🇹🇭 ไทย🇬🇧 English🇨🇳 中文🇪🇸 Español🇫🇷 Français Home Taiwan Alishan Travel Guide Attractions About Us
Home  ›  Taiwan  ›  Alishan  ›  3-Day 2-Night Itinerary
🌄 3-Day 2-Night Itinerary · Two Sunrises · 2026

Alishan
3 Days, 2 Nights — the Full Picture

Two chances at the Zhushan sunrise · ancient cedar forest · high-mountain tea at Eryanping · Shouzhen Temple · a leisurely Forest Railway descent through Fenchihu — the trip you don't have to rush

📅 Updated May 2026
Why stay two nights

A 2-day overnight gets one sunrise — 3 days gets everything

In the 2-day 1-night itinerary we make the case for staying overnight at least once — the sunrise at Zhushan Platform is the whole point. But if you have three days, what you gain is enormous: two attempts at the sunrise (because the first morning may bring clouds), an unhurried walk through the Giant Tree Boardwalk, time to visit Shouzhen Temple (which rushed trips always skip), a hike to the Eryanping tea terraces to taste oolong brewed in the actual field at 1,700m, and a slow, satisfying descent back through Fenchihu on Day 3. This is the itinerary for people who travel to feel something, not just see things.

TRIP IN PICTURES

Highlights you’ll see with your own eyes

Sea of Clouds at Sunrise — Alishan, Taiwan
Sea of Clouds at Sunrise
Alishan Forest Railway — Alishan, Taiwan
Alishan Forest Railway
Sacred Tree Forest Trail — Alishan, Taiwan
Sacred Tree Forest Trail
Alishan Scenic Area — Alishan, Taiwan
Alishan Scenic Area
High-Mountain Tea Plantation — Alishan, Taiwan
High-Mountain Tea Plantation
Fenqihu Mountain Village — Alishan, Taiwan
Fenqihu Mountain Village
Hour-by-hour schedule

Full hour-by-hour plan for all three days

DAY
1
Forest Railway · Fenchihu · Sacred Tree Trail · Tsou Dinner
7:30 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, pickled vegetables · Stalls have been operating since the 1920s · Stroll the Old Street for 20 minutes · Pick up fresh wasabi grown here
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 around 2pm · Check in first — NT$2,500–6,000/night · Book 30+ days ahead, especially on weekends and holidays
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 set 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
8:00 PM
Early to bed — 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
First Sunrise · Shouzhen Temple · Eryanping Tea Trail · Night Two
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 clouds — first attemptThe 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 · If clouds obscure the view this morning, you have tomorrow's attempt — that second chance is the whole point of the extra night
7:30 AM
Back to hotel + breakfast + Shouzhen TempleRide down from Zhushan by bus · Breakfast at the hotel · Walk to Shouzhen Temple (受鎮宮) — a century-old Taoist temple at the heart of Alishan village, built during the Japanese era to serve forest workers · Intricate wooden carvings and colourful plaster reliefs · Many visitors offer incense and pray for clear skies the next morning · 5-minute walk from Alishan Station
10:00 AM
Hike the Eryanping Tea Trail — high-mountain plantationThe Eryanping Trail (二延平步道) departs from the village and climbs through fragrant Hinoki cedar forest for 40–60 minutes to tea fields at 1,700–2,000m · Terraced rows of oolong tea plants run along both sides of the ridge · Stop at a small tea house, taste freshly brewed Alishan High Mountain Oolong — the kind of cup that will haunt every shop-bought tea after you get home
1:00 PM
Buy tea at the plantation + afternoon restAlishan high-mountain oolong (阿里山烏龍茶) starts from NT$300–1,200 per box depending on grade · Ask for "Winter Harvest" (冬片) if it's in season — exceptional fragrance · Return to the hotel, rest, or wander the park at your own pace in the quiet afternoon hours
5:00 PM
Dinner + settle in for night twoTry a different restaurant in the park, or return to the same Tsou place if you loved it · Brew the tea you just bought in the hotel room while you wait to fall asleep · Your 4am alarm is set — tomorrow morning the sky may be clearer
DAY
3
Second Sunrise · Check-out · Fenchihu Revisited · Home
4:00 AM
Rise again — Zhushan Sunrise Platform, second attemptThe second morning you know the drill: you know the best viewing spots, you know how long the walk takes, you're no longer surprised by the cold · Leave slightly earlier if yesterday was crowded · Try walking up from Zhaoping Station instead of taking the bus — the cedar forest at dawn is silent and otherworldly
5:30 AM
Watch the second sunrise — a different angleTry standing on a different part of the platform, or walk a few minutes down to the secondary viewpoint for a more open sightline · After the sun is fully up, take the Zhushan Loop Trail back through the forest before descending — the pines catch the new light beautifully
7:30 AM
Return to hotel · breakfast · check outBreakfast at the hotel · Check out · Leave bags at the front desk and spend one last quiet hour in the park — after the sunrise crowd has gone, the trails are yours alone
9:30 AM
Descend by Forest Railway — different views going 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 through Fenchihu to Chiayi takes 3–4 hours
11:00 AM
Stop at Fenchihu again — this time, lingerOn Day 1 you were passing through; today there's no rush · Walk the Fenchihu Old Street (奮起湖老街) slowly, browse souvenir shops · Pick up a jar of fresh wasabi · Have another Fenchihu Bento (NT$120) or try the Fenchihu Noodle — a local dish you simply can't find anywhere else on the island
2:00 PM
Arrive Chiayi — Hong Sing Coffee + souvenirsAlishan mountain coffee (阿里山咖啡) is grown at 1,200–1,600m · Hong Sing Coffee (宏醒咖啡) serves freshly roasted cups for NT$180–280 · Chiayi souvenirs: oolong tea, Alishan coffee, pumpkin cakes · Shop along Zhengxing Road (中正路) near the train station
4:00 PM
Head back to Taipei — or stay for TainanHSR from Chiayi to Taipei takes 1.5 hrs (NT$843) · If you're adding Tainan: TRA train Chiayi → Tainan is just 30 minutes · Back in Taipei well before 8pm · The bags of tea and coffee can wait until morning to unpack
Trip budget

Estimated costs for 3 days, 2 nights (per person)

TransportNT$2,500
Accommodation (2 nights)NT$7,000
FoodNT$1,800
Activities & park entryNT$800
Tea, coffee & souvenirsNT$800
TotalNT$12,900
Estimated per person · mid-range in-park accommodation for 2 nights · includes HSR Taipei–Chiayi return + mountain bus + Forest Railway tickets + Sunrise bus ×2 mornings + NT$300 park entry · tea and coffee souvenirs estimated at 1–2 gift boxes · accommodation can cost 2–3× more during cherry blossom season (March–April) — book 2–3 months ahead for that window
Tips for this trip

6 things worth knowing before you go

🏨
Book in-park accommodation 30–60 days ahead
Two nights inside the park means limited supply — especially on weekends · NT$2,500–6,000/night · Avoid Lunar New Year (February) when prices triple · Book on booking.com or 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
🌄
Two sunrise attempts doubles your odds
This is the core advantage of the 3-day trip — if the first morning is cloudy, the second is often clearer, and you'll have a better sense of where to stand for the best view · The statistical probability of seeing at least one vivid sunrise roughly doubles
🚂
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
🍵
Eryanping Tea Trail — best done after sunrise
The trail is open 07:00–17:00 · Going after the sunrise (9:00–11:00am) is ideal — tea houses are open, the crowd has thinned · Wear proper non-slip trail shoes, the path has some incline
👟
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

How is the 3-day 2-night trip better than 2 days 1 night?
The extra night gives you two attempts at the Zhushan sunrise — if clouds obscure the first morning, the second morning is often clearer. You also have time to walk the Giant Tree Boardwalk and Sister Ponds without rushing, visit Shouzhen Temple, hike the Eryanping Tea Trail to a working high-mountain tea plantation, and descend comfortably through Fenchihu on the final day.
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.
Where is the Eryanping Tea Plantation and how do I get there?
The Eryanping Tea Plantation (二延平茶園) sits along the Eryanping Trail inside Alishan National Park, at roughly 1,700–2,000m elevation. Walk 40–60 minutes from Alishan Station. The path winds through fragrant Hinoki cedar forest before opening onto terraced tea fields along the ridge. Small tea houses along the trail sell and serve freshly brewed Alishan high-mountain oolong.
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.
What's the total budget for a 3-day 2-night trip?
Roughly NT$10,500–14,500 per person · HSR Taipei–Chiayi round trip NT$1,686 · Buses and Forest Railway up and down NT$400–600 · In-park accommodation 2 nights NT$5,000–12,000 · 7–8 meals NT$1,400–2,200 · Park entry and activities NT$600–800 · Prices rise 30–50% during cherry blossom season
Which season is best for the 3-day trip?
Two windows stand out: November–January brings clear skies, minimal fog, and the best odds of a vivid sunrise on both mornings; March–April is cherry blossom season — stunning but very crowded and accommodation books out months ahead. Avoid May–September when typhoons and heavy rain are common.
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 →
Alishan Food Guide
Railway bento · high-mountain tea · Tsou tribal food · Alishan coffee
View →
2-Day 1-Night Itinerary
Less time? See the shorter 2-day version
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 →