"Lamma Island, Hong Kong" Top 5 Page for this destination Lamma Island by SWFC_Fan

Where?

Lamma Island is the third largest of the 260+ islands that make up Hong Kong - only Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island are bigger.

Lamma Island lies a short distance to the south west of Hong Kong Island.

How to get there?

Ferries to Lamma Island leave pier number 4 in Central on Hong Kong Island frequently throughout the day from early morning to late in the evening.

Ferries from Central go to two ports on Lamma Island: the main village of Yung Shue Wan in the north-west of the island and the second biggest village of Sok Kwu Wan in the east of the island. Ferries to Yung Shue Wan depart at least hourly, while ferries to Sok Kwu Wan depart approximately every two hours.

Outbound, I caught a fast ferry (journey time 25 minutes; cost 16HKD). Returning to Central late in the afternoon I caught an ordinary ferry (journey time 40 minutes; cost 11 HKD). Fares for kids and OAPs are around half of the adult fares.

As well as the connection with Central, there are also regular ferries connecting Lamma Island with Aberdeen on the south-west coast of Hong Kong Island.

Prices correct at January 2006: (1 GBP = 13.7 HKD)

Yung Shue Wan seafront, Lamma Island

A few recommendations of things to see and do based on my 1 day on the island:

The main village: Yung Shue Wan

Yung Shue Wan is the laid back main village of Lamma Island. A host of seafood restaurants line the seafront and dozens of small fishing boats are tied up in the harbour. Away from the seafront, narrow backstreets contain all manner of small shops and local cafes, while lazy dogs lounge in the shade.

The second village: Sok Kwu Wan

The island's second village, Sok Kwu Wan, is effectively a long row of seafood restaurants stretching from a small ferry pier and set against a spectacular backdrop of lush green mountains. Away from the seafront there are a few shops and homes, and there is a Chinese temple at the entrance to the village. The approach to Sok Kwu Wan is spectacular - first you see it across a bay from the mountain road along which you are walking, and then you descend past a series of caves before arriving at the entrance to the village.

Beaches

Lamma Island has very good beaches by Hong Kong standards with long stretches of golden sand and clean, clear waters. The two beaches that I visited, and was impressed by, are:

Hung Shing Yeh Beach - this clean, sandy beach is located a 20 minute walk from Yung Shue Wan and is located on the island's west coast. The beach is bordered by mountainous rocks on either side and there are numerous trees at the top of the beach under which you can shelter from the sun. The only thing that spoils this beach is the view of the island's large power station across the bay on the horizon.

Lo So Shing Beach - this small, sandy beach is also located on the island's west coast, about a 15 minute walk from Sok Kwu Wan and close to the tiny village of Lo So Shing. There is a great view of this beach from the surrounding mountains and the beach is bordered on three sides by these lush green hills. One reason for the beach's popularity is that it has a shark net - but during my visit in January 2006 it had been temporarily removed in order to be repaired (not that I had any intention of swimming there - the weather wasn't good enough).

Scenic walks through the island’s verdant interior

The verdant interior of Lamma Island, with lush vegetation, pine trees and huge banana leaves, coupled with the spectacular mountainous landscape and spectacular views out to sea, make for some very scenic hikes throughout the island. A popular route (and the one that I chose to follow) is through the mountains from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan, going via the beach at Hung Shing Yeh and taking a slight detour to see the beach at Lo So Shing. The walk passes through large areas of vegetation, involves steep climbs and equally steep descents, passes through picturesque villages and provides unbeatable views over the island and out to sea. A great way to get some exercise! Signposts indicate that the walk should take about 1 hour and 20 minutes, but at a brisk pace it can be completed in a little over 50 minutes.

Sok Kwu Wan village, Lamma Island

A few observations from my 1 day on Lamma Island:

* Lamma Island is reputedly THE place to go for fresh seafood in Hong Kong. Urban dwellers commonly make a trip to the island at weekends to eat in the abundant seafood restaurants in Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan. Many restaurants display their huge selection of fish and crustaceans in large tanks outside their restaurant, allowing customers to make their own selection.

* Lamma Island has some of the best beaches in Hong Kong, with long expanses of sand and clear, clean waters. If you're in Hong Kong and fancy a swim in the sea, then this is as good a place as any to come. You may wish to go swimming before you look into the restaurants' fish tanks to see the giant lobsters and crabs that live in the nearby waters!

* Lamma Island is home to a great many ex-pats who commute to work in Hong Kong city. My guidebook marks it out as THE place to live in Hong Kong if you can't afford to live on Victoria Peak (and who can?). In contrast to the high rise living in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, homes on Lamma Island are low rise and have spacious, flowering gardens.

* A recognisable symbol of Lamma Island is the not particularly scenic large power station which provides power for the whole of Hong Kong. The power station stands in stark contrast to the rest of the island which is green and peaceful. The view of the power station looming large on the horizon does rather spoil the ambiance of Hung Shing Yeh Beach.

• Pros:Great beaches, great walks, excellent seafood.
• Cons:Apparently the island has huge spiders - but I never saw any!
• In a nutshell:Escape Hong Kong city life and come for a hike or a swim!