By air
Hong Kong International (HKG), then ~30 min by ferry from Central
East Asia · Hong Kong
Lamma Island, Hong Kong
A car-free island of fishing villages
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to December — clear and mild
Don't miss
Yung Shue Wan
Sok Kwu Wan
Hung Shing Yeh beach
The Kamikaze Grotto
Things to do
The Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan walk
Seafood lunches
Beach time
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Exploringlife · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Walking shoes, swimwear
A quieter corner
Lo So Shing beach, quiet on weekdays
Questions travellers ask
How long is the ferry to Lamma Island?
About 30 minutes from Central.
Is there a good walk on Lamma Island?
Yes: walk from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan, then stay for seafood by the harbour.
Where can I find a quiet beach on Lamma?
Lo So Shing beach, which is quiet on weekdays.
Are there cars on Lamma Island?
No, it's a car-free island, so bring walking shoes, and swimwear for the beaches.
About Lamma Island
- Island
Where it is
Lamma is the third-largest island in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, lying south-west of Hong Kong Island and reached by ferry from Central and Aberdeen to its two villages, Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.
History
Archaeologists have found traces of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement on Lamma, and for centuries its bays held small fishing villages. During the Second World War Japanese forces cut caves into the shore at Sok Kwu Wan to hide speedboats, and from the late 20th century the car-free island drew new residents from across Hong Kong.
People
Lamma's villagers speak Cantonese, and the island's long-settled fishing families live alongside newcomers from Hong Kong and overseas who came for its quiet, car-free lanes. Seafood restaurants line the bay at Sok Kwu Wan, and temples to Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea, stand in both villages.
Known for
- The walk from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan
- Seafood restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan
- Hung Shing Yeh beach
- The Kamikaze Grotto
- Car-free village lanes
Did you know?
Sham Wan, a sheltered bay on Lamma's south coast, is the only beach in Hong Kong where green turtles are known to nest, and it is protected as a restricted area during the nesting season.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.