Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Taipei
You'll land at Taoyuan International Airport and get transferred to your hotel by car or van. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to explore Taipei on your own schedule. If you want, grab a One-Day Taipei Metro Pass for unlimited MRT rides to check out whatever attractions interest you.
- Start point
- Taipei, Taiwan (Taoyuan Airport )
Optional Activities
- Explore Taipei attractions using One-Day Taipei Metro Pass for unlimited MRT rides
- Day 2
Taipei City Tour
A guided tour takes you through Taipei's major sights, showing the city from different angles. You'll see the National Palace Museum with its collection of ancient Chinese artifacts, then head to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to catch the Guard Change ceremony. After that, you visit Lungshan Temple to get a sense of local religious practices, and finish at Taipei 101 to see the modern side of the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit National Palace Museum with largest collection of ancient Chinese artifacts
- Visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- Witness Guard Change at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- Visit Lungshan Temple
- Visit Taipei 101
Landmarks National Palace Museum Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Lungshan Temple Taipei 101 - Day 3
Taroko Gorge
Your English-speaking guide picks you up early and drives you toward Taroko Gorge. The route takes you through the world's fifth-longest highway tunnel (12.9 km) and along the dramatic east coast cliff highway, with a photo stop at Chinshui Cliff. You arrive at Taroko National Park around 1:30 PM and explore the marble gorge, stopping at Taroko Gorge Gateway and getting views of Eternal Spring Shrine and Swallow Grotto.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Drive via world's fifth-longest highway tunnel (12.9 km)
- Photo stop at Chinshui Cliff
- Visit Taroko National Park and world's only marble gorge
- Visit Taroko Gorge Gateway
- Pass-by Eternal Spring Shrine
- Pass-by Swallow Grotto
Landmarks Taroko National Park Chinshui Cliff Eternal Spring Shrine Swallow Grotto - Day 4
Sun Moon Lake
Starting at 8:30 AM, you drive to Sun Moon Lake via the Central Cross-Island Highway and Wuling on Mt. Hehuan (3275m). The drive offers wide views of the Central Mountain Ranges. You reach Sun Moon Lake by 3:00 PM, take a drive around the lake, and visit Wen-wu Temple for its views out over the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive via Central Cross-Island Highway
- Visit Wuling on Mt. Hehuan (3275m above sea level)
- Drive along Sun Moon Lake
- Visit Wen-wu Temple
Landmarks Sun Moon Lake Mt. Hehuan Wen-wu Temple 
- Day 5
Sun Moon Lake and Tainan
At 8:30 AM you're back at Sun Moon Lake checking out Holy Monk Shrine, Ita Thao village, and Tse En Pagoda along the shore. By 11:30 AM, you head to Tainan, Taiwan's historical capital from the 16th century. You get there around 2:00 PM and walk around Anping Fort and the old street, which blends traditional Chinese and modern Taiwanese culture together.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Holy Monk Shrine at Sun Moon Lake
- Visit Ita Thao village at Sun Moon Lake
- Visit Tse En Pagoda at Sun Moon Lake
- Walking tour around Anping Fort
- Walking tour of old street area in Tainan
Landmarks Holy Monk Shrine Ita Thao Tse En Pagoda Anping Fort - Day 6
Tainan and Kaohsiung
You start in Tainan visiting Chikan Tower (built in 1653 by the Dutch) and the Confucius Temple from 1665, with a casual walk through this historic area. At 1:30 PM, you head south to Kaohsiung to see Foguanshan Monastery, Taiwan's largest monastery, including its Main Shrine and Buddhist Museum. There's a light vegetarian lunch at the monastery. By 5:00 PM you check into Kaohsiung, and in the evening you can stroll around to see the city lights or hit up Liuho Night Market for local energy and food.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast), Lunch (Light vegetarian lunch at Foguanshan Monastery)
Included Activities
- Visit Chikan Tower
- Visit Confucius Temple
- Walking tour around historic Confucius Temple area
- Visit Foguanshan Monastery Main Shrine
- Visit Buddhist Museum at Foguanshan Monastery
- Light vegetarian lunch at the monastery
Optional Activities
- Evening stroll to admire city's night views
- Visit Liuho Night Market for local nightlife
Landmarks Chikan Tower Confucius Temple Foguanshan Monastery Liuho Night Market 
- Day 7
Kaohsiung and Lukang
Morning starts at Lotus Pond where you visit the Dragon & Tiger Pagodas and Spring & Autumn Pavilions, then walk around the scenic area or sit at a local café. At 11:30 AM, you drive north to Lukang to see Lungshan Temple, which shows off traditional Taiwanese temple design really well.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Dragon & Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond
- Visit Spring & Autumn Pavilions at Lotus Pond
- Leisurely walk around Lotus Pond Scenic Area
- Visit Lungshan Temple in Lukang
Optional Activities
- Relax at a local café near Lotus Pond
Landmarks Dragon & Tiger Pagodas Spring & Autumn Pavilions Lotus Pond Lungshan Temple 
- Day 8
Jiufen, Jinguashi, and Pingxi
This day takes you through Taiwan's history and landscape. You visit Jiufen and Jinguashi, old gold mining towns in the mountains, then walk through Jiufen's narrow lantern-lit alleys past shops, teahouses, and local Taiwanese street food. From there you check out Jinguashi to learn about Taiwan's mining past from the late 1800s into the 1900s. Later you head to Pingxi to experience the sky lantern culture by walking Shifen Old Street and along the Pingxi Railway, and you get to make and launch your own sky lantern.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Jiufen old town with lantern-lit alleys
- Explore Jiufen's local shops and teahouses
- Visit Jinguashi former gold mining town
- Learn about Taiwan's mining heritage at Jinguashi
- Walk along Shifen Old Street
- Walk along Pingxi Railway
- Craft and launch your own sky lantern
Optional Activities
- Try authentic Taiwanese street food in Jiufen
Landmarks Jiufen Jinguashi Shifen Old Street Pingxi Railway - Day 9
Departure
Your tour wraps up with a drop-off at Taoyuan International Airport so you can head to your next destination.
- End point
- Taipei, Taiwan (Taoyuan Airport )
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel Breakfast)
