10 Day Trip to Taiwan: Oct 2026
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About
Taiwan is on the Lonely Planet's list of must see unusual destinations and I have heard it's an amazing place to visit with fabulous temples, beautiful lakes and tasty food markets to see. Below is an itinerary of what we can do when there.
Day one
Today will be a travelling day, we will get our flight from the UK to Taiwan
Day Two
We will arrive in Taiwan's capital Taipei today. I'm sure we will be tired after our long journey so after a,rest at our hotel we can head to the famous Shilin Night market to sample some delicious Taiwanese cuisine and haggle for a bargain or two from their clothing and handbag stalls.
Day Three
Today we will spend a full day in the capital. Taiwan’s political and financial heart, Taipei (台北; táiběi) is one of the most densely inhabited cities on earth. Surrounded by mountains at the northern tip of the island, the capital is a melee of motor scooters, markets, skyscrapers and temples,
We can visit the mind-blowing National Palace Museum and . Grapple with Taiwan’s complex history on a tour of the Presidential Building, National Taiwan Museum and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, located in Zhongzheng district, the city’s historic and political core. It’s well worth exploring the old districts of Wanhua and Datong, home to Taipei’s dwindling stock of ramshackle wooden houses and early twentieth-century facades, as well as venerable Longshan Temple, the best introduction to the country’s religious traditions. Further north, Dihua Street is packed with traditional stores, while Baoan Temple is one of the country’s most elegant shrines, and the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines is an excellent introduction to Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. East Taipei offers a change of pace and scenery, with Xinyi district a showcase of gleaming office towers and glitzy shopping malls, all of them overshadowed by cloud-scraping Taipei 101. Eating in Taipei is always memorable, with a huge choice of exceptional restaurants, teahouses and some of Taiwan’s best night markets, while a vast range of department stores, specialist shops and antique stalls makes shopping in the city just as rewarding. To the north, Yangmingshan National Park and Beitou are where the best hikes and hot springs are located, while Maokong and Wulai to the south provide a taster of Taiwan’s wilder hinterland.
Day Four
Today we will catch the train to Taichung which takes around 2_hours. Sprawled over the flat coastal plains west of the mountains, TAICHUNG (台中; táizhōng) is Taiwan’s third-largest city, the unofficial capital of central Taiwan and an important transport hub for the region. It’s also regarded as the country’s most attractive place to live: the climate is drier, the air less polluted, housing cheaper, and the streets greener and less crowded than Taipei or Kaohsiung. Taiwanese tea culture is particularly developed here; the city’s appealing mix of elegant classical teahouses and stylish contemporary cafés are the perfect setting for a varied range of teas. Taichung’s old centre still contains attractive remnants of its Japanese colonial past and a smattering of unusual temples, while in the modern western half of the city, I.M. Pei’s Luce Memorial Chapel is a striking piece of modern architecture and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is a world-class contemporary art gallery. Beyond the suburbs, the chief attractions are Dajia and its famous Mazu Pilgrimage, and the 921 Earthquake Museum.
Day Five
The Sun Moon Lake is easily reached from TAICHUNG. Hemmed in by lush tiers of mountains in the heart of Taiwan, SUN MOON LAKE (日月潭; rìyuè tán) is the island’s largest freshwater body, its calm, emerald-green waters creating some of the country’s most mesmerizing landscapes. The lake’s name is inspired by its distinctive shape, with a rounded main section likened to the sun and a narrow western fringe compared to a crescent moon. Encircling it all is a 33km road, dotted with fascinating temples and picturesque pavilions, each offering a unique perspective on the waters below, while the cable car provides a stupendous panorama of the whole lake.
Day Six
Today we will head to Kaohsiung which takes 3 hours. Taiwan’s second city, and one of the largest container ports in the world, KAOHSIUNG (高雄; gāoxióng) has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis in recent years, from polluted industrial centre of two million people to green city of lush parks, waterside cafés, art galleries and museums – all linked by a spanking-new transport system.
The older districts of Zuoying, Yancheng and Cijin Island contain plenty of historic sights and traditional snack stalls, while modern Kaohsiung is best taken in with an evening stroll along the Love River or a visit to soaring 85 Sky Tower close to its bustling shopping districts. With more time, there’s plenty to see on the slopes of Gushan to the west, and around Lotus Lake in Zuoying to the north. You could also hike up to the ridge of hills known as Chaishan, home of Kaohsiung’s famously capricious troupe of monkeys. Top things to do here are a trip to Liuhe Night Market to sample the amazing food and an evening gondola ride along the Love River and a visit to see the golden Fo Guang Shan Buddha
Days Seven and Eight
Today we will make the 4 hour trip to Hualien. The biggest city on the east coast, HUALIEN (花蓮; huālián) sits on a mountain-fringed plain 26km south of Taroko Gorge, making an ideal base for expeditions to Taroko National Park. It is also one of the world’s major producers of marble, and elegant stonework is used liberally all over the city to adorn temples, pavements, the airport and even the train station. The relatively large number of tourists passing through give Hualien a laid-back, holiday-town atmosphere, with a growing number of pleasant teahouses and attractive restaurants where you can try delicious local specialities, as well as a handful of absorbing temples and an inexpensive stone market. Top things to do here are Wandering through canyons in Taroko National Park, relaxing at Liyu Lake and a visit to the Rainbow night market.
Day Nine
Today we will head back to Taipei which takes around 2 hours. We will then catch an evening flight back
Day Ten
Arrive home to UK
Important Info
Flights look like they will cost around £750. I've also looked at accommodation and if we share twin rooms this should work out around £450. There is a £100 deposit to pay to secure your place. This trip is a bit different and really varied with lots of stuff to see such as temples, lakes, markets, skyscrapers, local life, countryside, canyons and bustling cities. Please book on if you are interested and I will be in touch about the £100 deposit
Going
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Where your group belongs
10 Day Trip to Taiwan: Oct 2026
Hosts
About
Taiwan is on the Lonely Planet's list of must see unusual destinations and I have heard it's an amazing place to visit with fabulous temples, beautiful lakes and tasty food markets to see. Below is an itinerary of what we can do when there.
Day one
Today will be a travelling day, we will get our flight from the UK to Taiwan
Day Two
We will arrive in Taiwan's capital Taipei today. I'm sure we will be tired after our long journey so after a,rest at our hotel we can head to the famous Shilin Night market to sample some delicious Taiwanese cuisine and haggle for a bargain or two from their clothing and handbag stalls.
Day Three
Today we will spend a full day in the capital. Taiwan’s political and financial heart, Taipei (台北; táiběi) is one of the most densely inhabited cities on earth. Surrounded by mountains at the northern tip of the island, the capital is a melee of motor scooters, markets, skyscrapers and temples,
We can visit the mind-blowing National Palace Museum and . Grapple with Taiwan’s complex history on a tour of the Presidential Building, National Taiwan Museum and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, located in Zhongzheng district, the city’s historic and political core. It’s well worth exploring the old districts of Wanhua and Datong, home to Taipei’s dwindling stock of ramshackle wooden houses and early twentieth-century facades, as well as venerable Longshan Temple, the best introduction to the country’s religious traditions. Further north, Dihua Street is packed with traditional stores, while Baoan Temple is one of the country’s most elegant shrines, and the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines is an excellent introduction to Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. East Taipei offers a change of pace and scenery, with Xinyi district a showcase of gleaming office towers and glitzy shopping malls, all of them overshadowed by cloud-scraping Taipei 101. Eating in Taipei is always memorable, with a huge choice of exceptional restaurants, teahouses and some of Taiwan’s best night markets, while a vast range of department stores, specialist shops and antique stalls makes shopping in the city just as rewarding. To the north, Yangmingshan National Park and Beitou are where the best hikes and hot springs are located, while Maokong and Wulai to the south provide a taster of Taiwan’s wilder hinterland.
Day Four
Today we will catch the train to Taichung which takes around 2_hours. Sprawled over the flat coastal plains west of the mountains, TAICHUNG (台中; táizhōng) is Taiwan’s third-largest city, the unofficial capital of central Taiwan and an important transport hub for the region. It’s also regarded as the country’s most attractive place to live: the climate is drier, the air less polluted, housing cheaper, and the streets greener and less crowded than Taipei or Kaohsiung. Taiwanese tea culture is particularly developed here; the city’s appealing mix of elegant classical teahouses and stylish contemporary cafés are the perfect setting for a varied range of teas. Taichung’s old centre still contains attractive remnants of its Japanese colonial past and a smattering of unusual temples, while in the modern western half of the city, I.M. Pei’s Luce Memorial Chapel is a striking piece of modern architecture and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is a world-class contemporary art gallery. Beyond the suburbs, the chief attractions are Dajia and its famous Mazu Pilgrimage, and the 921 Earthquake Museum.
Day Five
The Sun Moon Lake is easily reached from TAICHUNG. Hemmed in by lush tiers of mountains in the heart of Taiwan, SUN MOON LAKE (日月潭; rìyuè tán) is the island’s largest freshwater body, its calm, emerald-green waters creating some of the country’s most mesmerizing landscapes. The lake’s name is inspired by its distinctive shape, with a rounded main section likened to the sun and a narrow western fringe compared to a crescent moon. Encircling it all is a 33km road, dotted with fascinating temples and picturesque pavilions, each offering a unique perspective on the waters below, while the cable car provides a stupendous panorama of the whole lake.
Day Six
Today we will head to Kaohsiung which takes 3 hours. Taiwan’s second city, and one of the largest container ports in the world, KAOHSIUNG (高雄; gāoxióng) has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis in recent years, from polluted industrial centre of two million people to green city of lush parks, waterside cafés, art galleries and museums – all linked by a spanking-new transport system.
The older districts of Zuoying, Yancheng and Cijin Island contain plenty of historic sights and traditional snack stalls, while modern Kaohsiung is best taken in with an evening stroll along the Love River or a visit to soaring 85 Sky Tower close to its bustling shopping districts. With more time, there’s plenty to see on the slopes of Gushan to the west, and around Lotus Lake in Zuoying to the north. You could also hike up to the ridge of hills known as Chaishan, home of Kaohsiung’s famously capricious troupe of monkeys. Top things to do here are a trip to Liuhe Night Market to sample the amazing food and an evening gondola ride along the Love River and a visit to see the golden Fo Guang Shan Buddha
Days Seven and Eight
Today we will make the 4 hour trip to Hualien. The biggest city on the east coast, HUALIEN (花蓮; huālián) sits on a mountain-fringed plain 26km south of Taroko Gorge, making an ideal base for expeditions to Taroko National Park. It is also one of the world’s major producers of marble, and elegant stonework is used liberally all over the city to adorn temples, pavements, the airport and even the train station. The relatively large number of tourists passing through give Hualien a laid-back, holiday-town atmosphere, with a growing number of pleasant teahouses and attractive restaurants where you can try delicious local specialities, as well as a handful of absorbing temples and an inexpensive stone market. Top things to do here are Wandering through canyons in Taroko National Park, relaxing at Liyu Lake and a visit to the Rainbow night market.
Day Nine
Today we will head back to Taipei which takes around 2 hours. We will then catch an evening flight back
Day Ten
Arrive home to UK
Important Info
Flights look like they will cost around £750. I've also looked at accommodation and if we share twin rooms this should work out around £450. There is a £100 deposit to pay to secure your place. This trip is a bit different and really varied with lots of stuff to see such as temples, lakes, markets, skyscrapers, local life, countryside, canyons and bustling cities. Please book on if you are interested and I will be in touch about the £100 deposit
Going
Register to see all event details
Where your group belongs