Lantau Island (Hong Kong) With Autistic Children

Lantau Island offers a wonderful contrast to the high-speed, high-stimulus city life of central Hong Kong — making it a great option when you’re travelling with an autistic child. The slower pace, scenic nature, and spacious outdoor areas give a lot of room to breathe. We ended up on Lantau Island kind of by mistake (more on that below) but ended up appreciating the peaceful villages and natural sites near the town of Mui Wo where we stayed.

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How to get to Lantau Island

Most people will reach Lantau Island from Hong Kong International Airport. There are a couple of options you can use to get from the airport to one of the towns or villages around Lantau Island.

Bus: There are buses you can take from Hong Kong International Airport to get to other parts of Lantau Island. One example is that the bus from the airport to Tung Chung, which takes around 7 minutes. There are multiple different companies providing buses and you can use Rome2Rio to look at your exact travel route and find all of the available buses and an average cost for them.
Taxi: You can also take a taxi from the airport to Lantau Island. To travel within Lantau Island you want to hail a taxi that is blue as the taxi colours matter and determine where it will be able to take you.

Other people may come to Lantau Island from Kowloon or Central on Hong Kong Island. In this case, you will probably want to arrive by ferry. To do so, you will need to get on a ferry at Central on Hong Kong Island, so if you plan to come from Kowloon you will need to first take a ferry to Hong Kong Island and then to Lantau Island.

From Kowloon, you can also take a bus around the mainland and over bridges to Lantau Island. Both taxis and the subway can take this same route from Kowloon or you can drive if you have rented a car. You can, of course, also take a ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon and travel then to Lantau Island by any of the land vehicles.

Where to stay on Lantau Island

You can absolutely stay in central Hong Kong and just day-trip to Lantau, but staying closer makes the day shorter and calmer. Staying on Lantau Island might also be more appropriate if you plan to visit Disneyland, take a day trip to Macau or sometimes it might come down to what is more affordable.

Options to look at:

Tung Chung hotels (handy for MTR + cable car)
Disneyland/Discovery Bay area if you’re combining with Disney
Ngong Ping area for slower pace (limited options but quieter)

What we look for with autistic children:

A room that offers both a sleeping and a sitting space.
Fridge/kitchenette so we can store safe foods.
Easy lift access (we have children in pushchairs).
Good Wi-Fi — predictable screen time is part of regulation on travel days.

If you can’t find something on Lantau that works for your dates/budget, staying in Kowloon and doing Lantau as a full day is still fine — just start early.

We stayed on Lantau Island in Hong Kong in 2017 and it happened by accident and necessity. We had booked a hotel in the Kowloon area well in advance of out trip and the night before we were to fly to Hong Kong I logged into booking.com to screenshot the hotel address only to find that the booking was cancelled. The price we paid at the time had been £100, and the new price to book the same room at the same hotel was now £1700! We could not afford it, it was a backpacking trip with no end date and we had to be careful so we booked the only thing we could afford at short notice and it was on Lantau Island. The hotel name was Silverview Resort Holiday and it was one of the most shockingly bad hotels we have stayed at.

Silverview Resort Holiday

The hotel was in a town named Mui Wo, which itself is a lovely little fishing village with not many tourists but a lot of wonderful outdoor walks and trails just outside of the town. There are waterfalls nearby and an Olympic trail. It was not the Hong Kong we planned to see (I was a remote worker and the plan was to walk out of our Kowloon Hotel and explore as much as possible between shifts.

This was just not possible when we were based on Lantau because we could not get to the popular areas in the timeframes we had).

Family-friendly things to do on Lantau Island

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Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car:

This is the main event. It’s also on GetYourGuide in lots of versions (standard ticket, crystal cabin, skip the line, combo with village/Buddha/Tai O).

Ngong Ping Cable Car connects downtown Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, the ride takes around 25 minutes and each car holds between 8 to 10 people. The ride takes visitors to see the iconic Big Buddha on Lantau Island, but it is an entire experience in itself.

This activity can work really well for autistic children because:

It has a very clear beginning and end.
The view gives the child something to focus on, it might also provide sensory input for the sensory and thrill seekers.
You’re in a small enclosed space, so fewer unpredictable strangers than on a bus.

What to watch for:

If your child panics in confined spaces, make sure they know the door will open at the top.
Take fidgets/sweets in case they get nervous mid-ride.
Keep in mind that the cable car rides up high above the ground which some children can find scary or overwhelming.

Ngong Ping Village:

At the top of the cable car you arrive at Ngong Ping Village. It’s touristy but spread out, so it’s easier than a packed Hong Kong street. Ngong Ping Village is an open-air attraction with wide streets, souvenir shops, cultural exhibitions and restaurants designed for tourists as an additional adventure during their visit to the Big Buddha.

Tian Tan “Big” Buddha:

From the village you can walk to the Big Buddha. There are lots of steps (268), but you can skip using these if your child is tired or you cannot manage steps for whatever reason. There is a winding road you can use to approach the base of the Buddha instead if you need it.

Po Lin Monastery:

Just beside the Buddha. Po Lin Monastery is a lovely calmer stop if your child likes visual details (lanterns, colours, flowers). You can explore inside (be mindful that you will be expected to be quiet), view the beautiful carvings and sculptures, admire the beautiful halls and walk in the kept gardens. Po Lin Monastery also has a vegetarian restaurant you can enjoy during your visit.

Tai O Fishing Village:

Tai O Fishing Village is an older stilt-house village and can be a nice contrast to the hilltop areas of Lantau Island. Termed the “Venice of Hong Kong,” one of the most popular things for tourists to do here is take a boat tour through the canals of the village while admiring the architecture and the slower pace of life. Many people enjoy the hiking trails of Tai O Fishing Village, and you can hike up to the Tai O Infinity pool (which is more like a dam of water used to supply the village).

Beaches on Lantau Island:

Lantau Island is home to some lovely, and quiet, beaches. The main things we did with our autistic son on Lantau Island was visit the beach near our hotel. This beach is called Silvermine Bay Beach and was a wonderful and sensory experience we could fit into our days on Lantau Island. On the south of Lantau Island, there are many other small and beautiful beaches, like Pui O Beach, that you may enjoy visiting.

We made a YouTube video while we were visiting Mui Wo beach, hopefully it gives you more of an idea of what to expect.

Disneyland:

Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island is a brilliant option if you’re travelling with autistic children because it’s smaller and more manageable than other Disney parks, but still has all the magic. The layout is compact, paths are wide, and you can build a really predictable day: arrive, collect/arrange disability access at City Hall, do a couple of rides, break for food, then come back later for the parade. Because it doesn’t open very early and usually isn’t as intense as, say, Orlando, it’s easier to pace a sensory day. You can also pre-warn your child about the louder bits (parade, evening show) and just watch from further back with headphones. Staying at an on-site hotel makes it even calmer because you can pop back for a rest and return in the evening instead of pushing through a meltdown.

You can actually pay for earlier entrance which means you can enter the park an hour before the general entrance time. This can give you time to go and try the rides that are usually very busy and have long waiting times to ride.

You can purchase your tickets in advance with GetYourGuide and don’t forget you can use AUTISMFAMILYTRAVELGUIDE5 for a discount on your booking. Here are some of the options available on GetYourGuide:

Day trip to Macau:

Many people choose to stay in Lantau because of its proximity to Macau, a special administrative region of China. To get to Macau from Lantau Island take transport back towards the city/terminal and then ferry or the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge buses. Direct shuttle buses from the Lantau Island bridge port (near the airport) to Macau run 24/7, and the journey across the bridge takes only about 40 minutes. The travel time is not long at all and you can then spend an entire day exploring beautiful Macau. Macau has a lot of Portuguese influence, so expect European vibes mixed with Chinese charm.

Getting around Lantau Island with autistic children

Lantau Island is well connected and there are many ways to travel within the island or to Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and even to Macau.

Bus: You can travel around Lantau Island by bus, using local public services or you can enjoy a sightseeing bus to see the best of Lantau Island in one 360 open-top bus experience. You will rely on the New Lantao Bus routes to reach popular spots like Ngong Ping (for the Big Buddha) and Tai O fishing village. The buses are affordable and air-conditioned, but be prepared for winding mountain roads.
Taxis: Taxis are the second type of transport you will likely rely on the explore Lantau Island. Here you will use the blue taxis.
Ngong Ping 360 cable car: The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is a much more interesting and unique form of transport on Lantau Island and one that is an experience in itself. The cable car takes around 25 minutes to get you to Ngong Ping Village which is quicker than the bus.
Walking: One thing we loved about getting around Lantau was the slower, relaxed pace. In the Mui Wo area, people often walk or cycle between villages. In fact, one of our family’s favourite unexpected activities was simply strolling the flat village paths around Mui Wo and because they are so wide and so quiet, it was a safe place for our son to use some energy by running along beside us. We had a travel stroller with us during our time in Lantau Island and we took it most places with us and were able to use it as normal.

Where to eat on Lantau Island

In Mui Wo, there is a food market right on the coast overlooking the sea and Silvermine Bay Beach and the promenade. It is right beside the ferry pier too. Here, there are a number of local and traditional restaurants you can try with a wide range of Asian dishes.

Because of my work schedule while we were on Lantau Island, we mostly ate at the hotel. We opted to shop at a supermarket nearby for things like noodles which we could make using the kettle in the room. The supermarket we shopped at was called 759 Store (Riverwalk) and if you signed up for their loyalty card nearly everything cost half of what it should have. We managed to find enough safe foods for our autistic son by shopping at this store.

Is Lantau Island Autism-Friendly?

I would not say that Lantau Island is designed with autism in mind (though Disneyland does have disability services and some awareness of autism). Saying that, Lantau Island is a much quieter area of Hong Kong with a very relaxed vibe and a lot of outdoor open spaces.

Things that make Lantau Island stand out

Unlike downtown Hong Kong where crowds are the norm at all times of day, Lantau offers breathing room. Whether it was on an uncrowded beach or a village trail, we often had plenty of space to move at our own pace. The abundance of green areas and seaside spots gave our child natural outlets for sensory breaks – running on grass, listening to ocean waves, throwing sand over his own head… This open environment helped reduce his anxiety and need for stimming compared to when we were in tight urban streets.
Lantau’s star attraction, Hong Kong Disneyland, is quite welcoming to guests on the spectrum. They provide the Disability Access Pass system, and while it required a bit of paperwork, it ultimately allows families with an autistic child to experience Disneyland minus some of the stress. Staff at Disneyland are generally kind and accustomed to all types of families.

Tips for a Smooth Experience

Plan Ahead: Research each location and contact them to discuss any special accommodations your child might need. If you can plan to arrive after check-in time you should, or try to arrange an early check-in.
Sensory Tools: Bring along sensory tools and comfort items that help manage sensory needs, such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and a sensory toolkit.
Clear Communication: Ensure that everyone involved in the trip understands the needs and preferences of the neurodiverse individual. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the travel experience. Consider using PECS or an AAC. We have a free pack of travel PECS available for download. Consider using our Hong Kong PECS to make your trip to Lantau Island smoother.
Safety: Consider getting an autism card for your child, or even better – use our emergency passport for medical information and important contacts. Our absolute must have safety item for travelling with an autistic child is a TinyTags wristband or tag that can be tapped or scanned by a mobile phone – giving the person who tapped it all of the information they need to get your child back to you. TinyTags also feature a location alert to help you find your child.

Lantau Island proved to be a fantastic destination for our autistic child, and although we were disappointed originally to end up somewhere other than Kowloon, the quiet pace of life in Mui Wo really let us keep this trip low pressure and relaxed. We definitely saw a side to Hong Kong we would likely have never experienced if we stayed in a more popular tourist area.

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