Got a long layover coming up in Hong Kong? No need to spend it aimlessly trundling around the terminal in a bid to burn time until your next flight. If seeing the city is an item you’ve always wanted to tick off your bucket list, Hong Kong International Airport’s new transit initiative will help you do just that, all without interrupting your travel schedule.
Launched in partnership with Trip.com, the Free Layover Tour programme is designed as a sightseeing experience for HKIA transit passengers with a layover of over seven hours, covering some of Hong Kong’s most unmissable attractions. Joining the tour is free of charge, and travellers will be taken care of with guides, tickets, and transport included.
Currently, there are two complimentary themed routes on offer. The Heritage and Local Lifestyle Citywalk runs from 12pm to 4pm and covers a visit to Wong Tai Sin Temple to take part in a fortune-telling session and admire traditional architecture, followed by a tour of Sham Shui Po. The Victoria & West Kowloon Waterfront Journey takes place from 5.30pm to 9.30pm and brings travellers to the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, with magnificent views of Victoria Harbour to cap off the sightseeing tour.
An additional free route, Serenity & Stories: A Harmony Journey, is expected to launch on December 5, and will run from 9am to 1pm, covering Inspiration Lake near Hong Kong Disneyland and Ma Wan village. Trip.com is also offering three exclusive premium routes with daily departures, each requiring a minimum of six participants. Join a Lantau Island Half-Day Tour ($780) from 10am to 3pm to experience the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, the Big Buddha, Ngong Ping Village, and the Wisdom Path; journey around Hong Kong Island with The Peak Half-Day Tour ($880) from 2pm to 8pm to see the colonial architecture at Stanley Police Station and Murray House, and wrap up with a ride on the Peak Tram; or see traditional stilt houses and soak up Hong Kong’s authentic fishing village charm with the Tai O Water Village Half-Day Tour ($880), running from 10am to 3pm.
It’s best to try and book a layover tour in advance, as they are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited spots are released online for each daily tour, but if you miss out, you can always visit the Free Layover Tour Registration Counter at Transfer Desks E1 (at Arrivals Level 5, before Immigration) at HKIA for any last-minute availability. Once you’ve secured your spot, go through immigration and head to the Trip.com Commercial Services Counter (A03 and A04) in Arrivals Hall A to get ready for your tour!
Some requirements must also be met to enjoy this service: you must be a transit passenger at HKIA, your layover must be more than seven hours, and you must meet Hong Kong’s entry requirements (such as having a valid visa or travel document). With all of that sorted, it’s time to kick back and make the most of your long layover in Hong Kong.
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