15 Days in Taiwan
 

Hello!

Going to Taiwan back half of November and starting to put together an itinerary. Surprised at the lack of generic tourism info online (i.e. your usual suspects of T+L, CN etc.), alas maybe that's a good thing. Would love any thoughts/suggestions on the below. Will be with a friend and have additional friends meeting me halfway through the trip in the north, hence starting out in the south.

Some thoughts/questions:
- I'm game for almost anything (love exploring cities, scenic spots etc.), but also love some relaxing time along the way as this is vacation :) (spa/hot springs reccos are welcome)
- Taroko will be closed for quite some time, so that's a non-starter.
- Taitung and the islands off of Taiwan's mainland look nice, but if I were to include it would likely replace Kenting. Understand it may be too cold for going in the water, but this could be some nice relaxing/scenic time.
- Very apprehensive about a car rental (I hate driving), but maybe between Kaosiung and SML. I'm also open to hiring drivers for a day (seems like it may be about $200 USD/day?) etc. Welcome any advice!
- Any new info/"things to do"/under the radar activities in general that may not be on your standard tourism/travel websites?

Days 1-3 Kaohsiung (won't go crazy here, getting over jetlag)
4-6 Kenting - booked Gloria Manor, which looks lovely
7 - Alishan
8-9 - Sun Moon Lake
10-15 - Taipei with day excursions to the usual suspects (Jiufen, Beitou etc.). Debating if any of these spots should be spent overnight, but I hate schlepping luggage (unpacking, repacking). May be lazy and just not check out whatever Taipei hotel I end up choosing. Currently considering MGM Mitsui Garden Hotel, but open to suggestions - flexible on price but looking for something nice, modern and in the center of the action. Don't need ultimate luxe, as I don't plan on spending much time in the actual hotel.

Thank you in advance!

I am not a Taiwan expert:

• I'm planning to go into the water mid-November @ Kenting. Was also looking at Xiaoliuqiu (琉球) instead
• I would do sun-moon lake as a daytrip from Taichung
• From Taichung to Taipei I would do Lukang daytrip via TRA trains
• I would (and have) stay overnight at Alishan
• I would not like to drive in Taiwan (except Hualien to Taroko), but may end up driving from Taichung to SML this time as a daytrip

Edit: Added activities:
- TRA EM3000 trains in Business Class is great for solo traveller
- Shenkeng Old Street sounds wonderful if you love stinky tofu like I do, but looks like a pain getting there
- If visiting Beitou solo, you wouldn't be able to rent a soak dayroom (they require minimum 2 pax). I liked The Water House public bathhouse and you can get a slight discount by booking with Klook like 5 minutes before getting there Taipei Hot Spring Public Bathhouse and Private Bathhouse at Waterhouse - Klook

Can someone give an update on Taroko Gorge?

- Getting to/from Lanyu and Green Island might be a bit hectic during the winter (probably fine in November), as the weather/sea gets pretty rough and causing cancellation. I would avoid Kenting like a plague. Liuchiu is lovely in the winter - water is pretty warm that a spring suit is enough, and with little crowd.
- $200/day for hiring a driver + car seems a bit high, but obviously depends on how long the "day" is and the car. For reference, you can hire a sedan or small SUV for $125/8 hours with a major taxi company with $10-15/hour surcharge.
- I believe most of the hot spring hotels would be happy to let an individual use a dayroom for the same rate.

Taiwan NPS has a website for the timeline of reopening (in Mandarin): 太魯閣國家公園分期、分區復原開放規劃 (taroko.gov.tw). Their goal seems to be reopening the most popular spots by end of 2024.

XLQ island is great, especially if you like swimming/snorkeling with large turtles. Kenting has better diving if you prefer that tho XLQ has some shipwrecks. Definitely do an outdoor BBQ if you go.

Cab/Uber to shenkeng from Taipei is cheap,fast and easy. You can also pair with maokong or pinglin tea farms, crocodile island and sites to the east.

In KS, pier 2, cijin for seafood and night markets.

There's the aquarium near kenting. You can sleepover in the aquarium with the whales and other animals. It's affordable and fun.

If you ever come back to Taiwan, you can pair hualien,taroko and taitung and outlying islands

You can probably get a cheap driver to take you from kenting to Alishan to SML, look on tripadvisor. The other option is if you want to take the old fashion train from chiayi to Alishan. It's slow and rickety ,but some like the nostalgia.

For Alishan,try to stay up mountain in the park like Alishan gou hotel especially if you are trying to wake up for sunrise. Staying at a teahouse is nice, but you have to commute to the park/mountain.

You can drive between Alishan and SML, but be aware it's a windy mountain road. Definitely bike around SML.

There are nice tea shops all over this area. Taiwan 18 is well known in SML and oolong Alishan high mountain. I can dig up recs if you want them.

Most roads are now open but crossing the island from Taichung takes a long, long time. Speeds are reduced and there can be road closures for hours at a time, or even all night. Some sections are one way only, alternating traffic direction with long gaps in between. Lots of road and slope maintenance so really for local traffic only. I heard the visitor center on the Hualian side is open but no trails. The park has consistently said they intend to get some trails reopened before the end of the year so that should happen. How many trails and when, we haven't heard yet.

The Silks Taroko is located in the gorge and re-opening October 1, from their website: "The hotel will begin operations in stages starting on October 1st. Currently, the road from the Taroko Archway to the hotel is subject to time-restricted access during five specific periods: 07:00-08:00, 10:00, 12:00-13:00, 15:00, and 17:00-17:30. If you are planning a holiday and driving yourself, please be mindful of the road control schedule. Alternatively, we recommend opting for sustainable travel by booking the hotel’s scheduled shuttle service to ensure smooth transportation." Silks Taroko Website

With 15 days in Taiwan, most people would tour the perimeter of the island. The East Coast is uniquely beautiful and unlike most of what you will see on the West Coast. Understand you do not want to be packing and unpacking, but if you like nature and mountain scenery you could consider the East Coast. Any reason to rule it out? It will not be urban like the cities on the West Coast, so if you like cities you can skip it. But if you like interesting train rides and while there are tourists, it is nothing like SML and Kenting.

You mention visiting islands, will you be able to rent a scooter to get around?

Based on the feedback here I've updated my plans to visit Xiaoliuqiu instead of Kenting this November. Will save Kenting for March 2025 trip

Will definitely do a day trip from Kaohshing to Xiaoliuqiu after reading this.

Kenting I think is special staying at Gloria Manor and using their facilities and as a homebase to explore a bit. Is there anything in particular on the east coast you would recommend? Given Taroko's closure, thinking I may just save that side of the Taiwan for another trip.

Thank you! I was thinking about Alishan as a day trip (staying overnight in Chiayi) between Kenting and SML centered around the train? Would that be ill-advised?

I think you have a pretty good list. I don't see food on the list, so curious to know if you've started researching different places to eat! I'd also consider adding the National Palace Museum if you've never been, as well as the Chiang Kai-shek memorial.

Also, are you renting a car? I think that will help determine whether to spend the night in places like Jiufen (which I absolutely loved, btw, though I'm glad we didn't spend the night there).

Sorry for the late reply. If you are considering another trip sometime in the future then I think it is fine to leave to the East Coast for the trip when Taroko should be open. If you go to Alishan and SML you will see some of the nature Taiwan has to offer which many people miss. You could also go on day trips from Taipei. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Would anyone here know of a site with good 5, 6, 7, etc. day itineraries for TW? Have been able to find this for almost all other countries.