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🌊 3-Day 2-Night Plan · 2026

Green Island
3 Days, 2 Nights — Complete Guide

Volcanic island · One of only three saltwater hot springs on earth · Snorkel with wild sea turtles · Night ecology walk

📅 Updated May 2026
About This Trip

Three days on a tiny island that packs in a lifetime of experiences

If you've ever looked at a 2-day Green Island itinerary and thought "that feels rushed" — you're right. Three days and two nights is the ideal duration for an island this dense with things worth your time. Day 1, you arrive, rent a scooter and do the full 16 km island loop: Sleeping Beauty Rock, Guanyin Cave, and the sobering Human Rights Memorial Park — a former political prison that gives this place far more meaning than any resort. Day 2 belongs entirely to the sea — snorkeling at Shilang, a guided sea-turtle encounter at Gongguan, or a scuba dive at Dabaisha where blacktip sharks patrol. That evening, a night ecology guide leads you into the dark to spot Sika deer and luminous creatures you'd never find on your own. Day 3, you wake before the sun and walk to Zhaori — one of only three saltwater hot springs on the entire planet — and sit in 53°C seawater while the Pacific catches fire. You'll be talking about that morning for years.

TRIP IN PICTURES

Highlights you’ll see with your own eyes

Zhaori Saltwater Hot Spring — Green Island, Taiwan
Zhaori Saltwater Hot Spring
Green Sea Turtle — Green Island, Taiwan
Green Sea Turtle
Snorkelling the Reefs — Green Island, Taiwan
Snorkelling the Reefs
Scuba Diving — Green Island, Taiwan
Scuba Diving
Vivid Coral Reef — Green Island, Taiwan
Vivid Coral Reef
Day-by-Day Schedule

Hour-by-hour itinerary for all three days

DAY
1
Ferry over · Scooter loop · Nanliao seafood · Stargazing
07:00 AM
Head from Taipei to Taitung Take the HSR from Taipei to Taitung (2 hrs 20 min · NT$845) or fly direct from Taipei Songshan to Taitung Airport (50 min · NT$1,200+). HSR is recommended if time allows — cheaper, more scenic, and you arrive at the same harbor anyway.
11:30 AM
Board the ferry from Fugang Fishing Harbor Ferry from Fugang (富岡漁港) to Nanliao — 50 minutes · NT$460 one way. Book ahead via KKday or Klook for package deals. Multiple departures daily — check the schedule before planning. Sit on the outer deck for the view.
01:30 PM
Check in + rent a scooter Most guesthouses cluster near Nanliao. Rent an electric scooter for NT$300/day or petrol for NT$350/day. You must have an IDP (International Driving Permit) alongside your home license — a foreign license alone is not accepted. Book the scooter ahead during peak season; they go fast.
02:30 PM
Full island scooter loop — 16 km Ride counter-clockwise: Nanliao → Sleeping Beauty Rock (睡美人岩) → Pekingese Dog Rock (哈巴狗岩) → Guanyin Cave (觀音洞) → east viewpoint → back to Nanliao. About 1.5 hours with photo stops. The hilltop view of Sleeping Beauty Rock is the island's most-photographed image — don't skip it.
04:30 PM
Green Island Human Rights Memorial Park A former political prison that held over 8,000 dissidents, writers, and students under martial law from 1949 to 1990. Free entry, 30–45 minutes. Located on the north shore — you'll pass it on the loop. This is the one stop that transforms Green Island from a beach holiday into something you'll think about long after you leave.
06:30 PM
Fresh seafood dinner at Nanliao harbor Seafood restaurants along the harbor close early — 19:00–20:00. Come before then. Must-try dishes: grilled stingray, garlic-fried black crab, fresh-caught shrimp. Mid-range prices NT$300–500 per person. Ask the guesthouse owner for which stall opened that day.
09:00 PM
Stargazing under a completely dark sky Green Island has essentially no light pollution. Walk 500 metres outside Nanliao and the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye — a sight now rare across most of Taiwan. Best on a moonless night between April and August. Bring a blanket and lie on the grass for 30 minutes. It costs nothing.
DAY
2
Full diving day · Sea turtle encounter · Night ecology walk
08:00 AM
Breakfast + gear up for the water Congee and noodle shops open early in Nanliao. Rent snorkel gear from a dive shop for NT$150–200, or book a guided snorkel tour for NT$500–800 including gear and guide. If you hold a PADI or SSI certification, book a scuba dive at one of the Nanliao dive shops — they run daily tours to Dabaisha.
09:30 AM
Snorkel at Shilang — the best beginner site on the island Shilang (石朗) on the northwest coast is purpose-built for snorkelers. Water clarity 20–30 metres, sea turtles appear along the reef most mornings, and colourful coral is visible from the edge without even putting your mask on. Entry fee NT$100. Ten minutes from Nanliao by scooter.
11:30 AM
Lunch break at Gongguan village Gongguan (公館) on the south shore is quieter than Nanliao — a small fishing village with a couple of local lunch spots. Eat, rest, and reapply reef-safe sunscreen before the afternoon session.
01:30 PM
Guided sea turtle snorkel at Gongguan Green sea turtles (green and hawksbill) swim in the shallows off Gongguan from morning through afternoon. A local guide is mandatory here — for your safety and the turtles' protection. Cost NT$800–1,500 per person including gear. Keep 2 metres from turtles, no touching, no reef-safe-free sunscreen. Certified divers: Dabaisha (大白沙) is close by — 15–25 m visibility, blacktip reef sharks, eagle rays.
04:00 PM
Return to guesthouse — rest and recharge A full day of diving is tiring. Rinse off salt water, moisturise (daily ocean exposure dries skin fast), charge the scooter, and eat something before the night walk. You'll want energy for the evening.
08:00 PM
Night ecology walk — deer, centipedes, fireflies Green Island's forests near the Human Rights Memorial Park are home to Sika deer (their antlers are soft and mossy — the island's most charming sight), giant centipedes, tree frogs, and fireflies in season. A local guide leads a 2-hour walk for NT$400–600 per person. The biodiversity here is extraordinary for an island you can drive around in 30 minutes.
DAY
3
Zhaori sunrise hot spring · Last swim · Souvenirs · Ferry home
05:00 AM
Zhaori Saltwater Hot Spring — sunrise soak Zhaori (朝日溫泉) opens at 04:00 · NT$250 per person. Saltwater at 53°C, mild salt and sulphur scent, open-air pools facing due east over the Pacific. One of only three saltwater hot springs on earth (the others are in Japan and Sicily, Italy). On a 3-day plan you have no rush — arrive before 05:30, slip in, and watch the horizon turn from black to orange to gold. You won't speak. You don't need to. Swimwear required.
08:00 AM
Breakfast + optional final swim at Chaikou If you have energy, Chaikou (柴口) on the east coast is a step up from Shilang — slightly deeper, excellent coral variety, good for snorkelers who want more than yesterday. Entry NT$150. If your body says rest, walk the beach instead — also correct. This is Day 3; you've earned it.
10:30 AM
Check out + souvenir shopping The island's signature take-home: deer sausage (鹿肉香腸) at NT$150–200 per pack — smoky, slightly gamey, unlike any sausage you've had. Also: deer wine, dried Taiwanese fish, seafood paste. Shops in Nanliao open from 9 AM. Deer sausage freezes well — no need to worry about it in your bag.
01:00 PM
Return scooter + wait at the harbor Return the scooter at least 45 minutes before the ferry departs. Shops at Nanliao harbor stay open — last chance for anything you missed. Eat a light lunch at the harbor before boarding. A heavy meal before the crossing is a bad idea.
02:00 PM
Ferry back to Taitung Confirm the schedule in advance. September to March ferries sometimes cancel without notice due to strong winds — always have a flight backup (Daily Air or Uni Air · NT$800–1,200). From Taitung, catch the HSR back to Taipei or continue to your next stop in eastern Taiwan.
Trip Budget

Estimated costs for 3 days 2 nights (per person)

Transport (HSR + round-trip ferry)NT$2,400
Accommodation (2 nights, mid-range guesthouse)NT$3,500
Food (6–7 meals)NT$2,000
Scooter rental (3 days)NT$900
Activities (snorkel/dive + hot spring + night walk)NT$2,000
Deer sausage & souvenirsNT$400
TotalNT$11,200
Estimated per-person cost · Accommodation calculated at NT$1,500–2,000/night · Activities include guided snorkel tour + Zhaori hot spring + night ecology walk · Add NT$1,500–3,000 if you want a guided scuba dive · Does not include international airfare or alcohol · Booking a KKday or Klook package typically saves 10–20% on the total
Travel Tips

6 things you should know before you go

🎫
Book a ferry + accommodation package
KKday and Klook offer packages combining ferry, guesthouse, and activities at a better price than booking separately. Some include scooter rental and a snorkel tour. Book at least 2 weeks ahead between April and August — the island is small and accommodation fills up quickly.
🏍️
Scooter riding requires an IDP
An International Driving Permit plus your home country license — you need both. Get your IDP before leaving home (in Thailand, from the Department of Land Transport for 505 THB). No IDP? Rent a bicycle instead — the island is small enough to cycle in a day.
📅
The real tourist season is April–August only
September to March brings strong north winds, rough seas, and ferries cancelled without notice. Many restaurants and guesthouses close entirely. If you must visit off-season, fly instead of taking the ferry, and always have a backup plan ready.
💵
One ATM on the entire island
It's in Nanliao. Foreign cards work but carry transaction fees. Bring NT$5,000–8,000 cash per person for a 3-day trip to be safe. Most restaurants and shops only accept cash. The ATM sometimes runs out — withdraw before you leave Taitung.
🍽️
Restaurants close before 20:00
Eat dinner before 19:00. During peak season many places sell out before they officially close. If your guesthouse offers breakfast, book it — morning options on the island are very limited outside of the harbour area.
🚢
Prone to seasickness? Bring medication
The 50-minute crossing can get rough when the wind picks up. Take sea-sickness tablets 30 minutes before boarding. Sit in the middle of the boat or outside on deck — not in the air-conditioned cabin. On a calm day it's a pleasant crossing. In rough weather it is not.
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ · Common questions answered

How do I get to Green Island?
Option 1 — Fly: Fly from Taipei Songshan or Taichung to Taitung Airport (TTT), then take a 50-minute ferry from Fugang Fishing Harbor — NT$460 one way. Option 2 — Train: Take the HSR from Taipei to Taitung (2 hrs 20 min · NT$845) then transfer to the ferry. Option 2 is recommended if you're not in a rush — it's cheaper.
Why is 3 days better than 2 days on Green Island?
Three days gives you room to breathe. Day 1 covers the full scooter loop and the Human Rights Memorial Park. Day 2 is dedicated to the sea — snorkeling at Shilang, a guided sea turtle tour at Gongguan, or scuba diving at Dabaisha — with a night ecology walk finishing the evening. Day 3 lets you soak at Zhaori hot spring at sunrise without rushing back to catch a ferry. Two-day visitors often say they felt they could have used one more day.
Do I need a diving certification?
No certification needed for snorkeling — just rent gear and jump in, or book a guided snorkel tour (NT$500–800) with an instructor. Scuba diving requires a valid PADI or SSI certification — dive shops will ask to see it. If you're not certified, snorkeling at Shilang is genuinely spectacular enough.
When is the best time to visit Zhaori Hot Spring?
Early morning 05:00–07:00 — soak in the saltwater hot spring while watching the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean. It's a scene you won't find anywhere else in Asia. Open 04:00–23:00, NT$250 per person. During peak season it gets busy, so earlier means fewer crowds. Swimwear required. On a 3-day itinerary you visit on Day 3 morning with zero rush.
Does the rainy season affect the trip?
Significantly. September to March brings strong north winds, rough seas, and ferries cancelled without advance notice. Many guesthouses and restaurants close. If you must visit during this period, book a flight (not a ferry) and always have a backup plan. The best window is April to August.
What is the total budget for a 3-day 2-night trip?
Approximately NT$8,500–12,000 per person · Includes: HSR + round-trip ferry NT$1,800–2,400 · 2-night guesthouse NT$3,000–6,000 · 6–7 meals NT$1,800–2,500 · activities (hot spring + snorkel or dive tour + 3-day scooter + night ecology walk) NT$1,500–2,000 · deer sausage souvenirs NT$300–500. Add NT$1,500–3,000 if you want a guided scuba dive. Booking a KKday or Klook package usually saves 10–20%.
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