Yehliu Geopark & Shifen Waterfall tour from Taipei: Small group

Eroded rock formations, a gold-colored waterfall, and a train line running through an old town.

A full-day small-group tour from Taipei visits Yehliu Geopark, Golden Waterfall, Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Waterfall and Shifen Old Street on the Northeast Coast, with round-trip pickup from your Taipei hotel and an air-conditioned vehicle. Groups stay under 8 people, and you choose an English or Mandarin-speaking driver at checkout. The tour runs 9 hours and includes all taxes and facility fees. A guide service is not part of this tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Yehliu Geopark1h 30m
2. Jiufen Village2h
3. Shifen Waterfall40m
4. Pingxi Branch Rail Line1h

Northeast Coast Highlights Tour

• Visit Yehliu Geological Park
• See Golden Waterfall near Jinguashi
• Explore Jiufen Old Street
• View Shifen Waterfall
• Walk Shifen Old Street

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Taipei hotel and heads north to Yehliu Geopark, a 1.7-kilometer cape lined with some of Taiwan's most famous eroded rock formations. From there you move to Golden Waterfall near the Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi, where the water runs gold-colored from the combination of rainfall and heavy metal elements in the riverbed left behind by the mining area's history.

Jiufen Old Street is next: a crowded, atmospheric old town that draws visitors partly because it inspired scenes in Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away," with its iconic red lanterns visible throughout. The street also featured in Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien's "A City of Sadness," and it remains packed with local food stalls, souvenir shops and the texture of a place that has not shed its past. From there you head to Shifen Waterfall, Taiwan's most renowned cascading waterfall, and then to Shifen Old Street on the Pingxi Branch Rail Line. A former coal-transport hub that has become a photography spot because of the puffing trains that still run through it and the old-town charm that lingers in the shops and narrow lanes.

The vehicle size adjusts to your group: groups of four or fewer travel in a 5-seater, while groups of five to eight get a 9-seater. Your driver speaks either English or Mandarin depending on which you select at booking, and the itinerary can shift if traffic on the day requires it. This is a shared tour, not a private one, so you'll travel with other small groups heading to the same stops.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off from Westgate Hotel or W Taipei.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• driver.
• all taxes, fees and facility charges.
• fuel surcharge.

Options for this experience

2 options

Mandarin-Speaking DriverNo fixed timeThe driver, who speaks only Mandarin, gives a short introduction inside the van or bus during the tour. The driver or guide does not follow the travelers around on foot.

English-Speaking DriverNo fixed timeThe driver is fluent in English and will share the background of the sights while you ride in the vehicle. He or she does not accompany the travelers on foot.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday

AgesAdult (13 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 8

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 48 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 7.62

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by roundTAIWANround

Is this one for you?Choose the morning or afternoon departure based on your hotel schedule: pickup and drop-off are included, so you only need to be ready at your accommodation. The 9-hour itinerary packs five stops into one day, which works because the timing and transport are arranged. If you prefer a slower pace or want to linger at one site, a private tour gives you that flexibility instead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

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 48 h before the start.

What is Yehliu Geopark and why is it worth seeing?

Yehliu Geopark sits on a 1.7-kilometer cape and holds some of Taiwan's most famous eroded rock formations, shaped by wind and water over time into distinctive shapes that make it a major draw on the Northeast Coast.

Does Jiufen Old Street really look like the setting from "Spirited Away"?

Jiufen inspired scenes in Hayao Miyazaki's film, and the red lanterns that hang throughout the old town are part of what draws visitors, especially from Japan, to see the connection. The street also featured in Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien's "A City of Sadness" and remains a film location for fans of both works.

What happens at Shifen Old Street on the Pingxi rail line?

Shifen Old Street is a former coal-transport hub where trains still run through the town, and it has become a popular spot for photography because of the puffing trains, local food stalls, souvenir shops and the old-town atmosphere that survives in the narrow lanes.

Is a tour guide included, or just the driver?

The tour includes a driver who speaks English or Mandarin, but not a guided tour service. Your driver will handle transport and timing while you explore each stop on your own or with your group.

How many people travel together on this tour?

This is a shared tour with a maximum of 8 people per departure, so you'll travel with other small groups rather than as a private party.

What language options are available?

You choose either an English-speaking driver or a Mandarin-speaking driver at checkout, and the vehicle and route remain the same either way.