Explore the natural wonders of Taiwan on a 5-day tour from Taipei. Visit Sun Moon Lake, walk with Buddhist monks at Fo Guang Shan Monastery, drive along the Maopitou Coastal Scenic Area, and more. Enjoy accommodation in 5-star hotels. Day 1: Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, and Natural Hot Spring Following hotel pickup, drive to Sun Moon Lake, located in the lofty mountains of Central Taiwan, 2,500 feet (762 meters) above sea level. Stop at the Wenwu Temple (Literature Warrior Temple), dedicated to Confucius as the Master of Pen and to Kuan Ti as the Master of Sword. Continue your sightseeing tour to the Holy Monk Shrine and Tse-En Pagoda, then proceed to your hotel for check-in. Stay overnight at the Fleur De Chine at Sun Moon Lake (or a similar hotel). Day 2: Sun Moon Lake, Fo Guang Shan Monastery, and Kaohisung After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a walk around the Xiangshan Visitor Center before driving to Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastery, the most famous Buddhist sacred site in southern Taiwan. Learn about Buddhism during a monastery walking tour and taste Buddhist vegetarian lunch (cost not included). Talk with some of the monks and nuns during a visit to the Main Shrine and Great Buddha Land, the site of a huge Buddha statue. Continue to Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, and visit Liuhe Tourist Night Market. Stay overnight at Kaohsiung in the Grand Hi Lai Hotel (or similar). Day 3: Kaohsung, Kenting, and Taitung Join a morning tour of Kenting National Park, located at Taiwan’s southern tip. Travel past 37 miles of coral-rimmed shoreline and along 3 sides of the park to see its main attractions. Stop at the Eluanpi Lighthouse and Maopitou Coastal Scenic Area (Maopitou Park). Continue to Taitung via the Southern Link Highway. Stay overnight at the Royal Hotel Chihpen in Taitung (or similar). Day 4: Taitung, East Coast National Scenic Area, and Hualien After breakfast, enjoy an exciting East Coast National Scenic Area tour. The East Coast National Scenic Area, known as Taiwan's last unspoiled land, stretches for approximately 100 miles (170 kilometers) down the east coast of the island. Weathering, erosion, and accumulation have produced a wide range of landforms. Your tour will stop at Xiaoyeliu, Sanxiantai, and the Stone Steps. By late afternoon, head to Hualien for an overnight stay at the Silks Place Taroko (or similar). Day 5: Hualien, Taroko Gorge, Taipei Spend a full day at Taroko National Park. Go to Taroko Gorge, a beautiful, narrow ravine created by the Liwu River, cut deep into the mountains of solid marble. Travel along a road that's been carved into sheer walls of rock, winding its way past forested peaks and cliffs, towering thousands of feet above it. Hundreds of feet below, the river roars past gigantic marble boulders. Stop at Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto, Marble Bridge, Tienshiang, and a marble factory before driving back to Taipei via the Su-Hwa Highway. Ride through the 8-mile-long Hsuei-Shan Long Tunnel before arriving back in the city.

Save time waiting for the elevator up to the Observatory Deck of Taipei 101, the most popular attraction in Taipei City. Take a rapid elevator into the sky as you ascend Taipei's iconic skyscraper. Once the world's tallest building, Taipei 101's 37-second ride to the 89th floor is a must for all those wanting to tick this signature item off their bucket list. See for miles around from the observation decks on the 87th and 88th floors and the rooftop. Dominating the skyline, the Taipei 101 stands over downtown Taipei at a staggering 509 meters. Enjoy the bird’s eye view of the surrounding buildings with breathtaking 360-degree panoramas at your disposal. By day or night, the experience is picture-perfect. Learn all there is to know about the spectacular bamboo architecture and technology behind this Taiwanese icon while enjoying the best views of the city with one of the deck's telescopes. Take a photo with the giant 660-tonne tuned mass damper (TMD), located between the 87th and 91st floors, which stabilizes the tower against movements caused by high winds.

Take an extremely fast elevator into the sky as you ascend Taipei's iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper. Once the world's tallest building, a 37 second ride to the 89th floor is a must for all those wanting to tick this feat off their bucket list. See for miles from the observation decks on the 87th and 88th floors and the rooftop – a heart-stopping moment not to be forgotten.  Dominating the skyline, the Taipei 101 stands over Downtown Taipei at a staggering 509 meters. Enjoy the bird’s eye view of the surrounding buildings with breathtaking 360-degree panoramas at your disposal. By day or night, the experience is picture-perfect. Learn all there is to know about the spectacular bamboo architecture and technology behind this Taiwanese icon while feasting your eyes on live, historic, and night views of the city with one of the deck's telescopes. Watch and take a photo with the giant 660-tonne tuned mass damper (TMD), located between the 87th and 91st floors, which stabilizes the tower against movements caused by high winds.

Explore the Northeast Coast of Taipei and stroll through Jiufen Village on this afternoon tour from Taipei. Visit the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, a popular swimming spot for locals, and drive past lighthouses, fishing villages, pastoral farmlands, and charming temples. Meet your guide and driver and take a ride to the northeast part of Taipei to discover the remnants of the gold-rush past. As you make your way towards Jiufen, stop at Nanya Natural Rock Formation, to see unique rock formations eroded by sea waters. Continue your tour as you drive past the Bay of Two Colors, affectionately nicknamed the Ying-Yang Sea due to its contrasting colors. Next, head to Jinguashi to see the Remains of the 13 Levels. Established in the 1930s, this copper and gold refining plant was shut down in the 1980s. Today this location has become a popular spot for shooting music videos and TV commercials. Next stop, Jiufen Village, once the center of gold mining in Taiwan. The gold is gone, but the quaint old village, built of closely-packed houses clinging to steep mountainsides, continues to offer enchanting scenery and fascinating glimpses into the lifestyles of the past. Sip on a cup of tea at one of the town's unique tea shops, or stroll along the quaint streets and shop for local snacks, like Tarro Balls, or souvenirs. Your tour ends with a return transfer to your chosen drop-off location, at Xinyi Shopping District (Taipei 101) or MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station.

Benefit with pick-up from your preferred meeting point in Taipei and journey through the city aboard a comfortable and clean car. It is also very suitable for travelers on a short layover with only a few hours to spare with the option of drop off at the airport or cruise terminal at Keelung Harbor if needed. Suggested sights include the Martyr's Shrine, Lin An Tai Historical House and Taipei 101, the 101-floor landmark skyscraper that claimed the title of the world's tallest building when it opened in 2004. Here you can have a photo and view this building with tips and hints from your local tour guide. Visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the Dalongdong Baoan Temple, originally built by clan members in Tong'an, Xiamen, who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century.  The tour is flexible and can be customized, create your own itinerary of the city and see the attractions that interest you most, once your reservation has been received, your itinerary will be built with you, according to your preference.

Explore Taipei at night and take in some of its most exciting sights on this 4-hour night tour. After meeting your tour guide at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, head to the busiest commercial district of Taipei. See the iconic “Taipei 101”, once the tallest building in the world, shining at night. This skyscraper was once the tallest building in the world that reaches a height of 508 meters, towering over the skyline of Taipei. The building has 101 stories, with an observatory deck on the 89th floor, where the visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Taipei City. Not only that, it has one of the top 3 fastest elevators in the world; from the 5th to the 89th floor, it only takes 37 seconds. Next, enjoy dinner at the Michelin Bib Gourmand Selection Restaurant, Din Tai Fung, where you'll enjoy the world-renowned Xiaolongbao (Steamed Pork Dumplings). In addition to Xiaolongbao, a number of its signature dishes will be served, such as hot and sour soup, shredded pork fried rice, seasonal vegetable, etc. (menu items are subject to change according to seasonality and availability) Then, experience the bustling Raohe Street Tourist Night Market. If you still have room for dessert or snack after dinner, the dazzling array of food stalls in the night market won’t let you down! Black pepper bun, oyster vermicelli, spare ribs stewed in herbal soup, iced sweet glutinous rice dumplings and many more, will make you eat nonstop. Next, walk across the Rainbow Bridge, one of Taipei's colorful bridges, and take in the city lights on the other side of the river. Before your tour comes to an end back at the MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station. You will encounter Taiwan’s religious practices and culture at the Songshan Ciyou Temple. The temple was built in 1753, dedicated to “Black Faced Mazu”, Goddess of the Sea. The three tiered roof is richly decorated with Chinese traditional ornaments, such as the flying dragons and the figures of deities, featuring the Chinese myths; the ornaments are crafted with Koji Pottery.

Enjoy panoramic views of Taipei from the Miramar Ferris Wheel. The second tallest ferry wheel in Taiwan offers a unique and romantic experience by day and night.  Admire the view riding up to the top of the wheel where you can see the Taipei Songshan Airport, the mountains of Dazhi and Neihu, and towering buildings like Taipei 101. At night, the Ferris wheel features three light shows inspired by the earth, wind, and sky. With the differently themed shows, the Ferris wheel radiates colorful light beams into the Taipei night sky. With 48 carriages carrying up to 288 passengers at a time, each cabin can accommodate 6 passengers for the 17-minutes experience.

Discover Taipei on this guided tour of the city and learn about the city's rich history, both past and present. After the pickup, visit the Grand Hotel, the first five-star hotel in Taiwan and learn why it has a secret channel. Then, head to the National Palace Museum, one of the world’s largest museums with a rich collection of nearly 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks through 8,000 years of Chinese civilization. Continue on to visit the fascinating neighborhood of Dadaocheng, where streets and alleys present you with a mix of history and present, tradition and modernity. Then, marvel at the atmospheric Dihua for its chic cafés, traditional shops, and mini art galleries. Move on to the monument Cheng-en Gate, which was built hundreds of years ago and is one of the five historic gates in Taipei. Have a lunch break at Taipei's most robust Ximending Commercial District, where you can find Michelin-starred food, street performance, and unique Taiwan goods. After the lunch break, experience Taiwan’s religious practice and culture in Lungshan Temple, where the locals pray and ask for God's blessing by tossing the divining blocks. Later, go to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, an impressive monument honoring the former President Chiang that can’t be missed. Watch the guard-changing ceremony in the hall, and see their impressive movements in front of Chiang Kai-shek’s giant statue. End the tour with a visit to Taipei 101 Mall. The skyscraper beside it is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Go to the top and enjoy the panoramic view of Taipei city from the observatory deck.

Experience the dynamic nightlife of Taipei and marvel at the neon lights of popular entertainments districts, along with historic monuments floodlit for the night. Benefit from pickup at your hotel in the evening, and then head to the ornate Paoan Temple to savor the peace and quiet as you admire the architecture with your guide. Go to a nearby market selling a selection of tasty street foods off the tourist path. Sample authentic dishes before heading to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Get wonderful views of the National Theater and National Concert Hall on Liberty Square. Continue towards the Elephant Mountain Trail, and pass the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper. Take an optional ride up to the observatory to get panoramic views from the top.  

Be collected from your accommodation and head to the first stop of the day, Dalongdong Baoan Temple. Explore this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Listed site, built in 1742, and learn about the fascinating story of its transformation from a wooden shrine to the masterpiece it is today. Next, head to the oldest commercial street in Taipei, Dihua Street, where you can find architecture dating back to the 1850s. Wander down the street and feel immersed in the bustling vibrancy of the atmosphere as the locals go about their busy day. Then, fast-forward to the present day to marvel at the modern architecture of Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world. Here, opt to journey up to the stunning observation deck, or enjoy some free time to explore the city streets for a spot of shopping or lunch. After Teipei 100, visit the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, which was erected in honor of Taiwan’s former president Generalissimo, who founded modern Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War. Then, head to one of the city’s signature landmarks, The Grand Hotel, which was built to accommodate foreign ambassadors after Chiang’s retreat. Finally, take a bow of honor to the fallen soldiers of the war at the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, which is also home to an elaborate array of Chinese architecture.