Hong Kong's trail-running calendar has an unofficial opening ceremony, and it happens on Lantau Island. Lantau 2 Peaks 2026 returns on Sunday 4 October, sending runners up two of the city's highest summits — Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak — in what Action Asia Events bills as the season opener for Hong Kong's trail-running year.
In This Guide
What is Lantau 2 Peaks?
Lantau 2 Peaks is organised by Action Asia Events, one of Asia's longest-running endurance and adventure race organisers, with the course designed by Michael Maddess. The organiser's own event listing frames it as the city's trail-running season opener — the race that unofficially kicks off Hong Kong's autumn and winter trail calendar each year.
Past editions back that reputation up. South China Morning Post coverage of a previous Lantau 2 Peaks quoted winner Vlad Ixel calling it “a great event, my favourite race in Hong Kong, and a good way to start the trail running season” — and one edition went ahead with more than 550 runners despite an approaching typhoon, a fair indicator of how seriously the local trail community takes it.
The route: two peaks, two distances
Both distances start at Man Tung Road Park in Tung Chung, behind Citygate and next to the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong. From there, the courses climb into the hills that give the race its name.
- 25km route (measured 25.3km, ~1,681m elevation gain, 8-hour cut-off): climbs Lantau Peak (934m, Hong Kong's second-highest peak), continues via Ngong Ping to Sunset Peak (800m+, the third-highest), then descends back to Tung Chung.
- 17km route (measured 16.9km, ~662m elevation gain, 5-hour cut-off): summits Sunset Peak only, descending via the monastery route to Shek Mun Kap.
| Category | Distance | Elevation gain | Cut-off | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25km | 25.3km | ~1,681m | 8 hours | 18 (race day) |
| 17km | 16.9km | ~662m | 5 hours | 13 (race day) |
New for 2026: trekking poles are allowed for the first time in more than 15 years — a rule reversal after a past ban brought in following pole-related injuries on the technical descents. Anyone new to racing with poles should practise proper technique beforehand rather than treating them as a race-day novelty.
How tough is the Lantau 2 Peaks course?
This is a genuinely tough, technical course, not a casual hike with a bib number. The organiser itself describes it in Skyrunning-style terms — steep, exposed climbs and descents rather than gentle gradients. Packing close to 1,700m of ascent into just over 25km means the climbing is relentless by Hong Kong standards, and October temperatures typically still run 25–33°C, so heat management matters as much as leg strength.
It's shorter than ultra-distance benchmarks like the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker or HK100, but Lantau 2 Peaks packs proportionally more climbing per kilometre than either — which is exactly why it has built a reputation as a serious test rather than a beginner's first trail race. Runners who want to build a base first should see our guide to Lantau Peak as a standalone hike before committing to race pace on the same terrain.
Lantau 2 Peaks 2026
Fees shown are Phase 4 pricing, effective from 1 September 2026 — check the official Lantau 2 Peaks event page for the latest phase and any earlier-bird rates still open.
Entry fees, what's included and prizes
Solo entry to either the 25km or 17km category costs HK$620 at Phase 4 pricing (from 1 September 2026). A team of four can enter the 25km category together for HK$2,108. Every entry includes a souvenir shirt, a bib with a luggage tag, on-course food and drink at checkpoints — think bananas, oranges, biscuits, melon, bread and electrolyte drink — plus a Corona beer and a “Neon Tiger” fruit soda at the finish line, and a finisher medal. Transport to Tung Chung is not included, though most runners simply take the MTR.
Prize money runs deep in the 25km category: the top five solo men and women take home HK$1,500, HK$1,200, HK$800, HK$600 and HK$500 respectively, plus a trophy and free entry into Sai Kung 50. The 17km category's top five men and women each receive a trophy, though no cash prize.
Race-pack pickup and getting to the start
Race packs are collected in advance at the Action X Store, Unit 1206, 12/F, 133 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan (Exit C, then roughly 15m). Pickup runs Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 September and again on Friday 2 October 2026, 11am–7:30pm. Anyone who leaves it to race morning faces an HK$150 late-pickup admin fee — worth avoiding with a quick trip into Central beforehand.
On race day itself, the organiser's own advice is blunt: catch the very first MTR train of the day to Tung Chung Station to make the early 7:10am/7:20am starts, since registration closes at 6:10am and the terminus station can get busy with runners all converging at once. Anyone building a wider Lantau day around the race — or bringing family who aren't running — might also enjoy our guides to the best outdoor activities in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Cyclothon, another closed-course event on the city's autumn sporting calendar. For a broader look at building trail fitness year-round, see our guide to the best running routes in Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good to know
Catch the very first MTR train of the day. That's the organiser's own advice, not just ours — registration closes at 6:10am and Tung Chung Station fills up fast with runners on race morning, so there's no margin for a leisurely start. And if you're new to poles, Lantau 2 Peaks' technical descents are not the place to learn the technique on the fly.