sun moon lake tours

The Best Sun Moon Lake Tours According to Taiwan Travel Expert

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Sun Moon Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taiwan and should definitely be included on your Taiwan itinerary . Taking a small group tour to Sun Moon Lake allows you to get there and explore the lake with worrying about the logistics or finding a hotel (which often sell out on long weekends).

Below I will compare Sun Moon Lake tour options provided by Klook , my most recommended website for tours, tickets, and other activities in Taiwan. In the original version of this article, I also covered tours by GetYourGuide , but all of these were canceled during COVID. I’ve also recently added some tours by KKDay , Taiwan’s version of Klook.

To be 100% transparent, I have never taken a tour to Sun Moon Lake. I usually travel independently, and in my super detailed Sun Moon Lake guide and my free Taiwan Travel Planning Group , I tell you exactly how to do it all by yourself.

But for those who prefer a Sun Moon Lake tour, I will analyze a few well-reviewed Sun Moon Lake tours, as someone who has been to Sun Moon Lake 6 times in 10 years, to help you make a quick and simple decision on which one is best for you.

Make sure to also check out my other articles when you are planning what to do in Taichung , how to plan your Taichung itinerary , and the best Taichung day trip ideas .

If you are looking for a more serious, multi-day, professional tour of Taiwan, feel free to contact me and I can recommend the most suitable local tour operator for your needs.

Table of Contents

Sun Moon Lake Passes & DIY Options

Besides tours, another option you can consider is to get a Sun Moon Lake Pass . In this way, you can travel independently, but enjoy the convenience of having your bus tickets, boat tickets, bicycle rental, Sun Moon Lake ropeway, and more pre-paid. This allows you to avoid the hassle of figuring out all those things once you get to Sun Moon Lake. Moreover, the pass saves you money!  On the downside, the passes (and what each one includes and doesn’t include) are a little complicated. So for some people, they aren’t worth the trouble.    

Even if you decide to do it all on your own and forget about the SML passes or taking a tour, you can still save money by getting this boat, bike, and Sun Moon Lake ropeway pass . As the name suggests, it includes boat ride across the lake, bike rental, and a ride on the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car), all for quite a bit cheaper than if you go each item individually. You just have to figure out how to get to SML on your own. Similarly, the boat hop-on-hop off deal gives you unlimited boat rides on the lake for cheaper than what you would pay there. Find out how to plan your boat rides around the lake in my Sun Moon Lake travel guide .

Finally, for a completely different (and more serene) way to experience Sun Moon Lake, you can consider Stand Up Paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lake .

Why I Recommend Klook

I regularly recommend the Hong Kong-based Klook for various tours and activities all over Taiwan. Although I haven’t done their SML tours (because I prefer to visit SML on my own), I have done other Klook tours and activities. They are usually quite convenient and you can save a lot of money. Their site is a kind of a one-stop-shop for all kinds of travel services across the country. I’ve also gotten positive feedback and read all the reviews of their SML lake tours.

Klook is particularly popular among Asian visitors to Taiwan, who are perhaps familiar with it from their own country. Although Taiwan has KKDay, and it often offers even more choices than Klook, I find that overall the KKday pages often have poor English (or little no no English at all). The Klook pages have better English, more pictures, and more detailed descriptions, and this is why I prefer them.

Below, I will however recommend one KKDay tour simply because Klook doesn’t have that one.

If you sign up for Klook with my referral link , you’ll kind NT$100 off your first booking, including any of the Sun Moon Lake tours I recommend in this article.

For some examples of useful Klook deals for Sun Moon Lake, you can pre-book your High Speed Rail Ticket from Taipei to Taichung at a reduced rate .

You can also use Klook to arrange a private transfer Taipei or Taichung to Sun Moon Lake . You can also arrange private or shared transfer from Sun Moon Lake to Cingjing Farm .

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taichung

For semi-independent travelers, or people who want to have a more complete experience of Sun Moon Lake specifically, I think that the tours offered from Taichung are better than those from Taipei . Most of the Taipei to Sun Moon Lake tours were canceled during COVID, anyways. From Taichung, the options are better, and you’ll get more time at the lake.

It’s very easy to get to Taichung on your own by HSR ( see my HSR guide ), regular train (see my train booking guide ), or bus. The following tours include pickup from your hotel or various locations in Taichung.

The first is best for adventure, second is more relaxed but comprehensive, and the last one is for theme park (or cherry blossom) lovers.

Klook’s “Sun Moon Lake Adventure Tour” (Top Choice)

On the Sun Moon Lake Adventure One Day Tour , you get to have more exciting experiences at Sun Moon Lake, include cycling, boat riding, and riding the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car), which offers incredible views from far above the lake.

The tour starts with a pickup from one of three locations in Taichung (Miyahara Ice Cream near Taichung Station, Taichung HSR station, or Feng Chia Night Market ). The pickups and drive to the lake take about 90 minutes. Arriving at Sun Moon Lake, you go mountain biking (keep in mind that SML has been called one of the world’s best cycling destinations!)

After an aboriginal lunch, you take a boat ride across the lake, ride the famous Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car), and finally visit Wenwu Temple, the most beautiful temple on the lake.

The same tour is offered here on KKDay , but you may find that it is slightly cheaper.

Ups: You get to cycle, ride a boat, and take the gondola all in one day. Budget-friendly. Adventurous activities. Option for English (or Japanese) guide at no extra charge. Convenient pickup and drop off in Taichung. Downs: You don’t get to visit quite as many places as the next tour.

Klook’s “Day at Sun Moon Lake” tour

For the Day at Sun Moon Lake Tour , starting at your hotel or the train or HSR station in Taichung, you drive to Sun Moon Lake in a van (there may be other guests, or could be just you).

You start with an easy hike on Shuiwatou Trail (Water Frog Head trail), which takes you through a bamboo forest right down to the lake. Then you visit beautifully designed Xiangshan Visitor’s Center before taking a 1-hour boat ride on the lake. Heads up that it can be very hot in summer in Taiwan , even at higher altitude Sun Moon Lake, so wear adequate protection!

You get to visit the aboriginal village of Ita Thao (my favorite place to stay on Sun Moon Lake), as well as the famous sights of Xuanguang (Syuanguang) Temple, Ci En Pagoda, and Wenwu Temple (learn about these sights in my Sun Moon Lake article). The exact program may vary slightly.

Ups: More individual stops that first tour. More relaxing and suitable for kids/elderly (i.e. fewer adventure activities). Budget friendly. Will even pick you up from your hotel in Taichung. Downs: Guide is Chinese speaking only. Must pay extra NT900 for an English speaking guide (in my opinion, you don’t really need it to enjoy the sights). Sun Moon Ropeway (Cable Car) not included.

Klook’s “Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village” tour

Are you into amusement parks? Then the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Day Trip may be for you. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is a combination of aboriginal culture village, with aboriginal songs, dance, and costumes, and amusement park with wild rides. It is one of the most popular theme parks in Taiwan .

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is also famous for cherry blossom viewing in late winter, usually late February to early March (the exact dates vary by year).

After pick-up in Taichung, you go directly to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway on the lake shore, which offers incredible views of the lake as you go up. When you get to the top, unlike the adventure tour above, you will get to ride a second gondola, which goes down the backside of the mountain to the theme park.

After visiting the theme park, you’ll have one more stop, which is the beautiful Wenwu Temple overlooking the lake.

Ups: Great for theme park lovers. Fast and convenient way to enjoy some great Sun Moon Lake views. English, Japanese, or Chinese speaking guide at no extra cost. Also includes Wenwu Temple, the most beautiful temple/view of Sun Moon Lake. Good deal, considering normal tickets to the theme park (NT850) are more than half of the total tour price. Downs: Not much time spent beside Sun Moon Lake. Most of the time is in the theme park. Doesn’t include any sights around the lake besides Wenwu Temple. Not an “authentic” aboriginal experience and not one of the best amusement parks in Taiwan (in my opinion). Lunch not included.

Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm Tour

Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm are two of the most famous day trips from Taichung . So why not combine them into one single day trip with this tour offered by KKDay? Cingjing Farm is a European-style farm and mountain resort village. You can enjoy the high mountain views, see real farm animals, and European-style buildings. See my guide to Cingjing Farm and how to get there on your own .

The tour includes pickup from various points in Taichung, drive to Sun Moon Lake (60-90 minutes) in a car or minivan, boat ride on the lake, drive to Cingjing Farm (60-90 minutes), visit the farm, then drive back to Taichung (60-90 min).

As you can imagine from the above description, there is quite a bit of driving and the day tour is long (around 10 hours total). But if you want to be efficient or have little time on your trip, you can check off these two famous Nantou attractions in a single day.

Ups: Visit both SML and Cingjing in a single day (usually requires multiple days). Don’t need to worry about complicated transportation between these two famous attractions, or walking up the steep highway between sights at Cingjing. Downs: Lots of driving in one day. The KKDay page doesn’t give too many details about what you will see and do at each place. Lunch and Cingjing entrance ticket fees not included. Not clear whether guide speaks English.

Full Taiwan Tour that Include Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is included on another popular GetYourGuide tour choice: this Best of Taiwan 5-Day Tour , also by coach and arranged by the same local tour company as above.

It’s actually amazing how much of Taiwan they can cram into five days on this tour. If you only have five days in Taiwan and want to see it all (not counting Taipei), this is your choice.

I’m actually impressed with the price of this tour, considering that all the hotels are 5-star, and these include some of Taiwan’s most famous and opulent hotels, such as the Fleur de Chine Sun Moon Lake and Silks Place Taroko .

The tour stops include: Sun Moon Lake, Fo Guang Shan (the largest monastery and biggest Buddha in Taiwan, Kaohsiung , Kenting (the beach resort at the southern end of Taiwan), remote Taitung in the southeast, the stunning East Coast of Taiwan , Hualien , and Taroko Gorge .

Ups: 5.0 star rating based on 15 reviews. See many of the most famous places in Taiwan in only five days. Amazing value for money, especially considering the excellent accommodations. Downs: It’s a bus tour. Doesn’t go to Alishan, one of Taiwan’s top attractions. You would spend quite a bit of time on the road. I estimate three hours or more per day. Everywhere you go, you see the most famous (but also most “touristy”) places. For Sun Moon Lake: you only see three sights: Wenwu Temple, Holy Monk Shrine, and Ci En Pagoda. They are three main sights of Sun Moon Lake, but you really get the “tourist” version of Sun Moon Lake. There’s no boat ride or stop in aboriginal Ita Thao village.

Looking for quirkier attractions in Taiwan? Check out Rainbow Village in Taichung or Monster Village in Xitou !

I hope I’ve helped you find a good Sun Moon Lake tour! If you have any questions or experiences you’d like to share, but do so in the comments below!

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8 thoughts on “The Best Sun Moon Lake Tours According to Taiwan Travel Expert”

14th Oct to 19th October My parents who are 55 and 65 hate long hours driving so have opted for express train and hiring local private tour on arrival at the locations:

How does this sound? 14th sightseeing Taipei

15th morning – Leave by train to Taroko Visit Taroko National Park Visit Cliffs Visit the trails Good at Hualien city 15th night (Stay at Hualien or Taroko)

16th – Chill & return 16th to Taipei Sightseeing Taipei & nightmarkets

17th morning take train to Taichung & tour to sun moon lake Stay overnight at Sun Moon Lake

18th morning- Return to to Taipei Sightseeing Taipei

19th morning – Taipei 19th afternoon – airport

Hi Kimmy, and thanks for reading! I think your 15th day sounds too busy. Most people spend a full day to visit Taroko, especially if you want to include Qingshui Cliffs and hiking trails. Even if you take the morning train, you will arrive and need to check into hotel, eat lunch. So you will only have one afternoon to visit the Gorge. It’s possible, but you won’t be able to see every part of the gorge.

There’s not really much to see in Hualien City. To maximize your time, maybe you can stay in Xincheng directly in Taroko Gorge (but the hotels are more expensive). Then maybe you can see some parts on 15th afternoon, and some on 16th morning.

The rest of your plan sounds good! A little busy, but I think it’s doable.

Can we be picked up from our hotel in Taipei to go to sun moon lake for a day tou

Yes, some of the tours will pick you up at your hotel! For example, the “Day at Sun Moon Lake Tour” I described in this article. You can copy and paste this link: https://www.klook.com/activity/483-a-day-at-sun-moon-lake-taichung/?krt=s21&krid=01a2d0e6-0e6a-4a7b-6dda-4fa107ff1740&af_wid=3452&currency=USD&aid=55737cc684cec0b3&utm_medium=affiliate-alwayson&utm_source=non-network&utm_campaign=3452

Hi Nick, Have you got any review or feedback about this tour https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/AttractionProductReview-g13808515-d19349817-Chartered_Sun_Moon_Lake_Tour-Xinyi_District_Taipei.html

We.re thinking on using their service, but not sure if it is worth the money.

Hi Andreas, I haven’t personally used this tour company or even heard of them, so I’m afraid I can’t offer any additional info or feedback better than the reviews already on TripAdvisor. Please note, the tour includes a stop at Rainbow Village, but Rainbow Village is currently closed and not expected to reopen until Jan 2023 or later. They have not updated their website to include this important information (Rainbow Village has been closed for many months), so that’s one thing to consider…

Hi Nick, love your blog on Taiwan 🙂 Would you have any recommendation for private yacht hires at SML?

Unfortunately I’m not aware of any. Perhaps you could contact one of the major hotels on the lake such as Fleur de Chine and they might know!

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Sun Moon Lake One Day Leisure Tour

• • Enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on the lake itself
• • Enjoy a meal prepared by Taiwan’s indigenous community
• • Visit some of Sun Moon Lake's most historic temples

Offering crystal blue water surrounded by lush forests, bamboo and mountains on all sides, Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's most visited attraction. Blessed with more than natural scenery, the lake offers a plethora of culturally rich temples, shrines, pagodas and other monuments which serve only to accentuate the area's natural beauty. Artists and poets have attempted to capture this enchantment for centuries, and our single-day Sun Moon Lake excursion aims to do the same, offering travelers on a tight schedule a gentle whirlwind journey to see the history, culture and scenery of Sun Moon Lake in a day.

▴ Go on a shuttle boat trip across the lake and enjoy great scenery

▴ Sun Moon Lake View over Temple Rooftops

▴ Be enchanted, inspired and awed by the beauty of Sun Moon Lake

▴ Enjoy a brief cruise on the lake's crystal blue waters

Can’t find what you want?

Create your own tour .

• • Pick up and drop off from your accommodation
• • A professional English tour guide
• • Admissions for a shuttle boat trip
• • 5-seater sedan / 9-seater van
• • Breakfast and dinner

Cancellation Policy

Great tour journey

A must see lake, hidden mountains in taiwan, sun moon lake tour, nice photographs and sunrise, come in the autumn, other recommendations.

Ultimate Taipei Day Tour

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Sun Moon Lake & Qingjing Shared Day Tour from Taichung

• Transportation
• Sun Moon Lake Cruise ticket
• Entry/Admission - Sun Moon Lake
• Personal Expenses
• Qingjing Farm Entry Ticket (around $5)
• Qingjing Farm (admission for Green Green Grasslands, Qingjing Skywalk and Swiss Garden
• Entry/Admission - Ren'ai Township
• Option 1 No. 158, Section 4, Fuxing Rd, East District, Taichung City, Taiwan 401 Our staff will be holding a sign board at (Across from Taichung Railway Station (Twinstar Hotel).
• Option 2 HSR Taichung Station, No. 8, Zhanqu 2nd Rd, Wuri District, Taichung City, Taiwan 414 Our staff will be holding a sign board at (HSR Taichung Station Exit 7, Ist Floor).
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• Children and adults share the same ticket rate. Children aged under 4 are required by law to use a car seat.
• Please note that this tour is a shared carpool. As such, requests for attractions change or adjustments will not be granted
• In the event of weather, strike, or other safety-related reasons, we will inform whether reschedule or a full refund will be granted
• Total tour duration include transportation
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

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• You’ll have 2 starting options See departure details
• 1 Twinstar Hotel Stop: 20 minutes See details
• 2 HSR Taichung Station Stop: 30 minutes See details
• 3 Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Stop: 2 hours See details
• 4 Sun Moon Lake Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 5 Qingjing Farm Stop: 3 hours - Admission excluded See details
• 6 Qingjing Farm Stop: 60 minutes - Admission excluded See details
• You'll return to the starting point

Sun Moon Lake & Qingjing Shared Day Tour from Taichung provided by TREVOPEDIA

How To Do a Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung!

Categories Asia , Taiwan

Taichung Sun Moon Lake is located pretty much in the centre of Taiwan and it’s a popular place to visit on a day trip , but also to stay overnight. After visiting a few cities in Taiwan, a day in nature was what I needed, so I spent one of my days in Taichung walking and sailing around this very special lake on a Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung and this is how I did it so you can too!

Sun Moon Lake Day Trip from Taichung

Related Post: 1-3 Day Itinerary for Taichung & Things to Do in Taichung.

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Taichung to Sun Moon Lake Bus

The best way to do this Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung is to take the Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus!

Taichung Bus Terminal is in the centre of the city next to Taichung Rail Station but this is NOT where you get the bus to Sun Moon Lake from. You get it from the bus stop – Nantou Bus Stand which is close to the bus station and on the edge of Taichung Park.

Upon arrival, especially if you leave in the morning which I suggest you do, I left Taichung at about 8:30 am, you’ll see a number of buses lined up opposite the park and a small ticket office. On maps.me which is a map app I use all over the world the ticket shop is detailed as Ybus and the bus stand is noted as Nan Tou Bus (bus to Sun Moon Lake, Xitou, Lakang).

You can just purchase a return bus ticket from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake for 360NTD however the more cost-effective way it seems and an easier way is to get one of the Sun Moon Lake passes .

Sun Moon Lake Passes

There is a range of passes available for your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung for different prices as they include different things which you can see in the below photo:

I went for the 790NTD ticket which included the return bus ticket to Taichung from Sun Moon Lake, the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway / Cable Car ticket both ways, around the lake Bus ticket, a round trip Boat ticket and a bike rental coupon.

Another popular Sun Moon Lake Pass is the pass for 680NTD which includes the same as the above but full bike rental rather than the Sun Moon Lake Cable Car (although I did enjoy the ropeway, more on that below).

With that being said, on arrival to Sun Moon Lake Taiwan , there are plenty of people and shops selling tickets for boats and bike hire rental so you could get the return ticket only and work out what you want to do when you get there and it won’t cost you too much more. In fact, I didn’t even use the round the lake bus ticket that was included in my pass.

You can also buy combo passes like this online in advance too!

The Taichung to Sun Moon Lake bus takes just under 2 hours , heading directly into the centre of Taiwan into Nantou Country. You’ll be dropped off in a town called Shuishe at the Sun Moon Lake Bus Station.

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TAIWAN SIM CARD The best way to stay connected in Taiwan is to buy this EasyCard & Sim Card package deal in advance . You’ll need an EasyCard to get around on transport in Taiwan anyway and at the same time you can get a Taiwan Sim Card with 4G and pick them up at Taipei Taoyuan Airport when you land!

GETTING AROUND TAIWAN

The Metro within cities in Taiwan is really great, easy to use and so safe. You’ll need an EasyCard which you top up with credit to use the metro and buses. To get around Taiwan, I loved travelling by train . As a tourist, we can’t use the direct Taiwan train booking system. Instead you can go to a train station a few days before and purchase your ticket, or book online in advance using 12GO Asia !

Shuishe is a popular tourist town and when it comes to where to stay in Sun Moon Lake if you decide to stay overnight this could be a good place as it has lots of Sun Moon Lake Accommodation and restaurants nearby. However, as as Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung , I would suggest you start your Sun Moon itinerary by heading straight to Shuishe Pier to get out on the lake!

To help you plan your trip around Taiwan, have a look at all of my Taiwan Blog Posts here!

Sun Moon Lake Tours

If you would like the planning of your visit to Sun Moon Lake taken out of your hands then consider a Sun Moon Lake Tour , there are many tours you can purchase online in advance that leave from Taichung and Taipei. There are also tours that combine the Sun Moon Lake Alishan Pass as this is a popular place in Taiwan to visit that is close to Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taichung

A Day at Sun Moon Lake including Taiching transfers, including a boat cruise, walking and seeing the Temples via Klook.

Shared Transfers between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake.

Private Transfers from Taichung Rail Station to Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake Tours from Taipei

If you really want to visit Sun Moon Lake from Taipei, I would recommend a Sun Moon Lake Day Tour from Taipei as this way you do not need to worry about the transport yourself and will get there quicker than getting the train and bus yourself.

Here’s a Sun Moon Lake 1 Day Leisure Trip from Taipei including hotel pick up and drop off, a guide and lunch via Viator.

If you just want the transport organised for you, here’s a Private City Transfer from Taipei City or from Taipei Taoyuan Airport via Klook.

Things to do in Sun Moon Lake

Here are the best things to do at Sun Moon Lake and an idea of how you can plan your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung . I’ve also included a Sun Moon Lake Map to help you understand what the lake looks like and where the best places to visit in Sun Moon Lake are.

Sun Moon Lake Bike Rental

If you purchased one of the Sun Moon Lake passes with bike rental or you want to hire a bike when you’re there, picking up a bike in Shuishe is a good idea and biking around Sun Moon Lake is the best way to see Sun Moon Lake because the lake is lined with cycling paths said to be the best cycling tracks in Taiwan . Biking around Sun Moon Lake gives you a close up look at the lake and the surrounding areas.

Sun Moon Lake Boat Tour

What I decided to do was to get a boat from Shuishe across the lake to the second most visited town in Sun Moon Lake- Ita Thao. On the boat, Ita Thao Pier is the second stop. The boats do offer commentary but it’s all in mandarin!

This hop on hop off bus and boat combo ticket makes it easy for you to take your bike on the eco-friendly boat in an easy way so you can see all of the lake!

Explore Ita Thao

Itathao is an extremely tourist town but you have to visit on your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung!

Ita Thao is full of souvenir shops but it is nice to see some traditional clothing and items that I hadn’t seen elsewhere in Taiwan before because they are very unique to this area and Nantou County. Part of visiting Sun Moon Lake is to learn and experience a bit about the traditional aboriginal culture of the people who used to live here.

Some Sun Moon Lake history is that it’s said that the ancestors of the Thao people found Sun Moon Lake as they were chasing a white deer, it ran to the lake and after they’d seen it they moved all the tribes to live beside the lake!

Ita Thao Shopping District is very popular and famous with Taiwanese so be sure to have a wander of Ita Thao Shopping Street even if you don’t plan to buy anything.

Street Food in Ita Thao

The best thing about Ita thao I think is its street food! When I arrived there at about 11:00 am the stalls were just opening up but by 1:00 pm everything was fully open. From Mochi to Meat there’s street food to suit everyone, there are even local aboriginal foods that you can try.

Sun Moon Lake Tea is very popular so many of the snacks are made with black tea like black tea ice cream, black tea egg rolls.

Sun Moon Lake is most popular with Taiwanese people , after all, it is the largest lake in Taiwan and an extremely special place however I noticed that many of the food signs were in English to help out foreign visitors to Sun Moon Lake.

Make sure you’re hungry enough to eat street food in Ita Thao on your Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung!

Related Post:   Taichung also has a few night markets, have a read of this post to see which night markets in Taichung to visit ! 

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

A short walk from Ita Thao is the base of the Sun Moon Lake cable car station and you really can’t miss it. The Cable Cars take you up and over the mountains in either a crystal clear bottom car or a normal car. I opted for the normal car as that what was included in my Sun Moon Lake pass. I actually really enjoyed the cable car.

It was amazing to see a full view of the lake from the top and swing over the mountains below. I was just a little surprised and disappointed when I reached the end and ending up turning straight back because at the end is the Aboriginal Culture village.

Purchase a combo ropeway ticket here to include boat and bike rental to save you money!

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Initially, I liked the sound of this and it was on my Sun Moon Lake itinerary however upon arrival I realised that a ticket was 550NTD which is pretty expensive after already paying for the ticket pass for Sun Moon Lake.

In addition to this, from what I saw from the signs and from the ropeway, it’s more of a theme park, and a huge group of school children had just gone inside. From what I can tell, if you’re visiting Sun Moon Lake with children, it could be a fun place to visit , but as adults and as a solo adult, it didn’t seem appealing or worth my money, therefore I got back on the ropeway straight away and went back to Ita Thao Sun Moon Lake.

If you are interested in the Aboriginal Culture and want to visit the Sun Moon Lake Theme Park, this Aboriginal Culture Day Tour ticket combines both so you’ll be able to learn about the culture as well as have some fun!

TAIWAN ITINERARY HELP

Here are my top Taiwan itinerary posts to help your plan your trip:

• 2 Week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 1 week Taiwan Itinerary!
• 18 Best Places to Visit in Taiwan!
• How to Plan a Trip to Taiwan!

TAIWAN ON A BUDGET

Taiwan isn’t the cheapest country but it’s not the most expensive either and can be travelled on a reasonable budget. Here’s my post on the cost of travel in Taiwan and how to travel Taiwan on a budget !

Sun Moon Lake Activities

Aside from going on the tourist boats on the lake to get you from A to B, you can pedalo boats to take yourself and you can even go stand up paddleboarding on Sun Moon Lake too! The way to do this is by joining a SUP trip with a professional guide . 

Sun Moon Lake Temples

There are a number of temples in Sun Moon Lake that surround the lake.

The closest temple to Shuishe is Wenwu Temple which is a huge temple built-in 1938. From Shuishe you can walk to Wenwu Temple, it’s about 3-4km but the walk is along the Sun Moon Lake trail which keeps you slightly away from the road and right on the lake. This trail is also part of the bike trail so it would be easier and faster to bike to Wenwu Temple from Shuishe.

Close to Ita Thao but not in walking distance are Xuanzang Temple and Cien Pagoda . Xuanzang Temple has the remains of monk Xuanzang inside it who was the holy monk in the Tang dynasty.

Ci En Pagoda is the pagoda you’ll see peeking out from the top of the mountain from the lake because its 46 metres high and is a landmark of Sun Moon Lake.

Both of these temples are accessible by foot from Xuanzang Temple Pier which is the first stop after the boat leaves Shuishe and before it gets to Ita Thao. Alternatively, you can get the round-the-lake bus from Ita Thao Pier to both of these temples which will reduce the amount of walking you need to do as the bus stops by the temples whereas from the pier you need to walk up to them.

Sun Moon Lake Accommodation

If you decide that you do want to stay overnight, instead of just doing a Sun Moon Lake day trip from Taichung! Sun Moon Lake Hotels that are are popular and well-rated are:

The lalu Sun Moon Lake Resort is the most popular hotel in Sun Moon Lake with a spa and infinity pool!

See Moon Lake Homestay  is a cute looking homestay for a good price, perfect for couples.

Hu An The Lakeside House is perfect if you want to be right on the lake and to relax!

For more accommodation on Sun Moon Lake, have a look on Booking.com here !

• More of my Taiwan Posts:
• Taichung Itinerary & Things To Do!
• 2-3 Day Itinerary for Kaohsiung!
• Visiting Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung.
• How to Do a Day Trip to Taroko National Park via Bus from Hualien!
• 12 Taipei Travel Tips!

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Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area

Sun moon lake low-carbon tour, introduction.