Gotta GO! Sustainable Explorer Challenge 2026

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28 August 2026

Gotta GO! Sustainable Explorer Challenge 2026

3rd edition of the HK Express Gotta GO! Sustainable Explorer Challenge is back and now open for applications!

Love travel? Want to turn your ideas into a real adventure?

The 3rd HK Express Gotta GO! Sustainable Explorer Challenge is now open for applications. Team up in pairs, design a 4D3N lower-carbon travel itinerary, and compete for the chance to bring your trip to life flying with HK Express!

 

Prizes & Opportunities

If your team is selected as one of the 5 finalist teams, you’ll receive:

  • Round-Trip flight tickets by HK Express
  • HK$4,000 travel fund per person
  • The chance to carry out your proposed trip in January 2027

And if your team wins the Champion title, each member will also receive an extra set of round-trip tickets to any HK Express destination.

 

Why join?

You’ll get the chance to:

  • Learn more about sustainable travel and carbon footprint awareness
  • Build skills in itinerary design, storytelling and pitching
  • Present your idea to a judging panel
  • Gain hands-on experience through a real travel challenge
  • Meet students from universities across Hong Kong, Macau and other parts of the Greater Bay Area

 

Who can join?

You must apply in a team of 2 undergraduate students (local or non-local) currently enrolled at one of the following institutions (arranged alphabetically):

  • Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)
  • Lingnan University (Lingnan)
  • Macao Polytechnic University (MPU)
  • Macao University of Tourism (UTM)
  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK SZ)
  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST GZ)

Students from different universities may form a team together. Individuals may need to obtain relevant visas or travel permits for entering Hong Kong where applicable.

 

Interested? How it works:

1.      Fill in the Programme Briefing Registration Form  and register your preferred Programme Briefing session (Compulsory).

2.      Attend the Programme Briefing to learn about the programme and get exclusive tips from previous winners.

3.      Form a team of 2 and complete the Application Form to enroll into the programme and indicate your preferred workshop sessions.

4.      Learn about sustainable tourism, carbon accounting and social media skills through hands-on workshops.

5.      Draft your 4D3N sustainable travel itinerary following the principles of sustainable tourism and submit your proposal for screening.

6.      Top 30 teams will be invited to a Pitching Presentation.

7.      Five finalist teams will be selected from the pitching presentation to execute their itineraries with sponsorship.

8.      Finalists to compete in Final Battle after bringing their itinerary to life, sharing their experience and learnings from the trip with the public and judging panel.

 

Key dates:

  • Programme Briefing (You must attend 1 briefing session to apply):
  • Registration deadline: 8 Sep 2026 (HKT 23:59) (Register via the Form here)

Date / Time

University

Location

10 Sep (4-5pm)

MPU (Macau)

Lecture Theatre 1, 1/F, Wui Chi Building, Macao Campus

10 Sep (6-7pm)

UTM (Macau)

FG51 Grand Hall, Forward Building, Taipa Campus

11 Sep (5-6pm)

CUHK (SZ)

Room 101, Teaching A Building

12 Sep (3-4pm)

HKUST (GZ)

Room 101, 1/F, Laboratory Building E1, Academic Area

14 Sep (6-7pm)

PolyU (HK)

FJ303 (Lecture Theatre), Wing FJ (Chan Tai Ho Building)

17 Sep (6-7pm)

HKUST (HK)

Tsang Shiu Tim Art Hall

18 Sep (5-6pm)

CUHK (HK)

Lecture Theatre 3, Lee Shau Kee Building

22 Sep (5:15-6:15pm)

Lingnan (HK)

Chan Wai Nam Function Hall (SEKG09)

23 Sep (5-6pm)

HKBU(HK)

Yim Tsui Yuk Shan Innovation Hub – TriAngle, Shaw Campus

 

Programme Application:

10 Sep - 27 Sep 2026 (HKT 23:59)

The application link will be provided during the Programme Briefing session and sent to attendees by email afterwards.

 

Workshops (Each participant must attend at least 2 workshops):

Date

Theme

Location

6 Oct (7-8pm)

Sustainable Travel 101: Be a Conscious Traveler (HK session)

PolyU (HK)

8 Oct (7-8pm)

Measuring Your Travel Impact: Understanding Carbon Footprint

CUHK (HK)

15 Oct (7-8pm)

Beyond the Trip: Designing for Multiplier Impact

MPU (Macau)

16 Oct (TBC)

Sustainable Travel 101: Be a Conscious Traveler (GBA session)

HKUST (GZ)

20 Oct (7-8:30pm)

Travel Responsibly: Tips from the Experts

HKBU (HK)

 

Other important dates:

Itinerary Submission Deadline: 8 Nov 2026 (HKT 23:59)

  • Pitching Presentation:
    • 5 Dec 2026 at HK Express Shenzhen Office (for GZ and SZ students)
    • 12 Dec 2026 at HK Express Hong Kong Office (for HK and Macao students)
  • Finalist Travel Period: Any 4D3N between 4 Jan – 31 Jan 2027
  • Final Battle: Feb 2027 (Date and Venue to be confirmed)

 

Judging Criteria

  • Alignment with Sustainable Tourism principles
  • Demonstration of sustainable actions & carbon reduction
  • Trip details and feasibility
  • Originality of ideas
  • Active participation in the programme

 

Important Notes

  • Programme Briefings and workshops will be conducted in English
  • Itinerary submission and Pitching Presentation may be conducted in English, Cantonese or Mandarin
  • Late submissions or incomplete applications will not be considered
  • Participants are responsible for arranging any required visas or travel documents, if applicable

 

Challenge Details:

Organiser: HK Express

Duration: From September 2026 to February 2027

Application Deadline for Programme Briefing: 8 September 2026

(You must attend one Programme Briefing session to apply the challenge)

Official Website: Click here

Application: Click here