Do not be duped if you are not feeling thirsty. Your body needs fluid to withstand the heat and has multiple ways of letting you know if it is not getting enough water, none of them especially pleasant.

Efficient hydration increases energy and alertness, ensuring you enjoy every step of your hike. And do not forget to bring food, too, because not every trail is populated with shops and cafes.

2. Slip, slop, slap

The mantra devised by Australian health officials to underline the imperative of applying sunscreen more than 40 years ago is similarly pertinent today.

Cover any exposed skin with sunblock and wear a hat to soften the intensity of the sun.

These precautions guard against the risk of sunstroke, not to mention protecting against the threat of skin cancer, and raise the chances of a safe and happy trek.

3. Precision timing

There is a reason organised hiking groups are currently meeting up in either early morning or late afternoon.

In short, the sun is at its most blistering between 12pm and 3pm. Avoid those broiling hours and you’re already down the metaphorical path towards having a great time on the real thing.

You will still be outdoors in serious heat, however. In addition to carrying water and sunscreen, it is a good idea to dress in loose-fitting, light-coloured clothes as another means of staying cool.

4. Choose your battles

Unless you are an elite athlete, now is the time to put on hold plans to tackle Hong Kong’s longest, most vertiginous trails.

Instead, embrace the countless beautiful but less exerting alternatives.

The 50km Hong Kong Trail on Hong Kong Island features eight sections of contrasting difficulty. One of the most straightforward spans Dragon’s Back mountain ridge, which runs for about two hours and provides stunning beach and hill views.

The Lamma Island Family Walk Trail covers the 5km that separate the island’s two main piers: Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan. Boasting gorgeous views and demanding very little in the way of climbing, the route takes roughly 1½ hours on foot.

Search the internet or grab one of the hiking guidebooks readily available in the city’s bookshops for any number of hiking routes that err towards the less taxing.

5. Knowledge is king

Returning to our initial theme, know as much as possible about your route and any external circumstances.

Keep across the weather forecast – it is steamy, yes, but we are also in the thick of Hong Kong’s typhoon season. Even if punishing sun gives way to “only” rainfall, the outlook can change at a stroke. Be aware of the terrain, too, for testing conditions underfoot add time to any hike.

And always carry some form of map to stave off the possibility of losing your way.