4-Day Private Tour Taipei, Sun Moon Lake & Taichung

Release a sky lantern over Shifen, then watch the sun and moon meet at the lake

A 4-day private tour through Taiwan's cultural landmarks and natural sites, departing from Taipei with a guide who speaks English or Mandarin. Day 1 covers Longshan Temple, the National Palace Museum, and Shilin Night Market. Day 2 heads to Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen Old Street, then releases a sky lantern at Shifen. Day 3 moves to Sun Moon Lake for temples and views. Day 4 explores Taichung's National Theater and Miyahara before returning to Taipei or staying in Taichung. Hotel pickup, transport, 3 nights' accommodation and entry to major sites are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Taipei City landmarks

• Visit Bopiliao Historical Block
• Tour Longshan Temple
• See Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
• Explore National Palace Museum
• Enjoy Shilin Night Market

Day 2: Northern Coast and Jiufen visit

• Visit Yehliu Geopark
• Explore Jiufen Old Street
• Release sky lantern in Pingxi
• Visit Shifen Waterfall

Day 3: Sun Moon Lake sightseeing

• Visit Sun Moon Lake scenic area
• Boat ride at Shuishe Pier
• Tour Wenwu Temple
• Visit Ci'en Pagoda or bike around lake
• Explore Xiangshan Visitor Center

Day 4: Taichung cultural exploration

• Visit National Taichung Theater
• Explore Shenji New Village
• Visit Miyahara landmark
• Attend pineapple cake DIY workshop (optional)
• Return to Taipei or end tour in Taichung

The experience

How do you see Taiwan's mix of temples, night markets, coastal rock formations and mountain lakes without renting a car or piecing together connections? This 4-day private tour handles the route and the driving, leaving you to step out at each stop. A guide who speaks English or Mandarin narrates the stops and stays with the group throughout, so the commentary flows in the language you choose. The van picks you up from your Taipei hotel on Day 1 and returns you there on Day 4, or drops you in Taichung if you'd rather end there.

Day 1 stays in Taipei: Longshan Temple's ornate rooftops and courtyards open the itinerary, followed by the National Palace Museum's collection of artifacts, then the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and its changing-of-the-guard ceremony. Evening lands at Shilin Night Market, where food stalls line the alleys and the crowd thickens as the sun sets. Day 2 heads north to Yehliu Geopark, where wind and sea have carved rock formations into shapes like the Queen's Head and Sea Candles, then drops into Jiufen Old Street for tea houses and taro ball desserts. The afternoon moves to Shifen, where you write a wish on a sky lantern and release it into the sky, then walk to Shifen Waterfall in the forest. Day 3 is the drive to Sun Moon Lake (2.5 to 3 hours from Taipei), where Wenwu Temple sits on the shore, Ci'en Pagoda rises from the water, and the Xiangshan Visitor Center offers views and exhibits on local ecology. Boat tours on the lake are available at your own cost. Day 4 swings through Taichung: the National Theater's undulating curves, Shenji New Village's street art, and Miyahara, a century-old pharmacy-turned-dessert-destination with an ice cream parlor and tea house. An optional pineapple cake DIY workshop closes the tour before the return to Taipei.

The van is air-conditioned and private to your group. Hotel stays are 4-star for three nights, with twin rooms for pairs and family rooms for groups of three. Travel insurance is provided once you give the operator your full name, birthday, passport number and nationality. Bring cash for meals and any boat tours, comfortable walking shoes for the temple and market walks, and a light jacket for the lake. The itinerary can shift if weather or traffic demands it, and Jiufen has traffic controls on holidays from 8 AM to 8 PM, so the tour may use shuttle buses to reach the old street.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Taipei hotel.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the group.
• English or Mandarin-speaking driver-guide for all four days.
• 3 nights in 4-star hotels with twin or family rooms.
• travel insurance for each participant.
• entry to the National Palace Museum, Yehliu Geopark, sky lantern release at Shifen, and pineapple cake DIY workshop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Justaiwantour

Is this one for you?Choose this private van tour if you're traveling with family or a small group and want commentary in English or Mandarin. All transport between sites is included, so you move together without managing separate bookings.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 72 h before the start.

What exactly is the sky lantern release at Shifen, and do I write the wish myself?

At Shifen, you write a wish on a paper sky lantern, then release it into the air as it lights up and drifts skyward. It's a moment many travelers mark as the highlight of the northern coast day. The lantern is included in the tour price.

Is Sun Moon Lake included in the 4 days, or is it an add-on?

Sun Moon Lake is Day 3 of the tour, so it's included in the itinerary. The drive from Taipei takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Boat tours on the lake are optional and cost extra. The temple visits and Xiangshan Visitor Center are part of the day.

What's Miyahara, and why is it on the Taichung stop?

Miyahara is a century-old building originally built as an eye clinic during the Japanese colonial period. It now houses shops, an ice cream parlor, a chocolate shop, and a tea house, blending heritage architecture with modern dining. It's a landmark stop in Taichung for its design and desserts.

What meals are covered, and where do I eat?

Meals are not included in the tour price. Shilin Night Market on Day 1 and Jiufen Old Street on Day 2 are food-focused stops where you buy and eat from stalls. Taichung's Miyahara and other restaurants are options on Day 4. Your guide can suggest places, but you choose and pay.

How much walking is involved each day?

A moderate amount of walking is involved across the four days. Longshan Temple, the National Palace Museum, Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen Old Street, and the Taichung sites all require walking through their grounds or streets. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the operator recommends bringing a light jacket.