Day Trip Itinerary to Lantau Island
If you’re planning to explore other parts of Hong Kong, then follow me on my day trip itinerary to Lantau Island.
Known locally as Dai Yue Shan, Lantau Island is a place where you can dive into nature and the serenity of the whole island.
I was surprised to find out there is a vast forest area in Hong Kong. I always thought Hong Kong was full of skyscrapers, which, in this case, is only valid for Hong Kong Island.
Lantau Island feels different. I love how refreshing it is when I first arrive. It’s calm and serene, perfect for those who love the outdoors. The weather wasn’t great when I was there—it was slightly misty and foggy—nevertheless, it elevated my whole experience visiting the island.
I’d recommend including a day trip to Lantau Island in your Hong Kong trip itinerary, especially if you enjoy hiking and being outdoors. The air is fresh, the greenery is abundant, and the calming ocean view from the fishing town will leave you peaceful.
Whether you are traveling with family, as a couple (just like my husband and I), or on a solo adventure, Lantau Island has what it takes to win a small place in your heart.
Let’s take a look at the Lantau Island itinerary. Hang la (Let’s go)!
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How To Get To Lantau Island
Hong Kong is a top-ranked city when it comes to public transportation.
The whole system is dynamic and efficient, making the journey from one place to another easy. Therefore, you should be fine to travel to Lantau Island.
There are a few options on how to get to Lantau Island without hassle:
1. Taxi
There are many taxis in Hong Kong, and they are within reach. You can hail a cab right wherever you are and hop in it.
The journey could take up to one hour, assuming you are either from Kowloon or Hong Kong Island.
You will need to tell the cab to go to Ngong Ping Cable Car directly. From there, you will take the cable car to Ngong Ping village.
While it can be super convenient, most taxis speak Cantonese and very little English. It might be challenging for travelers. Also, some accept only cash!
TIP: Prepare the address in the local language and show it to the taxi driver. Also, make sure you have enough cash.
2. Metro
MTR is the most reliable and easiest way to travel around.
Whether you are on the Kowloon side or coming from Hong Kong Island, all you need to do is find the nearest MTR station and head down to Tung Chung MTR Station.
No metro runs between the airport and Tung Chung MTR station, so the best option is to take the bus below.
You can pay with an Octopus card or buy a ticket at the station. Octopus cards can be purchased at any station, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, and online.
TIP: Secure your Octopus Card prior to your trip and pick it up at Hong Kong airport.
3. Bus
My favorite mode of transportation in Hong Kong is by the buses.
It’s reliable, right on time, and efficient, and if you miss one, you can find the next one coming to you like an eagle hawk.
Plus, in addition to paying with an Octopus card, you can also pay with Apple Pay or a credit card. I love it when I can travel seamlessly without worrying about how to pay.
You can find your way to Tung Chung using Google Maps. It works very well in Hong Kong, unlike in South Korea. All you need to do is wait for the right bus, and you’ll be on your way to the destination.
The bus is also the best way to the airport. The most common buses are S1 and S56, which pass by Tung Chung.
4. Ferry
If you’re planning to take the ferry to Lantau Island from the city center, Central Ferry Pier 6, please note that you will arrive at Mui Wo instead of Tung Chung.
There are slow and fast ferries, so be sure to check the Lantau ferry timetable to see which one best suits your timing.
TIP: Take the ferry to Mui Wo and explore the area. Then, take bus 1 to Tai O. You can follow the itinerary the other way around, starting from Tai O.
Lantau Island Tour Itinerary
This Lantau Island Tour Itinerary is curated based on what I did, as shown on the map above. You can also do it the other way around if you’d like 😉
I know that Lantau Island is big, so if you would like to visit other parts of It, you can check out other itineraries from various Lantau Island blogs.
1. Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
From Eaton Hotel, where I stayed for the first half of my stay (an excellent hotel, by the way!), I took a bus to Ngong Ping 360. It was a 50-minute ride on the bus.
Once I arrived at the bus stop, I made my way up to Ngong Ping Cable Car.
Of course, it is one of the touristy things that you’ll have to check out. But it is also the fastest way to reach the top, offering you a fantastic scenic view of Hong Kong.
I bought the tickets at the counter as it was a last-minute late-night decision to explore Tai O. The price of a one-way trip for Lantau Island cable car was HK$ 195.
The downside of buying the ticket over the counter was that the ticket queue got very, very long. Halfway through the queue, the staff closed the counter as the weather was not so favorable. I had to wait again.
It took me another 30-40 minutes from the purchasing counter to go up on the cable car.
Meanwhile, there were a lot of people who bought the tickets online, and they could go straight into another line, which literally had no one and left all of us in the queue in just a split second. 🙁
So, if you have a tight schedule and have kids with you, save yourself and get the tickets before your day trip! Wasted time is worse than wasted money.
Book A Ticket: Ngong Ping 360 Cable in Hong Kong
2. Ngor Ping Village
The cable car will take you directly to this quaint little village, Ngong Ping Village.
When I walked into the village, it reminded me of Marne La Vallée with an Asian touch. But without the high-end luxurious shops for a shopping spree 🙂
Along the way to the Big Budda, there are shops lined up, including souvenir shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and other antique shops. If you’d like a token of memoirs to bring back home with you, you can find something here.
You’ll pass by the 12 statues of the Chinese Zodiac. I saw a bull here, resting and having a day off, while all the tourists were flocking in next to it to take a selfie! Of course, I took one from afar!
Once you reach the Ngong Ping Piazza, you can start your hike up to the Big Buddha.
3. The Big Buddha
The Big Buddha, also known as Tian Tian Buddha, was built in 1993 and is one of Hong Kong’s famous tourist landmarks.
It is a place of worship and one of the tallest outdoor seated bronze Budhha, located at the peak of Mount Muyu on Lantau Island.
The unique feature of the Tian Tian Buddha is that it represents the union of man and nature.
If you’ve been to Batu Caves in Malaysia, the climb up is relatively similar. To see the statue up close, you’ll have to climb 268 stone steps.
When you reach the top, take a breath and embrace the view. Then, walk around the Big Buddha.
Seeing the Big Buddha up close, I realized that the statue was sitting on a lotus flower, too! It is a symbol of purity, indeed.
You’ll also see that there are also other little statues accompanying the big one.
These statues actually represent The Offering of the Six Devas, with each offering flowers, incense, lamps, ointment, fruit, and music to the Buddha.
These represent the Six Perfections, which include generosity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom. All of these qualities are essential for achieving enlightenment.
4. Wisdom Path
Next up on my list of things to do Lantau Island is to visit the wisdom path. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Big Buddha.
Psst! On the way, you’ll find a toilet area, so you can take a toilet break before heading to the nature side of the island. 😉
It’s a nice, pleasant walk. Since the weather was still cold when I visited the island, it was misty, which added a nice touch to the photos. Not being sweaty was a bonus point!
At the Wisdom Path, you’ll see pillars arranged in a particular way. You can go around them and enjoy the walk.
Each pillar has carved calligraphy, except for the last column at the highest point of the hill. At that moment, I didn’t understand why.
Only after I came back and did some research did I find out why. It is left blank to suggest the concept of “emptiness” in the Heart Sutra, a famous sutra in Buddhism.
So, if you’re looking for a little bit of wisdom, this is the place to go. 😉 You may find the wisdom you’ve been looking for all these years.
Unfortunately, right after Wisdom Path, I was not able to go for the hike to Lantau Peak due to the weather.
So, I skipped it and went ahead to Po Lin Monastery.
There are also a few other Lantau Island hikes that I’d love to do on top of Lantau Peak. I am hoping to find a hiking buddy when I am back in Hong Kong 😉
Book A Hike With a Local Guide: Lantau Peak Sunrise Climb For The Most Scenic View!
5. Po Lin Monastery
Get cultural by visiting Po Lin Monastery, located adjacent to the Big Buddha. It is one of the most beautiful temples I’ve ever seen.
And they have the biggest incense that I’ve ever seen in my life! Pretty fascinating.
The monastery is huge, with a few sections that you can visit, such as the garden area. The main highlight for me was the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas!
I’m always amazed by the intricate details of worship places around the world, from the roof, the doors, the colors used, and the little decorations around the place.
The level of the artistry is elegant and challenging. It always blows my mind away.
6. Lunch – Subway (Takeout)
When I wanted to take the bus from Tai O, it was already around 3 PM. The bus runs every 30 minutes, so if you miss one, you’ll need to wait.
I decided to run to Subway quickly and get a sandwich to go. At least I could fill up my tummy while waiting in line. By the time I got to the bus stop, the line was already long.
When the bus arrived, the daunting moment began. Either I go up this one, or I will need to wait for another one. The person in charge was counting the number of passengers.
My husband was in front of me. Thankfully, we managed to get on the bus. Both of us had to stand, and when I turned back to face the bus driver, I was the last one to get on the bus! Phew.
Here comes the funny part. The bus ride felt like a roller coaster, especially for those of us standing.
When the bus took a sharp turn, I swerved like a helpless lady.
My husband was holding the sandwiches with one hand and the other to support him. Even the sandwiches were crushed at all angles every time the bus took a turn.
Thank god that our sandwiches were still intact by the time we reached Tai O.
7. Tai O Town
Upon walking into the village of Tai O, I felt transported into the Legend of the Dragon movie! Like I’m a part of Master Chow’s kung fu students! 😀
Most of the scenes were filmed in Tai O, and I was so happy just to be there.
Tai O used to be a small fishing town well known for its houses on stilts. The locals have lived and continued to live there for generations. You’ll still see fishing boats around the village.
Villagers usually sell their local produce, including dry fish, dry squid, and various sea creatures.
Of course, there is also the famous Tai O bun that you should try. Light, airy, and tasty! I loved it!
As I wandered around the area, I had a mixed feeling about the place. I found myself walking by houses made out of metal, which is a unique sight. Wouldn’t people be hot in there during the hot season?
You can visit the town itself and even walk further down to General’s Rock or Fu Shan Viewing Point. If you’re not keen on walking a lot, the city itself has its corners.
I had a cup of coffee at Solo, sat by the river, and enjoyed the view of locals carrying out their daily lives with the mountain view as the backdrop.
Had the loveliest time in Tai O.
By the end of the day, I took bus 11 back to Tung Chung and headed straight back to the hotel for a good night’s rest!
Tips For Visiting Lantau Island
- Lantau Island is huge, and there are limited taxis. Therefore, the easiest way to travel from one place to another is by bus. Please make sure you have sufficient balance on your Octopus Card.
- Go on a tour to get the best experience of an in-depth cultural and heritage tour! I wished I had booked on to understand the history better.
- If you’re planning to hike Lantau Island’s trails, such as Lantau’s Peak, make sure you bring sufficient water and snacks. The trails can be long and tiring. You can check out all Lantau Island hiking trails here.
- If you happen to bump into cows or water buffalo, don’t panic. It is usual for them to be wandering around. They usually stick to themselves. So, don’t be naughty and agitate/feed them.
- Travel by sea and hop on the fast ferry between Central and Mui Wo. Then, head to the open deck for beautiful Instagram photos!
Ready to Explore Lantau Island?
I spent an entire day sightseeing on Lantau Island. Really enjoyed my day trip there.
You can choose to follow the itinerary above or go the other way around—starting with Tai O, finishing with Ngong Ping Village, and taking the cable car back.
Another piece of advice that I want to share is that if you are prone to motion sickness, you should take a return trip by cable car instead of traveling into/out of Lantau Island by bus.
The road tends to be hilly, and there are many sharp corners. It is not a tranquil ride, and it is definitely not a short one!
To be honest, I couldn’t really see much Lantau Island property when I was there. The only lovely property that is suitable for a short stay in Lantau Island is the Tai O Heritage Hotel 😉 It’s exquisite!
I hope that my Lantau Island day itinerary gives you some idea of what to plan for your trip.
Limited time to figure it all out on your own? Check these Lantau Island tours out:
- Lantau Island Day Trip With A Local Guide
- Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour with Dolphins Spotting!
- Lantau Cultural and Heritage Insight Tour of Lantau Island
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