Top Attractions on Lamma Island, Hong Kong
Lamma Island is a beautiful tropical island that's just a 20 minute boat ride from Hong Kong. It's remote, quiet and one of the best, most underrated places to visit anywhere in China. The seafood restaurants in Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan will serve you some of the best seafood you've ever had. Then you can walk it off by hiking 'Family Trail', the nature trail that runs from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan. But the reason why Lamma Island is so utterly fantastic is because of the strict rules in place that guarantees the pristine natural environment the Island has. No cars are allowed. The only 4 - wheeled form of transportation you'll find are the small fire trucks, ambulances and miniature flat - bed trucks used for moving essential supplies around the island. The community's only transport means is by foot or bicycle.
There is more. Not a single building on the Island is higher than three stories. It's simply against the law to build higher than 3 stories. This really gives the visitor a feeling of being in a small town, untouched by the black fingers of modern man. If you are coming over from Hong Kong or Kowloon then this place will seem like a tranquil paradise and you'll become forever aware of the negative impact that noise pollution and air pollution has. Remember that the best time by far is to go during the week. Weekends are still nice but the island is a very popular destination for the residents of Hong Kong. And they seem to bring the noise with them! When they make those top ten lists of things to do in Hong Kong, they never include this Island. After my first trip here, I would list the Island amongst the top 5 things to do in Hong Kong. Where is Lamma IslandHave a look at this Lamma Island map. It's a good indicator to of where the island is in relation to Hong Kong. Lamma Island is to the southwest of Hong Kong Island and is just a 20 minute boat ride away. Get to Lamma IslandThe best way to go is to take the ferry to the main pier on this island then go for a walk through the village towards the path that leads up the hillsides for an incredibly scenic hike. There is a ferry that runs from Hong Kong to Lamma Island on a daily basis. Look for the Central or Aberdeen ferry terminals and get a ticket to either Sok Kwu Wan or Yung Shue Wan ferry terminals on Lamma. It takes about 20 minutes by fast ferry and 35 minutes by regular ferry to make the crossing. The ferry schedule is there and set but it can often be late. The ferry departs Central in Hong Kong starting at 6:30am and finishes at 12:30am, departing every 30 minutes. Leaving Lamma, the ferry schedule begins at 6:30am with the final ferry departing the Island at 11:30pm. Adults have to pay $17.70HK or just under $3US for a ticket to Lamma Island on the slow ferry. Children under 12 years old ride the ferry for $7.30HKD. If you're over 65 or you are disabled in any way then the fare for the Lamma Island Ferry is $7.30HK. What to Do on Lamma Island
The Main Village on Lamma Island is called Yung Shue Wan. It is a small community that is packed into a single street. You wouldn't believe how many wonderful bars, restaurants and shops that are stuffed onto the single street. Spend an hour or most the day in Yung Shue Wan Village. This is a cake-lover, coffee-lover, cheap-pint-of-beer-lover's heaven. You won't find and of the loud music, drunken street fighters or disco balls hanging from the ceiling like in Hong Kong. The restaurants and bars here are your easygoing back-garden types of places that ooze with charm and unpretentious appeal.
There are many good restaurants along Main Street, which is not but a few minutes walk from the Ferry Pier. Remember that the restaurants will serve differing food depending on what time you land on the island.
In the morning they have Dim Sum and the afternoons are the start of the seafood festival. If you're coming over in the morning, have dim sum at the Sampan. Or try the Lancombe restaurant for fresh seafood. If you want good organic vegetarian food, try out the salads or breakfasts at the Bookworm Cafe. This is very close to the Tin Hau Temple. Some of the items on menu are large steamed prawns with garlic, steamed fish with green onions and ginger, Mantis Prawn ( looks like a Prey mantis), fried Lobster prepared with butter, caramelized onion with bamboo clams cooked in black bean sauce. Delicious!
The best beaches seem to be Hung Shing Ye Beach and Lo So Shing Beach. They are both great beaches to lay in the sun and go for a swim in the warm waters.
It's definitely worth the trip to see Sham Wan. Sham Wan is a breeding site for green turtles. A large number of green turtles come ashore to lay eggs each year from June to October. Sham Wan is the only existing nesting site for the Green Turtles in all of Hong Kong. They chose the area themselves and were breeding there long before humans came to populate the island. Due to the delicate nature of the eggs and the animals, people are not allowed access to the area from June 1 to October 31 to allow the turtles to breed in peace.
There are many trails if you wish to hike. Mount Stenhouse is the tallest mountain in Lamma at 353 meters above sea-level. It sits between Sok Ku Wan and Sham Wan and is very easily accessible by the many marked pathways in town. It is a very grueling hike if you plan on getting to the top of the mountain. Many people just hike part the way up and are very satisfied with the scenic view they get from there so don't feel you have to hike a mountain if you visit the island. Once you descend to the other side of the mountain or go around it, you'll enter a fishing village with some nice restaurants with the freshest seafood you can buy. Take a Lamma Island TourWe took this evening tour during a recent stay in Hong Kong and it was just fantastic. >We got picked up from our hotel, had a boat trip on Hong Kong Harbor, visited a fishing village, watched & participated in fish feeding, then had dinner at a great seafood restaurant on The Island. After dinner you'll return to Hong Kong Island to take a short sightseeing trip to see Hong Kong's fabulous evening lights from the Mid-Levels Lookout, halfway up Victoria Peak. This is a great way to go for people who may want to have everything taken care of. All you have to do is be in the lobby of your hotel when they pick you up. This is the best value-for-money tour going and for people who hate to sweat the details, this is a tour worth looking into. Find out more about the Lamma Island tour. What do You Love Most about Lamma Island?
I love Lamma Island. Please share with us your favorite hikes, seafood restaurants, beaches or things to do on Lamma Island.  Return to Hong Kong Page
|
