In-Depth Taiwan Island Self-Drive Loop
Drive clockwise around the island, connecting the North Coast, Suhua, East Rift Valley, Hengchun Peninsula, and Alishan.
Based on a mature two-week island loop itinerary from travel agencies, adapted for self-driving. Skip downtown Taipei, starting from the North Coast and exiting through the central mountains, leaving plenty of time with one night each in the East Rift Valley and the coast, and two nights at the southern tip. The mountain roads and the Suhua Highway section require high driving intensity, making this suitable for experienced drivers; you will need to plan for one-way car rentals or map out gas stations in advance.
After typhoons, traffic controls may be implemented on the Suhua Highway, South-Link Highway, and Alishan Highway; check road conditions beforehand.
Day by day
Day 1 · North Coast to Shuinandong and Jiufen
Taipei（Yehliu Geopark） → Jiufen & Jinguashi（Yin Yang Sea、Golden Waterfall、Jiufen Old Street）
Pick up your car in Taipei, drive along Provincial Highway 2 to Yehliu, and continue along the coast to Jiufen (approx. 2 hours).
Parking in Jiufen is difficult on holidays; you can check into your accommodation first and then walk to the Old Street.
Stay: Jiufen Old Street Area
Day 2 · Northeast Coast to Jiaoxi Hot Springs
Jiufen & Jinguashi（Gold Museum (Jinguashi)、Bitou Cape Trail） → Yilan（Lanyang Museum、Jiaoxi Hot Springs）
Drive from Jiufen through Jinguashi along Provincial Highway 2 to Bitou Cape, then head south through Toucheng to Jiaoxi (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Jiaoxi
Day 3 · Suhua Highway to Qixingtan
Yilan（Nanfang'ao Fishing Port & Nantian Temple） → Hualien & Taroko（Qingshui Cliff、Qixingtan Beach）
Drive from Jiaoxi via the Suhua Improvement Road to the Chongde area (approx. 2.5 to 3 hours), passing through mountain tunnels.
There are many large trucks on the Suhua Highway; watch out for falling rocks and traffic controls after rain.
Stay: Qixingtan
Day 4 · Taroko Gorge to Tianxiang Round Trip
Hualien & Taroko（Taroko Gorge、Tianxiang & Xiangde Temple、Dongdamen Night Market）
Drive from Qixingtan to the entrance of Taroko Gorge (approx. 30 minutes), and enter/exit Tianxiang in coordination with the opening hours of Provincial Highway 8.
The road is closed at night and the opening hours are frequently adjusted; check the Highway Bureau's monthly announcements before setting off.
Stay: Qixingtan
Day 5 · Provincial Highway 11 Coast to Ruisui
Hualien & Taroko（Baqi Viewpoint） → Ruisui & East Rift Valley（Shitiping、Changhong Bridge、Ruisui Hot Spring）
Drive south along Provincial Highway 11 to Changhong Bridge (approx. 2 hours), and transfer to the Ruigang Road to Ruisui (approx. 1 hour).
Stay: Ruisui Hot Spring Area
Day 6 · Southbound Through the Rift Valley to Yuli and Chishang
Ruisui & East Rift Valley（Ruisui Ranch、Yuli Town & Yuli Noodles） → Taitung & Green Island（Liushidan Mountain、Mr. Brown Avenue, Chishang、Dapo Pond）
Drive south along Provincial Highway 9 from Ruisui to Chishang (approx. 1 hour) with short stops throughout the day, and drive up the mountain road to Liushishi Mountain.
The daylily blooming season is from August to September; you can skip Liushishi Mountain in other months.
Stay: Chishang
Day 7 · Over the Coastal Range to Dulan
Taitung & Green Island（Donghe Bridge、Sanxiantai、Jinzun Recreation Area）
Take Provincial Highway 23 over the mountains to Donghe (approx. over 1 hour), head north to Sanxiantai, and then drive south along Provincial Highway 11 to Dulan.
The Eight-Arch Bridge at Sanxiantai is closed until the end of 2027, but the coastal park area is still accessible.
Stay: Dulan
Day 8 · South-Link Highway to Hengchun Peninsula
Taitung & Green Island（Xiaoyeliu、Duoliang Station） → Kenting（Jialeshui Scenic Area）
Drive from Dulan through Taitung City along the South-Link Highway (Provincial Highway 9), and transfer to County Road 199 to Kenting (approx. 3.5 to 4 hours).
Stay: Kenting Street
Day 9 · Kenting Southern Coast Loop
Kenting（Longpan Park、Eluanbi Park、Southernmost Point of Taiwan、Baisha Bay、Guanshan Sunset Viewpoint）
Drive along Provincial Highway 26 around the southern tip of the peninsula (approx. 1.5 hours of driving for the day), and head to Guanshan in the evening to watch the sunset.
Stay: Kenting Street
Day 10 · Hengchun Old Town to Kaohsiung Harbor
Kenting（Hengchun Old Town） → Kaohsiung（Pier-2 Art Center、Sizihwan & Former British Consulate at Takao、Love River）
Drive from Kenting along Provincial Highway 1 and the expressway to Kaohsiung (approx. 2 hours), and spend the afternoon exploring the city mainly on foot.
Stay: Yancheng · Pier-2
Day 11 · Fo Guang Shan and Tainan Historic Sites
Kaohsiung（Dragon and Tiger Pagodas、Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum） → Tainan（Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)、Shennong Street）
Drive from downtown Kaohsiung to Fo Guang Shan (approx. 40 minutes), then take the expressway to Tainan (approx. 1 hour).
Stay: West Central District Old Town
Day 12 · Anping to Alishan
Tainan（Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)、Anping Old Street） → Alishan & Chiayi（Fenqihu Old Street、Alishan Forest Recreation Area）
Drive from Tainan along the national highway to Chiayi, and connect to Provincial Highway 18 up the mountain (approx. 3 to 3.5 hours).
Provincial Highway 18 has many curves and can easily cause motion sickness; it is best to arrive on the mountain early in the afternoon.
Stay: Alishan Hotel Area
Day 13 · Zhushan Sunrise to Sun Moon Lake
Alishan & Chiayi（Zhushan Sunrise Viewing Platform、Giant Tree Trail、Sister Ponds） → Sun Moon Lake（Xiangshan Visitor Center）
Watch the sunrise and explore the giant trees in the morning, then drive to Sun Moon Lake via Provincial Highway 18 and Provincial Highway 21 in the afternoon (approx. 3 hours).
The departure time for the Zhushan Line train is announced at 4:30 PM the previous day.
Stay: Ita Thao
Day 14 · Lake Loop and Return Car Departure
Sun Moon Lake（Sun Moon Lake、Sun Moon Lake Wenwu Temple）
Take a short tour around the lake in the morning, and drive via National Highway 6 and National Highway 3 to Taoyuan Airport (approx. 3 hours).