Amazing Day Trip to Lamma Island (Hong Kong)
If you’re looking for a short break from bustling city life in Hong Kong, then look no further! A day trip to Lamma Island, known for its laidback vibes, scenic landscapes, and deliciously fresh seafood makes for a day of relaxation and adventure!
This guide will cover everything you need for a day trip to Lamma Island.
About Lamma Island
Lamma Island, also known as Y Island or Pok Liu Chau, is Hong Kong’s third largest island (13.5 km2). It belongs to Hong Kong’s Island District in the southwest of Hong Kong.
The island is vastly different from the hubbub and buzz of Central or Kowloon. With no cars or towering skyscrapers, it offers peace and tranquility with a far more slow-paced atmosphere. Think lazy fishing towns, sleepy cafes and idyllic views – making it an ideal day trip from Hong Kong.
How to get to Lamma Island
To reach Lamma Island, catch a ferry from Central Pier 4 in Hong Kong Central to either Yung Shue Wan or Sok Kwu Wan. The journey provides breathtaking views of the cityscape as you leave and the beautiful islands as you approach land again.
You can buy your ferry tickets on arrival. Check the ferry timetables in advance to avoid waiting. Ferries between Central and Yung Shue Wan are more frequent than between Central and Sok Kwu Wan.
I recommend starting your day trip to Lamma Island early by catching the 09:10 ferry from Central to Yung Shue Wan. This will give you more time on the island to enjoy as you will arrive at approximately 9:35.
If you get caught out by timings, you can wait for the next ferry. Central is within walking distance, so you can wander there to pass the time. Alternatively, since both ferry terminals are next to each other, you can follow this Lamma Island itinerary in reverse.
Which port should you go to on Lamma Island?
You can get a ferry to either end of Lamma Island – Yung Shue Wan (in the north) or Sok Kwu Wan (in the south). I recommend arriving at Yung Shue Wan.
Partly this is because it means you can save a big seafood feast until the end of your day. But mainly because I’ve found Yung Shue Wan is a more interesting place to begin your day trip.
The risk of following the route in this direction is that fewer ferries run from Sok Kwu Wan to Central. This means there’s a higher chance of you waiting for a while. But that’s why you have the timetables anyway!
Day Trip to Lamma Island Itinerary
Yung Shue Wan
Yung Shue Wan is the main village on Lamma Island and translates as Banyan Tree Bay.
Your first stop on Lamma Island might not look like much on arrival, but its narrow, quaint streets create a maze of shops and cafes to explore! Filled with charming boutiques, art galleries and cozy bakeries, I definitely picked up a slight western feel to the town. I even stumbled across a record shop displaying UK artists that I knew!
Yung Shue Wan is a great place to grab a cup of freshly brewed coffee, go for a gentle stroll, and immerse yourself in village life as you enjoy its blend of traditional and bohemian vibes.
NOTE: If you arrive later (i.e. lunchtime), there are several good restaurants. Perhaps grab some dim sum or seafood.
I used this stop to grab a few snacks and beers for the beaches later in this day trip!
Lamma Island Hike (Lamma Island Family Trail)
For nature enthusiasts, there are a handful of hiking options on the island. Since you only have one day in Lamma Island, I highly recommend the scenic Lamma Island Family Trail which links the north and south, connecting the ports of Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.
This well-marked path takes you through lush greenery, offering panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding islands. It’s a relatively easy hike, suitable for all fitness levels, and can be easily adapted to include detours to more sights in this itinerary.
Power Station Beach
You may have heard of bar crawls, but have you ever heard of a beach crawl?
Probably not, because I’ve just made it up… But anyway, Lamma Island is the perfect place to go beach hopping! Its beaches are tranquil and less crowded than those on the main island, making them perfect for unwinding and enjoying the natural beauty.
The first on your route is Power Station Beach, which is located a short walk from Yung Shue Wan.
So named because it overlooks an industrial power station, Power Station Beach was actually my favourite beach on Lamma Island. It’s a weird juxtaposition between the lush green trees and the idyllic sea in one direction, alongside the dystopian, man-made structures of the power station in the other.
Its expansive sandy shores are relatively quiet because of the lack of facilities. Plus it’s unregulated which means you have more freedom to do what you want (that doesn’t mean it’s okay to litter!).
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
The next bay along from Power Station Beach is Hung Shing Yeh Beach – the most popular beach on Lamma Island.
It has various facilities including changing rooms, showers, a barbeque area and some restaurants. All of which attract tourists and locals looking to relax.
This sandy beach isn’t as big as Power Station Beach, but it’s an interesting change of pace as you move through Lamma Island.
Lamma Island Lookout Pavillion
As you follow the Lamma Island Family Trail through the narrow center of Lamma Island, there are a few great viewpoints.
The Lamma Island Lookout Pavillion offers spectacular views of two beautiful bays on the west side of Lamma Island. You will need to make your way through a few trees to get the best view.
After this viewpoint, the Family Trail moves further inland, meaning views are intermittent views until the Sok Kwu Wan Lookout.
Sok Kwu Wan Lookout Pavilion
The Sok Kwu Wan Lookout Pavillion offers your first look at the finish line – the village of Sok Kwu Wan!
From this lookout, you can see the fishing villages as well as other islands in the distance.
It’s a really peaceful spot where you can sit down and admire the scenery.
Lo So Shing
Continuing along the Lamma Island Family Trail, take a slight detour to Lo So Shing Beach. This is the last beach on your day trip to Lamma Island and a great place to watch the sunset!
Also in Lo So Shing is the Lo So Shing Sitting-Out Area which is essentially an extended piece of land sticking out with a load of benches. I thought it would be more interesting than it was, so you can miss this out!
Upon leaving Lo So Shing village, you will come across the Kamikaze Caves.
During World War II, Japanese soldiers were stationed at Lo So Shing which they used as a naval port. These caves or grottos are actually man-made tunnels and were used to conceal munitions as well as speedboats which were launched from here on suicide missions.
Now, these caves along the coast of Sok Kwu Wan remain open for tourists to explore. It’s a bit dark, but you can go in a long way to see if you can find anything interesting.
Sok Kwu Wan
Sok Kwu Wan is much smaller and less developed compared to Yung Shue Wan. It’s primarily known for its many seafood restaurants, which makes sense given Sok Kwu Wan means Cable Fishing Net Bay.
At the entrance to the village, check out the Tin Hau Temple. Built in the 1800s, this temple and its intricate architecture provide a glimpse into Lamma Island’s cultural past. It’s one of many Tin Hau Temples across Hong Kong, with residents celebrating the birth of the sea goddess every year at the Tin Hau Festival.
The town itself is dominated by seafood restaurants, which are usually quieter by evening! Sit down and enjoy some locally caught seafood right by the sea.
The most popular seafood restaurant in Sok Kwu Wan is Rainbow Seafood Restaurant (Lamma Rainbow). There were so many different foods on offer, that it was a little overwhelming! However, the staff helped explain the set menus (which worked out cheaper).
The seating areas of each restaurant blend into one another. One of the other options is Fu Kee Seafood Restaurant which looked largely similar.
Lamma Island Itinerary Map
Getting back from Lamma Island
Lamma Island isn’t known for its nightlife! This sleepy island tends to wind down relatively early. Therefore after sunset, I recommend taking the ferry back to Central Hong Kong.
From Sok Kwu Wan to Central, it takes around 40 minutes.
I timed it with the daily Hong Kong lights show (8:00 pm) which made the journey back in the dark more interesting!
More things to do on Lamma Island
If the above isn’t enough for your one day in Lamma Island or you plan to return, here are a few more ideas of things to do on Lamma Island.
- Lamma Winds: One of Lamma Island’s best vantage points and home to the island’s first (and only) wind turbine. There are great views from up here, plus you can learn about renewable energy at the small wind power exhibition. Lamma Winds is located in the north, so a simple detour from Yung Shue Wan or Power Station Beach.
- Lamma Art Collective: Located in Yung Shue Wan, a group of local creatives on Lamma Island provides exhibitions, workshops, and community art projects.
- Tung O: A quaint and serene village with a charming waterfront, traditional fishing boats, and picturesque views of the surrounding sea and hills.
- Sham Wan Beach: The only beach in Hong Kong where Green Turtles are known to nest. Because of this, it’s closed April-October, however, this protected beach on the south coast of the island is truly idyllic.
- Ling Kok Shan Hike: Standing at 250m and not far from Sok Kwu Wan, this is a great way to extend the Family Trail further.
- Mount Stenhouse Hike: The tallest point on Lamma Island offers some of the best views over the rest of the island!
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide for your day trip to Lamma Island in Hong Kong. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy travelling!
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