Best of Taiwan: 9-Day Self-Launched Island Loop
9 days · Taiwan
Delightful Travel charges £1,610
No-markup version: ~£795 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Delightful Travel's "Best of Taiwan 9 Days" coach tour — a full loop of Taiwan by high-speed rail, local bus and the scenic South Link line, hitting Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Kenting, Taitung, the East Coast, Jiaoxi hot springs, Kavalan Distillery, Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu. Instead of a 30-seat bilingual coach, you use Taiwan's superb public transport plus a couple of cheap self-bookable day tours, and stay in hostels and guesthouses rather than 4-5 star hotels. Same sights, roughly a third of the price — and you keep the free day to actually enjoy Taipei. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP and assume hostel/guesthouse dorms or simple doubles, street food and night market meals, and public transport; add ~£150-250 if you want a private double room every night.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Taipei — ease in at Ximending
Taipei
Fly into Taoyuan Airport and take the Airport MRT (NT$150 / ~£4) into Taipei Main Station, then hop the MRT one or two stops to a hostel in Ximending or Taipei Main. After a shower, walk Ximending's neon streets for dinner — beef noodle soup and a scallion pancake are the classic first-night meal. Optional evening: Raohe Night Market (peppered pork buns) or a cheap foot massage. Get an EasyCard at the airport or any metro station — it works on MRT, buses and bike-share for the whole trip.
🚌Airport MRT from Taoyuan to Taipei Main ~£4; MRT singles ~50p
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Ximending / Taipei Main (Star Hostel, Meander Taipei or similar)
- →Ximending wander and street food
- →Raohe Night Market (optional)
Sun Moon Lake by HSR + bus
Sun Moon Lake
Take the HSR from Taipei to Taichung (~1hr, NT$700 / ~£18) then the Nantou bus 6670 direct to Sun Moon Lake (~1h40, NT$190 / ~£5). Check into a lakeside guesthouse in Shuishe or Ita Thao. Spend the afternoon on the lake: the Shuishe–Ita Thao ferry (NT$300 / ~£8) links the piers, and the lakeside bike path from Shuishe is one of Taiwan's best short rides (bike hire ~£4/hr) — the route the coach tour never has time for. In Ita Thao, wander the Thao indigenous village and eat a tea egg and millet mochi. Sunset at Wenwu Temple, then Ci'en Pagoda if you have legs left (free, ~20 min climb).
🚌HSR Taipei–Taichung ~£18; Nantou bus 6670 to Sun Moon Lake ~£5; lake ferry ~£8
🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Shuishe or Ita Thao (~£22-30 double, dorms ~£12)
- →Sun Moon Lake ferry hop
- →Lakeside bike path
- →Ita Thao indigenous village
- →Wenwu Temple and Ci'en Pagoda at sunset
Tainan old town to Kaohsiung
Tainan → Kaohsiung
Bus back to Taichung and take the TRA or HSR south to Tainan (~1hr). Drop bags at the station lockers and walk the Anping old town: Fort Zeelandia (NT$50 / ~£1.30), the treehouse ruins, and Anping Old Street for tofu pudding, shrimp rolls and coffin bread. Add the Chihkan Tower and Shennong Street lanes if time allows. Mid-afternoon, take a local TRA train to Kaohsiung (~40 min, NT$70 / ~£2). In the evening, ride the MRT to Formosa Boulevard's Dome of Light and eat your way through Liuhe Night Market (papaya milk, grilled squid).
🚌Bus to Taichung + train to Tainan ~£12; TRA Tainan–Kaohsiung ~£2; Kaohsiung MRT ~£1
🛏Hostel near Kaohsiung Main Station or Liuhe Night Market (~£10-14 dorm)
- →Fort Zeelandia
- →Anping Old Street food crawl
- →Chihkan Tower (optional)
- →Formosa Boulevard Dome of Light
- →Liuhe Night Market
Fo Guang Shan and down to Kenting
Kaohsiung → Kenting
Morning bus 8050 or the E-Da/Harvard express from Kaohsiung to Fo Guang Shan Monastery (~40 min, NT$70 / ~£2) — entry is free, and you can see the 36-metre Buddha Amitabha statue, the Buddha Museum, and sit in on a short meditation session or the monastery's tea and vegetarian lunch (donation-based). Back to Kaohsiung by early afternoon, then the Kenting Express bus 9189 from Zuoying HSR straight to Kenting (~2hr, NT$400 / ~£10). Base yourself in Kenting main street; evening on the night market strip and a beer on the beach.
🚌Bus to Fo Guang Shan ~£2 return; Kenting Express 9189 ~£10
🛏Surf hostel or guesthouse in Kenting main street (~£12-18)
- →Fo Guang Shan Monastery and Great Buddha Land
- →Vegetarian monastery lunch
- →Kenting night market
- →Beach sunset
Kenting National Park, then the South Link line to Taitung
Kenting → Taitung
Hire a scooter (NT$600 / ~£15 a day with an international driving permit) or use the Kenting街车 shuttle bus to hit the national park: Maopitou coral rock, Chuanfan Rock, Eluanbi Lighthouse (NT$60) at Taiwan's southern tip, and Longpan Park's grasslands for the wind and views. Snorkel or swim at Wanlitong or Baishawan if the weather's on your side. Late afternoon, take the Kenting Express or local bus back to Fangliao (~1hr) and board the TRA South Link line to Taitung (~1h30, NT$200 / ~£5) — the climb through the mountains at dusk is the scenic bit. Taitung evening: Tiehua Music Village if it's open, and a bowl of hot spring vegetables.
🚌Scooter hire ~£15 or shuttle bus ~£4; bus to Fangliao ~£4; TRA South Link to Taitung ~£5
🛏Guesthouse in Taitung city or near the railway station (~£14-20)
- →Kenting National Park loop
- →Eluanbi Lighthouse
- →Longpan Park
- →Swim or snorkel at Wanlitong
- →South Link railway
- →Tiehua Music Village (evening)
East Coast scenic route to Hualien
Taitung → East Coast → Hualien
This is the day the coach does in one long drive — do it by bus and train and it's cheaper and better. Take the East Coast line bus (or the TRA to Chenggong/Sanxiantai area) to Sanxiantai to walk the eight-arch cross-sea bridge to the island (~£3-4), stop at Xiaoyeliu's sandstone platform (free), and if you're feeling active hire a bike at Shitiping for the cliff-hugging coastal path. Continue north by TRA to Hualien (~2hr from Taitung, NT$350 / ~£9). Evening: Dongdamen Night Market — Hualien's best food, plus grilled mochi and steamed dumplings. Note: Taroko Gorge access is still restricted after the 2024 earthquake — check the national park site before planning anything there.
🚌East Coast bus and trains ~£10-14 total
🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Hualien station (~£12-18)
- →Xiaoyeliu
- →Sanxiantai cross-sea bridge
- →Shitiping coastal trail
- →Dongdamen Night Market
Train up to Jiaoxi hot springs and Kavalan Distillery
Hualien → Jiaoxi / Yilan
Morning TRA up the cliffs to Yilan (~1h50, NT$300 / ~£8) — sit on the left for the Pacific views. Base in Jiaoxi, Yilan's hot-spring town. Afternoon: the free public hot-spring foot bath in Tangwei Gou park, then a self-guided visit to the King Car Kavalan Whisky Distillery (free entry, tastings NT$100-200 / ~£3-5, book the distillery tour online in advance). If whisky isn't your thing, swap in the National Center for Traditional Arts (NT$150 / ~£4) for puppet shows, paper-making and a proper look at Taiwanese folk arts. Evening: a night soak in a private hot-spring room (NT$400-600 / ~£10-15) — do this instead of paying for hotel spa access.
🚌TRA Hualien–Jiaoxi ~£8; local bus to Kavalan ~£1
🛏Hot-spring guesthouse in Jiaoxi (~£18-28)
- →Jiaoxi hot springs and foot bath
- →Kavalan Distillery tasting
- →National Center for Traditional Arts (alternative)
- →Private hot-spring soak
Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen by bus and TRA
Jiaoxi → Northeast Coast → Taipei
An early TRA to Ruifang or Keelung, then local bus 790/1815 to Yehliu Geopark (NT$80 / ~£2) for the Queen's Head and honeycomb rock formations before the tour buses arrive. Continue to Jiufen: climb the old street for taro balls, peanut ice-cream wraps and teahouses with sea views (A-Mei Teahouse is the classic). Then the TRA to Shifen for the sky lantern ceremony (NT$200-250 / ~£5-6 for a four-colour lantern, write your wishes and release it on the tracks) and the short walk to Shifen Waterfall. Evening: TRA back into Taipei, check into a hostel, and finish with dinner in a night market or a cheap izakaya near Zhongxiao Dunhua.
🚌Local train and bus combination ~£6-8; Shifen lantern ~£5
🛏Hostel in Ximending or Zhongzheng, Taipei (~£12-18 dorm)
- →Yehliu Geopark
- →Jiufen old street food
- →Shifen sky lantern
- →Shifen Waterfall
- →Taipei night market dinner
Free morning in Taipei and departure
Taipei
Use the free day the itinerary promises: Taipei 101's observation deck (book online ~£17) or the free-ish alternatives — Elephant Mountain sunrise hike (free, 25 min up, best city view in Asia), Songshan Ciyou Temple and the Raohe food stalls, or the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial and the 228 Peace Park. Grab a last bowl of beef noodles, buy pineapple cakes for home, then take the Airport MRT from Taipei Main to Taoyuan (~£4). If your flight is late and Taroko is open, a long day trip to Hualien is possible but very tight — better saved for next time.
🚌MRT ~£2; Airport MRT to Taoyuan ~£4
🛏—
- →Elephant Mountain hike
- →Taipei 101 observation deck (optional)
- →Songshan Ciyou Temple and Raohe
- →Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Self-launched vs. Delightful Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Delightful Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£795 | £1,610 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £815 per person (51%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Delightful Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£795
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Taiwan: 9-Day Self-Launched Island Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £795 per person for 9 days in Taiwan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Delightful Travel?+
Yes — Delightful Travel charges around £1,610 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £795 — a saving of roughly £815 (51%) per person.
How long is the Taiwan trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Taiwan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Taiwan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.