Taiwan by Rail 2027

This morning after breakfast we’ll venture out to explore Taipei’s cityscape. Travelling by the Taipei Metro Subway (MRT), you’ll get a real sense of life in this great city and discover iconic landmarks like the iconic Taipei 101 Building and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. 

The famous Taipei 101 Building and Observatory is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world. Known for its stunning architecture, cutting-edge engineering, and cultural significance, it stands at 508 metres tall with 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, a striking monument steeped in history, was built in honor of Chiang Kai-Shek, the former President of the Republic of China (ROC), as a tribute to his role in shaping Taiwan’s post-war identity. Over time, the site has also become a place for public gatherings, protests, and cultural events. In recent years, the memorial has been a subject of debate regarding its symbolism, as it reflects Chiang Kai-Shek’s controversial legacy in a country that deeply values its independence.

Following lunch at a local institution, we’ll visit Tamsui Old Street, famous for its riverside promenade, cultural landmarks, traditional snacks and handicrafts. A significant port during the Qing Dynasty and later under Japanese rule, the Old Street area reflects this rich history, with remnants of colonial architecture and historical landmarks scattered throughout, including Fort Santo Domingo, known as the “Red Fort”. Originally built by the Spanish in 1629 during their colonial expansion in the region, it has changed hands many times since their expulsion in 1642 – with Australia even using it as our consulate in the early 1970s. 

After visiting the fort, there’ll be plenty of free time to explore Tamsui Old Street. You may even wish to stay a little longer and take the subway back to the hotel in your own time. This evening, dinner is at leisure. 

Overnight: Regent Taipei, Taipei (B,L)

This morning after breakfast and checkout, we’ll transfer by coach to Ruifang, where we’ll join the Pingxi Line to Shifen – the first rail leg of our tour around Taiwan. One of northern Taiwan’s most character-filled branch lines, it was built during the Japanese era to carry coal from the hills to the coast. 

On arrival, there is time to explore Shifen Old Street, a lively little strip that sits right on the railway, similar to the famous Train Street in Vietnam. Food stalls and small shops line both sides of the track, and trains still roll through at intervals, lending the town its distinctive energy. Shifen is closely associated with the sky lantern tradition, which in this region is generally traced to the Qing Dynasty, when lanterns were used as safety signals in times of bandit unrest. Today, they are a modern ritual of hope and good fortune, where people write wishes on paper lanterns and launch them from the active railway tracks – you’ll be able to do the same thing if you wish. 

Continue to the XPX Coal Mine Museum for a fascinating look at Taiwan’s coal heritage, followed by an atmospheric tunnel experience, a ride on the site’s former coal cart train, and some lunch. 

After lunch, we’ll return to Ruifang by train, transfer to a fast local train and continue along the coast to Yilan, arriving in the late afternoon. It’s just a short walk to our hotel from the station and after checking in and having some time to freshen up, we’ll regroup for dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Four Points by Sheraton Yilan, Yilan (B, L, D) 

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach for an excursion to the magnificent Wulai district, known for beautiful natural landscapes, hot springs, and indigenous culture. Here, we’ll ride the quirky, little Wulai Log Cart, Taiwan’s last remaining light railway (or narrow-gauge trolley) of its kind and a nostalgic way to explore the area’s scenic beauty. Originally built during the Japanese colonial period (around 1928), the railway was designed to transport timber, logging tools, tea, and sometimes passengers from the mountainous forestry areas at a time when Wulai was an important logging region. 

Our ride takes us to one of Wulai’s most famous natural attractions – the picturesque Wulai Waterfall, cascading down an 80-metre cliff and fondly referred to as the “waterfall in the cloud”. You’ll also have time to visit the little Log Cart Museum to learn about the railway’s history.

Wulai is home to the Atayal people, one of Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, and upon returning from our log cart ride, we’ll be privileged to experience a cultural performance before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant near Wulai Old Street. 

After lunch, we’ll return to Yilan station and board the High Speed Rail for our journey to Hualien, the home of the Taroko Gorge, and the only 5-star hotel in the Taroko National Park – our home for the next two nights. We’ll arrive in the early evening, with time to freshen up before enjoying dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight: Silks Place Taroko, Taroko Gorge (B,L,D) 

This morning is devoted to exploring Taroko Gorge, a highlight of the broader Taroko National Park and one of Taiwan’s most spectacular natural wonders. Renowned for its dramatic marble cliffs, deep gorges carved by the Liwu River (with its striking turquoise waters), lush forests, waterfalls, and hanging trails etched into sheer rock faces, it is part of the world’s largest marble canyon. 

Due to damage sustained in an earthquake in April 2024, many parts of the park were closed for safety reasons and are gradually reopening as the area is rehabilitated. We’ll be travelling by coach to enable you to appreciate the grandeur of this place and the sheer scale of the terrain while remaining flexible around any traffic controls, repair work, or short-notice closures. If conditions allow, we’ll visit accessible sites such as the Tianxiang Suspension Bridge and Pudu Temple, depending on what is operating on the day. 

Lunch is included at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure enjoying the magnificent facilities and stunning views offered by the hotel. 

Overnight: Silks Place Taroko, Taroko Gorge (B,L)

After breakfast and checkout, we’ll transfer to Hualien Station to continue south by high speed rail. This morning’s journey traces Taiwan’s dramatic eastern flank towards Taitung, a region defined by open horizons, rural townships, and shifting views between mountain foothills and the Pacific. This is one of those days where travelling is the experience – expect long stretches of scenery, changing light, and a real sense of moving through the island rather than simply between stops. Bento boxes are available on board for lunch at leisure, or you can pick something up at Taitung station when we arrive.

On arrival in Taitung, there’ll be some time to reset (or have some lunch at leisure) before boarding the Breezy Blue service, one of Taiwan’s most charming and nostalgic scenic railway experiences, for a memorable run down the coast and around the island’s southern curve to Fangliao. The train’s carriages, dating back to the 1950s have been lovingly restored, and the nickname, “Breezy Blue”, highlights its signature feature – the only operating train in Taiwan with manually openable windows, letting in fresh sea breezes and that carefree, stress-melting vibe. 

The 98 km journey is a delight in itself – traversing a landscape that shifts between ocean views, forested foothills, tunnels, and glimpses of quiet beaches and fishing villages, crossing over 100 bridges, and travelling through more than 30 tunnels. 

From Fangliao, we’ll transfer by coach to Kaohsiung, with dinner at the hotel on arrival.

Overnight: Grand Hi Lai Hotel, Kaohsiung (B, D) 

Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second largest city and also known as “The Harbor Capital” due to its significance as Taiwan’s largest port, is known for its modern skyline, bustling port, and laid-back vibe, offering a mix of urban sophistication and natural beauty, a lovely contrast to the hustle and bustle of Taipei. This morning after a late breakfast, we’ll visit two very different but equally significant sites – the Lotus Pond and the Pier-2 Arts Centre. 

The Lotus Pond, a stunning man-made lake spanning a massive 17 hectares, is renowned for its stunning lotus plants, vibrant temples and pagodas, including the iconic Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the grand Confucius Temple (dating to 1684) and the Spring and Autumn Pavilions. It’s believed that entering a dragon’s throat and coming out a tiger’s mouth brings good fortune. Spanning over 42 hectares, the pond is surrounded by lotus plants, which bloom during summer and lend the area its name. 

After lunch at a local restaurant enjoying a local speciality, we’ll continue on to the Pier-2 Art centre, a former warehouse district revitalised into a vibrant art hub featuring exhibitions, murals, and creative spaces. 

This evening is yours to enjoy at leisure – you may like to dine like a local and explore the nearby Lingya/Ziqiang Night Market. Your tour leader will be on hand to point you in the right direction.

Overnight: Grand Hi Lai Hotel, Kaohsiung or similar (B,L)

After breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach and head south to Tainan, widely regarded as Taiwan’s oldest city and a longtime centre of trade, learning, and faith. First established as a Dutch base in the 1620s through the Dutch East India Company, Tainan later became the island’s political heart under the Qing Dynasty, leaving behind a dense patchwork of historic lanes, temple courtyards, and market streets that still shape the city’s character today. 

After lunch at a traditional local restaurant, we’ll stop at the privately owned Chimei Museum, a world-class museum renowned for its extensive and eclectic collections of art, musical instruments, natural history, and historical artifacts. Founded by Shi Wen-long, the founder of Chimei Corporation, it reflects his passion for art, culture, and education, and boasts one of the largest collections of musical instruments in the world – over 1,300 items including rare violins by Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù. 

Next we’ll visit Anping Old Fort, one of Tainan’s most famous historical landmarks, and the 17th-century Tainan Confucius Temple, also known as the Scholars’ Temple, the oldest Confucian temple in Taiwan.

Anping Old Fort, also known as Fort Zeelandia, was built in 1624 by the Dutch East India Company as a key administrative and military base. In 1662, Koxinga, a Ming Dynasty loyalist, captured the fort, marking the end of Dutch rule in Taiwan. In later years, under Qing rule, the fort lost its military significance and gradually deteriorated. Today, it has been preserved and restored as a historical site offering visitors the chance to see remnants of the original walls and bastions, showcasing Dutch engineering techniques, including walls constructed with a mix of bricks and oyster shells, a unique feature of the fort.

The Tainan Confucius Temple, also known as the Scholars’ Temple, was built in 1665 during the early Qing Dynasty and has served as a centre of Confucian learning and culture for centuries. This historic site reflects the deep-rooted influence of Confucianism in Taiwan and remains a symbol of education and traditional values.

We’ll check into our hotel in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure. 

Overnight: TBA Hotel, Tainan (B,L) 

After breakfast and check out this morning , we’ll hand our big luggage over to a private courier for separate transport, walk to the nearby Tainan Station, and board the Shanlan Express, Taiwan’s award-winning premier scenic tourist train, for the journey across the fertile Jianan Plain to Changhua. With an exterior inspired by mountains, plains, and mist, and an elegant, calm interior channelling a “quiet forest-style”, this 60-seat train offers an intimate, luxurious, slow travel experience through vast rice fields, golden waves in season, rolling countryside, and rural landscapes blending plains and nearby hills/mountains. You’ll enjoy lunch on board.

Upon arrival in Changhua in the early afternoon, the day shifts from modern rail comfort to classic railway heritage with a visit to Changhua Roundhouse, an active working facility where locomotives are serviced and turned on the central turntable, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at Taiwan’s rail operations. With luck, CK-101 will be on view, one of Taiwan’s oldest preserved steam locomotives and a favourite with railway enthusiasts. 

We’ll then continue by private coach to Miaoli for hotel check-in and a couple of hours at leisure before heading out this evening to the annual Miaoli Lantern Festival celebrations for a display merging elements of futuristic technology, cultural integration, local characteristics, and contemporary craftsmanship. The festival’s central theme focuses on “slow living,” incorporating concepts such as environmental sustainability and outdoor leisure trends, and ties in with other well-known Lantern Festival traditions, such as the Bombing Fire Dragon festivities, creating a relaxed and joyful celebration. 

Overnight: Miaoli Golden Tulip Aesthetics Hotel, Miaoli (B,L) 

This morning after breakfast and checkout, we’ll pay a visit to the Miaoli Railway Museum, located beside Miaoli Station and developed as a dedicated showcase for Taiwan’s railway heritage. The museum’s focus is on the working story of rail in central Taiwan, with a mix of rolling stock and interpretive displays that give context to how passenger and freight services helped shape regional towns and industry. The outdoor exhibits are a particular highlight, with classic locomotives presented at close range.

After a taste of local Hakka cuisine for lunch in nearby Sanyi, we’ll continue into the hills for a nostalgic encounter with the Old Mountain Line, a historic section of Taiwan’s western main railway built during the Japanese colonial era. It’s one of Taiwan’s most famous abandoned-yet-preserved railway heritage sites, celebrated for its engineering feats, scenic beauty, and cultural significance, and is listed as one of Taiwan’s potential World Heritage sites.

Here, we’ll visit two of the most significant remnants of this once vibrant line – Shengxing Station, a beautifully preserved timber station built in the early 1900s, and the remains of the Longteng Bridge, a grand red-brick railway viaduct that stands as a dramatic monument to both engineering ambition and Taiwan’s seismic history. Completed in 1907, the bridge was severely damaged in the 1935 earthquake, leaving its iconic arches and piers as a striking landmark in the surrounding greenery.

We’ll arrive at our hotel in Taichung in the late afternoon and check-in. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours at leisure. 

Overnight: The Place, Taichung (B,L) 

This morning is yours at leisure to have breakfast and perhaps explore a little of this bustling city at your own pace. After checking out and having some lunch at leisure, we’ll board our private coach for the journey to Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan’s celebrated lake country, arriving in the mid-afternoon.

After checking in, we’ll embark on a boat cruise on this magnificent lake – the best way to truly appreciate the lake’s shifting perspectives, smooth coves, wooded headlands, and distant ridgelines reflected in the water. As the boat glides between points around the shoreline, the scenery changes subtly from open stretches of lake to quieter inlets, with temples and small settlements appearing intermittently along the banks. 

This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant by the water, before returning to the hotel. 

Overnight: Wyndham Hotel, Sun Moon Lake (B, D) 

This morning after breakfast, we’ll explore the broader lake district with a guided visit to Chung Tai World Museum, affiliated with the renowned Chung Tai Chan Monastery and one of Taiwan’s top cultural gems. The building resembles an ancient Chinese palace or castle (inspired by Chang’an/Tang dynasty styles), creating a grand, serene, and imposing presence amid the mountains – perfectly blending with the natural landscape of Nantou and providing an atmospheric setting for collections that trace Buddhism’s spread across Asia. Divided into 18 galleries, you’ll embark on a journey through sculpture, ritual objects, and devotional art – visitors often describe it as immersive, peaceful, and spiritually uplifting.

After some free time to revisit favourite galleries or simply absorb the building’s scale and detail, and enjoy lunch at leisure, we’ll return to the lake and enjoy a short but spectacular cable car journey on the Sun Moon Lake ropeway. Spanning 1.87 kilometres, this experience offers a striking aerial perspective across the lake’s blue-green water and the surrounding hills, with views extending to the Puli Basin on clear days.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure – ideal for a lakeside walk, a coffee with a view, or time to enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

Overnight: Wyndham Sunmoon Lake or similar (B,D) 

This morning after a lazy breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach for the trip to Chiayi, our destination for today. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum. Conceived as a “museum of Asian art and culture”, this striking contemporary complex features selections from the National Palace Museum’s vast holdings, plus broader Asian artifacts. Highlights include Chinese ceramics, jades, paintings, calligraphy, textiles, and rare books, plus Asian artifacts from regions like Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.

You’ll have plenty of time to explore at your own pace, and have some lunch at leisure at the on site cafe. Our next stop is Hinoki Village, a beautifully restored cluster of Japanese-era wooden dormitories originally built for forestry workers and officials during the period when Chiayi and the Alishan forests were central to Taiwan’s timber industry. Today, the precinct is a pleasant place to stroll, with timber buildings, small specialty shops, and local treats that make for an easy, atmospheric stop.

We’ll transfer to our hotel in the mid-afternoon and check in for some downtime before regrouping for dinner at a
local restaurant.

Overnight: Maison De Chine, Chiayi (B, D) 

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll hand our luggage over to our private courier and head to the station for a day on the rails, for a memorable ascent on the Alishan Forest Railway, one of Asia’s great mountain railways. 

Conceived during the Japanese era to bring prized timber down from the high forests, construction began in the early 1900s and the line opened in 1912, transforming remote mountain country into an extraordinary rail corridor of engineering and culture. This very special journey includes rare z-shaped switchbacks, over 50 tunnels and 77 wooden bridges, making it one of the most fascinating rail journeys in the world. 

The Vivid Express itself is part of the experience. Created by remodelling the old heritage carriages that traversed the line, it’s been designed as Taiwan’s first ecology-focused guided sightseeing train on the Alishan line, emphasising the natural beauty, biodiversity, and scenic forest views along the route, all accessible from the large panoramic window at your seat. En route, the train pauses at several small stations, including Beimen Station, Zhangnaoliao Station and Liyuanliao Station, giving a strong sense of the line’s heritage and the communities it still connects.

Upon arrival at Fenqihu some three hours later, there’ll be time to stretch our legs and get some lunch before transferring to the regular Alishan railway service to experience the line in its more traditional form, continuing the climb through switchbacks, tunnels, and ever-thickening forest to Alishan.

On arrival in the mid-afternoon, we’ll transfer directly to the hotel and check in. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, with dinner in the hotel this evening.

Overnight: Alishan Hotel, Alishan (B,D) 

It’s an early start today but so very worth it! It may be the only time you’ll get to experience the sun rise above Taiwan’s highest mountain peak, Jade Mountain, from the highest railway station in Taiwan. You’ll travel by rail from Alishan to Zhushan Station, on a short but iconic segment of the Alishan Forest Railway – a section known for its breathtaking views, cultural significance, and sunrise experience. On clear days, the sunlight reflects off the “sea of clouds,” creating a dreamlike atmosphere, and the colors of dawn, transitioning from deep blue to fiery orange and soft gold, are described by those who have witnessed it as breathtaking. You’ll be back at the hotel in time for a late breakfast. 

Around midday, we’ll return by coach to Fenquihu (our lunch spot yesterday) for a proper visit. A charming, historic village nestled in the Alishan mountains at an altitude of about 1,400 metres, Fenqihu is known for its nostalgic atmosphere, railway heritage, and natural beauty. Originally a midpoint station on the Alishan Forest Railway, Fenqihu was where steam trains would stop for passengers and refueling.

There’ll be time to explore the town’s “old street”, lined with traditional shops and cafes, as well as the locomotive engine shed and a charming station building. If you’re up for it, take a stone staircase to a wonderful lookout from where the railway sidings, sheds and station below look just like a model railway. The afternoon will be capped off with a visit to a traditional teahouse before returning to Alishan township. 

Dinner tonight will be at our hotel. 

Overnight: Alishan Hotel, Alishan (B,D) 

After breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach and transfer to Chiayi HSR Station to rejoin Taiwan’s high-speed rail spine for the journey back to Taipei, leaving our luggage to continue by coach. Leaving the forested foothills behind, the landscape opens into the broad western plains, where rice fields, market gardens and township skylines slip past in quick succession. Lunch will be enjoyed on-board before arriving in Taipei mid-afternoon and transferring directly to our hotel to check in. 

The remainder of the day and evening is at leisure, ideal for a wander in the neighbourhood, a visit to a nearby temple precinct or shopping street, or simply time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities. You might like to seek out a night market for an easy, choose-your-own dinner, with everything from dumplings and beef noodle soup to shaved ice and Taiwanese tea. 

Overnight: Regent Hotel, Taipei (B,L) 

After a leisurely breakfast, we visit the National Palace Museum, one of the most renowned museums in the world, especially known for its vast collection of Chinese art and artifacts. 

Established in 1925 in Beijing, the museum was relocated to Taiwan in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek when he retreated from the Communist forces during the Chinese Civil War. Safeguarded in the hills near Taipei, these treasures represent the pinnacle of Chinese artistry, with the museum housing over 700,000 items spanning 5,000 years of Chinese history, including bronzes, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, jade, gems, and historical documents dating back to ancient China. 

We’ll return to the hotel late morning for an afternoon at leisure ahead of a celebratory farewell dinner at Yuanyuan Restaurant, located within the iconic Grand Hotel Taipei. Perched above the city in a landmark building known for its sweeping staircases, lantern-lit halls, and classical Chinese design, it makes a fitting setting for the final night of the journey. 

Overnight: Regent Taipei, Taipei or similar (B,D) 

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Your airport transfer will be scheduled in accordance with your flight time.

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