Here we present a 10-day itinerary that will delight lovers of independent discovery, for a controlled budget in the comfort of private vehicle transport and a pre-defined itinerary. Your driver will be Chinese-speaking and will use a translation application to communicate with you at least a little and agree on meeting times. You will visit the sites of your choice, freely (access to be paid on site at the fairest price), according to the recommendations that we give you for information purposes in this program.
Your stay in the capital, Taipei, is organized by you. We will accompany you throughout the traveling portion of your trip.
Of course, all of this is flexible. We will adapt to your wishes to best meet your needs. It’s your trip first and foremost!
Welcome to Taiwan…
Daily program: Discover Taiwan in freedom!
Day 1: Taipei – Lukang - Sun Moon Lake
Meet your Chinese-speaking driver at 9 a.m. at your hotel (accommodation in Taipei booked by you). Head to Sun Moon Lake via the coastal road. Along the way, we’ll stop in Lukang. Lukang boasts some of Taiwan’s most beautiful temples, including those of Longshan and Matsu, the sea goddess feared and respected by sailors from China and Taiwan. Its temples offer unique architecture, unrivaled on the island, and are definitely worth a visit. Free time to stroll. Then, we’ll head inland to reach the shores of Sun Moon Lake.
Check-in at the 3* LeaLea Hotel (or similar). Free time for the rest of the day.
Day 2: Sun Moon Lake
Breakfast and a completely free day to enjoy the lakeside and relax at your hotel and enjoy the pool. If you wish, you can rent bikes and take a ride on the lake (private or group cruise). Activities at your own expense.
Overnight at the LeaLea Hotel 3* (or similar).
Day 3: Sun Moon Lake – Tainan
Breakfast, meet your driver, and visit the Wenwu Taoist Temple.
We’ll then head to charming Tainan, Taiwan’s unmissable former capital, for a historical, cultural, and culinary exploration of the island. This afternoon, your driver will take you to the old town, where you can explore the Koxinga Temple, Confucius Temple, Fort Provintia, and Fort Anping.
You’ll finish with a spot of shopping at the Hayashi Department Store, with its art deco façade dating back to 1932 during the Japanese colonial era. It’s the oldest shopping mall in Taiwan. Dinner is on your own (Tainan is full of night markets) and overnight at the 3-star Hotel A (or similar).
Day 4: Tainan
Breakfast followed by a day completely free at your own pace. The vehicle and driver remain available (for visits to Tainan or its surrounding areas, up to 1 hour away).
Overnight at Hotel A 3* (or similar).
Day 5: Tainan - Kenting
After breakfast, meet your driver, and head out to the outskirts of Kaohsiung, the large port city in the south of the island. Discover the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan: Fo Guan Shan Monastery (closed on Tuesdays). There, you’ll find a giant golden Buddha statue, 120 meters tall.
Drive to Kenting, the national park renowned for Cape Maobitou, one of the southernmost points on the island of Taiwan. We’ll follow the sea and its vast beaches as far as the eye can see. You can visit the impressive National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium at your own expense!
In the evening, you can also explore the night market, located just minutes from your hotel. Spend the night at the 2-star Harmony Ocean Hotel, near the seafront (or similar).
Day 6 : Kenting
Breakfast, and a day completely free to enjoy the beach or stroll along Kenting’s hiking trails. Your vehicle remains at your disposal. Overnight at the 2-star Harmony Ocean Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 : Kenting – Taitung
Breakfast, early departure. Pass through Longpan National Park, on the opposite side of the island. Splendid views of the Pacific Ocean, often in strong winds!
We continue our journey north. We’ll spend time at Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue, a site crisscrossed by country roads winding through lush, green rice paddies that’s popular with walkers and cyclists. Golf cart rentals are available.
Arrive in Taitung late in the day. Check into the 3-star Hoya Resort Hotel in Zhiben (outside Taitung). Dinner is on your own. Your hotel boasts natural hot springs with baths, perfect for a relaxing evening (free access until 11 p.m.)!
Day 8: Taitung, between sea and mountains (coastal road) – Hualien
Breakfast and drive to the north of the region along its spectacular coastal road bordering the Dulan National Forest.
Stop at Xiaoyehliu, where picturesque sandstone rock formations plunge into the sea. It’s time to explore the famous Sanxiantai, a site of islands and coral reefs. There, you’ll see three enormous rocks that have given rise to legends about three Chinese saints: Lyu-Dongbin, Li-Tieguai, and He-Xiangu, who landed on the island, hence the name (The Island of the Three Saints). The site is famous for its long walkway resembling a dragon’s body, which connects the coast to the largest island.
Continue to Hualien. Free dinner and overnight stay at the 3* Just Sleep Hotel.
Day 9 : Hualien – Wulai – Taipe
Breakfast, and we’ll slowly make our way back to Taipei via the Yilan region and the cliff road, which offers breathtaking views. We’ll stop at the Qingshui Lookout overlooking the South China Sea.
Next, head to Wulai, a green oasis adorned with pretty waterfalls, where you can hike along the river. An ethnically designed village can also be visited, although it’s quite touristy. It’s still interesting for an Aboriginal perspective.
Arrive in Taipei and check into your hotel (accommodation in Taipei booked by you). If you wish, we can drop you off at the famous Shilin Night Market for your evening (return to the hotel on your own).
Day 10: Taipei – Northeast Coast / Shifen - Yehliu – Jiufen - Taipei
This morning, we will set off to discover Shifen; it is the widest and most spectacular waterfall on the entire island!
Enjoy lunch at your leisure in the fishing village of Guihou, before continuing with a visit to the Yehliu Geological Park, with its impressive rock formations created by erosion and other natural forces. Among the rocks, the Queen’s Head is one of the most famous! But beyond this very touristy spot, take the time to venture out onto the peninsula. Venture to the highest point and its magnificent view of the ocean and cliffs.
We’ll then end the day in Jiufen, a former mining town perched on a mountainside, whose atmosphere inspired the famous manga “Spirited Away.” Today, it’s a veritable open-air market.
Return to Taipei for the night (accommodation in Taipei booked by you).
