# Taiwan Private Tours

> Private, tailor-made luxury tours of Taiwan with licensed English-speaking guides, private chauffeurs and hand-picked five-star stays. Taipei, Jiufen, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and beyond.

Private-only operator: every tour has its own vehicle, licensed English-speaking guide and tailor-made itinerary. Replies within 12 hours. Taiwan Private Tours is a subsidiary of MyWay Travel. Contact: hello@taiwanprivatetours.com, phone/WhatsApp +1 (315) 998 1998.

## Live conditions
- [Taroko Gorge trail status: what’s open right now](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/live/taroko-gorge-trail-status/): verified 2026-10-20. Taroko National Park is partly open after the April 2024 earthquake. The visitor center, Dekalun Trail, Dachingshui and Chongde, the Tianxiang area (Tabiduo, Wen Tianxiang trail, Xiangde Temple) and the Dali–Datong trail are open; Lushui is open only in short sections. Shakadang Trail and Swallow Grotto remain closed, with rebuilding expected to take years. Highway 8 into the gorge opens in daytime release windows only.

## Private tours
- [Taipei Private City Tour: Palace Museum, Tea Merchants & Hot Springs](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/taipei-private-city-tour/): 8–9 hours, from US$290 per private group of 1–4, excl. entrance fees. A private full day in Taipei with your own guide and chauffeur: the National Palace Museum’s imperial collection, the tea merchants and herb shops of Dadaocheng, and the hot-spring valley of Beitou, ending at sunset beneath Taipei 101. Paced around you, with time to linger where you like.
- [Taroko Gorge Private Tour from Taipei](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/taroko-gorge-private-tour-from-taipei/): 12–13 hours, from US$480 per private group of 1–2, excl. train tickets. A private full-day journey from Taipei to Taroko Gorge by express train and private car, routed only through the sections that are currently open. Your guide adjusts the day to Highway 8 traffic controls, so you see the marble canyon, Qingshui Cliffs and Tianxiang without wasted waiting time.
- [Jiufen & Shifen Private Tour with Driver](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/jiufen-shifen-private-tour/): 8–9 hours, from US$320 per private group of 1–4. A private day on Taiwan’s northeast coast: Shifen’s sky lanterns and waterfall in the morning, a reserved teahouse table in Jiufen, and the Golden Waterfall at dusk. We time each stop to avoid the coach-tour peaks, so the lantern-lit lanes feel like yours.
- [Sun Moon Lake Private Day Trip by High-Speed Rail](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/sun-moon-lake-private-day-trip/): 11 hours, from US$420 per private group of 1–2, excl. rail tickets. High-speed rail from Taipei to Taichung, then a private car to Sun Moon Lake for a chartered boat, a black tea estate in Yuchi and the Ci’en Pagoda. A calm, unhurried day of water, forest and tea, back in Taipei by evening.
- [7-Day Grand Taiwan Luxury Journey](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/7-day-grand-taiwan-luxury/): 7 days / 6 nights, from US$6900 per person, based on 2 sharing, five-star hotels. Seven private days across Taiwan: Taipei’s museums and Michelin tables, Jiufen at lantern hour, Taroko’s marble cliffs, a night on Sun Moon Lake, sunrise above Alishan’s sea of clouds and the temples of Tainan. Private chauffeur, licensed guide and five-star stays throughout.
- [Keelung Private Shore Excursion](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/keelung-shore-excursion-private/): 6–8 hours (matched to your port time), from US$360 per private group of 1–4. A private shore excursion for cruise passengers docking at Keelung: Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen and a Taipei highlight, timed to your ship’s schedule with a guaranteed return to port. Your guide meets you at the terminal; no waiting for coach groups.
- [Tainan Private Food & Heritage Tour](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/tainan-private-food-heritage-tour/): 8–10 hours (incl. HSR from Taipei), from US$380 per private group of 1–4, excl. rail tickets and food. A private day in Tainan, Taiwan’s first capital, with a local guide: the Confucius Temple and Chihkan Tower, Anping’s Dutch-era fort and banyan Tree House, and a tasting route through the family stalls Tainan is famous for. Reach Tainan by high-speed rail from Taipei, or start from your Tainan hotel.
- [5-Day Taiwan Highlights Private Journey](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/5-day-taiwan-highlights/): 5 days / 4 nights, from US$4900 per person, based on 2 sharing, five-star / best-available hotels. Five private days from north to south: Taipei’s museum and hot springs, Jiufen at lantern hour, a night on Sun Moon Lake, sunrise above Alishan’s sea of clouds and a final day in old Tainan. High-speed rail where it saves time, your own chauffeur and guide everywhere else.
- [10-Day Taiwan Round-the-Island Private Journey](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/private-tours/10-day-taiwan-round-island/): 10 days / 9 nights, from US$9800 per person, based on 2 sharing, five-star / best-available hotels. Ten private days around Taiwan: Taipei and Jiufen, the Pacific coast of Hualien, the East Rift Valley and Taitung, the tropical south at Kenting, Kaohsiung and Tainan, then up into Alishan and Sun Moon Lake before returning to Taipei. A specialist guide, your own chauffeur and hand-picked hotels throughout.

## Destinations
- [Taipei (臺北)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/taipei/): Taiwan’s capital pairs the National Palace Museum, Michelin dining and tea houses with volcanic hot springs only 30 minutes from downtown. Stay 2–3 days; best October–April.
- [Jiufen (九份)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/jiufen/): A former gold-mining town of lantern-lit stairways and hillside teahouses above the Pacific, best visited early morning or after the day crowds leave. Stay 1 day (or 1 night); best Weekday mornings, October–May.
- [Yilan (宜蘭)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/yilan/): A green plain of rice fields between the mountains and the Pacific, with Taiwan’s only lowland hot springs at Jiaoxi and dolphin-watching around Guishan Island. Stay 1–2 days; best March–October; winter for hot springs.
- [Taroko Gorge (太魯閣)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/taroko-gorge/): A marble canyon carved by the Liwu River. Several famous trails remain closed after the 2024 earthquake, so check our live trail status before planning. Stay 1–2 days; best October–December, March–May.
- [Hualien (花蓮)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/hualien/): Taiwan’s Pacific coast city: black-pebble Qixingtan Bay, the lakes and rice fields of the East Rift Valley, and the gateway to Taroko Gorge. Stay 2 days; best October–May.
- [Taichung (臺中)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/taichung/): Taiwan’s sunny central city of museums, parks and night markets, home to the National Taichung Theater, the Gaomei Wetlands and three-Michelin-star JL Studio. Stay 1–2 days; best October–April.
- [Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/sun-moon-lake/): Taiwan’s largest lake, ringed by forested hills and Thao culture. Private boat at dawn, black tea estates in Yuchi, and quiet lakeside resorts. Stay 1–2 days; best Year-round; mornings for mist.
- [Alishan (阿里山)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/alishan/): Cypress forests, high-mountain oolong and a sunrise above a sea of clouds. Overnight in the mountains is the only way to see the sunrise without a 3 a.m. drive. Stay 1–2 nights; best October–April; cherry blossom March–April.
- [Tainan (臺南)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/tainan/): Taiwan’s oldest city: centuries-old temples, Dutch-era forts and the island’s most celebrated street food, now with its first Michelin star. Stay 1–2 days; best October–April.
- [Kaohsiung (高雄)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/kaohsiung/): A harbour city of art districts and seafood, gateway to Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the tropical coast of Kenting. Stay 1–2 days; best November–April.
- [Kenting (墾丁)](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/destinations/kenting/): Taiwan’s tropical southern tip: coral coast, white-sand bays and the Eluanbi Lighthouse, inside Kenting National Park. Stay 1–2 days; best October–May.

## Travel guides (facts checked against official Taiwanese sources)
- [Taiwan itinerary: 5, 7 and 10 days](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/taiwan-itinerary/): last checked 2026-10-20. With 5 days, combine Taipei, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Tainan along the west-coast high-speed rail. With 7 days, add a day trip to Taroko Gorge on the east coast. With 10 days, go round the island: Hualien, the East Rift Valley, Kenting, Kaohsiung and Tainan, then back through Alishan and Sun Moon Lake.
- [The best time to visit Taiwan](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-taiwan/): last checked 2026-10-20. The best time to visit Taiwan is October to December and March to April: dry, mild and outside the typhoon season. July to September is the riskiest window, since about 80% of typhoons that hit Taiwan arrive then. May and June bring the plum rains. Avoid the 2027 Lunar New Year week, 4–10 February, unless you want the festivities.
- [Taroko Gorge guided tour: what is open and how to visit](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/taroko-gorge-guided-tour/): last checked 2026-10-20. Taroko Gorge is partly open in 2026. The visitor center, Dekalun Trail, Qingshui Cliffs viewpoint area, Tianxiang and the Lushui trail (in part) can be visited, but Shakadang Trail and Swallow Grotto remain closed, with rebuilding estimated at about seven years. Highway 8 into the gorge opens only in set daytime windows, so a guide who checks the notices each morning makes the day work.
- [The best day trips from Taipei](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/day-trips-from-taipei/): last checked 2026-10-20. The easiest day trip from Taipei is Jiufen and Shifen, about an hour by car. Yehliu Geopark fits into the same day on the north coast. For hot springs, Jiaoxi in Yilan is about an hour away. Taroko Gorge (express train) and Sun Moon Lake (high-speed rail plus car) are possible in a long day of 11–13 hours.
- [Sun Moon Lake boat tour: piers, hours and how to do it](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/sun-moon-lake-boat-tour/): last checked 2026-10-20. Sun Moon Lake boats link three piers: Shuishe, Xuanguang and Ita Thao. Public boats run about every 15–20 minutes from 09:00 to 17:00, and a ticket covers the loop for the day. The piers open 07:00–18:00 in summer and 08:00–17:00 in winter. For a quiet lake, go early or charter a private boat.
- [Planning a private family tour of Taiwan](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/taiwan-family-tour/): last checked 2026-10-20. Taiwan works well for families: it is compact, the high-speed rail is fast, and most highlights are short walks. For a first family trip, base yourselves in Taipei for 3 nights, add Sun Moon Lake for 1–2 nights, and finish in Tainan. Travel in October–November or March–April to avoid typhoons and the summer heat.
- [Tainan food tour: what to eat, and when to eat it](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/tainan-food-tour/): last checked 2026-10-20. Tainan is Taiwan’s food capital, and Time Out named it one of Asia’s top 10 street-food cities in 2025. Start early with fresh beef soup or milkfish congee, graze at lunch on danzai noodles, shrimp rolls and coffin bread, and finish in the old streets at dusk. Many famous stalls open before dawn and sell out by early afternoon.
- [Taipei to Hualien: train, car or private transfer](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/taipei-to-hualien/): last checked 2026-10-20. The fastest way from Taipei to Hualien is Taiwan Railway’s express train, about 2–2.5 hours along the Pacific coast. Taroko and Puyuma express trains are reserved-seat services that sell out at weekends and holidays, so book early. Driving the Suhua Highway takes longer and can close after heavy rain.
- [How to get to Alishan from Taipei](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/alishan-from-taipei/): last checked 2026-10-20. From Taipei, take the high-speed rail to Chiayi (about 1.5 hours), then either drive up the mountain (about 2.5 hours) or ride the Alishan Forest Railway, which reopened along its full length on 6 July 2024. Stay at least one night: the Zhushan sunrise train leaves before dawn, at a time posted at 16:30 the day before.
- [Keelung shore excursion: what to do from the cruise port](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/keelung-shore-excursion/): last checked 2026-10-20. From Keelung cruise port the best shore excursion combines Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen in 6–8 hours, back at least an hour before all-aboard. With less time, stay close: Heping Island Geopark and Keelung’s harbour food streets. Keelung handled about 993,000 cruise passengers in 2025, so book a private car early on busy days.
- [A Taiwan honeymoon: route, season and where to stay](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/taiwan-honeymoon/): last checked 2026-10-20. For a Taiwan honeymoon, plan 7 days: Taipei for culture and dining, a night by Sun Moon Lake, sunrise above the clouds at Alishan, and Tainan’s old streets. Go in October–December or March–April for dry, mild weather. Stay at Capella Taipei (opened 2025), The Lalu on Sun Moon Lake, and in the mountains or by the coast.
- [What to do in Jiufen, and how to avoid the crowds](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/guides/what-to-do-in-jiufen/): last checked 2026-10-20. In Jiufen, walk Old Street and the lantern-lit stairs of Shuqi Road, sit in a teahouse above the Pacific, and visit the Gold Museum in neighbouring Jinguashi. Go on a weekday morning or after about 17:00, when the day groups leave. Jiufen is about an hour from Taipei by car; buses 1062, 965 and 788 also serve it.

## Planning
- [Journey Composer](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/compose/): instant private itinerary draft by mood, days and month.
- [Plan your trip](https://taiwanprivatetours.com/plan-your-trip/): request a tailor-made itinerary.