This is the second largest of the outlining islands and the one closest to the city. Lamma has good beaches and a very relaxed pace on the weekdays, but on the weekends its mobbed like anywhere else.

Lo So Shing Beach on Lamma Island is perhaps the best beach on the island and the one that's closest to the second-largest village, Sok Kwu Wan. A cozy strip of sand with a row of shade trees at the back, it provides complete facilities. After a day of sun and surf, enjoy a seafood meal at one of the many restaurants in Sok Kwu Wan.

This is the largest of the islands and the most sparsely populated - its almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island but the population is only 30,000. You can easily spend a couple of days exploring the mountainous walking trails and enjoying uncrowded beaches.

Mui Wo (Silver Mine Bay) is the major arrival point for ferries. As you exit the ferry, to your right is the road leading to the beach. It passes several eateries and hotels along the way.

Po Lin Monastery is found in the beautiful plateau of Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. Nestled between the hills, this grand monastery was founded in 1927 and is a major center of Buddhism in the region. The main temple houses 3 bronze statues of the Buddha representing his past, present and future lives as well as many Buddhist scriptures.

The highlight of Po Lin Monastery however, is the Tian Tan Buddha, otherwise known as the Giant Buddha, who is seated on the hilltop, up a flight of 268 steps. The 34 meter (112ft), 250 ton sculpture is the world's largest seated outdoor bronze statue of the Buddha. The statue was opened to the public in December 1993 after 10 years of construction. The views of the surrounding countryside from the base of the statue are simply stunning and there are also small exhibition galleries for view inside the statue.

To get a taste of abominations to come, you should probably visit Discovery Bay. This is a very upscale housing development complete with high-rises, a shopping mall, McDonald's, a yacht club, golf course and a fancy pub. The majority of the residents are well-heeled Westerners. Jet powered ferries run from Discovery Bay to Central every 20 minutes, but there are no places to stay. The beach is pretty and is one of the cleanest in Hong Kong. The main reson for visiting isn't to see Discovery Bay, but to walk for one hour southwards along the coastline to find the Trappist Haven Monastery.