Guided tours are a fantastic way to explore a unique aspect of a city or location while also learning along the way.
As longtime residents of Hong Kong, we’ve explored much of the city on our own and have also taken several guided tours. While some were just okay, others turned out to be truly memorable and impactful. So much so that we’ve become advocates for them.
So, whether you’re a local or just visiting Hong Kong for a short time, here are our top five must-do, unique tours in the city.
1. Hong Kong Snake Safaris
Hong Kong is home to 46 species of snakes, and we’ve come across quite a few snakes during our hikes. Our initial reaction to them was to be petrified! But all that changed after our first snake safari.
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- Hong Kong Snake Safaris is one of the best experiences
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- Most snakes in Hong Kong are non-venomous, but it’s important to learn how to differentiate them
Hong Kong Snake Safaris were set up in 2017 by nature enthusiast and snake catcher for the Hong Kong Police, William Sargent. From April to September, William, and his team escort small groups for night hikes in country parks to search for and observe wildlife in their natural habitat.
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- There’s nothing more enjoyable than spotting snakes in their natural habitat
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- A Many Banded-Krait — One of the few snakes in Hong Kong that is extremely venomous. But luckily, they don’t care for humans.
I’ll admit during our first snake safari hike, we were terrified of hiking on a snake-infested trail. But William Sargent and his team did such a phenomenal job of educating us about snakes and their behaviour, that by the end of our first hike, we viewed them in a different light. And if that wasn’t enough, we overcame our fear of snakes by not just observing them but also holding one ourselves!
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- A Greater Green Snake — Non-venomous and great fun to hold
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- The Snake Safaris are designed to be educational and fun
We’ve been on the Snake Safari three times, and now we actually look forward to spotting the snakes! But it’s not just about snakes — we’ve also seen some incredible wildlife, including several critically endangered species, in their natural habitat. The experience has taught us a lot about Hong Kong’s biodiversity.
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- A beautiful mock viper we spotted during one of our night hikes
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- The Snake Safaris aren’t just about snakes. You get to see all sorts of incredible creatures, native to Hong Kong in the night, like this Big Headed Turtle.
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- Snake Safaris are a lot more than just spotting snakes
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- We spotted this amazing Big Headed Turtle during our Snake Safari
If you’re interested in observing Hong Kong’s remarkable wildlife, overcoming any fear of snakes, and learning more about these fascinating creatures, I highly recommend the Hong Kong Snake Safari.
About The Snake Safaris Tour
2. The Pink Dolphin Tour
Not only is Hong Kong home to variety of snakes, but it’s also home to the Chinese white dolphin (also known as pink dolphins).
Spyhopping is when dolphins hold their heads out of the water to examine the what’s happening above the water
The Hong Kong Pink Dolphin Tour is another tour that we’ve been on multiple times, and each time has been such a unique experience. Witnessing pink dolphins play in their natural habitat is one of our best experiences in Hong Kong!
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- What an incredible sight, watching these dolphins jump
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- The highlight of our pink dolphin tour was spotting this dolphin calf!
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- Caught it before it made a big splash
The best way to experience the pink dolphins in Hong Kong is onboard the official HK DolphinWatch tour. They have been operating ecological tours to see the dolphins in Hong Kong since 1995 and their tours are not only informative but also conducted in an ethical and dolphin-friendly manner.
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- Boarding our Hong Kong DolphinWatch Tour boat
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- Nothing like a good spyhopping session
This tour isn’t just about dolphin-spotting. It is highly informative and a great way to learn about these fascinating animals and the conservation efforts to protect them. The tour guides are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable, making the whole experience engaging and memorable.
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- What an incredible sight, watching these dolphins jump
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- The pink dolphins only breach for a few seconds to breathe
You can read our detailed review about the pink dolphin tour in Hong Kong, or book tickets online.
About The Pink Dolphin Tour
3. UNESCO Geo Park Tour
Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark was inaugurated on 3 November 2009 and On 18 September 2011, UNESCO listed the geopark as part of its Global Geoparks Network. The area covers over 150 km² across parts of the eastern and northeastern New Territories.
Kang Lau Shek with mainland China in the background
The Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark comprises two geological regions: the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region.
All of us admiring beautiful volcanic rocks such as this pineapple bun rock
The volcanic rock area in Sai Kung, which features 140-million-year-old hexagonal rock columns, is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating rock formations in Hong Kong. In fact, I’ve only seen similar volcanic formations in photos from Iceland.
Towering hexagonal rock columns inside the Hong Kong Geo Trail
While most parts of the Geopark can be easily explored on your own, some areas require a guided tour. If you plan to take a tour, be sure to choose a Recommended Geopark Guide (R2G) tour. A boat tour also offers a unique perspective for observing these ancient volcanic formations while providing educational insights.
A bird’s eye view of the hexagonal rock formation near Long Ke Wan beach
If you prefer to explore the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark independently, we highly recommend visiting Tung Ping Chau, Sharp Island, and High Island for a memorable experience.
UNESCO Global Geopark R2G Tours
4. Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir Guided Tour
There are plenty of reservoirs that you can hike around all over Hong Kong. But there is only one reservoir that you can hike into!
Entering the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir
Situated on top of Misson Hill in Sham Shui Po, the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir was completed in 1904 under the Kowloon Waterworks Gravitation Scheme to supply fresh water to the people residing in the areas of Kowloon Tong, Sham Shui Po and Tai Hang Tung.
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- Following our tour guide into the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir
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- The unique architecture of the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir
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- What makes the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir unique is its granite piers and red brick arches that are reminiscent of Roman architecture
But over the years, the government boosted the water supply via larger reservoirs in the Kowloon region. And owing to its now relatively small size, the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir faded out, and it ceased to operate in 1970.
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- The Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir sits on top of Mission Hill in Sham Shui Po
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- The very Roman looking architecture of the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir
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- The guided tour teaches you a lot about the reservoir’s unique features
But then during the COVID-19 pandemic, the reservoir made a splash when it was re-discovered after being forgotten for 50 years. What makes the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir unique is its granite piers and red brick arches that are reminiscent of Roman architecture. Its feels so unique and out of place at the same time in Hong Kong.
Inside the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir
The Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir was accorded a Grade 1 historical building status by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2021 for its historical significance and unique architecture.
The guided tour allows visitors to enter the reservoir and also gain a deeper appreciation of Hong Kong’s water supply history over the past 100 years.
About The Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir Guided Tour
5. A Food Tour
Hong Kong is home to some of the best food in the world—from Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden hole-in-the-wall eateries that are sure to surprise you.
Hong Kong is a foodie’s paradise
Despite being passionate foodies ourselves, we’ve learned a lot from the multiple food tours we’ve taken. These tours are a fantastic way to discover hidden culinary gems in the city, as well as to learn about the history of specific neighbourhoods and long-standing establishments.
Delicious spring rolls at Tim Ho Wan
If we had to recommend a food tour guide, it would definitely be the one we took in Sham Shui Po. During that tour, we not only sampled foods from restaurants we might have otherwise overlooked but also gained a deeper appreciation for the district and its rich culinary history.
Hong Kong Food Tours
Beyond the Guidebook: Unique Tours in Hong Kong
We hope this post has inspired you to try one of these unique guided tours in Hong Kong.
Us inside the Ex-Sham Shui Po Reservoir
These experiences have taught us a great deal about the city’s rich history and natural wonders. If you’ve already been on any of these tours, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below. And if you decide to go on one after reading this, please share your thoughts with us — we’re eager to hear about it.
Of course, if you have any recommendations for other unique tours in Hong Kong, we’d be delighted to hear those as well.
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