About your trip
This island nation off China’s east coast is a little paradise waiting to be discovered, from its modern Asian metropolises to stunning coastlines, luscious forests, and epic mountain peaks. Taiwan boasts a rich cultural heritage, blending indigenous cultures with Chinese and Japanese influences, much like the country’s incredible food scene, which extends itself to bustling street food markets and authentic local restaurants. GoTravelDaily highlights this journey, starting and ending in the capital, Taipei. You’ll visit Sun Moon Lake and the beaches of Qixingtan, explore the diverse cities of Tainan, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien, as well as embark on an unforgettable range of cultural, culinary, and adventurous activities—from releasing lanterns to cooking classes and lakeside cycles. Not bad for just one island, right?
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in street food delights in Taipei’s night markets
- Explore the stunning serenity of Sun Moon Lake
- Slurp down traditional beverages at a tea factory tasting session
- Dine on local delicacies in Taiwan’s underrated culinary capital
- Discover the quirky pagodas, luscious nature parks, and artsy spaces of Kaohsiung City
- Participate in a soulful sky lantern release on Shifen Old Street
- Learn about Taiwanese cuisine through a cooking masterclass in Taipei
Your Itinerary
Make your way to the hotel on arrival in Taipei, where you can check-in and get comfortable. The group will gather early in the evening for a welcome meeting with GoTravelDaily’s Local Insider—your expert guide for the trip—and dinner at an authentic local restaurant.
Hu House Taipei
Your first morning starts with a guided tour of the capital, Taipei. Your Local Insider will take you to see the Office of the President, the guard changing ceremony at CKS Memorial Hall, and Lungshan Temple. There’ll be time to grab lunch at one of the food court options in Taipei Main Station before embarking on our first train journey to Taichung City. High-speed rail means we’ll barely travel an hour before reaching our destination and heading straight out on a tour of the city’s finest sights, including Rainbow Village and National Taichung Theatre. This evening we’ll visit Fengjia Night Market, one of Taiwan’s most famous markets, to experience the hustle and bustle of Taiwanese street food culture and enjoy some delicious local delicacies.
Park Lane Inn
Activities Included
- Taipei City tour
- Taichung City tour
- Fengjia Night Market visit
Today we head to Sun Moon Lake—a vast body of gorgeous turquoise water surrounded by forested mountain peaks and Taiwan’s only large natural lake. We’ll visit Xiangshan Visitor Center, a uniquely designed building that houses a delightful cafe with views over the lake, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. We’ll then head out onto the waters for a gentle hour-long cruise, followed by a visit to the hilltop Wenwu Temple, which offers a higher vantage point over the lake. The area is famous for black tea, and we’ll visit Ho Ho Cha Tea factory for an engaging hand-rolling and tasting session. Having viewed the lake from various angles and indulged in numerous local delights, we’ll return to Taichung for dinner and an evening at your leisure.
Park Lane Inn
Activities Included
- Lunch
- Sun Moon Lake boat cruise
- Wenwu Temple visit
- Ho Ho Cha Tea Factory tasting
- Dinner
Our next stop is Tainan, recognized in Taiwan as the culinary capital, with an especially rich seafood culture. You can ask your Local Insider about the must-try dishes on the train, but first we’ll visit the 350-year-old Confucius Temple. Then it’s off to a famous local restaurant to finally experience traditional Tainan cuisine. Our tour of the city continues after lunch, with stops at historical sites like Chikan Tower, Anping Fort, and Anping Old Street, along with a chance for some retail therapy at Hayashi Department Store. Early evening, we’ll jump back on the bus for an hour-long trip to Kaohsiung, where you’ll check-in to the hotel and have a night at your leisure.
CitySuites Kaohsiung Chenai
Activities Included
- Confucius Temple visit
- Traditional Tainan lunch
- Tainan City tour
The modern maritime metropolis of Kaohsiung City is our playground for the day. We’ll start by visiting the city’s most iconic spots, including Dragon and Tiger Pagodas—a striking two-tower temple, with one entrance guarded by a giant tiger statue and the other by a fiery dragon—Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, and Pier-2 Art Center, a vibrant cultural art space, teeming with stunning works of street art. In the afternoon, we’ll stop at a souvenir shop for tea and snacks before being transferred to Shoushan National Nature Park, a beautiful greenspace with breathtaking views of the Kaohsiung skyline. Finally, we’ll return to the city to check out Formosa Boulevard Station’s famous ‘Dome of Light’—one of the world’s largest glass artworks—before heading out for a group dinner and spending the rest of the night at your leisure.
CitySuites Kaohsiung Chenai
Activities Included
- Kaohsiung City tour
- Shoushan National Nature Park visit
- Formosa Boulevard Station visit
- Dinner
It’s an early start this morning as we board the express train to Hualien City—equipped with breakfast-to-go from the hotel—for the longest journey of our trip (around four hours). Fortunately, the route is incredibly beautiful, and watching the mountains and ocean views of the East Coast National Scenic Area slide by the window is an experience in and of itself. After arrival, we’ll head to an area where the mountain peaks meet the calm coastline near Taroko Gorge. While the gorge remains closed due to a recent earthquake, we’ll explore the Qixingtan region, famous for its lake, ocean, and mountain views. You can choose to cycle through the natural scenery or relax at one of the cafes and enjoy an ice cream by the sea. We’ll have dinner back in Hualien and check-in to our hotel for the evening.
Park City Hotel (H)
Activities Included
- Visit to Qixingtan
- Lake/Ocean Cycling (optional)
- Dinner
This morning we’ll go on one final scenic train ride, back towards the capital, but stopping in Jiufen, an incredibly picturesque mountainside town just east of Taipei. Narrow old streets are lined with teahouses and street food shacks, including the gorgeous old Shengping Theater. We’ll have lunch with stunning mountain views over the northeastern coast before heading to Shifen Waterfall and Shifen Old Street, where we’ll participate in the releasing of sky lanterns—a famous tradition in this part of the country. We’ll finish back in Taipei City, heading to the 101 Building for a photo opportunity at Taiwan’s tallest edifice before spending the evening at Raohe Night Market—a paradise for street food lovers.
Hu House Taipei
Activities Included
- Scenic lunch
- Jiufen & Shifen tour
- Shifen Old Street Sky Lantern Experience
- Taipei 101 Building photo stop
- Evening at Raohe Night Market
Our last full day focuses on enjoying Taipei at a relaxed pace, commencing with a local cooking school, where you’ll master the art of Taiwanese cuisine and leave with a recipe or two for the journey. In the afternoon, we’ll visit The Grand Hotel, a remarkable red-column masterpiece and an example of grand Chinese architecture. Nearby is the Martyrs’ Shrine, where we’ll observe the changing of the guards ceremony before visiting the National Palace Museum. We’ll round off the day with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, allowing the group to reminisce on an unforgettable Taiwanese experience.
Hu House Taipei
Activities Included
- Taiwanese cooking experience & lunch
- The Grand Hotel visit
- Guard changing ceremony at Martyrs’ Shrine
- National Palace Museum visit
- Farewell dinner
After one last breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to say goodbye! After check-out, you can either head straight to the airport, spend more time exploring Taipei, or continue the adventure elsewhere!
What’s included
- 8 nights accommodation
- Train tickets
- 8 breakfasts
- 5 lunches
- 5 dinners
- Local Insider
- Welcome meeting
- Taipei City tour
- Taichung City tour
- Fengjia Night Market visit
- Sun Moon Lake boat cruise
- Wenwu Temple visit
- Ho Ho Cha Tea Factory tasting
- Confucius Temple visit
- Tainan City tour
- Kaohsiung City tour
- Shoushan National Nature Park visit
- Formosa Boulevard Station visit
- Visit to Qixingtan
- Jiufen & Shifen tour
- Shifen Old Street Sky Lantern Experience
- Taipei 101 Building photo stop
- Evening at Raohe Night Market
- Taiwanese cooking experience & lunch
- The Grand Hotel visit
- Guard changing ceremony at Martyrs’ Shrine
- National Palace Museum visit
What’s not included
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Hotel transfers (unless otherwise stated above)
Customer Reviews
Independent Service Rating based on 153 verified reviews.
Accommodation
Hu House Taipei
This stylish, modern city hotel near Tamsui River and in the heart of Taipei is ideal for a few days exploring Taiwan’s vibrant capital city. The rooms are crisp and classic, and the staff are super friendly. At breakfast, you can opt for both Western and Eastern style breakfasts.
Park Lane Inn, Taichung
Enjoy the comforts of home with all the benefits of hotel living at this charming spot in the middle of Taichung’s well-connected commercial district. Many rooms boast spectacular views of the city’s skyline, which look particularly special as evening descends.
CitySuites Kaohsiung Chenai, Kaohsiung
The harborside location of this modern hotel is highly desirable for a stay in Kaohsiung. Find yourself within walking distance of some of the city’s best sights, as well as an array of excellent bars and restaurants. While your food and drink desires can all be satisfied within the hotel, thanks to two lovely restaurants and a stunning rooftop Sky Bar.
Park City Hotel (H), Hualien
Our second Park City Hotel stay will be in Hualien City, where a cozy, natural space awaits for visitors to relax in the heart of the city. The beds are incredibly comfortable, and the room design is calming, with warm sunlight flowing in through the windows. Breakfast can be enjoyed either in the Park Cafe & Lounge or in Delicacy Restaurant, while downtime can be spent mastering your game skills in the Chess Room.
Covid Safety
Your safety and well-being are our top priority, so we’ve implemented the following measures on all our trips:
- Please check the entry requirements for the destination you are traveling to. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.
- We recommend confirming all guidance on official government sites and ensuring you can travel with your insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice. Our travel experts are available to assist you in finding this information.
Important Info
- If you’re joining this trip between December and March, we won’t be able to partake in the tea-rolling session on day three since local farmers will be in harvest season. In this case, we will offer further tea tasting fun!
- You must be aged 25 years or over to join this trip.
- Please check whether you need a visa to enter your destination country. For further information, refer to the official guidelines provided.
- If you have pre-existing medical conditions or accessibility requirements, please notify our Customer Support team as soon as possible.
- We won’t charge you extra if you travel alone—you’ll be allocated a twin room with another traveller of the same gender.
- For information on upgrading to a private room, sharing a room with a friend, or booking additional accommodation and airport transfers, please contact our Customer Support team.
- Please be aware that travel insurance is compulsory for all travelers.
- Itinerary, activities, and hotels are subject to change. While unlikely, changes may occur due to circumstances beyond our control. We will always strive to ensure minimal impact on your experience.
- Images on this page are for illustrative purposes and may not reflect your itinerary exactly.
Hassle-Free Booking
When booking with us, you’ll benefit from low deposit payment options, flexible cancellation options, and personal customer support.
Lifelong memories
Our unique curated trips offer you a perfect balance of exploration and relaxation. Join us and experience the world with like-minded travellers who will feel like friends from day one.
Your Trusted Travel Companion
Since 2011, millions of people have trusted GoTravelDaily to help them discover the world.
