Sun Moon Lake, Puli & Lukang 2-Day Private Tour from Taipei

Taiwan interior tour: lake, mountain temples, historic port town in 2 days

A private 2-day tour from Taipei explores Sun Moon Lake, Puli and Lukang with a dedicated guide and vehicle, one night in a 4-star lakeside hotel, breakfast, and entry fees included. The tour runs in English or Chinese, with hotel pickup. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense. A small amount of walking is involved; comfortable shoes are recommended.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Taipei to Sun Moon Lake

• Meet tour guide and driver at hotel
• Travel to Sun Moon Lake via Puli
• Visit Puli Winery before lunch
• Explore Yidashao (Ita Thao) village
• Visit Xuanzang Temple
• Visit Ci-en Pagoda
• Visit Wenwu Temple
• Visit Xiangshang Visitor Center

Day 2 — Sun Moon Lake to Lukang and Taipei

• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart for Lukang historic town
• Stroll through Lukang Old Street
• Visit Longshan Temple
• Visit Lukang Tianhou Temple
• Lunch at own expense
• Return to Taipei with rest stops

The Experience

The tour starts with a 3-hour drive from Taipei to the heart of Taiwan's interior. On the way, you stop in Puli, a town known for its clean water and local wine production—the Puli Winery is there if you want to visit before lunch (at your own expense). Then you reach Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan's largest natural lake, divided by Lalu Island so that the east side resembles the sun and the west side a crescent moon. The Thao people, one of Taiwan's indigenous groups, live around the lake and have shaped its culture for generations.

Your first day circles the lake's main sites. You visit Yidashao, the most populated village, where the Thao Cultural Village preserves traditional songs and dances. Xuanzang Temple sits in a quiet spot on the mountainside—the "wake up bell" at its gate is meant to call monks to prayer. Ci-en Pagoda, built in 1971 and 46 meters tall, stands as the lake's most recognizable landmark, surrounded by gardens and stone seating. Wenwu Temple, rebuilt in 1969 on the north shore, holds statues of Confucius and Guangong. The Xiangshang Visitor Center has a distinctive design with wood-patterned walls and two giant canopy structures 34 meters long, offering views across the water. You spend the night in a 4-star hotel by the lake.

On day two, after breakfast, you drive to Lukang, a historic port town that thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries before sedimentation closed its harbor. The town's red brick buildings and narrow streets remain largely unchanged since the Qing Dynasty. You walk through Nine Turns Alley, see the Urn Wall and Half-Sided Well, and visit Longshan Temple, which mirrors the design of the famous Longshan Temple in Quanzhou. Lukang Old Street and the winding Osmanthus Lane are lined with folk art shops, teahouses, and vendors selling traditional Taiwanese desserts and street food. Lukang Tianhou Temple, one of the three major historic sites, holds a statue of the Goddess of the Sea brought from Meizhou, China; over a million worshippers visit each year. After lunch (at your own expense), the 3-hour drive back to Taipei includes rest stops along the way.

What’s included

• One night in a 4-star hotel by Sun Moon Lake.
• breakfast.
• all park entry fees and admission tickets to the sites visited.
• an air-conditioned private vehicle.
• a professional tour guide in English or Chinese.
• travel insurance.
• hotel pickup and return in Taipei.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by Edison Travel Service

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private vehicle and guide for two days exploring Sun Moon Lake and Lukang—you'll move at your own pace and ask questions as you go, rather than following a fixed group itinerary.

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Top questions

What is Sun Moon Lake actually like when you get there?

Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's largest natural lake, divided by Lalu Island so the east side resembles the sun and the west side a crescent moon. The Thao indigenous people live around it, and the area holds Chinese temples, a 46-meter pagoda, and a visitor center with views across the water.

How much walking is involved on this 2-day tour?

A small amount of walking is involved throughout both days. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Wheelchair-accessible transportation and foldable wheelchair access are available if assistance is provided by a companion.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes one night in a 4-star hotel, breakfast, all park entry fees and admission tickets, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, and insurance. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense; the operator notes that many eateries in Taiwan accept cash only, not credit cards.

Can I book this tour in a language other than English?

The tour is available in English or Chinese with a live guide. Hotel pickup in Taipei is included.

What makes Lukang worth a full day of the tour?

Lukang is one of Taiwan's best-preserved Qing Dynasty towns, with brick buildings, narrow streets, and historic temples dating to the 1700s when it was a major port. The town holds three major historic sites—Longshan Temple, Tianhou Temple, and Lukang Old Street—and is known for traditional street food and local crafts.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation from my Taipei hotel?

No. Hotel pickup in Taipei is included, and the tour provides an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver for the entire 2 days. The return to Taipei happens in the afternoon of day two.