Route One: Hong Kong Walking Tour

Our main walking tour of Hong Kong is the perfect introduction to the city. We’ve designed it to take in the three faces of the city: traditional, modern and natural. Along the way, of course, you’ll have a chance to sample some authentic Hong Kong food.

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and take you to the start of the tour. The tour starts right in the heart of Central where you’ll get a good close look at the famous skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and relive some of the city’s most historic events (the handover to China, the Japanese invasion in WWII etc). You’ll then head to Hong Kong Park for a welcome bit of greenery and fresh air.

After a refreshing interlude in the park, you’ll board the Peak Tram for the famous journey up to the lookout on Victoria Peak where you’ll get to enjoy one of the world’s most famous views: the incredible panorama of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. This is a good chance to orient yourself to the layout of Hong Kong, and your guide will point out all the important sites. By now you might be ready for a quick lunch in one of The Peak's many coffee shop and cafe choices.

You'll then board the tram and head down to Lower Albert Road where you will alight and make your way toward Wyndham Street, where your guide can point out other dining options based on your personal tastes and on seating availability. Continue walking through one of Hong Kong's great open-air food markets. If you've never tried mangosteens, durian, or rambutans, this is your chance!

You will walk along Hollywood Road to Man Mo Temple, an incense-filled world unto its own — if you’ve never been inside a Chinese temple, this is a great introduction to Chinese religions. Then you’ll duck into the Cat Street Market.

After leaving the market, you’ll walk down into the Bonham Strand area to check out the fascinating herbal apothecaries and dried seafood shops. This is Hong Kong at its most traditional, and the street scenes here will probably fulfill your image of Old Hong Kong. From here, you’ll take one of Hong Kong’s famous trams for the trip back to Central and onward to your hotel.

Of course, your guide will be an expert on Hong Kong, and he/she will be happy to adapt to your whims and interests at a moment’s notice. And if you get tired of walking, you can always take an air-conditioned taxi or public transport to the next site. Because our tours are private (we never put groups or individuals together), you will be in charge of the day’s schedule. You will truly feel like you are with a friend who is sensitive to your wishes and eager to show you those sites which you are most interested in.

This tour takes about six hours and can be completed by anyone in reasonable shape. Of course, this tour is just a suggestion. We would be delighted to produce a custom tour based on your specific interests and wishes. Please remember: our guides are more than simply guides — they are your personal assistant for the day.

For information on prices, see Fees.

Next tour:
Route Two: Kowloon Walking Tour

Route Two: Kowloon Walking Tour

An area almost impossibly rich in traditional local color and culture, Kowloon's Mongkok is one of the world's most congested residential and commercial districts, and the starting point for a memorable day of markets, food, and people. If you want peace and quiet and relaxation, this is not for you! But for photographers and for total immersion in Hong Kong street life unchanged for many years, this walking tour is just what you want.

We make our way along Flower Garden Street, awash in orchids and unusual tropical flora; then on through Yuen Po Street Bird Garden to see birds(and their owners) socializing. Moving on at a comfortable pace through the Goldfish Market — actually all types of aquarium species and supplies — and Ladies Market, you will be greatly tempted by Hong Kong's local bakeries, where your guide will point out the local favorites. Along the way, you'll see an impressive array of fresh produce from around the world.

The walk continues to Yau Ma Tei's famous Jade Market — stall after stall of real jade in every size, shape, and color at bargain prices — and further along Shanghai Street and its incense shops, exotic kitchen utensils, and tiny shrines. Time permitting, stop in at Yue Hwa Department Store to see some of the most unusual tea retailers anywhere, and perhaps sample the wares. And should you want to return to the renowned Temple Street Night Market later, you'll walk through the area and become familiar with the layout before it opens in the early evening.

For information on prices, see Fees.

Next tour:
Route Three: Outer Island Route

Route Three: Outer Island Walk

When you’ve seen all you like of Hong Kong Island’s impressive urban development, or the extraordinarily colorful congestion of the Kowloon peninsula, you have other options as well. Choose from either of Hong Kong's two most popular outlying islands, and experience the slower pace of local life (no cars!) along with beautiful, open countryside, expansive views, contrasting with narrow village lanes, and a totally different perspective to complete your visit.

If you select Lamma Island — Hong Kong’s third-largest and about half-hour’s ride from central District — you’ll stop in Yung Shue Wan village, popular with resident expatriates for its relaxed pace and Mediterranean atmosphere, and with a distinctly “arty” flavor. It’s not a large commercial area, and you have small bistros, cafes, and artisans’ shops to explore. An optional cross-island walk to Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma's eastern side takes about two hours and can be built into the tour by prior arrangement.

And if you select Cheung Chau, a dumbbell-shaped island somewhat smaller than Lamma, you’ll experience a traditional fishing village environment, a magnificent hill walk on the northwestern end providing great views of Lantau and Hong Kong Islands and all the Macau ferries, the main Praya and Pak She Streets, and the Taoist Pak Tai Temple — older than any on Hong Kong Island. Then sit and relax over a cool drink or meal on the waterfront. The ferry ride from Hong Kong’s Central Pier takes about 45 minutes each way, offering superb views of Hong Kong Island's northern shore as a bonus.

For information on prices, see Fees.

Next tour:
Route Four: Hong Kong and Kowloon Combination Highlights Tour

Route Four: Hong Kong and Kowloon Combination Highlights Tour

If you've already seen Victoria Peak on your own, or have plans to do that later, consider our “Hong Kong and Kowloon Combination Highlights Tour” giving you key attractions from these two individual programs. Your guide will meet you at your hotel or other agreed location and bring you to Central District, from which you'll walk through Hollywood Road's heritage and arts areas, Man Mo Temple, Cat Street, and the Sheung Wan traditional wholesale medicine and food center.

From there you’ll cross the harbour on the underground MTR and reach far northern Kowloon to experience all the sights and sounds of Flower Market Street, the Bird Garden, Goldfish Street, and the densely populated Mongkok area. Near the end of your tour, your guide will give you additional options or will accompany you back to your hotel.

For information on prices, see Fees.

Next tour:
Route Five: Hong Kong Island Tram Tour

Route Five: Hong Kong Island Tram Tour

Introduced to Hong Kong in 1904, double-deck electric trams span nearly the entire length of Hong Kong Island's northern districts and offer 360-degree views of commercial, financial, residential, and transitional neighborhoods.

In this largely non-walking tour, your guide will meet you at your hotel or other pre-arranged location, and you will proceed by MTR (Hong Kong's tube or subway system) to Sheung Wan, and the Western Market tram terminus.

Claim window seats on the upper level, and relax while the guide identifies and explains each of the areas in detail. The interactive nature of this tour allows you to ask questions and make notes for a later visit on your own to see whatever catches your interest. When the tram reaches its destination — which may be Shau Kei Wan, North Point, or Happy Valley — disembark to explore the immediate vicinity, and return along the same route.

This tour takes approximately 3 hours and involves very little walking. Please note that the maximum number of participants in this tour is four (due to seating constraints). For information on prices, see Fees.

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Route One: Hong Kong Walking Tour