Tour Overview
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Taiwan (中國台灣) — Round Island Journey |
| Price From | $1,425 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Classic Round-Island Discovery |
| Operator | On The Go Tours / Aborigen Tours | Data: TourRadar 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Taipei — The Heart of Taiwan
Arrive at Taoyuan International Airport. Transfer to your 4-5 star hotel in Taipei. Evening orientation: walk through the Ximending district, Taipei’s neon-lit entertainment hub where Japanese pop culture meets Taiwanese street food. Welcome dinner featuring xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at the original Din Tai Fung. Overnight in Taipei.
Day 2: Taipei Cultural Treasures
Morning at the National Palace Museum, home to the world’s greatest collection of Chinese art — over 700,000 artifacts spanning 8,000 years. The jadeite cabbage and meat-shaped stone are must-sees. Visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall with its striking blue-octagonal roof and 89 steps (his age at death). Afternoon: ascend Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building — the tuned mass damper (a 660-ton golden ball) that stabilizes the tower against typhoons and earthquakes is visible from the observation deck. Evening: Raohe Night Market for pepper buns, stinky tofu (be brave!), and bubble tea — invented right here in Taiwan. Overnight in Taipei.
Day 3: Sun Moon Lake — Heart of Taiwan
Drive through the Central Mountain Range to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest alpine lake. The eastern shore is round like the sun, the western crescent-shaped like the moon — hence the name. Boat cruise across the turquoise waters to Lalu Island, sacred to the Thao indigenous people. Visit the Wenwu Temple (Confucius, Guan Gong, and Yue Fei) and the Xuanzang Temple housing Buddhist relics. Afternoon: gentle cycling on the lakeside path, consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful bike routes. Overnight at Sun Moon Lake.
Day 4: Tainan — Taiwan’s Ancient Capital
Journey south to Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city and cultural heart. Visit Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia), built by the Dutch East India Company in 1624 — where European colonial, Chinese, and Japanese histories collide in one building. Walk Anping Old Street for coffin bread (a thick toast bowl filled with creamy chowder — so named for its resemblance to a coffin) and shrimp rolls. Visit the Confucius Temple (1665), Taiwan’s first school. Afternoon: Chihkan Tower, the former Dutch Fort Provintia. Evening: Garden Night Market, one of Taiwan’s largest. Overnight in Tainan.
Day 5: Kaohsiung — Port City Renaissance
Morning visit to Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, one of the world’s largest Buddhist complexes — the giant seated Buddha is made from 1,800 tons of bronze. Continue to the Pier-2 Art Center, a former warehouse district transformed into a vibrant contemporary art space. Walk along the Love River waterfront. Visit the Lotus Pond, where the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas invite you to enter through the dragon’s mouth and exit through the tiger’s — symbolizing turning bad luck into good fortune. Evening: Liuhe Night Market for papaya milk and seafood. Overnight in Kaohsiung.
Day 6: Kenting National Park — Tropical Taiwan
Journey to Taiwan’s tropical southern tip. Explore Kenting National Park: the Eluanbi Lighthouse at Taiwan’s southernmost point, the coral rock formations at Maobitou (Cat’s Nose), and the white-sand beaches where the Pacific meets the Taiwan Strait. This is Taiwan’s beach paradise, with a surprisingly tropical vibe complete with coconut palms and warm turquoise water. Optional snorkeling among coral reefs. Overnight in Kenting.
Day 7: East Coast — Taroko Gorge
Drive the spectacular east coast highway to Taroko National Park. The gorge is a marble-walled canyon carved by the Liwu River over millions of years. Walk the Swallow Grotto trail, where cliff swallows nest in holes in the vertical marble walls. Continue to the Eternal Spring Shrine, a memorial built over a waterfall cascading directly from the cliff face. The Tunnel of Nine Turns offers the gorge’s most dramatic section — sheer marble walls rise hundreds of meters on both sides. Continue to Taipei for farewell dinner. Overnight in Taipei.
Day 8: Depart Taipei
Morning visit to the Jiufen old gold-mining town — said to have inspired Miyazaki’s “Spirited City” — and the Shifen Waterfall. Release a sky lantern with your wishes written on it, a Pingxi tradition. Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 7 nights 4-5 star accommodation with breakfast
- National Palace Museum entry
- Taipei 101 observatory
- Sun Moon Lake boat cruise
- Taroko Gorge guided tour
- Kenting National Park entry
- Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
- All transfers and English-speaking guide
- Airport transfers
- Sky lantern at Pingxi
