Taipei Northeast Coast: Yeliu Geopark, Jiufen & Sky Lanterns
Yeliu's Weathered Rocks & Lanterns Over Shifen: A Taipei Day Beyond the City
You spend the day moving between three distinct places (a geological park, a retro street market, and a lantern village) without arranging transport, timing yourself, or figuring out which stops fit into one afternoon. The guide handles navigation and context. The van handles weather and comfort. You write a wish, light a lantern, and watch it disappear into the sky.
Options for this experience
4 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Northeast Coast Natural and Cultural Tour
- Visit Yeliu Geopark
- Explore weathered rock formations
- Taste street food at Juifen Old Street
- Fly sky lantern at Shifen Old Village
- See Shifen Waterfall
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a licensed driver-guide in a Mercedes van, water and WiFi on board, raincoat and umbrella, and your choice of two routes: the northeast coast (Yeliu Geopark, Jiufen street food, Shifen sky lanterns, and Taiwan's largest waterfall) or the city tour (National Palace Museum, CKS Memorial Hall, and Taipei 101). Entry fees to attractions are paid separately.
Times
- Every day 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00
Before you book
Operated by Phyllis Chartered tour
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
The rocks at Yeliu Geopark don't look like anything you'd expect. Centuries of wind and rain have carved them into shapes that seem almost deliberate (a queen's head, a candle, a mushroom), but they're all accident, all erosion. You walk among them for the first part of the day, and your guide (licensed, 15 years on the job) points out the layers, the grain, the way the stone fractures. It's the kind of place where you stop thinking about your phone and just look.
After Yeliu, you head to Jiufen, the old street that fills with tourists by noon but still smells like it did fifty years ago: stinky tofu, sesame oil, grilled sausage. You taste your way through: bubble tea, taro ice balls, pineapple cake, the things that show up in every guidebook but taste different when you're standing in the crowd eating them. The street is narrow, the vendors know what they're doing, and your guide navigates it like someone who's walked it a hundred times, which he probably has. Then there's Shifen, the old coal-mining village where the real moment happens. You write your wish on a paper lantern, and yes, it feels a bit touristy, but the moment you light it and watch it rise above the railway tracks with dozens of others, something shifts. The lanterns drift up into the dark, and for a second the whole thing feels less like a photo op and more like something that matters.
The Taipei day tour runs 8 to 10 hours depending on which route you pick: northeast coast (Yeliu, Jiufen, Shifen, plus the waterfall) or city (National Palace Museum, CKS Memorial Hall, 101 Tower). Either way, you're in a new Mercedes van with a driver-guide who's been doing this long enough to know where to stop, when to move on, and how to handle the rain (he brings raincoats and umbrellas). Hotel pickup is included, and he'll drop you back where you started. Water and WiFi are on board. If you run over time, it's NT$500 per hour, worth knowing upfront.
Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to see multiple sides of Taipei (natural landscape, street culture, and a moment of ritual) without renting a car or piecing together transport and timing. The fixed route and experienced guide mean you move through the day without decisions. The Mercedes van and included weather gear mean you're comfortable doing it.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Cantonese.
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 24 h before the start.
How long is the Taipei day tour?
8 to 10 hours, depending on whether you choose the northeast coast route (Yeliu, Jiufen, Shifen, waterfall) or the city route (museums, memorial hall, 101 Tower).
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. You can choose your pickup and drop-off point. Hotel pickup is standard.
What's included in the tour?
Driver-guide, Mercedes van, water, WiFi, raincoat, and umbrella. Entry fees to attractions are separate.
Can I fly a sky lantern at Shifen?
Yes, that's part of the northeast coast itinerary. You write a wish on the lantern and release it over the old railway.
What if I go over the scheduled time?
Overtime is charged at NT$500 per hour.
Is the guide licensed?
Yes. The guide is a licensed tour guide with 15+ years of experience.
What's the difference between the northeast coast and city tour options?
Northeast coast covers Yeliu Geopark, Jiufen old street, Shifen lanterns, and Shifen waterfall. City tour includes National Palace Museum, CKS Memorial Hall, and Taipei 101.
Are infants allowed?
Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available.
Taipei Northeast Coast: Yeliu Geopark, Jiufen & Sky Lanterns
8h · EN +4
from US$ 173 per group
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.