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. Turns out that is only valid for Hong Kong Island.

But 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. Slightly misty and foggy in March. 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 for 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 for how to get to Lantau Island easily :

1. Taxi

Taxis are easily accessible wherever you are in Hong Kong. You can hail a cab 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.

Update: As of 1st April 2026,  all taxis are required to accept credit cards and at least other e-payment forms. But I’d recommend you have some cash with you or your Octopus card, just in case.

You will need to tell the cab driver your destination on Lantau Island.

While it can be super convenient, most taxis speak Cantonese and very little English. It might be challenging for travelers. So prepare your address in advance.

In my case, I asked the taxi driver to drop me off at Ngong Ping Cable Car. From there, I took the cable car to Ngong Ping Village.

Travel Tips: If you’re travelling by taxi on Lantau Island, look for the blue taxis. These are Lantau-specific cabs serving only the island and places like Tung Chung, Hong Kong International Airport, Ngong Ping (Big Buddha), and Tai O.

📌 Useful Cantonese Phrases For Your Next Trip to Hong Kong

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 or the blue taxi mentioned previously.

You can pay with your Octopus card or buy a ticket at the station. Octopus cards can be purchased at any station, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, and online.

3. Bus (Recommended)

My favorite mode of transportation in Hong Kong is by bus.

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 my itinerary the other way around, starting from Tai O.

📌 Recommended Read: Hong Kong Airport Transfer Guide & How You Can Book

Lantau Island Itinerary

This Lantau Island tour itinerary is curated based on what I did on one of my 5 days in Hong Kong adventure with my husband.

1. Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

From where I stayed on Nathan Road, I took the E23A bus to Ngong Ping 360. It was a 50-minute ride on the bus to the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal stop.

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 the island. The price of a one-way trip for the Lantau Island cable car was HK$ 205 (~ 26 USD).

The downside of buying the ticket over the counter was that the ticket queue got 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 get on the cable car.

Meanwhile, a lot of people who bought the tickets online went 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.

Plus, I have checked, and the online prices are much cheaper than the ones sold over the counter. Thank me later!

2. Ngong 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 Tian Tian Buddha, there are shops lined up, including souvenir shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and other antique shops.

If you’d like a souvenir 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 Tian Tian Buddha. 

3. Tian Tian 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 Buddhas, located at the peak of Mount Muk Yue 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 other little statues accompanying the big one (like above). 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: generosity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom. All of these qualities are essential for achieving enlightenment.

If you’re interested in having an in-depth background story on the places, you can consider exploring the island with a local guide.

4. Wisdom Path

Update 2026: The Wisdom Path is closed for refurbishment from June 5, 2025, and is expected to reopen in the last quarter of 2026. You are welcome to explore nearby viewpoints to fully enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of Lantau.

​Next up on my list of things to do on 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.

Right after Wisdom Path, I was planning to go for a short hike up to Lantau Peak. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t forgiving. If you’re thinking of hiking, you can check out this Lantau Peak trail.

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 my way back to Hong Kong some time in the future. 😉

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 you can visit, such as the garden. 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 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 you have to try! Light, airy, and tasty! I loved it!

As I wandered around the area, I had mixed feelings 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 (Google Maps), 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!

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 on 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.

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