🇹🇭 ไทย🇬🇧 English🇨🇳 中文🇪🇸 Español🇫🇷 Français Home Destinations Taiwan Alishan Travel Guide Hotel Reviews About Us
Home  ›  Taiwan  ›  Alishan  ›  2-Day 1-Night Itinerary
🌄 2-Day 1-Night Itinerary · Stay for Sunrise · 2026

Alishan
2 Days, 1 Night Overnight

Ride the Forest Railway · sleep inside the national park · wake at 4am to watch the sun rise over a sea of clouds · the trip no day tour can give you

📅 Updated May 2026
Why you need to stay overnight

You can visit Alishan in a day — but you can't catch the sunrise

Day tours from Taipei reach Alishan around 9–10am — three full hours after sunrise has already come and gone. If you want to witness the sea of clouds and the first light over Taiwan's Alpine peaks, you need to stay at least one night inside the park. Day one: board the Forest Railway from Chiayi, stop at Fenchihu for the legendary bento box lunch, spend the afternoon on the Sacred Tree Trail, and finish with a Tsou tribal dinner. Day two: up at 4am for the bus to Zhushan Sunrise Platform, then slowly descend — a trip that even locals from Chiayi find thrilling.

Hour-by-hour schedule

Full hour-by-hour plan for both days

DAY
1
Forest Railway · Fenchihu · Sacred Tree Trail · Tsou Dinner
07:30 AM
Depart Chiayi — board the Forest RailwayFrom Taipei, take the HSR to Chiayi in 1.5 hrs (NT$843) · The Forest Railway departs Chiayi Station early morning · Journey takes 2.5–3.5 hrs through tunnels and scenic bridges · Book tickets in advance at alishan.forest.gov.tw
10:00 AM
Stop at Fenchihu — the legendary railway bento boxFenchihu (奮起湖) is the midpoint station, sitting at 1,400m · Grab a Fenchihu Bento (奮起湖便當) for NT$120 — braised pork, stewed chicken, and pickled vegetables · Stalls have been operating since the 1920s · Stroll the small Old Street for 20 minutes
12:30 PM
Continue by bus to Alishan National ParkIf the Forest Railway doesn't run all the way to the park, take Bus #7322 from Chiayi Station or Fenchihu · Arrive at the park around 2pm · Check in first — NT$2,500–6,000/night · Book 30+ days ahead, especially on weekends
2:30 PM
Walk the Sacred Tree Trail + Sister PondsThe Giant Tree Boardwalk (巨木群棧道) stretches 1.5km · Cedar trees aged 1,000–2,000 years, over 3m in diameter · Continue to Sister Ponds (姊妹潭) — a crystal-blue lake in the middle of the forest · Allow 2–3 hrs total; wear non-slip shoes
5:30 PM
Dinner — Tsou tribal restaurantThe Tsou (鄒族) are the indigenous people who have lived on Alishan for over 400 years · Highlights: taro rice, grilled mountain black pork, wild vegetables stir-fried with perilla, bamboo tube rice · NT$200–400 per person · If you have time, try a restaurant in Tefuye village
8:00 PM
Head to bed early — 4am wake-up tomorrowThe park sits at 2,200m · Night temperatures drop to 5–10°C in winter · Prepare a warm layered jacket, gloves, and scarf · Aim for 5–6 hours of sleep before your 3:30–4:00am alarm · Most hotels offer a wake-up call service
DAY
2
Zhushan Sunrise · Descent · Hong Sing Coffee · Chiayi Souvenirs
4:00 AM
Wake up + board the bus to Zhushan Sunrise PlatformHotel shuttle buses depart 4–4:30am for Zhushan (2,451m) · Or take the Forest Railway Zhushan branch if it's running · Walking up takes 40–50 minutes if you're up for it · Layer up with three tops · Sunrise varies by season: 5:30–6:30am
5:30 AM
Watch the sunrise above the sea of cloudsThe Zhushan platform holds hundreds of visitors — arrive early for the best spot · The moment the first rays pierce through the clouds, the whole platform breaks into applause · Winter (Nov–Jan) has the clearest skies · Cherry blossom season (Mar–Apr) is beautiful but packed · Even on a cloudy day the "sea of clouds" rolling below is stunning in its own way
7:00 AM
Return to hotel + check out + breakfastRide the bus back down from Zhushan, or take the scenic forest trail (40 min walk) · Breakfast at the hotel · Check out · Leave your bags at the front desk and spend another hour wandering the park if you still have energy
9:30 AM
Descend by Forest Railway — different views on the way downGoing down by train gives you completely different angles from the ascent · Layered mountain ridges, wisps of cloud, pine forests · Book a new return ticket · The route from the park → Fenchihu → Chiayi takes 3–4 hours
2:00 PM
Back in Chiayi — Hong Sing Coffee + souvenirsAlishan mountain coffee (阿里山咖啡) is grown at 1,200–1,600m altitude · Hong Sing Coffee (宏醒咖啡) serves freshly roasted cups for NT$180–280 · Chiayi souvenirs to pick up: oolong tea, Alishan coffee, pumpkin cakes, and crab roe crackers · Shop along Zhengxing Road (中正路) near the train station
4:00 PM
Head back to Taipei or next stopHSR from Chiayi to Taipei takes 1.5 hrs (NT$843) · If you're stopping in Tainan: TRA train Chiayi → Tainan is just 30 minutes · Ubus coaches also available · Easy to be back in Taipei before 8pm
Trip budget

Estimated costs for 2 days, 1 night (per person)

TransportNT$2,200
AccommodationNT$3,500
FoodNT$1,200
Activities & ticketsNT$600
TotalNT$7,500
Estimated per person · mid-range in-park accommodation · includes HSR Taipei–Chiayi return + mountain bus + Forest Railway tickets + Sunrise bus · excludes tea/coffee souvenirs · accommodation can cost 2–3× more during peak season (cherry blossoms / Lunar New Year)
Tips for this trip

5 things worth knowing before you go

🏨
Book in-park accommodation 30+ days ahead
Hotels inside the park are limited and sell out fast — NT$2,500–6,000/night · Late bookings mean either no rooms or inflated prices · Avoid Lunar New Year (Feb 14–21) when prices triple · Available on booking.com and agoda.com
🧥
Bring a warm jacket and windbreaker — even in summer
Alishan sits at 2,200m and nights are cold even in July · The 4–6am window on Zhushan is windy and can drop to 5–15°C · Dress in three layers + gloves + scarf
🍱
Pack extra lunch from the station
Food stalls inside the park are limited and pricier than in town · Pick up a Fenchihu bento at the station stop, or grab snacks from Chiayi · Free drinking water is available at the visitor centre
🚂
Check Forest Railway status before you travel
Some sections are under repair, especially after typhoons · Check alishan.forest.gov.tw or the official Facebook page · If the train isn't running, Bus #7322 from Chiayi is the backup
👟
Proper non-slip trail shoes — not just sneakers
The stone and wooden boardwalk paths can be slippery from morning dew and fog, especially before dawn · Proper hiking shoes are far safer than sandals or smooth-soled footwear
Frequently asked questions

FAQ · What people always ask

Can a day trip from Taipei catch the Alishan sunrise?
No — day tours leave around 5am and don't reach Alishan until 9–10am, a full three hours after sunrise. You must stay overnight in the national park for at least one night to catch the 4–5am bus up to Zhushan Sunrise Platform.
Is the Forest Railway still running?
The main Chiayi–Alishan line operates partially. The Zhushan branch (to Sunrise Platform) runs but schedules change frequently after typhoons. Check the latest at alishan.forest.gov.tw or call the visitor centre before you travel. If the train isn't running, bus replacements are available.
Is it better to stay in Chiayi or inside the park?
If you want to see the sunrise, you must stay inside the park — Chiayi sits below 2,000m and you simply can't make it up in time for first light. If sunrise isn't your goal, staying in Chiayi is cheaper, has more restaurants, and makes travel the next day easier.
Which season is the most beautiful?
Two windows stand out: November–January brings clear skies, less fog, and the best chance of a vivid sunrise; March–April is cherry blossom season (Yoshino + Formosan wild cherry) — stunning but very crowded. Avoid May–September, when heavy rain and thick fog are common.
What's the total budget for a 2-day 1-night trip?
Roughly NT$7,000–10,000 per person · HSR Taipei–Chiayi round trip NT$1,686 · Buses/trains up and down the mountain NT$400–600 · In-park accommodation NT$2,500–6,000 · 4–5 meals NT$800–1,200 · Prices rise 30–50% during cherry blossom peak season
Which hotel inside the park is recommended?
Top options inside the park: Alishan House (railway-owned, most convenient) · Alishan Gou Hotel (right by the Forest Railway) · Shermuh Hotel (renovated 2019) · See full reviews of all 7 hotels · Book 30–60 days ahead
Alishan Travel Guide
Everything you need to know about exploring Alishan National Park
View →
8 Alishan Attractions
Zhushan · Cedar Forest · Forest Railway · Sister Ponds
View →
5 Ways to See Alishan Sunrise
Detailed comparison: day tour vs overnight stay vs DIY
View →
7 Recommended Alishan Hotels
Alishan House · Gou Hotel · Shermuh and more
View →