Yilan Travel: Taiwan Monster Bus Tour Review 2026

Discover Yilan: A Must-Visit Destination in Taiwan

My Taiwan Monster Bus Tour Review

Text & Photos ©Haibubu

If you've already explored Taiwan once or twice, you might be looking for fresh adventures beyond the usual spots.

Today, I'll introduce you to three fantastic spots in Taiwan's beautiful Yilan region and share my experience on a bus tour that makes exploring them incredibly easy!

Yilan Travel: Bus Tour Info & Itineraries

First, let's dive into the tour itineraries and details of the bus trip I embarked on.

📌Yilan Bus Tour Courses

Course 1: Lanyang Wildlife Kingdom (90 min), Kavalan Distillery (120 min), Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park (120 min)

Course 2: Yilan Traditional Arts Center (90 min), Kavalan Distillery (120 min), Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park (120 min)

Course 3: Zhangmei Ama Ranch (90 min), Sansingpai Culture Hall (60 min), Kavalan Distillery (120 min), Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park (60 min)

The Yilan bus tour offers three exciting itineraries.

Initially, there were just Course 1, taking you to Lanyang Wildlife Kingdom, and Course 2, visiting the Yilan Traditional Arts Center. However, after Yilan was featured on the popular YouTube channel 'Yo Halbae' (Grandpa Yo), a new Course 3 was added, following his recommended route!

All itineraries include fantastic stops at Kavalan Distillery and Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park. You can simply choose your preferred first destination based on your interests.

(All courses cost the same, ~$33.)

Being an animal lover myself, I naturally gravitated towards Lanyang Wildlife Kingdom as my first stop.

If you're curious about the specific details of the tour I booked or want to explore the contents of each itinerary, you can find all the information below!

>> Book Your Yilan Bus Tour in Taiwan Here!

My Full Review of the Taiwan Monster Yilan Tour

Now, let's dive into a detailed, stop-by-stop review of the Yilan bus tour I experienced.

Tour Assembly & Departure

The tour's meeting point is Taipei Main Station. Once you spot the sign pictured, you'll confirm your reservation and scan a QR code to join the dedicated KakaoTalk chat group.

It's good to know that this is a shuttle tour without a dedicated guide. All essential updates and instructions are shared via the KakaoTalk chat group, so make sure you join it!

I visited during a Korean holiday, and the tour was so popular that our 45-seater bus was almost completely full when we departed!

The bus offered ample legroom and comfortable seats, ensuring a smooth and pleasant journey.

Lanyang Wildlife Kingdom

We reached our first destination, Lanyang Wildlife Kingdom, in just about an hour. Remember that entrance tickets need to be purchased separately upon arrival.

Stepping into the Wildlife Kingdom, I was immediately greeted by a vibrant array of birds – many of them large, colorful parrots!

It was truly captivating to watch them – some flying together in flocks, others seemingly dancing by themselves. Such unique sights!

Next up, I encountered the absolutely adorable raccoons...

We got to meet them!

We even got to experience feeding the raccoons through a tiny opening in the glass!

Watching them eagerly gobble up the food was absolutely adorable!

This place is renowned for its capybaras, where you can not only meet them but also pet them! Capybaras are incredibly gentle, regardless of their size, and their leisurely pace makes them perfect for getting some memorable photos together!

And we also saw a good number of small sika deer that looked just like bunnies, with their big, sparkling eyes! Personally, I found them to be the absolute cutest.

After exploring the indoor exhibits, we ventured outside and were delighted to discover even more animal friends! We encountered a wonderful variety, including sheep, goats, alpacas, and even kangaroos – totally unexpected!

We were amazed by how many unique animal friends we could see up close – it really made us wonder, "Can I really be this close to these incredible creatures?!" It was such a blast that everyone, young and old, had an absolutely fantastic time.

After completing the full circuit of the exhibits, you'll find yourself back at the souvenir shop right by the entrance. They had so many adorable animal-themed goodies, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable, making for a really enjoyable shopping experience!

Kavalan Whisky Distillery

Our second destination was the Kavalan Whisky Distillery, and it seemed many adults actually came here specifically for some serious whisky shopping!

At Kavalan, the main activities include whisky shopping, a paid tasting experience, and a whisky factory tour. I decided to dive straight into the paid tasting first!

Even though the individual samples were a little pricey, it was fantastic to be able to try small pours of various whiskies. There were some delightfully light options, but also some really robust ones, making it incredibly fun to compare all the different flavors!

Next up, I embarked on a tour of the whisky distillery itself!

If your timing aligns perfectly, you can definitely book a guided tour in advance. However, with the bus tour schedule, it might be a bit tricky to fit in.

I'd recommend simply doing a self-guided tour for a more relaxed experience.

Oh, and a quick tip: there's a cafeteria on the 2nd floor of the main building, so it's a great spot to grab a quick and easy lunch!

Jiaoxi Hot Spring Village

Our final destination was the enchanting Jiaoxi Hot Spring Village, and as soon as we arrived, we made a beeline for the hot spring park!

Given that it's a hot spring-themed village, it was quite amusing to see that even the benches were designed to look like mini hot spring baths!

Inside this park, there's a free footbath, which was such a pleasant surprise!

We were able to find a spot freely and soak our feet.

As I dipped my feet into the warm water, I felt the fatigue from the trip just melt away.

Just a heads-up, it's a completely open-air footbath, so if you're not comfortable with that kind of atmosphere, you might want to look into private hot springs beforehand.

After soothing our tired feet at the footbath and exploring the town, we made a stop at "Chili Hunter," a specialty store for spicy snacks that was one of the recommended places to visit.

It's famous for its spicy ice cream, which features chili seeds and other ingredients that give it a truly tingling, fiery kick!

They also have non-spicy flavors, and the ice cream itself is delicious, so I think it's definitely worth a try!

Seriously, if you love spicy food, this place is heaven with all its spicy snacks and souvenirs!

After finishing our exploration of Jiaoxi Hot Spring Village, we headed back to Taipei city.

Despite the affordable tour cost, the itinerary was incredibly rich and fulfilling, and we had plenty of free time, making it a truly satisfying experience.

Must-Visit Spots for Your Taiwan Trip

Today, I introduced my review of the Yilan bus tour, a fantastic area just outside Taipei, Taiwan.

It was a time filled with incredibly diverse experiences, from interacting with various animals and savoring delicious and rare whiskey tastings, to immersing ourselves in the unique vibe of a Taiwanese hot spring village.

I truly believe this is a must-visit destination for anyone who has already explored Taipei city or done the classic Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen (Yes-Ji-Jin) tours.

Since getting there by public transportation can be a bit tricky, taking a bus tour will definitely make your visit much more convenient!

>> Book Your Yilan Bus Tour in Taiwan Here!

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