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How to Visit Taroko National Park — Taroko Gorge Itinerary

Last Updated: August 3, 2023 · Taiwan

Visiting Taroko National Park and Taroko Gorge is one of the top things to do in Taiwan—especially for first-timers to the country!

Taroko is one of Taiwan’s nine national parks, and it is an incredibly wild and scenic part of the island with towering peaks, deep canyons, and lush forested hiking trails.

The Eternal Spring Shrine with waterfall tumbling down into the riverbed—a popular place to see in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.
The icy blue Liwu River carving out the marbled canyon of Taroko Gorge, Taroko National Park, Taiwan.
Moody photo of man entering into tunnel on road inside Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

We stayed overnight in Taroko Gorge and waking up to that rugged, untouched landscape made me feel like I was staying in the Misty Mountains from The Lord of the Rings… it was epic!

In this guide, I’ll detail everything you need to know about visiting Taroko Gorge—whether you want to go on a day trip from Hualien City or wish to stay overnight inside the park, this post covers it all!

Read more below to find out how to get to Taroko Gorge from Taipei, where to stay, what to do, and more.

Table of Contents show
Guide to Taroko National Park + What to Do in Taroko Gorge (Itinerary)
What to Know Before Visiting Taroko
Getting to Taroko Gorge
🚂 Train from Taipei to Hualien
🚎 Bus from Hualien to Taroko Gorge
🚌 Tour to Taroko from Hualien
Getting Around Taroko Gorge On Your Own
Is it Worthwhile to Stay Overnight in Taroko Gorge?
Hotels in Taroko Gorge
Best Things to Do in Taroko Gorge
Eternal Spring Shrine & Bell Tower
Hike One of Taroko’s Famous Trails
Cross the Buluowan Suspension Bridge

Guide to Taroko National Park + What to Do in Taroko Gorge (Itinerary)

Panoramic view of Taroko Gorge and riverside trail.
Looking down on the blue Liwu River inside Taroko Gorge with marbled canyon walls.

What to Know Before Visiting Taroko

  • 🏡 Accommodation: Taroko Gorge itself is pretty wild and therefore has very limited accommodation options. You may be better off basing yourself out of Hualien City and taking a day to visit Taroko Gorge from there. Search hotels near Taroko National Park here.

  • 📱 Data: If you need data while in Taiwan, you can very easily get it by using Airalo’s Taiwan/Asia eSIM. This literally saved me on my Asia trip and it was so uncomplicated to get!

  • 🚌 DIY vs Tours: Taroko is chock-full of trails and attractions. It can be a lot to see in one day on your own. Plan your road trip and start the day early, if you can. However, the hassle-free way to visit Taroko may be on a guided tour from Hualien.

  • 🚗 Renting a car: Foreign visitors with international driver’s permits can rent a car in Taiwan (you must have a valid international license).

  • 🧿 Travel insurance: Protect yourself while exploring Taroko! I used SafetyWing’s nomad insurance to cover my trip to Taiwan. Costs only $40/4 weeks!
The Eternal Spring Shrine Bell Tower tucked on a hill in Taroko Gorge.

Getting to Taroko Gorge

Assuming that you’ve flown into Taipei to start your Taiwan travels, you’ll need to transfer by train from Taipei to the city of Hualien first to reach Taroko National Park. You can also drive there if you rent a car in Taipei.

Hualien is a beautiful coastal city on the rugged eastern side of Central Taiwan.

The time it takes from Taipei to Hualien by car is around 3+ hours and by train from Taipei Main Station to Hualien Station just over two hours.

Taipei Main Station train ticket counter.

Taroko Gorge is inside the Taroko National Park—one of the nine national parks of Taiwan.

The national park itself is huge, but the “tourist” area you are most likely going to visit is concentrated around the landmark Taroko Gorge carved out by the Liwu River.

For more freedom and flexibility, I highly, highly recommend renting a car (or scooter) and exploring Taroko Gorge on your own OR booking a guided private tour.

🚂 Train from Taipei to Hualien

Passengers on subway taking the train in Taiwan.

To get from Taipei Main Station to Hualien City, we booked a local train online via Taiwan Railways.

As you can see in the screenshot below from my email, we booked the Tze-Chian Ltd. Express, train # 408. Total travel time only took 2 hours and 10 minutes. (Cost: $28 USD for two people.)

Once at Taipei Main Station, we simply went up to the counter window and showed our e-tickets to receive the printed versions.

Hualien Train Station

We decided to visit Taroko Gorge first thing after arriving by train at the Hualien Train Station (花蓮火車站) since we were spending the night in the gorge.

However, in hindsight, I would recommend staying and relaxing in Hualien for a day before exploring and hiking in Taroko National Park on a day trip from Hualien.

In any case, getting from the Hualien Train Station to Taroko Gorge is fairly simple. If you don’t have a rental car, you will need to take the bus to Taroko which will take more or less one hour, depending on where you get dropped off.

Panoramic view of the Liwu River carving out the Taroko Gorge inside Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

🚎 Bus from Hualien to Taroko Gorge

Fortunately, the bus station is just a 2-minute walk away from the Hualien Train Station. Head outside and walk across the lot to Hualianqiche Bus Station.

Here, you can purchase your ticket to Taroko Gorge on a first-come, first-served basis in cash (bring exact change). You can also pay by Taiwan Metro EasyCard.

NOTE: There are three bus companies that run routes into Taroko from Hualien Main Station and three ways to reach Taroko National Park by bus.

  • TaiwanTrip (Ubus Company, Bus #310) — These are one or two-day bus tickets (NT$250-$450) that gives you hop-on, hop-off flexibility to visit Taroko Gorge (view route).
  • Hualien Bus Company (Bus #1133) — The one we used to get a one-way ticket into Taroko to reach our hotel at Buluowan stop (see timetable).
  • Taroko Bus Company (Bus #302) from the Xincheng-Taroko Train Station (NT$150).

As a reminder, Taroko Gorge attractions and hikes are all spread out and require transport to reach, which is why I recommend driving yourself or taking a guided tour from Hualien City (there are also full-day Taroko tours from Taipei you can take).

For more transport info, head to Taroko’s website.

The blue Liwu River inside Taroko Gorge with marbled canyon walls.
Tunnel with marker inside Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.

🚌 Tour to Taroko from Hualien

To save time and a bit of planning on your part, there are full-day tours to Taroko from Hualien City that you can take.

Some of these tours are customizable to suit your preferences, but will typically take you around to see the must-see sights of Taroko Gorge, including but not limited to:

  • Chishitang Scenic Area
  • Baiyang Waterfall
  • Yanzihkou Trail (Swallow Grotto)
  • Shakadang Trail
  • Eternal Spring Shrine
  • Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail

Plus, most tours include a stop over at the Qingshui Cliffs (one of the top natural attractions to visit in Taiwan) which we personally didn’t get the chance to see—again, due to lack of personal transport!

If I had the chance to visit Taroko a second time, I would base myself out of Hualien for four nights and spend one day touring the majestic Taroko Gorge on a bicycling tour.

Getting Around Taroko Gorge On Your Own

Suspension bridges crossing the Liwu River inside Taroko Gorge, Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

You should know that Taroko Gorge isn’t easy to navigate by simply hopping buses between each attraction or trailhead. We were hoping this was the case, but it wasn’t.

Not only is the bus timetable schedule a little hard to follow but the waiting times are extremely long because the schedule is infrequent.

It’s hard to estimate how much time visiting or hiking a particular trail will take you exactly, too.

From our experience, it just felt rushed to hop around on the bus, and not very convenient.

All of which is why I recommend visiting Taroko via one of these options:

  • 🚙 Rent a car or scooter and take an early all-day trip into the gorge to explore at your own pace.
  • 🚌 Take a private guided tour day trip from Hualien that is customizable and gives you a much more relaxed and informative way to visit Taroko in one day.
  • 🚴 For the active adventurers out there, I’d recommend this cycling tour.

Is it Worthwhile to Stay Overnight in Taroko Gorge?

That said, while most of the tours and all-day excursions are only one day, Taroko National Park is massive and is full of peaks, hiking trails, waterfalls, shrines, and temples to visit.

So, should you spend a night in Taroko Gorge, or not?

Statue and tourist attraction at the end of Swallow Grotto trail in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.
There is so much to see and do in Taroko Gorge, so an overnight trip would be worthwhile!

If your Taiwan itinerary allows, it would definitely be worthwhile to spend at least two nights in Taroko Gorge for easier access to the trails and attractions, since it does take time to drive back and forth from Hualien.

We personally spent one night and about 1.5 days in Taroko and it felt very rushed due to hotel check-in and check-out constraints.

Next time, instead of going into the gorge without a personal car, I would either:

  • A) Commit to only a day trip to Taroko from Hualien, but do so on a guided tour.
  • B) Spend two nights camping inside Taroko National Park with a rental car or scooter for easy exploration.

Below is a quick list of accommodation options should you decide to stay inside Taroko National Park!

Hotels in Taroko Gorge

Two twin beds inside a cabin lodge of the Taroko Village Hotel in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.

For a luxurious experience of the gorge, you can stay at the only 5-star hotel inside Taroko — Silks Place.

Again, hotel lodging is limited inside Taroko Gorge itself so if you’re looking for more options, you’ll need to backtrack to the mouth of the Liwu River and the coastal side of the Xiulin township, near Chongde, which is just 10 minutes from the Taroko National Park entrance.

  • 🏡 Li Wu Zuo Cun B&B (rating 9.1/10)
  • 🏡 Taroko Tkijig Ocean B&B (9.4/10)
  • 🏡 崇霖覓境-花蓮崇德瑩農場 (7.9/10)
  • 🏡 Crossing the Rainbow Bridge B&B (9.1/10)
  • 🏡 Yu Shou Hao Hsien Guesthouse (9.2/10)
Panoramic view of the Taroko Village Hotel grounds with individual chalets at the base of forested mountains.

We stayed at the Taroko Village Hotel and, while we loved our cabin-style lodging, didn’t end up spending so much time here so I think we could’ve saved quite a bit of money basing ourselves elsewhere. The lunch/dinner was a highlight, but non-guests can also come and enjoy this as the hotel is easily accessible from the Buluowan bus stop.

If nothing close to the park is available, I recommend simply basing yourself out of Hualien. We stayed at the Boy Apartment in the heart of Hualien.

As for camping in Taroko, check out these campgrounds which are free to use on a first-come, first-served basis:

  • Heliu Campground (free of charge, 12 wooden platforms available, toilets, cold showers)
  • Lushui Campground (free of charge, open grassy area for tents)

To find hotels and local B&Bs across Taiwan, I used Booking.com. Being a Booking.com Genius member earns you some perks on select properties such as free cancellation, free breakfast, or discounts on upgraded rooms.

Best Things to Do in Taroko Gorge

Between the towering marbled canyon walls, hiking trails, wispy waterfalls, and temples tucked away in the lush hillside, there is plenty to do and see in Taroko National Park. It is one of Taiwan’s raw natural gems, after all!

You could easily spend a few days exploring the whole park, but most visitors stick to the main sights around Taroko Gorge.

Here is what you can’t miss when in Taroko Gorge (particularly for day trips and overnight itineraries—you could fit in more with more days!).

Eternal Spring Shrine & Bell Tower

The Eternal Spring Shrine with waterfall tumbling down into the riverbed—a popular place to see in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.
Female standing by a lamp pole overlooking the Eternal Spring Shrine & Bell Tower attraction in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.

One of my favorite views inside the whole gorge is of the Eternal Spring Shrine (also known as Changchun Temple Shrine).

There is just something so striking about this red-tinged temple. Is it the towering mountain backdrop? The cascade of water flowing beneath it? Or all of it all at once?!

Whatever it is, make sure not to miss out on the chance to see it for yourself. You can easily drive off the main Taroko Gorge road to reach the Eternal Spring Shrine located here.

The panorama from the parking lot across the river is beautiful, but you can also hike there to explore up close on foot via the short but steep Changchun Shrine Trail (40m–1hr roundtrip).

Hike One of Taroko’s Famous Trails

Tourists wearing hard-hats overlooking the canyon walls of Taroko Gorge on the Swallow Grotto Trail in Taroko National Park, Taiwan.
Walking the Swallow Grotto riverside hike in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.

Taroko National Park is wild and therefore chock-full of gorgeous hiking trails. One of the best ways to experience this beautiful national park of Taiwan is on foot!

Hiking one of the trails in Taroko is a must-do, even if you only have time for one or two.

Shakadang Trail

The Shakadang Trail is nearby the Eternal Spring Shrine, so you could do both in one go. It is an easy 4km out-and-back trail (no need to do all 4km!) for all ages that will give you a great “intro” to the beautiful vistas and unique geology of Taroko Gorge.

Tunnel of Nine Turns

This hiking trail is popular for its walk-thru tunnel following the Liwu River and overlooking the narrowest portion of Taroko Gorge. It takes around 30 minutes to complete and is a

Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou)

Swallow Grotto is another super popular hiking trail in Taroko Gorge because it takes you under carved-out tunnel passes. It is home, as you may guess, to native swallows that reside in the canyon.

⚠️ Due to unpredictable landslides and rocks, it is advised to wear a hard safety helmet for this hike. You can pick one up for free at the Xipan check-in/out Helmet Service Station.

Other trails you might want to consider depending on your time/interest are:

  • Baiyang Trail (features waterfalls, unique caves, suspension bridge)
  • Luishui Trail (cliffside trail featuring stone tunnel)

Cross the Buluowan Suspension Bridge

Tourists crossing the Buluowan Suspension Bridge inside Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.

The longest bridge in all of Taroko Gorge is none other than the Buluowan Suspension Bridge (布洛灣吊橋).

This bridge offers views of Taroko Gorge you won’t get anywhere else—after all, you are suspended up HIGH (152m to be exact).

The bridge does get a little crowded, especially before/after noon when folks are finishing up lunch at Taroko Village Hotel just above the Buluowan Terrace.

Not to miss during its opening hours is the museum that displays crafts and artifacts from the indigenous of Taroko (opening hours are from 9am to 4pm).

“Buluowan, meaning “echo of canyon”, used to be a tribal village of the Taroko aborigines. With its upper and the lower terrace, Buluowan serves as an important recreational area in Taroko Gorge. The lower portion houses the Tourist Center of Taroko National Park, providing information and multimedia demonstrations on the history and culture of the Truku tribe. The Taroko handicraft museum displays Taroko fabric, baskets, and other traditional crafts.”

Round Taiwan Round (source)

Visiting Taroko Gorge and Taroko National Park doesn’t have to be complicated!

There are lots of ways to go about it, but you will really simplify your time there if you plan ahead.

Again, accommodation inside the Gorge can be expensive and limited, so my advice is to either book ahead or plan your itinerary out of Hualien with a guided day tour or DIY trip into Taroko.

If you have any leftover doubts or questions about what to do in Taroko, getting there, etc., please let me know in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!

Pin this guide to Taroko Gorge Taiwan for later!

By: Bri · In: Taiwan

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Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

#nepal #nepalnow #nepalphotography #nepaliculture #nepalisbeautiful #natgeoyourshot #patan #kathmanduvalley #lifetimeexperiences #photonepal #nepaltravel
Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swi Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swirling spirituality, its raw humanity? ✨🇳🇵❤️

#nepal #visitnepal #nepalnow #travelstories #localtravel #mindfultravel #slowtravel #natgeotravel
When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

#solotravel #localtravel #nepaltravel #nepaldiaries #nepali #solofemaletravel #kathmandunepal #thamel #tibetanfood #solotraveldiaries
My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
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