Ap Chau – which directly translated to 'Duck Island' – was named after its shape and form which somewhat resembles a duck laying on its belly when viewed from the north. Ap Chau is now a Hong Kong UNESCO site, and to promote the island's heritage, the Ap Chau Story Room opened its doors in 2018 for visitors to come by and learn about the Tanka culture and heritage.

Soko Islands are a group of islands located at the far southwest of Hong Kong’s territory. Once home to a small community of farmers and fishermen, it is now a remote destination where abandoned houses, ruins, and shrines remain. Consisting of Tai A Chau, Siu A Chau, and several smaller nearby islets, the area is often visited by Chinese White Dolphins and porpoises making it an excellent site for rare sightings of these beautiful marine animals.

Lying in the northeast of Plover Cove Country Park, this far-flung island is home to merely a few hundred people. Also known as Crooked Island because of its irregular shape, Kat O was once a thriving fishing village with nearly 300 years of history. You can also take a wander along the Kat O Nature Trail and make your way through the villages before heading upwards and finishing up at a pagoda. Look out for ancient temples, ancestral halls, and corroded cannons along your way.

Peng Chau is one of the better known outlying islands, but it is still often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbours like Cheung Chau and Lantau. This sleepy spot makes a perfect family day trip as you can easily navigate through the whole place in just a few hours. In the 1970s, Peng Chau was once an industrial centre. so you can check out a long-abandoned matchstick factory and lime kiln, as well as an old cinema along the Peng Chau Heritage Trail.

Only a few kilometres from the hustle of Hong Kong Island, there is a place inhabited by people who have no official electricity and no running water supply. This is Po Toi – a serene and scenic island that lies to the southeast of Hong Kong. The Po Toi Country Trail, which loops over the south of the island in a figure-of-eight, will takes you to a photogenic lighthouse as well as some dramatic and unusual rock formations.

Sharp Island is known for being strewn with rocks that are endearingly shaped like pineapple buns – you won’t find these tasty-looking rocks anywhere else in the territory. The principal attractions of Sharp Island are its two distinct beaches – Hap Mun Bay and Kiu Tsui Beach. You can take a boat to the beach of your choice from Sai Kung. Kiu Tsui beach isn’t as clean, but when the tide is low, you’ll discover a tombolo connecting the beach itself to the nearby island of Kiu Tau.

Grass Island is composed of rolling, grassy hillocks complete with wandering cows. It had an exciting history as a smuggling and pirate haven, although its now-sleepy streets belie this. Also known as Tap Mun, this is a popular spot for both camping and kite-flying. A trio of temples also lives on the island, located near the main village, which date back to the 18th century. Legend has it there was once a pirate’s tunnel that led from the altar of the Tin Hau Temple all the way out to sea.

Rough, rugged and wild, Tung Lung Chau is regarded as the best place for rock climbing in the territory, with multiple routes of varying difficulty. Check out the remains of Tung Lung Chau Fort – built between 1662 and 1722, it used to defend the island from pirates. The main paved trail passes by the largest and oldest rock carving in Hong Kong – apparently a depiction of a dragon that is said to be over 5,000 years old.

The striking island of Tung Ping Chau lies in the very far northeast of Hong Kong and is formed from ‘new’ sedimentary rock, resulting in a brightly coloured, multi-layered, and exceptionally photogenic landscape that is perfect for fossil-spotting. The area also has a diverse ecosystem – it’s protected as a country park, marine park, a site of special scientific interest, and is also listed within UNESCO’s Global Geoparks network.

A 15-minute boat ride from Sai Kung, Yim Tin Tsai wins hands down if you’re into the whole abandoned vibe. The island was originally populated in the 1740s by a family from Guangdong. The descendants of these people developed salt farms on the island and made their living selling the salt – which explains the island’s name as it literally translates to ‘small salt field’.