Taipei – Tainan – Alishan – Sun Moon Lake – Taichung – Taipei
On this fully guided luxury Taiwan tour, you’ll get to experience the best the island has to offer. Famed for centuries as Ihla Formosa (beautiful island), Taiwan is a land blessed with sandy beaches, tropical forests, alpine mountain ranges, rich cultural heritage, and fantastic food.
Important Features
- Expert guides.
- Luxury accommodations.
- Gourmet food featuring both local and Western cuisines.
- All applicable taxes and surcharges.
- No forced shopping stops.
Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner
Day 1: Departing for Taipei
Fly to Taipei from a city of your choice. International air is not included. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line. Contact us for a competitive airfare quote if needed.
Day 2: Arrival in Taipei
Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel on your own by airport limousine shuttle bus or a combination of airport express train and taxi. More info on transfer is included in the finalized itinerary.
Day 3: Taipei (B/L/D)
Taipei is the capital of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. ROC should not be confused with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. With a population around 2.7 million, Taipei is also the economic, educational, and cultural center of Taiwan and one of the major hubs of air transportation in East Asia.
Our walking tour this morning begins at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which is followed by the Presidential Palace, National 228 Memorial Park, and Taipei Botanical Garden. Be prepared to walk 3-4 kilometres this morning.
We spend the afternoon exploring the National Palace Museum which houses a huge collection of national treasures removed from the Forbidden City in Beijing when the national government under the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, KMT) fled to Taiwan in 1949.
The visit to the 508-metre-tall Taipei 101, a new symbol of the city, takes place after dinner.
Day 4: Taipei (B)
We begin the day with a tour of Dalongdong Bao’an Temple, an old house of worship that embraces Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism all at the same time. We then proceed to National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
We retreat to the hotel to rest up for a couple of hours before heading out to a popular night market where the main draw is the mouthwatering street food. The market is crowded but very safe. Everyone should be able to find something to their liking due to the abundance of choices available.
Day 5: Taipei – Tainan (B/L)
After breakfast, we ride the high-speed train (2 ½ hours) to Tainan, a historical city that once served as Taiwan’s capital between 1683 and 1887.
Sightseeing in Tainan takes in An Ping Old Street, Fort Zeelandia, and Grand Matsu Temple.
Fort Zeelandia was a fortress built by the Dutch East India Company between 1624 and 1634 in the town of Anping, present-day Anping District in the City of Tainan. The fort is gone, but part of the wall surrounding the fort is still standing. The small museum onsite is fairly informative, giving the visitor a clear idea of what happened during the Dutch colonization days. The terrace inside the compound was rebuilt by the Japanese during their occupation of Taiwan between 1895 and 1945.
Day 6: Tainan – Alishan (B/L/D)
This morning, we visit Chihkan Tower and Confucius Temple. The architectural style of Chihkan Tower looks unmistakably Chinese, but it was built on the site of the original Dutch outpost known as Fort Provintia or Providentia. Part of the foundation of Fort Provintia remains and is protected by the government.
The afternoon drive to Alishan takes about 3 hours (160 km).
Day 7: Alishan (B/L)
Alishan, one of Taiwan’s most beloved mountain destinations, is a breathtaking retreat where misty forests, tea plantations, and cloud-kissed peaks create a truly enchanting landscape. Famous for its “five wonders” — the sunrise over Yushan, the sea of clouds, the Alishan Forest Railway, the ancient giant cypress trees, and the blooming cherry blossoms — this highland paradise captures the essence of Taiwan’s natural beauty.
Our full-day guided tour begins with a hike to Sisters’ Ponds – a pair of tranquil alpine lakes nestled at over 2,100 meters above sea level.
We then proceed to Shouzhen Temple. Established in 1948 by loggers who sought spiritual protection as they worked in the forests, the temple is dedicated to the Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven and is now Alishan’s largest temple.
Our schedule today also includes a train ride on an iconic mountain railway known as Alishan Forest Railway. This narrow gauge train runs from Chiayi City (30 meters above sea level) up to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area (over 2,200 meters), passing through tropical, temperate, and alpine forests. Famous for its engineering marvels — spirals, switchbacks, 50 tunnels, and 77 wooden bridges — the railway was originally built by the Japanese in 1912 to transport timber. Today, it’s a popular tourist attraction, offering scenic rides and stunning views.
Day 8: Alishan – Sun Moon Lake (B/L/D)
The morning drive to Sun Moon Lake takes 2 ½ hours (105 km).
Surrounded by forested peaks and crisscrossed by foot trails, the 7.93-square kilometre Sun Moon Lake is a popular resort destination all year round due to its mild climate (elevation 748 metres). The area around the lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of the aboriginal tribes of Taiwan. East of the lake, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is a theme park with a section devoted to recreated Indigenous villages. Displays here include centuries-old carved lintel pieces, handicrafts and weapons.
The afternoon schedule includes a cruise on Sun Moon Lake and a visit to the township nearby known as Yuchi (Fish Pond).
Day 9: Sun Moon Lake (B)
We begin today with a visit to the aboriginal cultural village. This is followed by a hike on a scenic route around the lake.
We spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring on our own.
Day 10: Sun Moon Lake – Taichung – Taipei (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we drive for one hour to Taichung, where, following a quick city tour, we board the high-speed train to Taipei, arriving after one hour.
Transfer to the hotel on arrival and have the balance of the day at leisure.
Day 11: Returning Home (B)
Your Taiwan tour comes to an end this morning. Transfer to the airport by airport express train or limousine shuttle bus. Further details on airport transfer can be found in the final update sent to you two weeks prior to commencement of your trip.
| You may also like the 7-day/5-night Essential Taiwan |
| City | Night | Hotel | Category |
| Taipei – 1st stay | 3 | Regent Taipei | luxury |
| Tainan | 1 | Silks Place Tainan | luxury |
| Alishan | 2 | Alishan Hotel | 4 stars (best available) |
| Sun Moon Lake | 2 | The Lalu Hotel | luxury |
| Taipei – 2nd stay | 1 | Regent Taipei | luxury |
Dates and Prices
| Depart | Return | Land Only* CA$/US$ |
Single Supplement** CA$/US$ |
| 2026 | |||
| 18-Mar | 28-Mar | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 25-Mar | 04-Apr | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 01-Apr | 11-Apr | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 08-Apr | 18-Apr | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 15-May | 25-Apr | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 22-Apr | 02-May | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 29-Apr | 09-May | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 27-May | 06-Jun | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 03-Jun | 13-Jun | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 14-Oct | 24-Oct | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 21-Oct | 31-Oct | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 28-Oct | 07-Nov | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 04-Nov | 14-Nov | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 11-Nov | 21-Nov | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
| 18-Nov | 28-Nov | $7990/$5830 | $2730/$1990 |
* Land Only price does not include international airfare.
** Single supplement applies to travellers without a roommate.
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What the tour price includes:
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What the tour price excludes:
See Terms & Conditions for more information. |
Know before You Go
Tourist Visa
Westerners do not need visa to visit Taiwan if the stay is less than 90 days.
Best Time to Visit Taiwan
March to early May is the high season for tourism but it can get very hot in late May.
In the summer (June–August), anywhere you go (with the exception of the mountains) you’ll experience intense heat and humidity. This is the season you should avoid if you can.
Autumn (late September–November) is pleasant when the sky is blue and the weather becomes dry and cool.
Typhoon Season
Technically, typhoons can hit Taiwan any time between June and September. However, it is in August and early September when the intensity of typhoon season reaches its peak. Consider staying away from Taiwan in August and the first half of September.
Public Holidays to Avoid
The single biggest public holiday is the Chinese spring festival, also known as Chinese New Year. This is a traditional festival based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Consequently, the date changes every year. Generally, it can fall on any day between mid-January and late February. This is the time of year when everyone goes home for family reunions. For most people, the holiday lasts for days. For some, it may mean weeks off work. If you are in Taiwan during this time, you’ll notice that most businesses stay closed for days; highways, airports and train stations also experience significant overcrowding.
Taiwan Tour Testimonials
Used Laurus for a Chinese High Speed Train tour in 2017, which was fantastic. So, when we decided to go to Taiwan, we looked to see what they offered. Their tour did not meet our dates/needs, so we opted for a private tour. They were fantastic in assisting us in developing a personal tour that thoroughly met our needs – even a last-minute request! Guides and driver were great. Taiwan is wonderful, beautiful and friendly country.
Mary Lynn P.
USA
I recently went on the Laurus Travel Taiwan 9 day tour. It was fantastic! I am 56, and was looking for a way to show my 79 year old mother Taiwan without me having to navigate all of the details – especially transportation. I was so grateful for their flexibility ahead of time, helping me to customize the end of the trip so we could stay on to visit my daughter living in Tainan.
We had a small group (just 4 of us!) – two other active adults. I didn’t feel it was an “old person’s tour” at all, which I was nervous about. The itinerary was great – Taipei, Tainan, Alishan National Park, and Sun Moon Lake. Loved all of these places. I did give feedback that Tainan deserved more time – it’s the ancient capital, and the food capital of Taiwan! The hotels were amazing – the one on Sun Moon Lake is a once in a lifetime experience! Our guide Paul and our driver Milton were prompt, friendly, and made our trip very memorable. And they made sure that my mom had options at all places if she felt she needed a rest, couldn’t do stairs, etc. Overall fantastic!!!
Teri S.
Portland, Oregon
Great tour of Taiwan
Mar 2025 • Solo
An excellent tour of Taiwan, that covered all the highlights. We had a guide and driver with us for the entire trip (there were four of us on the tour), other than a half-day we travelled by train from Taiching to Taipei.
Places visited included Taipei, Tainan, Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, and Taichung. Taroko Gorge was originally on the itinerary but have to be dropped due to earthquake damage in the area.
Hotels were uniformly excellent. The choice of restaurants was very good; food was delicious, restaurants were varied in cuisine and specialties, and I think the restaurant choices gave us a good overall introduction to Taiwanese cuisine.
I feel that this gave me a great introduction to Taiwan, and I would definitely use Laurus Travel if I were to return to Taiwan. They also do private and customized tours, so if I were to return, I could explore some new places, and return to some favourite places.
Loren S.
Calgary, Alberta
See original review on TripAdvisor