Hong Kong offers a stunning coastline that we usually enjoy coasteering or swimming. If you would like to paddle instead here some info.

I am not yet a big fan. But I need to agree that it has a big pro: the distance you can cover, allowing you to visit way more spots in a day or make accessible spots that are too complicated for you to swim or coasteer to (therefore there are more and more routes where we have kayaked). I have friends who really enjoy it. Tyler for example. Several people have contacted me asking about it, so here the super basics, with his collaboration (part of the writing, pics, and videos):

Kayaks & gear – How to Start – Planning your outings – Rental places and routes

Kayaks & gear

Not all the kayaks are made equal. Recreational or sit-on-top kayaks are the easiest to rent and use. Flat bottomed and wider, which makes them extremely stable. Without enclosed “cockpit”, which can be less daunting for beginners. They are slow. Single or double sitters available in most locations. If both of you are OK paddlers and can synchronize, a double kayak can be significantly faster with the same effort level. The person in front might feel a bit less useful than the one behind, who has more steering power.

A “proper” sea kayak or touring kayak tends to be longer and narrower than the previous. They are more maneuverable and significantly faster, so they are more suitable for long journeys.

However, they are less stable

and difficult to get back into if you capsize.

So you must have some basic training to use them safely. You usually cannot rent sea kayaks without some proof of your abilities.

Inflatable kayaks are becoming more and more common in Hong Kong. The pro is that you can carry it on you relatively easily in a heavy backpack. Slow and with the danger of you puncturing them. They are also very difficult to control in even medium-speed wind, so paddling outside of sheltered bays can be dangerous.

Life vest. For kayaking usually, full life jackets are not used but what are called type 3 Personal Flotation Devices (PFD). This one, for example, is what we have.

Slightly less bulky, which allows you to paddle and move significantly easier. There are tons of different options. The perfect one would depend on the type of activities you will be doing, your budget, and swimming skills, among others. Check that it will not rub and create chaffing in your armpits. Video with more info.

You would need at least a waterproof bag to keep your belongings dry. As in other activities, I like to double bag at least all the electronics. A hat, gloves to avoid chaffing, clothing and footwear that you do not mind getting wet and will be comfortable that way, sunscreen, food for the day, phone within a waterproof case. There is no shade at the sea, the sun will wear you down and you will need much more water than you think in Hong Kong summers. So bring plenty in a camel bag or similar. Dry clothes, mini towel, and flip flops for the return.

If you are going to be doing this regularly, consider buying a Personal locator beacon. This small gadget allows me to ask for help anywhere in the world meanwhile I have unobstructed visual access to the sky, i.e. connection with satellites. This is not necessary and quite expensive, but includes an extra layer of security. A gadget that I bought hoping to never need to use it, that I bring whenever heading to remote areas. Kayaking in Saikung islands included.

Consider bringing a small first aid kit too.

How to start

You could just check some of the uncountable Youtube videos with the basics, for example:

And go to any of the sheltered places renting kayaks to practice. Hoi Ha has been that for my friends.

If you want to do this regularly or you want extra help to start, there are different companies offering tours and training courses: Sea Kayak Hong Kong (also running training days and beginner trips on Meetup), Sea Kayakers & Friends, Sai Kung Paddlers, WildHongKong, … The Leisure and Cultural Services Department offers several courses too. From the very basics, rolling from capsized position (very important for touring kayaks), to rescue courses. You will need to do some and have one of their certifications or other qualifications to be allowed to hire kayaks from the public water sports centers. The courses can be difficult to book, so many people choose to go directly to the private organizations listed above instead.

Planning your outings

All explained here is similar to the swimming post. Check the weather before departure. For wave and wind forecast I used to check magicseaweed and windguru websites. Also the tides. The higher the tide the more options you will have. Nowadays checking more windy.com too, that offers you a visual representation of the expected conditions per area. How big the waves can be and still be safe and fun? It will greatly depend on you. Some people love big wave kayaking, my brother used to kayak surf back in our hometown. Some hate everything that is not relatively flat.

Consider also this map with the Tidal currents. It will give you an approximated idea of how much the currents could be helping or slowing you down depending on the time of each day. Even with the kayak, you will feel it. There are a few places in Hong Kong where the tide can be strong enough to avoid you moving in the direction where you would want to head.

One advantage of kayaking over swimming is that you can cross wider channels and avoid boats more easily. However, boats are still a major concern when kayaking. Always be aware of boat traffic, especially on major shipping channels and ferry routes. You can get a general idea of the main shipping channels here or you can download the eSeaGo app for more details. Do not attempt to cross these channels until you are very experienced! Lately also checking the marinetraffic web to get a visual idea of what the boat traffic is in an area where we are going.

Try to get the phone number of a boatman that could come to tow you in case of an emergency.

Once you get really experienced, what could you do? Multiday expeditions with camping gear, visit the remotest islands, night paddling…

To name a few.

Rental places and routes

Map. Blue kayak means private kayak renting places (most updated information of pricing and opening hours in the Google Maps itself, check the links within), purple public (part of the LCSD), other blue marks are spots that I would recommend visiting.

Hoi Ha, as mentioned is the main spot where my beginner friends started. Kayak rental place just next to the sea. Several coral areas to go to and snorkel around. This loop is a nice one to visit the three main coral areas. Easy to spot, as they are marked by buoys. Same everywhere around Hong Kong.

The most spectacular coastline is in the GeoPark, to arrive there the most convenient kayak renting spot is in Pak Lap. The process is a bit troublesome though. You are able to book kayaks beforehand. But because they do not ask for a deposit and the remoteness of the location, quite some people book them a lot of time in advance and never go. So you might call and let know that they are fully booked, arrive there without a previous booking and find a kayak. Or not…

A round trip to Po Pin Chau enjoying some of the most spectacular landscapes in Hong Kong would be the shortest route I could think of. A bit more than 6 km getting in and out of the different bays.

Coasteering post as a reference. All kinds of columns and caves. Mok Min Cave might be passable in really high tide. The double entry cave next to Po Pin Chau itself only for those really good paddling, in low tide.

The main cave tunnel to go through would be in Bluff (tunnel crossed swimming, post). Approx 10 km route.

Drone photosphere of the area, Bluff in front.

Three arches route would be around 14 km. I prefer the East shores of the islands passed through. So I would do this clockwise passing first through Wang Chau (coasteering post).

Basalt (coasteering post) later.

Then tunnel in Bluff and East shore of it up. You could add a break in the coral area (11km mark in the map below) and beach (coasteering post of all that North part) a little bit further South before starting your return to Pak Lap.

The fourth arch is more “maafan (麻煩)” to get too. Jin Island.

You could rent a kayak in Sha Ha beach, but the way is really long. At least 18 km return in a straight line. If going so long I would include some more and see also Shelter island (coasteering post) and pass through the tombolo in Sharp Island (two kayakers with proper shoes, sharp stones, at least needed for carrying the kayak above). A bit more than 19 km that way.

If you are ready for all the logistics and are a pretty good kayaker you can go further with 4 arches route.

If starting from Sha Ha beach a shorter route could include all the perimeter of Sharp Island (coasteering post of the most interesting part + tombolo). Approx 11 km.

In Hong Kong Island you can rent kayaks too. Several places on Stanley Main beach for example. The most picturesque area around there might be the southern part of the D’Aguilar peninsula. Very nice rock formations and the waterfall (needs quite some rain before or might be dryish and dirty, so beware). Coasteering post. Going back and forth to the waterfall would be at least 8 km. For a longer route, you could continue East till the Cape (without getting into the marine reserve) and also head to the Stanley headland to see a bit of it + Lo Chau and the beach under the prison. 14 km.

The kayaking section shows those routes where we needed to use the kayak.

We will continue adding new routes in the future. Please, let us know your recommendations in the comments below.

Other preparations