Our favourite Hong Kong tours and excursions

Snaking along the mountainous ridge of Hong Kong Island, the Dragon’s Back Trail was once named the best urban hike in Asia by Time Magazine — and it’s not hard to see why.  

Just minutes from one of the densest concentrations of skyscrapers in the world, this hiking path winds through shady bamboo groves, lush woodland filled with birdsong and hills covered in wild azaleas and rose myrtle. The views are simply unbeatable, taking in Clear Water Bay and islands in the eastern sea approaches to Hong Kong, as well as the Stanley Peninsula and the South China Sea to the west. It can be a tough hike, but so incredibly wild and rewarding — it’s easy to forget you’re in Hong Kong at all. Conclude by descending to the village of Shek O, where a dip in the sea and an alfresco seafood lunch make the perfect end to the hike.

Just a 35-minute ferry from Hong Kong Island, Cheung Chau might as well be on a different planet for all the resemblance it bears to its famous neighbour. 

For a start, no cars are allowed on the island — a fact that contributes to the laid-back, peaceful vibe as you trek to the windsurfers’ paradise Tung Wan Beach, visit 3,000-year-old rock carvings, explore an old pirate’s cave hideout and take a sampan boat ride to an old fishing community where the locals still live on their boats. Your guide will let you in on some local history and culture as you dodge bicycles, visit 18th century Pak Tai Temple, and sample some of Cheung Chau’s famous street food. The giant fish balls and mango-filled mochi are particular specialities.

Where better to begin a tour of Hong Kong Island than its highest point? 

Ride the funicular tram to the top of Victoria Peak for phenomenal views of the whole caboodle: skyscrapers, Victoria Harbour, Kowloon and even the hills of the New Territories in the distance. Then, head down to the opposite side of the island to Aberdeen Fishing Village, where the locals still sleep on junk boats and live off the sea. Board a sampan boat to putter about on the water (look out for Jumbo Kingdom — one of the biggest floating restaurants in the world), then hop along the coast by car to Repulse Bay, with its golden sands, fabulous views and homes for the ultra-wealthy. Finally, head back into the heart of the city and board the Star Ferry for one of the most iconic experiences in Hong Kong: a cruise between the two skylines across Victoria Harbour.

Hong Kong may be best-known for its skyscrapers, but remnants of the old city still cling on between the glass and steel — and we know where to find them.  

Start your half-day guided tour at the Chi Lin Nunnery, a huge wooden temple built in Tang Dynasty style. Wander the paths of Nan Lian Garden, winding between sculpted shrubs, trees, multi-level waterfalls and waterwheels against a dramatic backdrop of skyscrapers. Then, head into Mong Kok: formerly the preserve of gangsters and massage parlours; now one of Hong Kong’s most characterful districts. Here, food booths hawking fish balls and fried tofu line roads with colourful nicknames such as street bird garden, goldfish street, flower market road and even photocopy street. Get your HK dollars ready and prepare to haggle!
 

From eggette waffles to stinky tofu and from curry fish balls to charcoal-cooked chestnuts, Hong Kong’s street-food scene is stonking.  

This tour will give you an introduction to the city’s culinary heritage, starting with the seafood vendors, herbal medicines and ginseng shops of West Hong Kong, dipping into the oldest temple in the city, then gliding down the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator to catch the iconic Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour. At every turn you’ll be sampling siu mai fish parcels or soy-braised octopus, slurping imitation shark fin soup or sipping sweet milk tea — always skipping the tourist traps in favour of time-honoured local haunts.