Hong Kong Luxury Holidays

A cosmopolitan, adrenalin-fuelled experience with exhilarating shopping, cuisine and nightlife.

Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan, adrenalin-fuelled experience with exhilarating shopping, cuisine and nightlife. Here, traditional junks drift past towering skyscrapers, and old colonial buildings lie close to chic designer shopping malls. Explore Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and more than 260 outlying islands including Cheung Chau and Lantau, home of the seated Bronze Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Taking a tram up Victoria Peak is a must, as is riding the Star Ferry and bargain-hunting in Stanley Market. Combine Hong Kong with China and other Far East destinations, or make it a stopover en-route to Australasia.

Victoria Peak - Board the Peak Tram for a short journey to view the spectacular city wide panoramas from the summit of Hong Kong’s highest peak where the breathtaking views will put this city’s layout into perspective. Visit on a clear night and be dazzled by the neon illuminated skyscrapers. Victoria Harbour - Separating Hong Kong Island and Kowloon this world famous harbour is bustling with activity day or night. Experience the sights and sounds on board the famous green and white boats of the Star Ferry Company, a fantastic way to cross over the Harbour and view the city’s skyline. Dazzling firework displays, colourful night-time promenades and festivities are held around the harbour side during the Chinese New Year. Harbour Light Show - A fabulous display, named the “World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by Guinness World Records involves a number of significant buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour. Take an open air bus along the promenade to view the all-encompassing coloured lights, laser beams and special pyrotechnic displays each evening at 8pm. Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Hotel - Nothing is more reminiscent of Hong Kong’s colonial days than afternoon tea beneath the neo-classical arches of lobby at The Peninsula. Be serenaded by a string quartet whilst dining on a selection of dainty sandwiches, decadent cakes and pastries and an assortment of teas, all served on the finest bone china. A strict dress code applies. Po Lin Monastery & Giant Buddha - Escape the city on a day trip to Lantau Island to visit the cultural side of Hong Kong. Lantau is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island, a mountainous outlying island with country parks, mountain trials, beaches, and a traditional stilted village. Attractions include the Po Lin Monastery, originally constructed by three Buddhists in 1924. This remote monastery showcases a range of colourful statues, oil paintings and plaques from the Buddhist religion. You can even enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by monks. Or why not climb with 270 steps to reach the platform of the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. Horse Racing - Experience the unique excitement and join thousands of race-goers under the dazzling lights of Happy Valley Race Courses. Horse racing is the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong, the season runs from September to June and most races are held in the evenings. Shopping - Hong Kong is a shoppers paradise, from unique open-air markets to modern marbled shopping malls. Shoppers can search for unique bargains at the many retail opportunities available: Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon | Purchase the latest technology goods from the neon-lit shops on Nathan Road or have a suit custom made by from the many tailors in the side streets. Hollywood Road, Hong Kong Island | A magnet for collectors of antiques, artwork and unusual knick-knacks. Causeway Bay | Modern department stores and shopping malls including dining outlets. Stanley Market | A historic day time market packed with vendors selling Chinese paintings, handicrafts and a wide variety of souvenirs. Temple Street Night Market | Hong Kong’s most famous and biggest open-air night market offering a vast array of discounted goods. Be prepared to haggle over the prices!

Late Jan/Early Feb | Chinese New Year - Hong Kong’s most celebrated holiday. Lots of colourful decorations, fantastic firework display over Victoria Harbour. Kung Hei Fat Choi! Mid/Late Feb | Lantern Festival - Colourful lantern festival called Yuen Sui held on the 15th day of the first moon Feb/Mar | Hong Kong Arts Festival – The most important cultural event, a month long extravaganza of music, performing arts and exhibitions Late Mar | Rugby 7’s - Hong Kong’s premier sporting event. International Seven-a-side Ruby Tournament held over 3 days in March, which attracts teams from all over the world May | Birthday of Lord Buddha - A public holiday in Hong Kong often referred as the Bathing of Lord Buddha. Buddha statues are removed from monasteries and temples and bathed in scented water during religious ceremonies. The place to observe this event is at the Po Lin Monastery Jun | Dragon Boat Festival - An ancient event known as Tuen Ng Festival commemorating the death of a popular Chinese national hero. The real highlight of the festival is the fierce-looking dragon boats racing in a lively, vibrant spectacle. Teams race the elaborately decorated dragon boats to the beat of heavy drums. The special boats, which measure more than 10 metres have ornately carved and painted dragon heads and tails, and each carries a crew of 20-22 paddlers. Races are held in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the outlying islands Sep/Oct | Chinese Mid Autumn Festival - One of the most charming and colourful annual events that celebrates the harvest and the brightest moon of the year. Shops sell delicious sweet cakes known as “Moon Cakes” and public parks are ablaze with Chinese paper lanterns in all shapes, sizes and colours

Dim Sum - No visit to Hong Kong would be complete without trying Dim Sum, delightful mouth watering Chinese snacks usually eaten as breakfast or lunch. The delicacies are served in steaming bamboo baskets, a typical selection contains steamed pork buns, steamed rice flour rolls, fried spring rolls and steamed dumplings with shrimp. Tea - Tea has been an integral part of Chinese social life and culinary culture for over 5 million years. A cup of steaming fresh tea is the perfect complement to any sumptuous dishes or dim sum - choose from Chinese, English or Hong Kong style. Varieties of tea include Green Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, Scented Tea, and Pu'er-type Tea. Traditional Tea is never served with milk or sugar. Tailor Made Clothing - Suits, skirts, shirts and evening wear are all tailored to individual requirements. Fine tailoring can be found in many hotels and side streets of Tsim Sha Tsui. Jade - The Jade Market is a great place to spend the morning browsing and soaking up the atmosphere, with over 400 stalls selling a wide range of Jade accessories and ornaments. According to Chinese belief, Jade warns off evil spirits. Ginseng & Birds’Nest - Neighbouring streets of Wing Lok Street and Bonham Strand West are well-known streets lined with specialty shops selling ginseng and bird's nest – both believed to be essential for longevity, energy and fair complexion. Fortune Telling - Interested in finding your destiny? Why not visit a temple and consult the gods or the spirits or have your palm or hand read? Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the best places to get your fortune told. Palmists can be found around the Temple Street Night Market. Antiques - Hong Kong has a rich and colourful array of Asian artefacts. Shops specialising in jade, silks, embroideries and wooden handicrafts are bunched along Hollywood Road. For private collections, Christie’s and Southeby’s hold auctions in Spring (Mar–May) and Autumn (Sep–Nov). Optical Goods - Hong Kong offers stylish frames much cheaper than UK prices and even make up prescriptions over night.

CLIMATE Hong Kong is sub-tropical with high rainfall from May to September. TIME DIFFERENCE GMT +8 hours CURRENCY Hong Kong Dollar VISA REQUIREMENTS British passport holders do not require a visa. HOW TO GET THERE Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate direct to Hong Kong, with regular connections to China. FLYING TIME 11 hours 40 mins

Hong Kong Luxury Holiday Accommodation

• Intercontinental Hong Kong
• The Peninsula Hong Kong
• Four Seasons Hong Kong
• Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
• Island Shangri-La
• Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Hong Kong Luxury Holiday Special Offers