road, the route moves to Lloyd Path and then Severn Road, which is relatively quiet and doesn’t have too many vehicles.

And finally, from Severn Road, the final section of the route follows Findlay Road to The Peak.

We have a dedicated and detailed post for the hike from Wan Chai to The Peak that you can refer to.

End your hike at Victoria Peak

As discussed earlier, most of the hiking routes end next to Peak Tower or The Peak Galleria. However, if you’re interested in hiking to the summit of Victoria Peak, there are two possible routes.
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Depending on your ascent route, you can hike to Victoria Peak via Mount Austin Road or via the Harlech Road Fitness Trail / Governor’s Walk.

Via Mount Austin Road

Additional distance: 1.2 km

If you’re hiking to The Peak from Pok Fu Lam, Aberdeen, Wan Chai, or Central / Mid-Levels, take Mount Austin Road to reach Victoria Peak.

Mount Austin Road is the motorable, steep road adjacent to Peak Tower. Walk on this road, past Mount Austin Playground and all the high-end properties till you reach a fork in the road before the historic Mountain Lodge Guard House.

At the fork, turn right, and then take the steps on the right again to reach the small sitting area just below Victoria Peak summit.

Via Harlech Road Fitness Trail / Governor’s Walk

Additional distance: At least 550 metres

If you’re hiking to The Peak from Kennedy Town, HKU, or Sai Ying Pun / Mid-Levels, take the Harlech Road Fitness Trail and the Governor’s Walk to reach Victoria Peak. The entrance to the Harlech Road Fitness Trail is slightly hidden and unmarked, which makes it difficult to spot.

When at the end of Hatton Road, where it meets Harlech Road, turn left and walk to the point where Lugard Road merges with Harlech Road. At this point, look for an opening with steps on the hill to the left. That’s the entrance to the Harlech Road Fitness Trail.

The initial section is called the Harlech Road Fitness Trail and consists of steps and inclines. The steps start steep but then gradually become less intense.

At the end of the Harlech Road Fitness Trail, the path splits in two when it reaches the Governor’s Walk.

I prefer taking the path on the left as it is a shorter walk to Victoria Peak Garden. And once at the garden, you can walk through it, or take your time admiring the spectacular views from above!

For me, Victoria Peak Garden is an amazing spot to end your hike!

However, if you still feel the need to get closer to the telecom towers on the summit, follow Mount Austin Road to the historic Mountain Lodge Guard House, and follow the path to the sitting area just below Victoria Peak summit (as detailed above).

Things to do at The Peak

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Dine, drink, shop

Between the two malls (Peak Tower and Peak Galleria), there are plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. Both malls also allow visitors to their rooftops for unobstructed views of Hong Kong. However, entrance to the rooftops is paid.

We often hike to The Peak to eat at one of the restaurants to justify all those carbs!

Alternatively, you can bring your picnic to The Peak given the presence of so many scenic gardens. There’s the Victoria Peak Garden, Mount Austin Playground, and the garden next to Harlech Road.

Enjoy the best views

To access the rooftops of the malls, you’ll need to pay. But you can always visit the famous Victoria Peak’s Lion’s Pavilion which offers stunning views for free. But for the ultimate viewing experience, I highly recommend The Peak Circular Walk on Lugard Road.

The Peak Circular Walk

Honestly, this 3.5 km loop on The Peak offers the most phenomenal views of Hong Kong! And with the recent addition of viewing platforms on this route, it’s become even more appealing!

I enjoy the views from The Peak Circular Walk during the foggy season (usually March) when only the tops of the tallest buildings peek out above the low-lying fog.

Continue hiking to High West

And finally, if you’re still aching to hike further even after reaching The Peak, we recommend the Mount High West Hike.

At 494 metres, High West is shorter than Victoria Peak. But its viewing platform offers stunning views of the western half of Hong Kong Island, along with views of Lamma Island and Lantau Island.

You can learn more about the Mount High West Hike in this dedicated post.

The Peak Hike in Hong Kong

We hope you enjoyed our very detailed post on all the hiking routes to The Peak.

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