Pack your bags and embrace your wild side with a camping trip to some of Hong Kong’s most beautiful sites.
WHERE TO CAMP
There are 41 official campsites in Hong Kong, 16 of which are in Sai Kung, including Tai Long Wan beaches and Shui Long Wo. Within the country parks, camping is permitted only at designated sites; pitching a tent elsewhere is not allowed. For a full list, mags and how to get there, visit the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
GLAMPING
“Glamping” or glamorous camping – permanent tents with wood floors, en-suites and four-poster beds – has yet to make it to Sai Kung. For information on where to get camping gear, visit goout or Sai Kung’s own Shun Kee City Houseware (Harrods). We recommend these additions:
Rattan beach mat, laid outside tent and swept regularly.
Bucket of water for washing feet before entering tent.
Dustpan and brush, for sweeping up errant grass or sand.
Battery-operated fan, for cooling.
Small dog – security system.
ALMOST GLAMPING SITES
Island Club
Yes, we know this is accessible only by ferry from Cheng Chau but once you get your head round the planes, trains and automobiles you’ll probably need to get there, you won’t fail to have a fun-filled weekend at Island Club on Lantau. The private inn and campsite offers activities galore including kayaking, windsurfing, banana boating, snorkelling, rock climbing, surfing and wakeboarding. While a bit of a rough diamond compared with other glamping options, it is reasonably priced. A day trip including lockers, loungers, umbrellas and a BBQ buffet costs from $350 to $450 per person but you can add on $30 to $60 for unlimited drinks, and the princely sum of $200 if you choose to stay overnight for a true adventure.
Island Club | G/F, 23 Tai Long Village, Lantau Island | 2989-2315
Long Coast Seasports
Whether you’ve got a princess, who doesn’t want to rough it, or an adventure hound who does, camping options abound at Long Coast Seasports, whose “front yard” is one of Hong Kong’s longest stretches of sand, Cheung Sha Beach. You can rent a basic four- or six-person tent in their private beachfront campsite or sleep in style in one of the three-metre-tall Safari tents, boasting deluxe camping mattresses, furniture and even air conditioning. If you’d rather have a proper roof over your head, there are four guest rooms to choose from with private showers, air conditioning and wireless broadband access. It’s not all about camping. There are stacks of watersports to choose from, with professional support if you need it, as well as beach volleyball ($250 to rent a net for a day) and other beach equipment such as deckchairs ($50 per chair per day), parasols ($50 per umbrella per day) and ice boxes to chill those beers ($50 per day with one ice pack). You can purchase activity/camping vouchers for $540 to $720 for two people (depending on day and season), which includes use of kayaks, bodyboards, skimboards, and overnight camping facilities. If you’d rather just camp, it costs $170 to $200 to rent a tent on the beach and $200-$250 for a Safari tent.
Longcoast Seasports | 29 Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Lantau | 8104 6222
Safari Bush Campers
These semi-permanent canvas tents look as though they come straight from an Out Of Africa movie set and are about as stylish as camping in Hong Kong gets. The 10 Safari Bush Campers each sleep six people and come complete with double airbeds, proper bedding, tables and chairs, air coolers and mozzie screens on doors and windows ($1,200 per tent per night at weekends). They are set in a 40,000-square-foot herb garden; showers and washroom facilities are available. For dinner, the Palm Beach Cafe offers light refreshments and the beachside Stoep restaurant (2980 2699) serves up hearty South African dishes and barbecued meats to satisfy even the hungriest campers.
Palm Beach, Cheung Sha Lantau | 2980 4822
Teepee Village
Grab your headdresses, pack your warpaint and get ready for action native American style. Owned and operated by the people who run the Safari Bush Campers, Teepee Village on Palm Beach has eight different sized, handpainted teepees, erected on an 18,000-square-foot lawn. Weekend rentals start from $850 per night for a four-person teepee with sleeping bags and mats; a 26-foot-diameter teepee, which can sleep up to 20 people, is 3,200 per night. Add-ons include camping lamps ($20 each), mosquito nets ($50 each) and air coolers ($100). The adjacent Palm Beach Watersports Centre offers all sorts of watersports including kiteboarding, surfing and windsurfing. Palm Beach, Cheung Sha Lantau, 2980 4822, info@palmbeach.com.hk, www.palmbeach.com.hk.
Treasure Island
Can’t be bothered to lug your own camping equipment to a remote beach? Fed up of fiddling around with tent pegs? Treasure Island’s private campsite behind Ooh La La restaurant (which is a fantastic alternative to bringing and cooking your own food; 2984 8710), not only has ready-pitched tents for hire but changing rooms and showers too. A four-person tent costs $700 including sleeping bags, mat, coolers, charcoal, dishes and cooking equipment. Cycling and kayaking can also be arranged. Book in advance to avoid disappointment – and an uncomfortable night under the stars.
Pui O Beach, Lantau | 2546 3543
Tsim Bet Tsui Organic Farm
Not everyone was born to be a beach babe. If you dread the thought of sand in your sleeping bag, you can still experience the great outdoors at Tsim Bet Tsui Organic Farm in Yuen Long. During autumn and winter, it offers camping in authentic Mongolian gers – from $800 for a two- to five-person ger and $1,500 for an eight- to 10-person ger. With spectacular views of the Mai Po Marshes, the farm also has a petting zoo, a miniature train and barbecue pits.
Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long | 2472 6962
GET KITTED OUT
Shun Kee City Houseware
This Sai Kung shop stocks Nikko tents (from $300 for a two person tent), sleeping bags, blow-up mattresses, deck chairs, lamps, gazebos and backpacks. It also has a great selection of coolboxes, including the Coleman Ultimate Extreme six-day cooler on wheels (for everything-but-the-kitchen-
sinkers).
Shun Kee City Houseware | 6 Yi Chun Street | 2792 9850
Pak Mei
Near the Sai Kung minibus terminal, Pak Mei also stocks Nikko tents, sleeping bags and lightweight blow-up mattresses.
Pak Mei | King Man Street | 2792 6020
Serious backpackers head to Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei for top-quality camping gear. The following are recommended:
All Weather
This shop is run by a helpful outdoor “tutor” who really knows his stuff. The stock is similar to bigger chains but at lower prices. It offers good value for money. Email: info@allweather.hk
All Weather | 2/F, 13 Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok | 2384 8890
Chamonix
Another large shop with well-known brands and reasonable prices. It offers a 20 per cent discount if you spend more than $300, no membership required.
Chamonix | 6A Nelson Street, Mong Kok, 2388 3626
Protrek
Protrek provides high-quality camping gear and outdoor equipment from renowned international outdoor brands. From tents and sleeping bags to windproof jackets for the kids and all sorts of nifty gadgets and accessories, they are a great one-stop shop for camping needs. 5 Tung Fong Street, Yau Ma Tei, 2322 8699.
The Overlander
This is the flagship store of a six-branch chain with lots of famous brands, membership discounts and a bargain corner. 12/F, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, 2117 1810, www.overlander.com.hk.
Ying Cheong
This small shop is run by a very nice man, who is happy to give advice on all your camping equipment needs. 303 Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei, 2835 1255, www.ycamping.com.hk.