The Violet Hill and Twins Peak are situated within Tai Tam Country Park, which is home to popular hiking trails in Hong Kong. It is also one of the most challenging hikes in Hong Kong.
So, if you are looking for a leg workout? This hiking trail might be just what you need.
Brief Summary of Violet Hill / Twins Peak Hike
Here’s a summary of what to expect:
Distance: Around 4.8 km
Duration: 2.5 to 3 hrs
Difficulty: Very difficult
You can choose to start hiking from Wong Nai Chung Reservoir to Stanley Gap Road, or the other way around.
Essential Gear for the Twins Peak Hike
Because the Violet Hill and Twins Peak trail is highly exposed with very little shade and demands conquering over 1,200 relentless stairs. Coming underprepared can turn a great workout into a dangerous situation.
Make sure your daypack includes these absolute essentials before you head out:
- Hydration (Minimum 1.5L – 2L): There are no water refilling stations or vending machines once you start. Bring more water than you think you need. I recommend bringing an insulated stainless steel water bottle to keep drinks cold in the Hong Kong heat.
- Sports Drinks: Sweating out all those stairs means losing salt fast. Standard water won’t cut it on a humid day; pack a few electrolyte replacement tablets or powders to prevent severe muscle cramping.
- Sun Protection: You will be under the direct sun for the majority of the 2.5 to 3 hours. Bring a high-SPF sunscreen, a wide-brimmed cap, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Trekking Poles (Highly Recommended): Your knees will thank you. While poles are helpful on the steep way up, they are a lifesaver for stabilizing your joints during the brutal, steep concrete descent down to Stanley Gap Road.
- High-Traction Hiking Shoes: Leave the casual sneakers at home. The dirt paths on Violet Hill can get slippery, and the endless stone steps of Twins Peak require shoes with excellent grip to avoid rolling an ankle.
- Energy Snacks: Pack lightweight, high-calorie snacks like protein bars, bananas, or trail mix to eat during your quick breather at Tze Kong Bridge before tackling the stairs.
Time your visit
It would be best to avoid this trail during Hong Kong’s summer season. If you plan this hike from late January through early February, you’ll see Violet Hill covered with flowers. Check the weather forecast from HK Observatory before you set off.
How to Get to the Violet Hill Trailhead
Unfortunately, Wong Nai Chung Reservoir cannot be reached via the MTR. You have to take other modes of transportation (bus or taxi).
These are the buses that stop at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park: Bus 5, 6, 41A, 63, 66, 76. We took Bus No. 6 from Central Bus Terminal. The trip from Central to Wong Nai Chung took us about 25 minutes.
Tip for Travelers: Make sure your Octopus card is topped up with at least HK$30–50 before you head out, as Hong Kong buses require exact change if you pay with cash. If you’re a tourist visiting Hong Kong, you can grab a pre-loaded Octopus card at the airport or book one online in advance.
Violet Hill
The trail doesn’t have any public toilets, so you might want to go to one before you start the hike. There’s one public toilet near the park. After getting off at the bus stop, you’ll see a gas station. Walk up the stairs that go to Tai Tam Reservoir Road; that’s the start of the Wilson Trail (near the residential complex ParkView). Simply follow the trail until you reach the top of Violet Hill.
After making your full descent, you’ll reach Tze Kong Bridge. Take your time to rest and eat some snacks before proceeding to Twins Peak. In case you want to go home, you can take the left path heading towards Repulse Bay. Think twice because once you cross the bridge and start the Twins Peak hike, there’s no backing out.
Twins Peak
The Twins Peak is also dubbed as Terrible Peak, it is said to have 1,200 steps, we overheard some locals say it is more than that, but we didn’t attempt to count it. We knew about this before we started the hike, but it feels different when doing the actual hike. The steps are really steep and endless.
After conquering the endless stairs, you’d expect to see something at the top of the peak. On the contrary, there are not many views to see at the top of both Twin Peaks, unfortunately.
But as you start your descent from the second peak, you’ll see the spectacular view of the south side of Hong Kong slowly come into view.
This is the best part of the hike; you’ll see the panoramic view of the Stanley Village, Tai Tam Bay, and Stanley Bay. Near the end of the trail, there’s an observatory deck
At this point, you can decide whether you want to go to Stanley or return to Central.
Leaving from Stanley Gap Road
Depending on your plan, you can hop on a bus to Stanley, or take a bus back to Central, Wanchai or Admiralty.
Back to Central, Wanchai, Admiralty
Cross the street, and you’ll see a bus stop that goes to Central, Wanchai, and Admiralty.
To Stanley
Stay on the same side of the road, take bus 6, 6A, 73, or 260 to Stanley, or if you still have some energy left, you can continue your hike to Stanley.
Hope you find this post useful. In case you are interested in short trails suitable for families, check out my other post about Cheung Chau.
