A trip to Hong Kong wouldn’t be complete without visiting Lamma Island. Sure, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island have a lot to offer, but there’s something about catching a local ferry to one of the smaller surrounding islands that just completes the authentic Hong Kong experience.
So you want to hop over to Lamma Island, but you’re not sure what to actually do there, at least that’s the position I found myself in. And the most recommended hike was the family trail.
At first I was a little unsure about hiking the family trail, I wasn’t sure it would be adventurous enough for me. But after doing a bit of research, I concluded that it was probably the best way to see what the island had to offer, and I reckon I was right.
If you’d rather take a look at my walk-through vlog of Lamma Island’s Family Trail, watch it below. I apologise in advance for the quality of this vlog! It was raining so I had to use my GoPro Hero 4 without a stabiliser!
It’s a fairly easy-going hike
Everything I’d read online referred to the Family Trail as a hike, so I was expecting a lot of hills, uneven paths, and a bit of a challenge. But the family trail was actually quite easy-going, I suppose that’s why it’s suitable for families.
Sure, there were a few slopes, but nothing too strenuous, and whilst some of the path was a little uneven, with slippy gravel (when I went, it was pouring with rain, bad move I know), the walk was generally fairly laid back.
It’s not entirely clear where the trail starts
Everything I read online said that the family trail was really clearly signposted. And it was, once you were on the family trail. But when you first dock in Yung Shue Wan, there aren’t many signs until you get past the first few shops. My advice here is follow the crowds, other people always seem to know where they’re going.
There’s lots to see on the way
We started off in Yung Shu Wan, so we got to explore the local shops before we started the walk. I probably wouldn’t have bothered with the shops, but I was dressed in shorts and a little top, and the rain had already soaked me through, so I had to try and find an umbrella.
Then once you get onto the family trail, you’ll pass by local houses, massive banana trees, and you’ll also reach Hung Shing Yeh beach after about 20 minutes.
Had it not been such awful weather when I went, we would have spent much longer at the beach and that would have broken up the walk a bit more.
Spend some time at the beach
If the weather is good when you go, make sure you spend some time at the beach. There are plenty of bars and cafes around it, there’s a changing room, and even a lifeguard, so it’s perfectly safe to swim, or just relax on the sand if you prefer.
There are also rocks that are quite fun to climb, and you’ll probably find some crabs in the rock pools too.
Look out for wildlife
The amount of butterflies flying around the island was amazing. I’ve never seen so many different butterflies of so many different colours (if you watch the video at the top of this post you’ll see my attempt to capture them on camera).
If you stray from the family trail, you’re also bound to see some pretty massive spiders. I’m from England, so I’m definitely not used to spiders that are any bigger than a coin, so as you can imagine, I tried to steer clear of spiders as best I could.
Check out Lo So Shing Beach
Lo So Shing Beach was something that I hadn’t read about anywhere online, in fact I’d never heard of it before. The only way I found this beach was by taking a detour to some public toilets a short while after Hung Shing Yeh Beach.
Just outside of the toilets there was a sign that pointed to the beach, and we decided to stray from the path to follow it.
The path to get to this beach was admittedly a bit more wild than the rest of the Family Trail, but it was only a five minute walk or so from the toilets, and it was definitely worth a visit.
The beach was just as beautiful as Hung Shing Yeh beach, and I’d say I actually preferred it here. There were plenty of rocks, so we spent a while climbing the rocks and checking out the rock pools.
For those visiting on a sunny day (which is probably most people), there’s also a viewing deck, where you can sit and enjoy a drink whilst looking out to sea.
Don’t miss the Kamikaze Caves
The island has a few different caves, which have been named the Kamikaze Caves, because they were built by occupying Japanese forces. We almost walked straight past one that was just before Sok Kwu Wan.
The cave we went into stretched quite a way back, and it was definitely interesting to venture into. There weren’t as many spiders as I’d thought there’d be (in fact I didn’t see any), and there were offerings that people had left in the cave.
Stop at Tin Hau Temple
Before you reach Sok Kwu Wan, you’ll pass by Tin Hau temple, a temple dedicated to the Goddess of the sea, and it’s worth stopping at. You can admire the building, or light some incense.
The design of the temple is often seen as symbolic of the east-meets-west culture of Hong Kong and Lamma Island. Whilst temples typically have an eastern design, you might notice the lions in front of the temple’s entrance have a more western design.
There are loads of restaurants in Sok Kwu Wan…unless you’re vegan or vegetarian
I had read a lot about how amazing the restaurants on Lamma Island were, especially in Sok Kwu Wan, so I was hoping to grab a bite to eat after we’d finished the family trail.
But being vegan, I had no chance.
All of the restaurants were seafood restaurants, with the fish and sea creatures swimming in tanks beside the restaurants’ tables – you can’t get fresher than that I suppose.
So if you’re a fan of seafood, you’re in for a treat, but if, like me, you’d rather steer clear of animal products, I’d suggest bringing a picnic, or at least a few snacks.
Ferries aren’t quite as regular from Sok Kwu Wan
Ferries from Yung Shue Wan are fairly regular, but from Sok Kwu Wan it’s a different story. Try to time your hike so that you’re not waiting around in Sok Kwu Wan. We ended up waiting around an hour and a half.
However, if you’re a fish eater you could always pass the time with a fresh meal. And if you have kids, there’s a play park near the ferry docks.
Make sure you get the right ferry back!
There are ferries to central and ferries to Aberdeen, so you want to make sure you get on the ferry, or you’ll end up spending a lot on the MTR.
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.