Best of Taiwan 9 Days Tour

Taiwan packs an impressive amount into this nine-day island circuit. You’ll move from Taipei’s city streets to Sun Moon Lake, Kenting’s coastal rocks, Taitung hot springs, the rugged East Coast, and the old gold-mining lanes of Jiufen without arranging each transfer yourself.

I like the balance between famous sights and less urban places. The hot-spring stay in Chihpen gives the busy schedule a welcome pause, while the smaller East Coast stops show you a side of Taiwan that is easy to miss on a first visit.

The main catch is the pace. Several days involve about eight hours of touring and road travel, and the non-refundable booking policy leaves little room for a change of plans. A moderate level of fitness is expected, especially at scenic sites with walking and steps.

Key points to know before booking

• Sun Moon Lake brings temples, a pagoda, and Thao culture into one central Taiwan stop.
• Kenting delivers coastal rock formations and marine scenery, including Maopitou, Chuanfan Rock, Longpan Park, and Eluanpi Lighthouse.
• Chihpen’s five-star hot-spring resort breaks up the driving between the south and East Coast.
• The East Coast is the tour’s most unusual sightseeing day, with Xiaoyeliu, Sanxiantai, Shitiping, and Fanshuliao.
• Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen combine geology, old streets, food, and waterfalls in one northern Taiwan outing.
• You get one free day in Taipei, useful for museums, markets, shopping, or a slower city day.

What this Taiwan circuit does well

This tour is built for you if you want to see far more than Taipei but do not want to manage Taiwan’s hotels, long-distance routes, and daily transport on your own. An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group between stops, and the maximum group size is 20 people. That is small enough for a more personal road trip, though it is still a group tour rather than a private journey.

The accommodation plan is a strong part of the package. You receive eight nights in local four- and five-star hotels, including the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Taipei Ximen or a similar Taipei property, Grand Hilai Kaohsiung or a similar five-star hotel, and Hotel Royal Chihpen or an equivalent hot-spring resort.

The price is $2,121.64 per person. That is not a bargain-basement Taiwan trip, but it covers hotels, daily breakfast, the English-speaking land tour, and transport for a long loop around the island. You are paying for convenience and a higher hotel standard, not just sightseeing tickets. Lunches, dinners, drinks, insurance, and personal expenses remain yours.

The tour has received a 3.3 rating from three published ratings, so I would not book it expecting a polished luxury experience at every turn. Still, one useful practical detail is the support available when hotel trouble occurs. Melissa has been praised for responding quickly and helping directly with accommodation problems in Taiwan. Save the local contact details as soon as you receive them.

Day 1: A soft landing in Taipei

Your arrival begins with a representative meeting you at the airport and transferring you to your Taipei hotel. Check-in is followed by free time in the afternoon, which is exactly what you need after a long flight.

The hotel area is Ximen, a handy base for getting your first feel for Taipei. You can keep this first afternoon simple, find food, walk around the neighborhood, and adjust to the time zone rather than rushing into a formal sightseeing program.

No meal is included on arrival day. That gives you freedom, but it also means you should be ready to handle your own dinner and any small purchases after check-in.

Day 2: Sun Moon Lake and the Thao homeland

The trip heads into central Taiwan for Sun Moon Lake, the island’s largest freshwater lake. Its name comes from the lake’s two sections, one shaped like the sun and the other like a crescent moon.

The setting is the real draw here. Forested hills surround the water, and the area is associated with the Indigenous Thao people. The tour includes Ita Thao Indigenous Village, where you can get a sense of local culture and browse for food or small souvenirs.

After lunch, a bus tour takes you around the lake and includes Ci’en Pagoda, Xuanzang Temple, and Wenwu Temple. These stops give the day variety. You are not looking only at water and mountains, but also at religious sites and viewpoints tied to Taiwan’s cultural traditions.

The schedule lists admission as free, but meals are not included unless specifically stated. Plan to pay for lunch yourself. This is an eight-hour day, so comfortable shoes and a light rain layer make sense.

Day 3: Tainan’s Dutch fort and Kaohsiung’s Buddhist center

The route continues south to Tainan, a city with deep connections to Taiwan’s colonial and trading past. Fort Zeelandia began as a Dutch-built fortress and was later restored by the Japanese. The surviving site gives you a compact introduction to the forces that shaped Taiwan before the modern era.

Anping Old Street follows. It is described as Taiwan’s first officially named street, and it is a good place to try local snacks. Look for tofu pudding and shrimp rolls, then leave room for whatever catches your eye. Food is one of the best reasons to slow down here, even though the tour day keeps moving.

After lunch, you continue to Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan’s largest city. Fo Guang Shan Monastery is the major stop. Its 36-meter golden Buddha is surrounded by 480 smaller statues, creating a grand religious complex rather than a quick photo stop.

You also have the chance to learn about Buddhism from a local monk. That adds more meaning than simply walking past statues, though the depth of the discussion may depend on the timing and group.

Breakfast is included, but lunch and dinner are not. Your Kaohsiung hotel is listed as Grand Hilai Kaohsiung or a similar five-star property.

Day 4: Kenting’s southern coast and a Chihpen soak

Kenting National Park changes the mood again. Here the focus is coastal geology and marine biodiversity, with a string of natural viewpoints and rock formations.

Maopitou and Chuanfan Rock show how wind and water have shaped the southern shoreline. Eluanpi Lighthouse adds a human landmark to the day, while Longpan Park gives you broad coastal scenery. These stops are best approached as short walks and viewpoints, not as one long hike.

The tour then travels toward Taitung along the South Link Highway. This is one of the longer road days, but it ends at one of the most appealing hotels on the circuit, Hotel Royal Chihpen or an equivalent five-star hot-spring resort.

The carbonate hot springs are promoted as a way to improve blood circulation and ease fatigue. You should treat the bath as a chance to relax rather than a medical treatment, but it is still a smart break after several full sightseeing days.

Breakfast is included. Pack your swimsuit if you plan to use the hot-spring facilities, although the supplied details do not specify exactly what the resort provides.

Day 5: Four stops along the East Coast

The East Coast day is likely to be the most scenic and geologically interesting part of the trip. It is also another long day, so the value comes from seeing several places that are awkward to combine without a vehicle.

Xiaoyeliu features rocks shaped by weathering and sea erosion. The formations resemble those at Yehliu, but the setting gives this stop its own character and makes a useful connection with the northern coast visit later in the tour.

Sanxiantai is known for its offshore island and cross-sea bridge. The bridge is a memorable structure, but you should expect walking if you want to see the area properly. Shitiping offers a sea-eroded terrace marked by cliffs, grooves, and potholes formed over millions of years.

Fanshuliao completes the listed group of East Coast stops. The available details do not explain exactly how long you stay at each place, so expect the guide to adjust the timing based on road conditions and the day’s schedule.

This is a day for sturdy shoes, water, sun protection, and patience. The scenery is a major reason to choose the tour, but the amount of time in the vehicle may feel tiring if you prefer slow travel.

Day 6: Whisky, traditional arts, and the return to Taipei

The first stop is King Car Kavalan Whisky Distillery in Yilan. Kavalan uses water from the Central Mountain and Xueshan Mountain ranges, and the tour explains how the whisky is made and aged in oak barrels.

The distillery adds something different to an itinerary otherwise heavy on temples, rocks, and coastal views. You can see the production process and notice the aroma of whisky aging in barrels. The supplied information does not state whether tastings are included, so do not assume that the tour price covers them.

Next comes the National Center for Traditional Arts, a large cultural park devoted to Taiwanese heritage. You can view preserved traditional architecture, exhibitions, live performances, and hands-on workshops. This is a good place to buy culturally themed souvenirs, but your available time may not allow you to do every activity.

The day ends back in Taipei. Breakfast is included, and you return to the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Taipei Ximen or a similar property.

Day 7: Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen’s waterfall

Northern Taiwan gets a full day, and this is one of the most appealing combinations on the route.

Yehliu Geopark is famous for rocks shaped by wind and sea erosion. The Queen’s Head is the best-known formation, but the broader park matters because it lets you see the range of coastal shapes rather than only one landmark. Stay alert for uneven ground and follow the marked paths.

Jiufen was once a gold-mining town and now draws visitors for its hillside lanes, views, food, and old-fashioned atmosphere. Try the traditional taro ball dessert. The narrow streets can be crowded, and the hills make this a less relaxing stop for anyone who dislikes steps or tight walkways.

The itinerary then includes Shifen Waterfall, often called Taiwan’s Little Niagara Falls. It is a straightforward scenic counterpoint to Jiufen’s streets and Yehliu’s rock formations.

At Shifen Station, you can buy food and souvenirs and see a place tied to Taiwan’s railway history. The overview also highlights flying a sky lantern in Shifen. That is one of the tour’s more distinctive activities, but the details do not clearly state whether the lantern cost is included. Budget for personal purchases.

This is another full eight-hour day. The reward is variety, but you should not expect long, unhurried visits at every stop.

Day 8: Your free Taipei day

A free day is essential on a fast-moving circuit, and this one lets you choose your own pace. You can stay close to Ximen, explore more of Taipei, or simply rest before flying home.

Because no set activity is supplied, your choices and costs are your own. The tour does not specify museum admissions, food arrangements, or optional excursions for this day, so think of it as genuine free time rather than a hidden add-on.

I would use it to revisit a neighborhood you liked, catch up on shopping, or leave room for weather changes from earlier days. If rain has affected an outdoor stop, this spare day may also give you some flexibility, though the tour does not promise schedule changes.

Breakfast is included.

Day 9: Airport transfer and departure

After breakfast, you are collected from the hotel lobby and taken to the airport four hours before your flight departure. That early transfer is practical for an international departure, though it may feel excessive if your flight is later in the day.

The activity begins and ends at the airport meeting point listed in Taoyuan City. Confirm the pickup instructions and flight details after booking, since the booking confirmation is subject to availability and is expected within 48 hours.

How the pace, group, and price affect the experience

The maximum of 20 people is worth noting. You will have company and a guide, but the group is not tiny. Loading the vehicle, gathering at viewpoints, and waiting for everyone can use some of the time at each stop.

Every touring day is listed at about eight hours. That includes sightseeing and transport, so some days will feel more like a road trip than a sequence of long visits. The benefit is reach. You see Sun Moon Lake, the far south, Taitung, the East Coast, and the northern coast in one booking.

The price makes the most sense if you value four- and five-star accommodation and dislike organizing transfers. It is less attractive if you prefer inexpensive hotels, independent meals, public transport, or several nights in one place.

Daily breakfast is included, but other meals and beverages are not stated as included. Set aside money for food, snacks, whisky-related purchases, taro balls, tofu pudding, shrimp rolls, souvenirs, and the sky lantern.

The tour requires moderate physical fitness. You should be comfortable with full sightseeing days, outdoor viewpoints, uneven surfaces, and some walking at places such as Jiufen, Sanxiantai, Yehliu, and Shifen.

Should you book the Best of Taiwan 9 Days Tour?

Book it if you want a broad first look at Taiwan with hotels, road transport, breakfast, and an English-speaking guide handled for you. The strongest reasons are the East Coast, the Chihpen hot-spring night, the mix of natural sites and cultural stops, and the free day in Taipei.

Think twice if you need a slow schedule or want control over every meal, hotel, and stop. The tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, so confirm your dates, flight plans, fitness level, and appetite for long road days first.

For the right person, this is an efficient way to circle the island. You will trade independence and flexibility for convenience, coverage, and a comfortable hotel base.

FAQ

How long is the Best of Taiwan tour?

The tour lasts approximately nine days and includes eight nights of accommodation.

Where does the tour start?

The listed starting point is Airport Terminal 2337 at 9-1 Hangzhan S Road, B2, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the listed meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 20 travelers.

Is transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned vehicle and professional English land tour service are included.

Are hotels included?

Yes. The package includes eight nights in local four- and five-star hotels, or similar properties.

Is breakfast included every day?

Daily breakfast is included where stated. Breakfast is listed on the Kaohsiung, Taitung, Taipei, and departure days, while meals are not listed for the arrival day or Sun Moon Lake day.

What is the physical fitness requirement?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The tour includes outdoor scenic areas, walking, and full touring days.

Is the tour refundable?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.

How soon is booking confirmation received?

Confirmation is expected within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.