A Complete Guide To Lamma Island

Although Lamma Island is a short ferry ride away from Hong Kong Island, it offers visitors a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and bright lights of the buzzing city. Its multicultural, relaxed vibe attracts numerous visitors, especially over the weekends, who come to dine at its restaurants, hike its trails, enjoy its beaches or just spend their day relaxing at one of the best outlying islands in Hong Kong.

Breathtaking view of Lamma Island from on top of Ling Kok Shan

Lamma Island Things To Do

If you’re wondering what is there to do in Lamma Island, this visual guide should help answer that question.

Visual guide to Lamma Island

There plenty of ways to spend your day on Lamma Island, and it usually depends on what you’re in the mood for. Luckily, Lamma has it all. There are a couple of hikes, local and international restaurants, a bit of history, and lot’s of beautiful beaches.

Each of the attractions marked in the map above is discussed below.

How to get to Lamma Island

Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier

You can take a ferry to any of the four public piers on Lamma Island.

1. Yung Shue Wan – the main pier in the north of the island that serves most of the villages
2. Pak Kok Tsuen – a smaller pier near Yung Shue Wan
3. Sok Kwu Wan – the main pier in the centre of the island
4. Mo Tat Wan – a smaller pier in the centre of the island

The Mo Tat Wan kaito pier

You can take the ferry from Central or Aberdeen.

From Central

• To Yung Shue Wan (takes about 20 minutes and the schedule can be found here)
• To Sok Kwu Wan (takes about 30 minutes and the schedule can be found here)

From Aberdeen

• To Sok Sku Wan via Mo Tat Wan (takes 25 minutes to Mo Tat Wan and another 10 minutes to Sok Kwu Wan, and the schedule can be found here)
• To Yung Shue Wan via Pak Kok Tsuen (takes 25 minutes to Pak Kok Tsuen and another 15 minutes to Yung Shue Wan, and the schedule can be found here)

Pick a ferry that takes you to the part of the island that you’d like to explore.

Here’s a bit more detail on the two main parts of the island – Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.

Yung Shue Wan

Yung Shue Wan side

This is the most populous region of Lamma Island. It’s where most of the villages, restaurants, and shops are located. There’s definitely more to do and see in this part of the island.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes serving everything from local seafood to western food. There are also a few quaint boutiques to shop at if you fancy. And not to mention easy access to two beaches.

Sok Kwu Wan

Aerial perspective of Sok Kwu Wan

Located in the centre of Lamma Island, Sok Kwu Wan is the quieter, more secluded part of the island. Get off the ferry and you’ll be greeted by a line of local seafood restaurants, which essentially is the main draw in Sok Kwu Wan.

However, there is plenty more to explore here in terms of hikes and lot’s of beautiful beaches. If you seek peace, quiet and nature, head to this part of the island.

Now, let’s talk about the main attractions on Lamma Island.

Restaurants

No matter which pier you get off at, there will be an awesome place to eat! However, here’s what you should know.

Restaurants at Yung Shue Wan

Yung Shue Wan has the most wide variety of restaurants on the island. From local seafood to vegan restaurants, eateries serving amazing grills and barbecues, and a few amazing cafes.

Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier

A few that we’ve been visited and loved are Bookworm Cafe, Andy’s Seafood and Green Cottage.

You can also head down to Hung Shing Ye Beach to grab a bite. There are plenty of shacks serving local snacks, or hotels with restaurants right on the beach.

Enjoying our drink, at the Concerto Inn, Hung Shing Ye Beach

Restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan

Although Sok Kwu Wan’s main street is filled with restaurants, the variety is mostly limited to local seafood. Don’t get me wrong, when we crave some fish and rice, or crab and noodles, we always head to Sok Kwu Wan.

Soaking in a beautiful day as we enjoy our seafood lunch at Sok Kwu Wan

It’s no surprise that Rainbows is the most popular restaurant on this side of Lamma, but we personally prefer Wai Kee Seafood Restaurant.

Restaurants on Mo Tat Wan

The Bay at Mo Tat Wan

Mo Tat Wan has only one restaurant called The Bay. Fortunately, it serves pretty good food and their helpings are fairly generous.

Grilled sole at The Bay

Beaches

There’s are numerous beaches on Lamma Island. And no matter which side of the island you’re on, there are a couple of beaches a short walk away from you.

Also worth noting is that the island is home to Hong Kong’s only turtle nesting beach which is located in the south of the island. However, this beach is only open for a few months a year.

I have a dedicated post on the best beaches on Lamma Island that should serve as a comprehensive guide on this topic.

Hikes

There are essentially three hikes on Lamma Island:

1. Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan

The hike from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan along the Lamma Island Family Trail essentially connects the two sides of the island, and is a great way to explore the vast portion of the island. You can learn more about the Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan hike on this post. If you venture on this hike, don’t forget to stop by the Kamikaze Cave. This cave held strategic importance for Japan’s Hong Kong-based ‘kamikaze team’ during the Second World War. They concealed speedboats here to be deployed on suicide missions against Allied shipping.

View of the power plant from the Lamma Island Family Walk

2. Ling Kok Shan Hike

The other hike is a circular hike on the south side with much nicer views. However, to make the hike more interesting, take cut across the circle via Ling Kok Shan. You can learn more about the Sok Kwu Wan Circular Hike on this post.

We made it! Look at that view of Lamma Island below!

3. Mt Stenhouse Hike

And finally, you can also hike up to Mt Stenhouse, the highest point on Lamma Island. Although this isn’t a maintained trail, there are plenty of neglected paths that run up to the top.

Aerial shot of Lamma Island with Mount Stenhouse in the forefront

Only attempt this hike if you aren’t a beginner and feel confident of hiking in Hong Kong. The views from Mount Stenhouse are simply spectacular! Learn more about the Mt Stenhouse Hike in this post.

Hotels

Lamma Island is also an amazing place for a staycation. With plenty of hotels and B&Bs, you could spend a relaxing weekend away from the madness of Hong Kong.

There are a couple of low-budget hotels located very close to Yung Shue Wan as you get off the ferry. The Bali Holiday Resort is a great option but if you’re looking for a hotel right on the beach, check out Concerto Inn at Hung Shing Ye Beach.

Concerto Inn at Hung Shing Ye Beach

Honestly, a weekend on Lamma Island sounds amazingly relaxing!

The Ultimate Guide To Lamma Island

We hope that you enjoyed our guide to Lamma Island and all the things you can do on the island. And that the next time you’re headed there, you’d know what to expect.

A beautiful day to spend at Hung Shing Yeh Beach