Tours from Hong Kong Airport

Q: I have a 12-hour stopover in Hong Kong at the end of August and would like to go on a day tour that includes a trip up Victoria Peak and a junk ride around the harbour. I arrive at 8am. Do you know of any tours which leave and return to the airport? - Barbara van de Vyver

A: There is a popular half-day transit tour of city sights which is run from the airport. It leaves by bus at 9.30am daily, which suits you perfectly. The tour starts off with a visit to Lantau island for a wonderful view of the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's longest road-and-rail suspension bridge. You then visit the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and the Avenue of Stars with its hand imprints of the city's celebrities. You then take a ferry ride of unforgettable Victoria Harbour. Your final stop is on Hollywood Road with a visit to Man Mo Temple. You can also browse through the many antiques and curios shops. The tour ends at Hong Kong Station in Central where you can take the Airport Express train back to the airport in less than 25 minutes. The tour, which costs 230 Hong Kong dollars, takes three hours, so you could delay your return to take a tram up Victoria Peak and a junk ride. You can get information on the Hong Kong tourism board website, www.discoverhongkong.com. You can book this tour through Vigor Tours, www.vigorholding.com, which has an office in the arrivals hall. An alternative tour, which departs from the lobby of the Regal Airport Hotel, takes eight hours and includes visits to Victoria Peak, Aberdeen fishing village (with an option sampan ride), Repulse Bay and Stanley Market. It costs 450 Hong Kong dollars per person including lunch. For further information, contact Splendid Tours (www.splendid.hk). Good news is that departure tax has been waived for all same day transit or transfer passengers, so you won't pay extra for leaving the airport. (5/6/11)