3-Day Tour of Sun Moon Lake, Puli and Alishan National Scenic Area from Taipei

On this 3-day tour of Taiwan’s beautiful countryside, discover not only the region’s elaborate man-made attractions, but also its natural beauty. You’ll take home a memorable experience of Taiwan on a trip that combines a relaxing bus tour and a fascinating exploration of the area’s best sites on foot.
Drive through the picturesque Sun Moon Lake area and walk through the well-preserved Alishan National Scenic Area with your guide. Visit the Southern branch of National Palace Museum.
Please see Itinerary below for a more detailed schedule.

Day 1: Taipei – Sun Moon Lake
After pickup from your Taipei hotel, your guide will drive you by comfortable, air-conditioned coach to Puli in the county of Nantou. Stop at the Guangxing Paper Factory for a guided tour to learn about the elaborate process of making paper.

Continue your drive to Sun Moon Lake. As you travel through the scenic area around the lake, admire views of boats docked by the lake’s pier and listen to your guide’s informative commentary on local sites you pass such as Tehua Village, the local village of aboriginal people. Step off the bus for short stops at Wenwu Temple, Tse-En Pagoda and Holy Monk Shrine, among others.

Have lunch (own expense) either in Puli or around Sun Moon Lake. Your guide will give you suggestions on great local restaurants and eateries, where you can enjoy a delicious meal in the company of your fellow travelers. Head to your hotel and enjoy its extensive facilities before spending the night.
Overnight: Fleur de Chine near Sun Moon Lake (rated 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor) or similar

Day 2: Sun Moon Lake – Alishan – Chiayi (B)
After a complimentary buffet breakfast in your hotel, board the bus and enjoy a scenic ride along the New Central Cross Island Highway. On this 2- to 3-hour (approx.) drive, enjoy gorgeous views of towering mountain ranges covered with dense forests as you pass Yushan National Park.

Visit Alishan National Scenic Area in Chiayi County for a walking tour of its forest. As you stroll along the shore and over the bridge of the Sister Ponds with your guide, learn about the tragic story of the Tsou sisters who, according to folk legend, threw themselves into these still waters after falling in love with the same man.

Follow your guide along the forest trails under the canopy of towering red cypress and cedar trees. Discover the quirky names given to nearly every tree, like the ‘Tree Spirit Pagoda,’ the ‘Tree of Three Generations’ and the ‘Xianglin Sacred Tree.’ Enter the Shoujen Pagoda, the park’s largest temple, and marvel at the ornate golden altar and thousands of illuminated miniature Buddhas.

Stop for lunch (own expense) in any of the towns along the way at a restaurant suggested by your guide, and then continue on a 2-hour drive to the city of Chiayi. Soak in scenic forest views along the highway and snap some photos of scenic villages like Fenchihu and Rueili while listening to your guide’s informative, fascinating tales. Afterward, check in your hotel and rest up for the night.
Overnight: Nice Prince in Chiayi (rated 4 stars on TripAdvisor) or similar

Day 3: Chiayi – Southern Branch of National Palace Museum(B)
After a buffet breakfast on your third day, you will head to Southern Branch of National Palace Museum. The purpose of the establishment is to achieve cultural equity between the Northern and the Southern regions of Taiwan, and to drive cultural, educational, social, and economic developments in both regions.
Southern Branch of National Palace Museum complements the limited display space of National Palace Museum. It actively showcases a variety of awe-inspiring exhibitions to fulfill its duty as a museum for artifact collection, research, conservation, education, and exhibition as well as to introduce artifact-derived leisure and recreational activities, and engage in cultural and creative operations.At the end of your visit, you will be transferred head back to downtown Taipei.