Taiwan Discovered – 8 Days Self-Launched
8 days · Taiwan
On The Go Tours charges £1,120
No-markup version: ~£385 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore the very best of Taiwan independently — from Taipei's buzzing night markets and world-class museums to the serene shores of Sun Moon Lake, the ancient streets of Tainan, the dramatic coastline of Kenting National Park, and the rugged east coast scenery of Hualien and Yilan. This self-launched version follows the same route as On The Go Tours' popular Taiwan Discovered itinerary, swapping guided group transport for trains, buses and shared taxis, and tour-contracted hotels for well-reviewed hostels and budget guesthouses. All activities are self-bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook, or direct on arrival. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current backpacker/budget rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Taipei
Taipei
Arrive at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and take the Airport MRT directly to central Taipei — it's fast, cheap (~£4), and runs every 15–30 minutes. Check in to your hostel in the Zhongshan or Ximending area. Spend your first evening exploring one of Taipei's legendary night markets: Shilin or Ningxia are both easy to reach by MRT. Grab some scallion pancakes, oyster vermicelli, and a classic bubble tea to kick off your Taiwan adventure.
🚌Airport MRT from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station (~£4)
🛏Star Hostel Taipei Main Station or Flip Flop Hostel Garden (~£14–18/night in dorm, ~£30–40/night private twin)
- →Arrive at Taoyuan Airport and take the Airport MRT to Taipei city centre (~£4)
- →Check in to hostel and explore the neighbourhood
- →Visit Shilin or Ningxia Night Market for street food and atmosphere
- →Admire the Taipei 101 skyline from street level (free)
Taipei City Sights
Taipei
A full day diving into Taipei's cultural highlights. Start at the National Palace Museum (book timed entry online via Klook, ~£6) to see one of the world's greatest collections of Chinese imperial artefacts. Head south by MRT to Longshan Temple — one of Taiwan's most atmospheric Buddhist temples, free to enter. Walk to Ximending, Taipei's retro shopping and youth culture district, and grab lunch from the street stalls. Afternoon: visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (free) and the grand Liberty Square. End the day at Dadaocheng/Dihua Street for traditional tea shops and century-old merchant houses. Optional: Taipei 101 observation deck (~£18, bookable on Klook or at the venue).
🚌Taipei MRT day pass (~£5) — all major sights are metro-connected
🛏Star Hostel Taipei Main Station or Flip Flop Hostel Garden (~£14–18/night dorm)
- →National Palace Museum visit — book timed entry on Klook (~£6)
- →Longshan Temple visit (free)
- →Explore Ximending old town for lunch and street food
- →Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Liberty Square (free)
- →Cheng-en Gate (Beimen) — historic north gate, free
- →Dadaocheng/Dihua Street stroll and traditional tea tasting
- →Optional: Taipei 101 observation deck (~£18, book on Klook)
Sun Moon Lake & Taichung
Sun Moon Lake / Taichung
Rise early and take the Taipei Main Station bus directly to Sun Moon Lake — Nantou Bus operates services from Taipei Bus Station (~£10 each way, ~3 hrs). Arrive mid-morning and hire a bicycle (~£5/day) or take the scenic round-lake bus to explore the lakeshore at your own pace. Visit Ita Thao indigenous village on the lake's edge (free to wander), the serene Xuanzang Temple and Wenwu Temple (free entry), and hike or cable-car up to Ci'en Pagoda for panoramic views. Grab lunch from the Ita Thao market stalls — try wild boar sausage and mochi. Late afternoon, take a bus to Taichung (~£3, ~1 hr) and check in.
🚌Taipei→Sun Moon Lake bus (~£10); Sun Moon Lake round-lake bus (~£3); Sun Moon Lake→Taichung bus (~£3)
🛏Taichung WOW Hostel or Homey Hostel Taichung (~£12–16/night dorm)
- →Bus from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake (~£10, ~3 hrs — book at Taipei Bus Station)
- →Rent a bicycle and cycle part of the lake circuit (~£5)
- →Ita Thao indigenous village stroll (free)
- →Ci'en Pagoda hike or cable-car for lake views (~£3–5)
- →Xuanzang Temple and Wenwu Temple visits (free)
- →Lalu Island viewpoint from the lakeshore (free)
- →Bus to Taichung (~£3, ~1 hr)
Tainan History & Kaohsiung
Tainan / Kaohsiung
Take an early Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) or express train from Taichung south to Tainan (~£12–18, ~1–1.5 hrs). Tainan is Taiwan's oldest city and its food capital. Rent a YouBike (city bike-share, ~£1/hr) or take a taxi to Fort Zeelandia (Anping Fort) — the Dutch colonial fortress dating to 1624, entry ~£1. Stroll Anping Old Street for local specialities: shrimp rolls, tofu pudding, and fish cake. Head east by taxi or bus to the spectacular Fo Guang Shan Monastery (~£2 bus), a vast Buddhist complex with free entry. Late afternoon, take a local train or bus to Kaohsiung (~£3–5, ~45 mins) and check in.
🚌THSR/train Taichung→Tainan (~£12–18); local bus/taxi in Tainan; train Tainan→Kaohsiung (~£3–5)
🛏The Dome Hostel Kaohsiung or Kaohsiung Guesthouse (~£12–18/night dorm)
- →THSR or express train from Taichung to Tainan (~£12–18)
- →Fort Zeelandia (Anping Fort) visit (~£1)
- →Anping Old Street stroll — try shrimp rolls and tofu pudding
- →Fo Guang Shan Monastery visit (free, ~£2 bus from Tainan)
- →Local train or bus to Kaohsiung (~£3–5)
Kenting National Park & Taitung
Kenting National Park / Taitung
From Kaohsiung, take the Kenting Express bus from Zuoying HSR station to Kenting (~£6, ~2 hrs). Kenting National Park sits at Taiwan's southern tip where mountains meet the sea. Hire a scooter (~£10/day with licence) or join a half-day Klook tour (~£20) to visit the key coastal landmarks: Maopitou (dramatic coral headland, ~£2 entry), Chuanfan Rock (sail-shaped sea stack, free), the historic Eluanpi Lighthouse (free), and the sweeping grasslands of Longpan Park (free). Have lunch at one of the beachside seafood shacks. Late afternoon, take a bus or shared taxi north to Taitung (~£8–12, ~2 hrs) along the wild east coast. Check in for the night.
🚌Bus Kaohsiung→Kenting (~£6); scooter hire in Kenting (~£10); bus/shared taxi Kenting→Taitung (~£8–12)
🛏Taitung Knowledge Hostel or Brown Sugar B&B (~£12–18/night dorm or budget room)
- →Kenting Express bus from Kaohsiung Zuoying to Kenting (~£6)
- →Hire a scooter to explore the park (~£10/day) or book a Klook half-day tour (~£20)
- →Maopitou coral headland (~£2 entry)
- →Chuanfan Rock (free)
- →Eluanpi Lighthouse (free)
- →Longpan Park coastal grasslands (free)
- →Bus or shared taxi to Taitung (~£8–12, ~2 hrs)
East Coast Geoparks – Taitung to Yilan
Taitung / Hualien / Yilan
Today is one of Taiwan's most scenic travel days along the rugged Pacific east coast. Start with a taxi or local bus from Taitung to Xiaoyeliu (Fugang Geopark) — a surreal landscape of eroded mushroom rocks and honeycombed sea platforms (~£2 entry). Continue north by local bus or shared taxi to Sanxiantai, a coral platform connected to a dramatic eight-arch bridge over the sea (free entry). Stop at Shitiping for more remarkable hexagonal basalt columns and tidal platforms (free). From Hualien, board the scenic Puyuma Express train north to Yilan (~£10, ~1.5 hrs) — the east coast rail line is one of Asia's great train journeys. Arrive in Yilan for the night.
🚌Local bus/taxi along east coast (~£8–12 total); Hualien→Yilan train (~£10)
🛏Yilan Story Hostel or Kavalan Inn (~£12–16/night dorm or budget room)
- →Local bus or taxi to Xiaoyeliu/Fugang Geopark (~£2 entry)
- →Sanxiantai coral platform and eight-arch bridge (free)
- →Shitiping basalt coast formations (free)
- →Puyuma Express train from Hualien to Yilan (~£10, ~1.5 hrs — book via Taiwan Railways app or station)
Yilan Whisky & Arts, Then Back to Taipei
Yilan / Taipei
Spend a leisurely morning in Yilan exploring two brilliant attractions. First, the King Car Kavalan Whisky Distillery — Taiwan's world-famous whisky producer offers free guided tours and tastings (book ahead via their website or just show up; free entry). Then visit the National Center for Traditional Arts (Chuantyi), a beautifully preserved compound of traditional Taiwanese crafts, performances and architecture (~£4 entry). Browse the craft stalls and catch a puppet or folk opera performance if one's running. Mid-afternoon, take the train or bus back to Taipei (~£4–6, ~1–1.5 hrs by train). Enjoy a free afternoon in the capital — revisit a favourite neighbourhood, do some souvenir shopping at Dihua Street, or treat yourself to a beef noodle soup dinner.
🚌Train or bus Yilan→Taipei (~£4–6)
🛏Star Hostel Taipei Main Station or Flip Flop Hostel Garden (~£14–18/night dorm)
- →King Car Kavalan Whisky Distillery tour and tasting (free — book ahead online or walk in)
- →National Center for Traditional Arts (~£4 entry)
- →Train or bus from Yilan back to Taipei (~£4–6, ~1–1.5 hrs)
- →Free afternoon in Taipei — explore, shop, or relax
- →Evening: beef noodle soup dinner or Raohe Night Market (~£5–8)
Farewell Taipei & Depart
Taipei / Taoyuan
Final morning in Taiwan — grab a classic Taiwanese breakfast from a local shop (warm soy milk, scallion egg pancake, and sesame flatbread for under £2). Stroll through a local morning market if time allows. Do any last souvenir shopping — Dihua Street or the underground malls at Taipei Main Station are great options. When ready, take the Airport MRT from Taipei Main Station back to Taoyuan International Airport (~£4, ~35 mins). Check in with plenty of time and take home memories of one of Asia's most underrated destinations.
🚌Airport MRT to Taoyuan International Airport (~£4)
🛏Check out — departure day
- →Taiwanese breakfast at a local shop (~£2)
- →Morning market stroll or final souvenir shopping
- →Airport MRT from Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan Airport (~£4, ~35 mins)
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£385 | £1,120 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £735 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£385
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Taiwan Discovered – 8 Days Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £385 per person for 8 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,120 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £385 — a saving of roughly £735 (66%) per person.
How long is the Taiwan trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, city-breaks, foodie 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?
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