Travelling across most of Hong Kong in a day, we will use some of the most exclusive transport to get to the most breath-taking and memorable sights in Hong Kong, Kowloon and Lantau Island. I am one of ToursByLocals’ top-rated and award winning private tour guides.
Please note that this tour is completely bespoke and below is a sample of what we can do during your visit in Hong Kong.
While your ship is in port, make the most of your visit by taking a private car tour around Hong Kong with your very own tour guide. We take all the stress out of your visit with our door-to-door service, collecting you from and returning you to your cruise ship terminal.
As well as offering comfort and convenience, we are one of the few tour companies licensed to access the restricted access zone of Lantau Island by car. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides all speak excellent English and will ensure you make the most of your time in Hong Kong.
We have two car iteneraries. The first is a classic Hong Kong Highlights tour taking in several better-known destinations. We often recommend this to first time visitors as it takes in many of Hong Kong’s best known and most iconic spots.
However, if you would prefer to go further off the beaten track to see another side of Hong Kong, we would recommend our Explore the New Territories tour. There are plenty of fascinating spots that are difficult to access by public transport and also tend to be a little less crowded.
Listed below are some of the options we could include in your itinerary depending on your interests and time constraints. Your itinerary is completely flexible and can be tailored to suit your needs. If you have a destination in mind that is not listed, please enquire and we will accommodate your request if possible.
Hong Kong Island:
Kowloon:
Lantau Island:
Once inhabited by pirates, a must-stop visit is Victoria Peak. Immerse yourself in the panoramic view of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, and get close to some of the most expensive real-estate in the world – nothing sets the density, money and scale of the city betterWe will spend time ensuring you get the perfect photographs, understand the different areas of Hong Kong and their significance, and absorb the breathtaking views that lie beneath you.
We can also pay a visit to Aberdeen Harbour, thought to be the fragrant harbour’s namesake due to the early trade in sandalwood. It is a perfect place to see the contrast between fishermen’s boat houses and the luxurious yachts in Aberdeen Marina on a sampan ride.
Stanley Market
One must-do trip for visitors to Hong Kong is a shopping trip to Stanley market, which is famous for fashion, Chinese crafts and paintings. You can pick up souvenirs, gifts for family back home and enjoy a stroll around this quiet, beachside suburb of Hong Kong. Enjoy sweeping sea views as you travel over the south of the Island. It is remarkable to see how quickly the bustling city streets give way to luxury apartment blocks and villas with vistas over the South China Sea as we make our way to one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest areas.
Hong Kong is famously a shoppers’ paradise. Mongkok’s Markets are varied, interesting and provide a stark shopping contrast to the designer boutiques and glossy malls found nearby in Tsim Tsa Shui. The bird garden is where locals go to buy pet birds, cages and food. Kids love seeing all the live bird food and brightly plumed songbirds. Next door is the flower market, where the streets are crammed with vibrant scented blooms. Not far away is the goldfish market with all manor of tropical fish, terrapins and other small creatures. Lastly, there is the Ladies Market is a one-stop shopping haven for cheap and cheerful souvenirs – a spot of friendly haggling is warmly encouraged.
We can take a visit to Wong Tai Sin Temple, which underlines the significance of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism to Hong Kong’s culture. As a contrast, we will also visit the peaceful the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens. They represent different strands of religion but have equal importance in the hearts, minds and belief systems of the people of Hong Kong.
As one of the only tour companies licensed to access the restricted access zone of Lantau Island, a car tour with Hong Kong Greeters opens the door to this fascinating part of Hong Kong. Lantau is known as Hong Kong’s green lung, and you can imagine stepping back in time 50 years when you visit.
We will visit the Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha statue, where we will help explain the importance of Buddhism and how it is represented in the hearts, minds and belief system of the people of Hong Kong. We will also be walking the 268 steps up to the Tian Tan Big Buddha, which was erected in 1993, rises 34 metres into the air and faces north, to look over the people of China. It is a magnificent statue and pilgrims flock to it from across Asia.
A visit to Lantau Island can also incorporate a visit to the traditional fishing village of Tai O, which features stilt houses inhabited by fishermen and their families. This relaxing village is one of the best-preserved places on Lantau, indeed the whole of Hong Kong, largely owing to the efforts of the local community and it is a place to just really slow down.
*A visit to the Tsz Shan Monastery must be booked at least four weeks in advance.
Take a small boat ride into the Geopark, visit the abandoned island of Yim Tin Tsai, and then cross the tombolo over pineapple bun shaped rocks on Sharp Island. We have to get the timing right, so we don’t get stranded by the tide! This area will include stunning scenery, abandoned villages, cultural heritage and unique rock formations.
A treasure trove of local food, fishing and scenery. Visit the stunning Tsz Shan Monastery* with its gigantic (70m) Guan Yin statue, and then take a small boat ride to the floating fish farms in the village of Sam Mun Tsai. Here you can try fishing, or if you would like to sample some food from the local fishermen, join a them for a bowl of the tastiest traditionally made fishball noodles from a tiny restaurant or village home. Tai Po is also home to one of the best wet markets in Hong Kong, with the full variety of fresh meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and dried goods galore to explore.
A hidden nature oasis away from the city on the slopes of Hong Kong’s highest peak. There are several kilometres of walking trails, beautiful gardens and and educational facilities promoting conservation and sustainability.
Visit one of the few remaining Chinese walled villages. This one is still inhabited by members of the Tsang family.
This religious monument is not officially recognised by the tourist board and can often be missed when trying to find it! There are in fact sixteen thousand Buddhas located at this steep hillside monastery, it is well worth the trek to see them all.
You will see plenty of native Macaque monkeys. . . but never feed them!
Travel to the top of Jat’s incline in East Kowloon to enjoy a stunning panoramic view of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour, Lei Yue Mun and Kai Tak, the former Hong Kong International Airport, as well as part of the Kowloon Peninsula.
If you want to find something original and unique to take home, this place is a treasure trove of furniture, ceramics, brassware and other delights. This family run shop is a hidden gem tucked away in sleepy Kam Tin.
Established back in 1938, this is Hong Kong’s first and now sadly last remaining ceramics factory. Craftsmen continue to hand-paint items on site. From antique designs dating back to the 1960’s made for the Hotel California to hand-painted tea sets. The choices are endless.
Hong Kong’s food culture is vibrant and varied, but sometimes the choice of what’s on offer can be a little overwhelming. Hong Kong Greeters can help you navigate the highlights of Cantonese cuisine, which form the cornerstone of dishes available at restaurants, homes and street-side cheap-eat vendors. Visiting Hong Kong and enjoying some of the foodie delights with a knowledgeable guide will enable you to sample foods that you cannot find anywhere else.
A food tour with Hong Kong Greeters will give you the opportunity to sample the varied cuisines available, including noodles, egg waffles, snake soup, dim sum and much, much more! We know that street food can sometimes be a little daunting, so a food tour gives you the opportunity to try foods and visit restaurants and cafes that have been tested out by the Hong Kong Greeters team.
Eating Cantonese food with one of our expert guides will help you not only try new dishes, but also understand more about how important food is to Hong Kong’s culture. There are few places in the world with such a vibrant dining scene, and a tour with Hong Kong Greeters gives you the opportunity to eat like a local, discover hidden away foodie locations and understand more about the history of the food scene in the city.
We look forward to eating with you!
One of our favourite things to do is to discover a neighbourhood through its food! You can delve into the vibrant and busy district of Sham Shui Po, which is famous for being packed with businesses selling everything from electronics to fabrics, from toys to fashion and much more besides. Let our guides show you the highlights of both the shopping opportunities and the food, including cheung fan (rice noodle rolls), fresh coconut juice and even Michelin starred dim sum. And for those who really want to try something adventurous, let us take you to a snake soup cafe – it is surprisingly delicious! Some of the other highlights are a visit to the local wet market and Mei Ho House Public Housing Museum.
Alternatively, we can incorporate a shopping trip to the busy markets of Mong Kok such as the flower, bird and goldfish streets, whilst sampling a delicious pineapple bun, or take a pause to devour some dim sum washed down with milk tea. Other unmissable highlights include the famous Cantonese egg tarts, fishballs, egg waffles, which are available from street-side vendors, and if you are feeling brave, you can even dig into some stinky tofu – it has the name for a reason!
The area of Wan Chai, on Hong Kong Island, is rapidly changing. New apartment blocks are appearing rapidly, and the area is gentrifying. Although traditional businesses are being pushed out by new international restaurants and cafes, it is still a fascinating area to explore both for shopping, culture and food. Our guides will take you to discover the ubiquitous street food – fish balls and egg waffles, plus wonton noodles, roasted meats and century egg. And even though not strictly Cantonese, a visit to Hong Kong would not be complete without sampling Xiao Long Bao (traditional steam buns originating in Shanghai). There are some other intriguing highlights thrown into this tour which includes such as the fantastic Noon Day Gun and the Canal Street Flyover villain-hitting ceremony.
Hong Kong is firmly on the world travellers’ map as a foodie destination, with every imaginable cuisine available in the city that never sleeps. To keep up with the demand from health-conscious tourists and residents of the city who are looking for vegetarian and vegan food options while they explore the city, we have created a private vegetarian food tour, several lesser-known historical and foodie destinations.
Hong Kong comes alive after 6pm – let me show you how and let’s have fun.
I always want you to get the most from Hong Kong and so will adapt the tour to suit you. There is something special about Hong Kong in the dark… my particular favourites are taking the Star Ferry and seeing the famous skyline shining bright (get your camera ready!)
However, there is so much more to see… we can visit the markets for their atmosphere, neon signage and bargains; put a curse on an enemy(!); test our luck on a race at the Happy Valley Race course*; have a very special foot massage; eat street food like a local; visit one of the famous and delicious novelty cafés; put a curse on your enemies; absorb the atmosphere whilst travelling along the longest outdoor escalator; have your fortune told and finish off by having a drink in an exclusive rooftop bar.
My evening tours are tailor-made, so if you have any specific wishes, it can absolutely be sorted for you.
