Lamma Island Hike

Ticketbar offers an away-from-it-all guided hike on an island with 6,000 years of fishing history. Walking is the only way to explore the many trails on Lamma Island, as there are no roads. Our journey starts at the colourful fishermen´s quay in Aberdeen, on the south side of Hong Kong. From there we take a slow boat to Lamma, giving us good views of southern Hong Kong Island. 

Our guided walk then takes us through near-abandoned villages with their banana plantations and past beautiful old feng shui woods, as we follow a lovely paved coastal path on this peaceful, traffic-free island. As we walk we are often escorted by beautiful butterflies. We then climb a hillside for majestic views over the shipping lanes of the South China Sea, neighbouring islands Cheung Chau and Lantau and the unspoilt south. We also walk past many of Lamma's famous boulders, which make great backdrops for photos. 

We enter Sok Kwu Wan village through ancestral graves, descending into the famous stretch of waterfront seafood restaurants that provide us with a welcome stop for lunch. But first we must pay a visit to the atmospheric 1826 Tin Hau temple, our local sea goddess to whom we pay our respects. 

Leaving the numerous fishing boats, platforms and fish-breeding nets behind, we take a scenic walk past World War II Kamikaze tunnels and a delightful sandy bay to the bustling village of Yung Shue Wan, where we stroll down the narrow streets of tightly packed local shops, absorbing the relaxed atmosphere.

At the southern end of Lamma is a recognised breeding site for the endangered green sea turtle, which comes to shore between June and October to lay eggs. The beach is closed during this period.

Reaching the old pier, a fast ferry awaits to speed us back to the hustle and bustle of Central, Hong Kong Island.

Please note, we have two versions of this hike and these are shown in the two Youtube videos attached.

One is our summer walk, where we go along the coastal pathway and through the pass over to Sok Kwu Wan. On cooler days, we go to the mountain top for views back to the shipping lanes. 

"Hong Kong" is the anglicized version of the Cantonese "heung gong," meaning fragrant harbour. When the English arrived in the 1830's, the incense trees were brought down from southern China to what is now Aplei Chau, and stored here, awaiting export, in the "go-downs" creating a pleasant smell. Hence the name Fragrant harbour.

Departure Point: General Post Office, No 2 Connaught Place, Central.  Outside the General Post Office, at street level beside the green stamp vending machines.

Departure Time: 8:30am

Duration: 7.5 hours

Walking distance: 7 km 

Grade: Moderate