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Regent Holidays · Tailor-made

Taiwan by Train & Kinmen Island

Taiwan's east coast and islands by train, temple, and tea farm

Illustration of Taiwan by Train & Kinmen Island

Taiwan by Train & Kinmen Island is a 12-day tailor-made journey operated by Regent Holidays, starting in Taipei and ending at Sun Moon Lake. The itinerary combines cultural exploration, heritage rail routes, and coastal scenery across seven mainland cities and Kinmen Island. You begin in Taipei with temple visits and night-market wandering, then travel east to Hualien and south to hot springs in Chihpen, riding the historic Pingxi Line near Yilan on day 4 with a one-day pass to explore 12 stations. A standout interlude takes you to Kinmen Island, a former military frontier now preserving wartime museums, traditional settlements, and protective Wind Lion statues. The journey closes with a heritage rail excursion on the Jiji Line and a high-speed train return from Changhua to Taipei. Accommodation ranges from three nights in Taipei's HOTEL COZZI to single nights in five other cities, with tea-farm lessons, coastal drives, and lake cruises woven throughout. This suits couples seeking culture and relaxation, history-focused travellers, food-and-wine explorers, and anyone who values free time to wander at their own pace.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour involves several flights and coach segments alongside rail legs; rail travel is a significant but not dominant mode of transport.
  • Day 1 is international travel only; sightseeing begins on arrival in Taipei on day 2.
  • Meals are specified in the itinerary but not detailed in the operator's evidence; confirm dietary requirements directly with Regent Holidays.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Fly to Taiwan

    Depart the UK on your flight to Taiwan.

  2. Day 2overnight: HOTEL COZZI Taipei Zhongxiao

    Taipei

    Arrive in Taipei and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your own pace: night markets, dumpling stalls, and leafy boulevards.

  3. Day 3overnight: HOTEL COZZI Taipei Zhongxiao

    Taipei

    Discover Taipei's history and culture: Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, sweeping views from Taipei 101, and the National Palace Museum. The evening is free, perhaps a night market.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Jiuwu Hotel

    Pingxi Scenic Train and Yilan Londong

    Travel east along the historic Pingxi Line, originally built for coal transport, stopping at any of the 12 stations with your one-day pass. Continue to Yilan; in the evening explore its night market.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lakeshore Hotel Hualien

    Yilan to Hualien

    Spend the morning at a tea farm that supplies the National Palace Museum, learning to pick, dry and brew tea. Visit the National Center for Traditional Arts, pass the dramatic Qingshui Cliff, and arrive in Hualien.

  6. Day 6overnight: Century Hotel

    Hualien to Chihpen

    Head south along the coastal highway, stopping at Sansiantai and Siaoyeliou. Arrive in Chihpen, famous for its geothermal hot springs, and enjoy a restful evening soaking in mineral-rich waters.

  7. Day 7overnight: Howard Beach Resort Kenting

    Chihpen to Kaohsiung

    Enjoy a leisurely morning before travelling onward toward Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second-largest city, a vibrant port with an artistic edge.

  8. Day 8overnight: 823 Tourist Hotel

    Kaohsiung to Kinmen Island

    Fly to Kinmen Island, once a military frontier. Visit the Zhongshanlin Visitor Centre and explore Kinmen National Park, which protects scenic hills, wetlands and traditional villages.

  9. Day 9overnight: 823 Tourist Hotel

    Kinmen Island

    Visit centuries-old Southern Fujian-style settlements, see the protective Wind Lion statues, and explore the Guningtou War Museum and Zhaishan Tunnel.

  10. Day 10overnight: Einhan Resort

    Kinmen Island to Sun Moon Lake

    Fly back to Taiwan's main island and continue to Sun Moon Lake. Cruise across its calm waters, visit Wen Wu Temple, and spend the afternoon exploring at leisure.

  11. Day 11railovernight: HOTEL COZZI Taipei Zhongxiao

    Sun Moon Lake to Taipei

    Travel to Checheng village, the final stop on the heritage Jiji railway line, then continue to Changhua to see its 1922 roundhouse, before boarding the high-speed train to Taipei.

  12. Day 12rail

    Depart Taipei

    Transfer to the airport or railway for onward connections.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Travel the historic Pingxi Line, originally built for coal transport, with a one-day pass to stop at any of 12 stations.
  • Day 5Learn traditional tea-making at a local farm that supplies the National Palace Museum, picking, drying and brewing tea yourself.
  • Day 6Soak in Chihpen's geothermal hot springs after driving along the coast past Qingshui Cliff.
  • Day 8Fly to Kinmen Island, once a military frontier, and explore Kinmen National Park's hills, wetlands and traditional villages.
  • Day 11Ride the heritage Jiji railway to Checheng village, then visit Changhua's 1922 roundhouse before returning to Taipei by high-speed train.

Included

  • Return international flights as per the itinerary
  • All taxes and charges
  • Accommodation and meals as specified
  • Transfers as specified
  • Activities and excursions as specified
  • All entrance fees on sightseeing tours as specified

Not included

  • Travel Insurance
  • Any meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional excursions

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The itinerary includes the historic Pingxi and Jiji heritage rail lines, regional rail service via Changhua, and the high-speed train from Changhua to Taipei. Regent Holidays includes these as part of the package.
Which trains does the itinerary use?
Day 4: the Pingxi Line (12-station scenic line near Yilan). Day 11: the Jiji railway to Checheng village and regional rail to Changhua roundhouse, then the High Speed Rail (THSR) back to Taipei.
What is the pace of the trip?
Relaxed. You stay two nights in Taipei (days 2-3, 11), two nights on Kinmen Island (days 8-9), and one night in each of five other cities.
What is not included?
Travel insurance, any meals not listed in the itinerary, tips and gratuities, and optional excursions are not included.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Days include city walking tours in Taipei (temples and museums), coastal sightseeing stops, and exploration of Kinmen's villages. No hikes or high-altitude activities are required.
When does this tour depart?
Regent Holidays offers this as a tailor-made tour; confirm departure dates directly with them, as the evidence provides no scheduled departure calendar.

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