5-Day Taiwan Tour from Taipei: Sun Moon Lake to East Coast
A single tour covers the whole island instead of piecing together five separate trips.
This 5-day guided tour circles Taiwan from Taipei, visiting Sun Moon Lake, Tainan's Fort Zeelandia and Anping Old Street, the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Kenting National Park, and the East Coast's Sanxiantai and Shitiping before returning to Taipei. The tour includes a professional English, German or Chinese-speaking guide; four nights in 5-star hotels; entrance fees to all sites; an air-conditioned vehicle; a one-way train ride from Hualien to Yilan; and local insurance. Meals and beverages are not included, and you'll choose your room type and language option at checkout.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Taipei to Sun Moon Lake and Taichung
- Depart from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake
- Visit Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area
- Tour Ita Thao indigenous village
- Visit Ci’en Pagoda
- Explore Xuanzang Temple
- Visit Wenwu Temple
Day 2: Tainan and Kaohsiung Exploration
- Breakfast at hotel
- Travel to Tainan
- Visit Fort Zeelandia
- Walk along Anping Old Street
- Arrive in Kaohsiung
- Visit Fo Guang Shan Monastery
Day 3: Kenting National Park and Taitung
- Breakfast at hotel
- Travel to Kenting National Park
- Visit Maopitou
- Visit Eluanpi Lighthouse
- Explore Longpan Park
- See Chuanfan Rock
- Stay overnight in Taitung
Day 4: East Coast Scenic Tour to Yilan
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Xiaoyeliu (Fugang Geopark)
- Visit Sanxiantai
- Visit Shitiping
- Train ride from Hualien to Yilan
- Stay overnight in Jiaoxi hot-spring hotel
Day 5: Yilan to Taipei Return
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit King Car Kavalan Whisky Distillery
- Visit National Center for Traditional Arts
- Bus transfer back to Taipei
- Drop off at hotel or designated point
What’s included
- Professional licensed tour guide in your chosen language.
- four nights in 5-star hotel accommodation with your choice of single, double or twin room.
- entrance fees to all attractions.
- air-conditioned vehicle throughout the tour.
- one-way train ride from Hualien to Yilan.
- toll and parking fees.
- local general liability insurance.
Times
- Monday 07:30
Before you book
Operated by Edison Travel Service
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
You depart central Taipei on the first morning and head inland to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan's largest freshwater lake, divided by Lalu Island so the eastern shore mirrors the sun and the western shore a crescent moon. After lunch, a scenic bus tour takes you around the lake to Ita Thao, an indigenous Thao village; Ci'en Pagoda, built by the late President Chiang Kai-shek; and two temples: Xuanzang Temple, a Buddhist sanctuary, and Wenwu Temple, a Taoist complex devoted to the Martial God and the God of Literature. Your guide provides commentary on the area's history and indigenous culture as you move between stops.
Day two moves south to Tainan, Taiwan's oldest city. You walk Fort Zeelandia, a Dutch East India Company fortress from the 17th century that was rebuilt after near destruction by the British and later the Japanese, then stroll Anping Old Street, established over 300 years ago and Taiwan's first officially named street, where local food stalls sell tofu pudding, shrimp rolls, fish skin dishes and beef soup. By afternoon you reach Kaohsiung and the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, a major Buddhist complex founded in 1967. Its Great Buddha Land holds a 36-meter golden statue of Buddha Amitabha (the tallest standing Buddha in Southeast Asia) surrounded by 480 smaller statues. The monastery also houses the largest seated Buddha Amitabha statue, authentic tooth relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, art galleries, a theatrical auditorium and a children's gallery.
Day three takes you south to Kenting National Park, Taiwan's first national park, known for coastal rock formations, marine life and diving. You stop at Maopitou (literally cat's nose, named for its resemblance to a crouching cat), the Eluanpi Lighthouse from the Qing Dynasty, Longpan Park (a coral limestone plateau overlooking the Pacific shaped by rainfall erosion), and Chuanfan Rock, a sail-shaped natural formation. You stay in Kaohsiung again, leaving you free to explore the harbor city on your own. Day four follows the East Coast, the island's least developed stretch. You visit Xiaoyeliu (Fugang Geopark), where natural rock formations resemble those on the northern coast; Sanxiantai, an offshore island connected by a cross-sea bridge with coral reefs and a prominent landmark of the East Coast National Scenic Area; and Shitiping, a sea erosion terrace with promontories, sea grooves, sea cliffs and potholes carved by millions of years of water erosion. A one-way train ride takes you from Hualien to Yilan, and you stay at a 5-star hot-spring hotel in Jiaoxi.
On the final day, your guide takes you to the King Car Kavalan Whisky Distillery, known for whisky brewed from mountain spring water and aged in oak barrels, then to the National Center for Traditional Arts, a park of traditional Taiwanese buildings where you can watch puppet shows, try pottery making and explore exhibitions on Taiwan's heritage. The tour ends with a bus ride back to Taipei and drop-off at your hotel or a designated point.
Is this one for you?Book the English option if you want a straightforward guide experience, or choose German-English if you speak both languages and want simultaneous commentary: the guide delivers both at once, so you don't miss details. If you're traveling solo, the single room option keeps costs down. If you're with a partner or friend, double or twin rooms let you share. Tipping is not required, but it's a way to show appreciation for your guide's service if you choose to.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, German, Chinese and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).
What's included in the 5-day Taiwan tour and what do I need to pay for separately?
The tour includes a professional guide in English, German or Chinese; four nights in a 5-star hotel; entrance fees to all attractions; the air-conditioned vehicle; a one-way train ride from Hualien to Yilan; toll, parking and local insurance. Lunch, dinner and beverages are not included, so you'll need to budget for meals at local restaurants and convenience stores: most don't accept credit cards, so carry cash.
How much walking is involved each day on this tour?
A small amount of walking is involved across the five days. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with physical disabilities.
Does the tour include pickup from my Taipei hotel?
Pickup is included in at least one booking option. Confirm the pickup details when you select your specific room and language combination at checkout, as pickup availability may vary by option.
What is Fo Guang Shan Monastery and why is it significant?
Fo Guang Shan Monastery is a major Buddhist complex in Kaohsiung founded in 1967. It houses the Great Buddha Land, featuring a 36-meter golden statue of Buddha Amitabha (the tallest standing Buddha in Southeast Asia) surrounded by 480 smaller statues, plus the largest seated Buddha Amitabha statue and authentic tooth relics of Shakyamuni Buddha. The compound also includes art galleries, a theatrical auditorium and a children's gallery.
Why does the itinerary include a train ride from Hualien to Yilan?
The one-way train ride from Hualien to Yilan on day four replaces a long bus journey along the East Coast, giving you a comfortable alternative after visiting the coastal sites of Xiaoyeliu, Sanxiantai and Shitiping. It also marks the transition from the east side of the island back toward the north before your final day in Yilan.
5-Day Taiwan Tour from Taipei: Sun Moon Lake to East Coast
5d · EN · DE +2 · at your hotel
from US$ 790 per person
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