Lantau Island Private Tour: Big Buddha, Tai O & Cable Car

See Lantau without navigating public transport or crowds

A private full-day tour of Lantau Island with an English-speaking guide, hotel or airport pickup, and skip-the-line access to Ngong Ping 360 cable car. You ride the 24-minute cable car with views of the airport and island, tour Po Lin Monastery and walk 268 steps to the Big Buddha, then explore Tai O fishing village on foot and by boat, with an optional boat ride to spot pink dolphins.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ngong Ping 3601h · entry included
2. Po Lin Monastery1h · entry included
3. Big Buddha1h · entry included
4. Tai O30m

Explore Lantau Island highlights

• Ride Ngong Ping cable car
• Visit Qing Dynasty style village
• Tour Po Lin Monastery
• Climb 268 steps to Big Buddha
• Explore Tai O fishing village
• Take boat ride around stilted village
• Spot pink dolphins from boat
• Optional beachside alfresco dining

The experience

What makes this tour work is the private vehicle and guide handling the route so you skip the usual transfers between cable car, monastery and village. You get picked up from your hotel, cruise ship or airport in a private car, then ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car with guaranteed skip-the-line entry: a 24-minute ascent with views across Lantau and Hong Kong International Airport. The cable car deposits you at the monastery complex, where your guide walks you through Po Lin Monastery before you climb the 268 steps to the Big Buddha, the largest seated bronze Buddha in East Asia.

From there the day shifts to Tai O, a stilted fishing village where residents still live in traditional houses built over water. You walk through the village, sample local snacks, and take a small boat ride around the stilted structures. An optional upgrade adds a separate private boat to search for pink dolphins and view the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge from the water. The full day runs 6 to 7 hours, and the private car means no waiting for public transport between stops or managing luggage on ferries.

Lantau is known as Hong Kong's green lung. Most of the island remains untouched and accessible only by public transport, which is why the private vehicle and guide make the difference. You move at your own pace through the highlights without the coordination that comes with shared tours or the confusion of figuring out which ferry or bus connects one stop to the next.

What’s included

• Licensed English-speaking guide.
• private vehicle and driver.
• hotel, cruise ship or airport pickup and return.
• skip-the-line admission to Ngong Ping 360 cable car.
• access to Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha.
• boat ride around Tai O fishing village.

Options for this experience

3 options

Premium car package (6 people)Up to 6 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · 6 departure times: the first at 08:15, the last at 10:00NP360 cable car, Crystal Cabin: The package includes Ngong Ping cable car tickets for a shared Crystal Cabin (glass floor, one-way). Premium: A premium private car tour with a driver and English-speaking guide. Length: 7 hours, a 6-7 hour trip to Lantau Island. Premium Mercedes V-Class: A premium Mercedes V-Class package with a driver. Exclusive permission to drive on Lantau Island's restricted roads. Tai O boat trip: A roughly 20-minute small boat ride through Tai O on a shared boat. Pickup is included.

Executive car package (5 people)Up to 5 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · 6 departure times: the first at 08:15, the last at 10:00NP360 cable car, Standard Cabin: The package includes Ngong Ping cable car tickets for a shared Standard Cabin (one-way). Executive private tour: A private car tour of Lantau Island with a private guide and driver, so there's no need for public transport and you get door-to-door service. Length: 7 hours, a 6-7 hour trip to Lantau Island. Executive Toyota Alphard: An Executive Toyota Alphard with a driver. Exclusive permission to drive on Lantau Island's restricted roads. Tai O boat trip: A roughly 20-minute small boat ride in Tai O on a shared boat. Pickup is included.

VIP package (6 people)Guide in 5 languages · 6 departure times: the first at 08:15, the last at 10:00NP360 Crystal PLUS Cable-car: Entirely private, fully glass cabin, 24-minute ride on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. VIP private tour: Entirely private car tour of Lantau with an English-speaking native guide. Length: 7 hours. Enjoy a relaxed visit to the hidden gem of Tai O fishing village, plus the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Mercedes V-Class: Luxury Mercedes V-Class with room for 6 guests. Exclusive permission to drive on Lantau Island's restricted roads. Private Tai O dolphin boat: A fully private dolphin trip to (hopefully) spot Chinese pink dolphins, lasting 20 minutes. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:15, the last at 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (under 13): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hong Kong Greeters Private Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the Premium or Executive car package if your group is up to five or six people and wants to share the cost of a private vehicle. Pick the VIP package for the same group size if you prefer a higher-end car and want the option to add a private boat for dolphin spotting without booking a separate excursion.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How does the cable car ride work on this tour?

Ngong Ping 360 is a 24-minute aerial cable car that climbs from the base station to the monastery complex at the top of Lantau. Your tour includes skip-the-line admission, so you board without waiting in the queue at the station. The ride itself offers views across the island and toward Hong Kong International Airport. An upgrade option lets you ride in a private Crystal+ cabin instead of the standard car.

What is Tai O and what do you do there?

Tai O is a traditional fishing village built on stilts over the water, one of Hong Kong's oldest settlements. You walk through the village to meet residents, try local snacks, and take a small boat ride around the stilted houses. An optional private boat upgrade adds a dolphin-spotting trip and a view of the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge from the water.

Is the Big Buddha climb difficult?

The Big Buddha sits at the top of Po Lin Monastery and requires climbing 268 steps to reach it. The tour is suitable for travelers with at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Infant strollers are available on request if you notify the operator at booking, and the tour is wheelchair accessible, though the Buddha itself involves stairs.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a licensed English-speaking guide, private vehicle and driver, hotel or airport pickup and return, and skip-the-line admission to Ngong Ping 360 cable car. Food and drinks are not included, though you'll have time to purchase local snacks in Tai O. Optional upgrades add a private Crystal+ cable car cabin and a private boat for dolphin spotting.

How long does the full tour take?

The tour runs 6 to 7 hours from pickup to return. The cable car ride itself takes 24 minutes each way, and the rest of the time covers the monastery, Big Buddha, Tai O village, and boat rides, plus travel between stops in your private vehicle.