Lantau Private Tour: Big Buddha, Tai O & Pink Dolphins

Big Buddha and monastery, a boat ride through Tai O's stilt houses, dolphins on the Pearl River, and a hidden beach

A private full-day driving tour of Lantau from Hong Kong, led by an English-speaking guide, that moves between the island's Buddhist monuments, a 500-year-old fishing village, and the water. You visit Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, walk the Wisdom Path through forest, spend time in Tai O exploring stilt houses and local temples by foot and boat, search for pink dolphins from the water, and see the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge from close range before ending at a quiet local beach.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Big Buddha1h · entry included
2. Po Lin Monastery20m · entry included
3. Wisdom Path30m · entry included
4. Hong Kong Disneylandpassing by

Full day tour of Lantau Island

• Drive to Big Buddha temple
• Visit Po Lin Monastery
• Walk Wisdom Path in forest
• Explore Tai O fishing village
• Boat ride to see stilt houses
• Search for pink dolphins at sea
• View Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge
• Visit Guan Yin temple in valley
• Explore local government flats and markets
• Stop at Lantau town for seafood and beer
• Drive past Hong Kong Disneyland resort
• Relax at hidden local beach

The experience

The day starts at Big Buddha, where your guide drives you through restricted roads on Lantau to reach the temple next to the monument itself. Po Lin Monastery sits adjacent, and your guide explains Buddhist concepts as you move through it. A short walk into the forest behind the Buddha takes you to Wisdom Path, where wooden poles carved with calligraphy are arranged in an eternity pattern. Your guide explains the Buddhist meanings and the natural geography of mountainous Hong Kong that surrounds them.

Tai O is where the tour shifts from monuments to lived experience. This 500-year-old fishing village runs on waterways and stilt houses, and you'll spend longer here than at other stops. You walk through the village, visit local temples, try different local snacks at the markets, and talk to fishermen about how they live on shore. Then you board a boat and head out into open water to look for pink dolphins unique to Hong Kong and to see the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (one of the longest over-sea bridges in the world) from the water itself.

The afternoon includes stops at Guan Yin temple in the Keung Shan valley, built in 1910 and remodeled after a shrine at Beijing's summer palace, with views over the valley and out to sea. You'll also explore a local government housing estate to see how everyday Hong Kong residents live, visit the markets and shops there, and taste local snacks. A stop in Mui Wo, one of Lantau's biggest towns, lets you see the mix of local and expat life. A beer stop here is part of the tour, and your guide talks about Hong Kong's development and infrastructure. You'll drive past Hong Kong Disneyland resort (entry is not included) to see the hotels and grounds, then finish at one of Hong Kong's longest and most hidden beaches, a local expat hangout spot for a final look at the island's quieter side.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.
• bottled water.
• snacks throughout the day.
• lunch.
• alcoholic beverages.
• hotel or meeting point pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:00

Book up to9h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by This Is Asia Private Tours

Is this one for you?The tour runs nine hours with multiple stops and a boat ride, so it suits travelers with a full day free and moderate fitness for walking through villages and forest paths. The pace is set by the driver and guide, not by you, so it works best if you're comfortable following a fixed itinerary and spending time at each stop as planned.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

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.

What is Tai O and why do we spend so much time there?

Tai O is a 500-year-old fishing village on Lantau, one of the remaining most iconic running villages in Asia, built on waterways with stilt houses where fishermen still live. The tour spends longer here than at other stops so you can walk through the village, visit local temples, try snacks at the markets, and take a boat ride out into the open water to see how the village connects to the Pearl River and the wider port of Southern China.

Will we actually see pink dolphins on this tour?

The boat ride from Tai O heads out into open water to search for pink dolphins unique to Hong Kong. They are special to the region, but sightings depend on the day and water conditions. The tour is built around the chance to look for them, not a guarantee.

What is the Wisdom Path and how long is the walk there?

Wisdom Path is a short walk into the forest behind Big Buddha where wooden poles carved with calligraphy are laid out in an eternity pattern. Your guide explains the Buddhist meanings behind the carvings and points out the natural beauty of the mountainous landscape around you.

How much of the day involves being on the water?

The boat ride from Tai O is the main water portion of the tour. You'll board a boat to explore the stilt houses and waterways of the village up close, then head out into open water to search for pink dolphins and see the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge from the water.