6 Days Taiwan Essence Tour: Taipei & Sun Moon Lake Tour

Li Hao (Hello)! Upon your arrival, our guide and driver will pick you up at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and take you to your hotel for check-in. Stretch your muscles and relax—you have five more days at an easy pace to discover Taipei and Sun Moon Lake.

Spare Your Free Time:

Taipei is a city that simply feels happy. You might not expect a city to be so gentle and subtle, but that's exactly what it is! Everyone in Taipei genuinely radiates a relaxed comfort; they're polite and wonderfully helpful. You can wander the streets, lose yourself staring at shop signs, or strike up conversations with passersby. These are moments of "quiet happiness."

Or savor tasty local snacks at Shilin Night Market (士林夜市). It’s Taipei's top night market – the largest and most famous. First-time visitors to Taipei usually choose this one, with over 500 food stalls.

Today, you will tour unique rocks, waterfall, romantic old street in a day.

After breakfast, drive 30-40 minutes from the hotel to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园), a must-see in Taiwan. It’s the most iconic geological park in northern Taiwan, and was even praised by CNN as the most Mars-like place on Earth. The strange rocks are highlight of this 1,700-meter-long narrow cape. It could be a surprise if you facetime someone and say “Guess where I am!”

In scenic area, Queen’s head (女王头), Taiwan tourism's landmark and calling card, will amaze you. The 2 meters tall rock, with a slender neck, resembles a queen sitting majestically, facing sea with her wind-blown crown. Long way to admire other rocks! Let your imagination run wild. Nature has no fixed answers.

Yehliu is also an important stopover for migratory birds, so birder would have a double gift in March, April, and October.

Next, we'll drive 0.8h to Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布), famous as "Taiwan's Niagara Falls". Its powerful spray creates a magnificent sight. Up close, waterfall's impressive 20-meter height and 40-meter width, along with its stunning rainbows, become even more apparent.

Then, arrive at Shifen Old Street (十分老街), one of the birthplaces of sky lanterns and a popular "train street." Here, trains pass through, lined with traditional house mixed with Chinese & Japanese style. Countless films have been shot here. You can launch a sky lantern, writing your wishes on it, and feeling as if they're coming true as it ascends into sky. Be your hero or heroine!

Finally, drive 0.6h to to Jiufen Old Street (九份老街), Taiwan's famous mountain town. It prospered in the 1940s due to gold mining. Boom to bust. Revive due to Hou Hsiao-Hsien's classic film A City of Sadness. Admire winding stair alleys, rows of vintage red lanterns, old Japanese-style buildings.

While exploring, sit down and enjoy some tea. A sweet tooth will be obsessed with Jiufen's traditional taro balls. Look out, mountains and sea appear together, perfect partners to relax your mind. As night falls, sunset dyes mountains red. And red lanterns illuminate early, their lights seemingly pouring into sea!

After the tour, drive back to hotel in Taipei.

Today, enjoy a day in Taipei’s bustling city center. P.S National Palace Museum closed on Monday.

First, head to the National Palace Museum (故宫博物院). It's one of the best museums in the world. Finished in 1965 in the style of traditional Chinese palace, museum houses almost 700,000 items, showing Chinese art from 8,000 years ago all the way to today.

Most of the amazing items are on the main four-story floor. You’ll admire three national treasures: Meat-Shaped Stone (looks like real pork belly), Jadeite Cabbage with Insects (a beautiful jade carving that was part of a queen's dowry), and Mao Gong Ding (an ancient bronze pot from Western Zhou Dynasty with ancient offer” inside). Look into ancient times that have long passed.

Second, come to Taiwan’s oldest district - Dadaocheng (大稻埕) & Dihua Street (迪化街) for city walk. Daocheng, a prior top 1 trade port in 1851, is now a living museum of Taipei's urban culture. A one-stop shop sells tea, traditional Chinese medicine, food, and more. This area saves shopping memories for generations of old-school Taiwanese. Spend time, go to Dadaocheng!

Stroll along Dadaocheng Wharf to enjoy the breeze. And, wander through Dihua Street within Dadaocheng, browse its various shops, old-style architecture, and the City God Temple.

Third, visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂), one of Taipei's iconic landmarks. Completed in 1980, it was built to commemorate the first president of the Republic of China. The memorial hall features white walls and a roof adorned with sapphire blue glazed tiles.

First floor displays Japan's instrument of surrender from World War II and life of this political powerhouse. Go ahead to outer plaza. You can get a good shot to visit the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place every hour on the hour.

Then, head to the foot of Taipei 101 to admire its exterior. At 508 meters high, Taipei 101 is the most iconic landmark in Taipei, holding the title of "world's tallest building" from 2004 to 2010. Its bamboo-stalk design blesses continuous growth and prosperity in Chinese culture.

Optional: You can opt to visit the panoramic view of Taipei city on the 89th floor.

After the tour, back to hotel in Taipei.

Another day with Hot Spring and dormant volcano.

Notice: Beitou Hot Spring Museum & Thermal Valley closed on Monday.

After breakfast, head to Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投温泉博物馆), a former Public Bathhouse during Japanese colonial era. It reflects the growing Hot Spring culture in Taiwan. Building blends Victorian and Japanese architectural styles. The ground floor is constructed from brick, the second floor from wood, and the roof is made of black tiles.

Inside, first floor features an 800-kilogram Beitou Stone. Upstairs, a wooden recreation area with a large tatami hall and balcony showcases early Taiwanese film history. Interactive exhibits even let you virtually learn hot spring culture from Japanese colonial period.

Next, visit Thermal Valley (地热谷) near museum. This is one of the sources of Beitou Hot Springs, located in the core of a volcanic cluster. Clear, bluish-green water reaches 80-100°C, emitting a faint sulfur scent. Steaming never stops.

As you approach, wind carries warm mist towards you, along with sulfuric aroma. However, it's crucial not to touch spring water, as it will cause burns, so take care of your limbs. While you can't directly soak, the scenic area provides a water channel with cooler spring water to enjoy a foot bath. Bring your towel, buy some hot spring eggs!

Wrap up your day in Yangmingshan (阳明山), a volcano cluster crowned as Taiwan's back garden and premier summer resort. Its fame doesn't come from its 1,120m summit, but from its seasonal beautiful flowers, volcanic geology, and sprawling grasslands. Take Yangmingshan Scenic Area Tour Bus to Zhuzihu (竹子湖), Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), and Qingtiangang (擎天岗).

Zhuzihu is a key leisure agricultural area on Yangmingshan, most famous for its calla lily season from late March to late April and its hydrangea season from late May to mid-June. The large, full, and brightly colored flowers are perfect for photos. Xiaoyoukeng is a popular spot where you can witness volcanic sulfur gas leaks. Relax, volcano is still not awake. Afterward, visit vast grasslands of Qingtiangang, where lush green expanses unfold and cattle leisurely roam.

After the tour, drive back to hotel in Taipei.

Spend a full day in Sun Moon Lake.

From Taipei, drive 3.2h to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭), Taiwan's largest natural freshwater lake and one of its "Eight Great Sights," as well as a sacred site for Taiwan's Thao indigenous people. At 748 meters elevation, the 116 square-kilometer lake boasts emerald green waters. Lalu Island divides it into two halves: Sun Lake (north, round like the sun) and Moon Lake (south, crescent-shaped like the moon).

Look afar, lake is surrounded by mountains adorned with beautiful trees. Pagodas peek through the foliage, and sunlight dances on water's surface. That’s "jumping sunshine"! You can take a sightseeing yacht counter-clockwise to explore all the highlights (Shuishe Pier → Xuanguang Temple Pier → Ita Thao Pier → Shuishe Pier).

Departing from Shuishe Pier by sightseeing yacht, you'll pass Lalu Island (拉鲁岛), the legendary home of the Thao ancestral spirits, which partially submerged due to an earthquake. Arrive at Xuanguang Pier to disembark and try delicious tea eggs. Follow the trail to Xuanguang Temple (玄光寺) by the lake, then proceed to Xuanzang Temple (玄奘寺) to see the relics of Master Xuanzang, and finally ascend Ci'en Pagoda (慈恩塔) for a panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake. Return to the pier to head to Ita Thao Pier, enjoy local delicacies ashore, and then return to Shuishe Pier.

Then, take a bike around lakeside. This cycling path was named one of the "World's 10 Most Beautiful Cycling Routes" by CNNGo. A full loop takes three hours, but you can choose to ride the scenic 30-minute section from Shuishe Pier to Xiangshan Visitor Center. The scenery along the way is picturesque, with a gentle breeze. If you time it right for sunset, you'll see sun cast a long shadow across lake. Stop for photos or focus on the ride!

After the tour, head to hotel in Sun Moon Lake.

Today, you’ll DIY traditional Taiwan cake before heading back to Taipei.

After breakfast, drive 45 minutes to DIY Pineapple Cakes (凤梨酥). This cake stand out as Taiwan's representative traditional pastry, filling with fresh pineapple or winter melon. It’s crisp, milky, and melt-in-your-mouth. This cake symbolizes good luck in Taiwan, and you'll get to make your own good fortune!

Note: Book seven days in advance.

After that, drive 3h back to Taipei for departure. Your 6 Days Taipei Sun Moon Lake Tour concludes. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your Taiwan tour!

Extend Your Taiwan Travel: Our travel car can take you to Alishan, Kaohsiung in Taiwan.