Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Take a day trip to Lantau Island, Hong Kong's largest island, and discover pristine beaches, traditional fishing villages, lush valleys, soaring mountains and spiritual enlightenment. Your full day tour includes a guided visit to Po Lin Monastery, the Giant Buddha Exhibition Hall and a 5.7 kilometer cable car journey offering spectacular views of Lantau Island and the South China Sea.

Your day trip from Hong Kong begins with a trip on an express ferry across Hong Kong's harbor to Lantau Island. You'll then board a coach to beautiful Cheung Sha Beach, Hong Kong's longest beach. Next it's on to the unique Tai O fishing village, where the local fishermen's homes are built on stilts.

Your coach will take you up a winding mountain road to Ngong Ping Plateau, where the Giant Buddha sits majestically, close to the Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery. More than 111 feet (34 meters) high, Hong Kong's amazingly big Buddha is the world's largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha.

You'll have ample time to enjoy a guided tour of the colorful Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha Exhibition Hall. A short walk away is the Wisdom Path where an ancient prayer is inscribed on a series of wooden columns set in a figure of eight to signify infinity. You'll be served a traditional Buddhist vegetarian meal at the monastery, followed by an optional visit to the culturally themed Ngong Ping Village.

Your tour concludes with a cable-car ride down the mountain.  This 25-minute journey offers breathtaking panoramic views of the South China Sea, the lush mountains and valleys and the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha statue.  From Tung Chung Village return to Kowloon or Hong Kong Island by coach.

Please note: This tour is NOT recommended for elderly or disabled passengers due to restricted access on and off the ferry boat and Ngong Ping cable car.

USD $99.12

Review by: pauljanderson	April 2012
Excellent Day! Guide was a local and was full of useful information and facts..English was almost perfect!...Coach was modern and comfortable...Stop at beach wasn't really necessary, however view was OK...Stop of Fishing Village and ride on local boats through Water Stilts House was excellent! Stop at Buddha was good, however was very short and no Photos allowed inside...For a Vegitirian lunch, this was good...some spare time after lunch to walk around monistery etc..Best Photos of Buddha are from here, from a distance...Cable Car wasn't working due to routine maintenance It would have been good if we were advised of this before going, cause this wast he main reason we booked this tour...We were only advised when we received tour voucher waiting for us at hotel with note stappled to back of it...kind of poor communication from operating touring Company..Tour East Hong Kong...However Great Day!

Review by: SOHEL K	April 2012
This was a great tour, especially the seeing the Giant Buddha and learning about the origins of Buddhism, very enthralling! Shame the cable car was under maintenance at the time but now that its back on I think it's definitely worth going on this tour! And the vegetarian buffet lunch was lovely!

Review by: Natasha M	April 2012
A good break from the city if you have 3+ days. I enjoyed the meal and hearing about the history of the island. It's pretty relaxing and comprehensive.

Review by: WILLIAM D W	April 2012
Great trip and on time

Review by: Anthony W	April 2012
This is a must tour when in Hong Kong The Vegetarian meal is a delight even for a steak lover like me Thanks

Review by: efigirl	March 2012
This tour could have been the highlight of our Hong Kong holiday, but unfortunately the weather was against us and the cable car was out of service. The ferry ride and bus trip along the coastline was very interesting and showed a quieter and less populated side of Hong Kong life. However, when we reached the top of the mountain a thick fog had set in. We were taken to the base of the Buddha and could see it towering in the mist above us but when we went down to the Monastery for our lunch we could see nothing of it, I couldn't even tell in which direction I should be looking or where the massive staircase started. Lunch at the Monastery was tasty and plentiful and I think everyone at our table enjoyed it. Our tour guide Ben was very informative and all said and done it was a good day out.

Review by: Lenore B H	March 2012
Tour guide and driver were excellent. Enjoyed the whole experience and worth the money. Well paced and interesting places to see and experience.

Review by: Rebekah D	March 2012
I would not recommend this tour to others. The day we went was cold and raining so the visit to the fishing village, which involved over an hour wandering around outdoors, was not very enjoyable and when we arrived at the giant buddah the mist was so bad that we couldn't see it, even from just a few meters away. The cable car journey was also cancelled because they were doing maintenance work on it. Overall it was a very unenjoyable day.

Review by: SAI GANESH P	March 2012
food was excellent and tour also

Review by: Elizabeth S	March 2012
An absolutely great day. What a lovely contrast to the busy city of Hong Kong. The quaint fishing village of Tai O is a must for everyone wanting to see the 'real' Hong Kong and the giant Buddha blew us away! Our guide was very good, interesting and very knowledgable and the vegetarian lunch was delicious. Only regretswere that the cable car was not working on the 3rd March and notices said it would not be working for two months. Check this out if you are considering this trip before April/May 2012! Also there was not enough time spent at the Buddha - tour advisors - please consider 'missing out' the beach visit as this was very much the opinion of those on our trip!! Otherwise a great day out and well worth the money.

Review by: LAI PUN JOYCE Y	March 2012
What can I say? GREATTT!! Highly recommended tour!

Review by: Kaye S	March 2012
wanted to see the giant buddah and sky lift_br/_ it was the worst tour...as there was no sky lift for the month of february and march and is always closed..then to top it off the fog was so low and thick that we never saw the buddah as well so in my mine we paid for nothing..we should have been told that the sky lift is closed then we would never have booked.....

Review by: Andre D	February 2012
Learned a lot on this tour. Our operator was very informative and answered all our questions. I thought the vegan meal was going to be a challenge but to my surprise I really enjoyed it.

Review by: Adrian C	February 2012
Very informative guide, nice lunch at monastory, stunning cable car ride. Highly recommend

Review by: Carmen G	January 2012
Beautiful island. The trip was a real pleasure.

Review by: Beverly P	January 2012
This was my second trip to see the Giant Buddha and I still got goosebumps from seeing him,excellent meal again at the monastary

Review by: Susan B	January 2012
Although we had to make our own way to the ferry terminal as we were staying on HK island at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the excursion was quite enjoyable. We did a lot and the group was not too big so plenty of room on the coach. Lunch was good even though it was vegetarian. Guide was a little difficult to understand due to his heavy accent, but overall he was interesting and informative. Weather was ok but at the Big Buddha it was misty, I understand now that pollution is a problem in Hong Kong and this means you don't often get a clear day. It was a nice break from the busy city and ideal if you are on an extended stay in HK.

Review by: Peter M	January 2012
A real cultural experience topped off by one of the longest cable car rides around. Pity about the haze.

Review by: Ramya K	January 2012
Beach stop at the beginning is not necessary, but the rest was fascinating. Well informed tour guides - interesting to see how the locals live in the fishing village. Should clarify that lunch was at a very commercial restaurant just outside the temple and not really a very authentic experience. Cable car trip was good. Would recommend it.

Review by: Anais M G	January 2012
The tour was great but the 360 cable car ride was terrible. They started doing 'regulation of the cables' during my ride down the mountain. This meant that the cable car started moving backwards, then forwards, then backwards and forwads again. In between these movements there were unexplained pauses just sitting there swinging in the wind. IT WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. The tour itself was great but the cable car ride was the worst thing I did all throughout this vacation.

Review by: Charlene D	January 2012
Great trip and tour guide.

Review by: Stephen J M	January 2012
A fun day. The guide was great. Bus trip fun. Lunch excellent. Cable car ride interesting.

Review by: L M Y	January 2012
Great day trip with lots of activity and sight-seeing. Well worth the money for the smooth and efficient arrangements. Lunch was delicious. The cable car ride requires a reasonable head for heights, some great views. The guide was knowledgable and pleasant. Excellent day in all ways.

Review by: Dave S	December 2011
Great tour. I've been to The Giant Buddha before, but the tour showed me a whole history of the Buddha that I wasn't even aware of. _br/_ I have to also highlight out tour guide. She was super! Great personality and great communication skills. A great tour from start to finish!

Review by: Yann Savoye	December 2011
Everything was really nice , the guide was very caring and professional. A must-do !

Review by: Margaret	December 2011
Overall good experience; guide a little unengaged, off smoking, could have given more precise directions about where to meet and visible at meeting place, etc. Would have been nice to have had more time at top of Giant Buddha mountain; felt a little rushed.

Review by: s a m	December 2011
Felt rushed and pressed for time throughout this trip and did not get to really see as much as wanted. It was not very relaxing. Kept losing the Tour guide as he dashed off so fast. We got lost a few times. He even left within a flash as one of us had to visit the toilet. I came out to find they had all been taken to the coach and we had no idea where to go to get there or where he was gone? Very tense stuff. This is after mentioning we had to have a toilet break and it was agreed! The trip included some interesting sights along with a breathtaking Cable car ride. - Long too! But nobody was prepared for the very lengthy tiring wait at the beginning just to catch it and it was a crowded and agonising challenge to the legs when tired. Tour Guide Too rushy for our liking, if elderly and there were elderly there (Who were unable to keep up too) we would not recommend. We only just kept up and we are not elderly. Tasty meal, although not a great relaxation either. Was left lost at the Fishing village and he just kept disappearing. Directions poor. But found the coach park there too. Not worth it really. Its easier to visit on your own. Transports good once you get to know it and this way you could take the time thats needed to fully enjoy the trip.

Review by: kewoods	December 2011
Great day trip, the buddha was amazing and the vegetarian lunch was delicious. would recomend this tour to anyone.

Review by: Brendon Choke	December 2011
We fell in love with Lantau. The Giant Buddha area was too commmerciliased and crowded though. A highly recommended trip out of the crowds in Hong Kong.

Review by: Sekoman	December 2011
A great day with an excellent tour guide. The fishing village was a real eye opener and the local treats available for sale were tastier than they looked. Plenty of interesting vegetarian food provided for lunch. Word of advice - it can be wind swept at the Buddha so pack a scarf or jacket. A great day had by all.

Review by: David D-H	December 2011
Superb trip, very well organised and a wonderful tour guide (Diane).The beach was possibly unnecessary, but the fishing village, Buddha, Monastery lunch and cable car were definitely well worth doing. I am going to do it again next year when I return.

Review by: Wicki A	December 2011
Very beautiful trip - a must for Hong Kong visitors

Review by: Gillian F	December 2011
This is a really good tour. The fishing village and the Giant Buddha were interesting and the vegetarian lunch delicious. The cable car ride was awesome with spectacular views of the island. Overall the day was well planned and the guide friendly and helpful.

Review by: Catherine C	December 2011
Excellent tour, worth every penny! The tour guide was very knowledgable, informative and helpful. The tour included the ferry to Lantau, a visit to the beach, sampan ride, visit to the village, visit to the Buddha and a very nice lunch followed by a magnificent ride on the cable cars.......I would highly recomend

Review by: colinriley	November 2011
Worth the money_br/_ Had a good day out.

Review by: steven m	November 2011
Buddha is amazing, and lunch in monastery was really good. Food is cooked by monks and very nice but vegetarian only. Cable car to final pickup is also stunning as you go well above airport with planes well below you. Island tour was fun and a boat trip around small fishing town was nice

Review by: LIGIA M	November 2011
very nice day trip

Review by: Gary A	November 2011
This tour again rates as a 'must do' when in Hong Kong, added bonus of 'boat trip' in Tai O gave much better insight into lifestyle and sad way it is disappearing, cable car ride awesome, even without a floor - lol - Ryan was an excellent guide

Review by: Marie G, Australia	July 2010
Everything about our day tour was excellent. The guide was brilliant- Queen D. I didn't ask how to spell her name. She was fantastic with all her knowledge. Even though the day was overcast and at times very wet we were so lucky to see everything at it's very best. Just loved the fishing village. Monastry food to die for.The shops where we got on at the cable car were lovely and the cable car so great. Not one complaint from this day and I would recommend it above all other tours I did. The Buddha is just magnificent, inside and out. I feel priveleged to have had this experiance. Thankyou.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	June 2010
Guide Amazingly Knowledgeable, Good English, Punctual Tour Amazing Views, Buddha little overcast due to cloud but still able to see, great history, take a camera!

Review by: Robyn M, Australia	June 2010
This tour was a great experience. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable. It was paced well and there was enough time to enjoy the atmosphere of each place without being too rushed. The monastery visit and lunch were fantastic. It was also nice to visit the Tai O fishing village, which was more authentic and less touristy than others. This was my favourite tour in Hong Kong - despite it being a miserable wet day when the cable car wasn't working. Go when it's operating and sunny and you'll have a really fantastic day!

Review by: Lisa H, United Kingdom	June 2010
Fantastic trip. Our guide Eddie was informative, fun and approachable. The buddah was amazing, fishing village incredibly interesting - never experienced anything like it, monastery beautiful and lunch was fab. Cable car had amazing views. A great way to see another side of Hong Kong away from the hustle and bustle!

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	June 2010
A great day out. Recommend it to anyone. Highlights were the traditional fishing village, the budha and the cable car ride. Eddie was a fantastic tour guide. He can show us around Hong Kong anytime.

Review by: Trevor William B, Australia	June 2010
This is a mut do tour, the bus take you right up to the Buddia saving all the steps if you have trouble with steps.

Review by: Gaby N, Netherlands	May 2010
nice trip, you'll see a lot of different things

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	May 2010
Good value, great guide, interesting itinary, on time, highly recommended.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	April 2010
Amazing experience

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	April 2010
It was a great tour. Our guide was friendly and informative. Everything was organised very well. The vegetarian lunch was delicious. The cable car ride was spectacular. It is very high and a very long ride. It was a really wonderful day out.

Review by: Gail C, United States of America	April 2010
Excellent tour guide who made the trip both interesting and fun for all participants. He was knowledgable, passionate and took the time to explain any and all questions. The tour was prompt, followed the schedule and provided time for touring a bit on own. The drive to the Buddha was spectacular but the ride on the cable car was worth the price alone! Very good lunch and the entire trip beyond my expectations. Highly recommended!

Review by: Anne S, Australia	April 2010
We had a great guide. The whole day was fun, informative and fascinating.