HSR Zuoying Station→Taroko Gorge
Don't waste your precious holiday on public transit
Distance：371 km ｜Travel time：465 mins
fare estimation
HSR Zuoying Station to Taroko Gorge - transport guide
Most major scenic areas in Taiwan are served by Taiwan Tourist Shuttle or long-distance coaches departing from main train and HSR stations. The fares are inexpensive, but the drawback is that they stop at every station along the way. Backpackers might not mind, but for groups of friends or families, it can be a big waste of time. And if you’re traveling for several days or carrying lots of luggage, booking a private transfer is a smarter choice. The time saved from transfers can instead be spent exploring more attractions near Taroko Gorge, such as Hehuan Lodge Parking, Tailuge National Park, Buluowan Recreation Area, or enjoying local cuisine. With a full-day charter, Tripool drivers can even deliver both you and your luggage directly to your hotel door at Crossing The Rainbow Bridge Bed & Breakfast, Taroko Village Hotel, Silks Place Taroko or any drop-off point you specify.
After analyzing the available data, we found the following alternatives to private charters or transfers. For the journey from HSR Zuoying Station to Taroko Gorge, the fastest land transportation is high-speed rail, but if you do not want to spend a lot of money, a car rental is the most cost-saving option for a group of 2-8 people. The data in the following table is based on a party of 2 and compares the pros and cons of a private car transfer, car rental, taxi, and high-speed rail. For a more complete analysis of transportation costs and time, please see the FAQ below. Furthermore, for solo travelers willing to sacrifice a bit of travel time in exchange for a convenient and affordable door-to-door service, we recommend considering Tripool's carpool, only NT$4,600 per person (for details, please click the yellow button to inquire).
- 1–8 passengers
- Truly pickup anywhere
- Ride guaranteed
- No hidden fees
- Pre-booking only
- No cash
- Comfortable seating
- No time wasted
- Tickets often sold out in peak season
- Multiple transfers needed
- Higher fare
- Low-cost
- Flexible schedule
- Extra commute to car pick-up
- Time restrictions for pick-up and return
- Additional risk involved
- Requires same-day return or a multi-day rental
- Meets urgent needs
- No upfront payment
- Inconsistent quality
- Usually limited to 4 passengers
- Higher price
| Item | tripool | HSR | Car Rental | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Time | 465 mins | 355 mins | 495-525 mins | 470-480 mins |
| Price per Person | NT$3,580/person | NT$3,880/person | NT$2,400/person | NT$3,740-4,500/person |
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About tripool
tripool is a licensed smart ride platform offering shared rides, point-to-point transfers, charter services, and airport pickups. Whether you're traveling solo or with family, you’ll always find the most suitable way to get around.
In addition to Taiwan, we also offer airport transfers and private tours in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand — ensuring your journey stays smooth and worry-free from the moment you land.
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Taroko Gorge private Transfer FAQs
- To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from HSR Zuoying Station to Taroko Gorge, HSR is quick but pricey. From the earliest departure at 05:50 to the latest at 22:10, there are up to 87 high-speed rail from Zuoying to Nangang each day. Assuming you depart from HSR Zuoying Station (Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City) , it is about a 10-minute walk to the HSR boarding platform, with an estimated 10 minutes. Then, take a 105-145-minute (125 min on average) HSR ride from Zuoying Station to Nangang HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$1,530 per person, followed by a 10-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 199 minutes with a fare of NT$4,700, you will arrive at your destination at Taroko Gorge (Xiulin Township, Hualien County). The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 5 hours and 54 minutes. Assuming 2 people traveling together, the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$3,880. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, the average cost per person is about NT$3,580, and the journey takes 7 hours and 45 minutes. For long-distance travel, the HSR is indeed faster, but it comes with an extra transportation cost of about NT$600. Therefore, for those who are not in a major hurry, you may consider a cheaper and door-to-door private transfer option, like Tripool. If you are traveling alone, you can also consider Tripool's carpooling service to save up to an additional 50% on transportation costs.
- If you have a driver's license, do not mind driving yourself, and you do not need to use the travel time to rest in the car, there are about 15 rental car companies, such as 夏日波影租車, 安和興國際租賃, 賽維斯, available in the HSR Zuoying Station - Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City area. Typically, car rentals are billed by the day. A small sedan like a Toyota Corolla or Ford Fiesta costs around NT$1500 per day, while a 9-seater van like a Hyundai Staria or Volkswagen Caravelle starts at NT$4500 per day. Extra costs such as fuel (approx. NT$3/km), eTag tolls (approx. NT$1/km), roadside parking (approx. NT$40/hour), insurance, and potential fines are not included. Most rental agreements specify a daily mileage limit of 200-400 km, with surcharges ranging from NT$100 to NT$2,000 for exceeding it. Since the vast majority of rental companies do not offer one-way rentals, assuming you make a same-day round trip between HSR Zuoying Station and Taroko Gorge, the estimated cost for a sedan is NT$4800 or NT$7800 for a 9-seater van. This is, of course, cheaper than taking a taxi. If you plan to sightsee along the way to Taroko Gorge, renting a car for the day is certainly convenient and affordable, but it means the driver will not get to relax or fully enjoy the trip. Moreover, the rental location may be some distance from HSR Zuoying Station, and you must adhere to their business hours for pickup and return. The rental process itself is tedious, often taking an extra 30 minutes for contracts and vehicle inspection. You may even need to refuel the car yourself before returning. If you encounter a dishonest operator, you risk being hit with various unjustified charges upon return.
- If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Kaohsiung City area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi, Uber, Line Go, Yoxi, etc., and if you cannot hail a cab on the street, you can also consider calling the only neighborhood taxi company in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City, 中華正大車隊 to try to book a ride. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$7,475 and 9,000, but you could save up to NT$1,800 by booking with Tripool instead. However, when considering the return trip, in Hualien County there are only about 1,010 licensed taxis. This is about 10% of the number of taxis in Kaohsiung City, and its density is just 0.5% of the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, making it 190 times more difficult to hail a cab there. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from HSR Zuoying Station to Taroko Gorge in terms of both price and service quality.
- There are many gypsy cabs or illegal taxis in Line and Facebook groups. Their fares are cheap but with many risks. If the cabs are pulled over by polices, passengers cannot continue the trip. If there is an accident, none of the insurance companies will settle a claim. Worst of all, illegal drivers may conduct crimes without any trace. Don't put your life at risk for just saving a few bucks. On the other hand, tripool contracts with legal drivers without any criminal record. All vehicles provide up to $5 million in insurance. The easiest way to distinguish a legal vehicle is the car plate number. Unless the initial character of the car plate number is either T or R, the car is 100% illegal for taxi service.
- Tripool will send a receipt through the third-party system one week after the ride. If passengers need to claim reimbursement for travel expenses, there is a blank to fill with the company's title and tax ID. It's legal, and there is no extra 5% for the receipt. Once the receipt is received via email, it can be printed out for reimbursement or saved as a PDF.
- Among these options, Uber is the only one with broad and reliable coverage in Taiwan, available in major cities such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Grab does not operate in Taiwan. Didi previously entered the market but has since exited. Bolt has just launched in Taiwan and is currently limited to Taipei. Lyft is not available in Taiwan. If you are choosing among these five, Uber is by far the most practical and widely used option in Taiwan. However, for longer intercity transfers, airport rides, or day trips, tripool is often a better choice—offering transparent pricing, professional drivers, and coverage across Taiwan.
- Tripool provides private day tours and charter services all around the island, including Taroko Gorge and HSR Zuoying Station. Tourists are welcome to choose from point-to-point transportation service to 2~12 hours private trip service. The price is 100% transparent without any hidden fee. What you see on the website/app is the actual price. There is no need to email us or even make a phone call to verify. The full-day service price may not be lower than other providers. But if you only need a few hours or just a one-way transfer service, we can guarantee that our price is the most competitive in the market and tripool is the best choice. We offer 5-seater sedans, SUVs, and 9-seater vans. If your group is more than 9, we can arrange a bigger bus for you.
- Fewer travelers book hotels through traditional travel agents, and most go through OTAs (online travel agents). It is easy to filter areas, prices, types of rooms, special needs on OTAs' websites. Still, customers can also get a 20~40% discount compared to hotels' official websites. The most popular OTAs in Taiwan are Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia.com, and Trip.com. In general, travelers can make reservations on websites or apps. Once finishing the online payment, everything is set, and there is not necessary to double-check the reservation by phone. However, some hotels may oversell their rooms on multiple platforms. To avoid being rejected by hotels once you arrive, choose high-rated hotels with more reviews online or make a phone call to hotels to confirm again. For B&Bs (also called minsus), locals prefer to book rooms through B&Bs' websites or contact the hosts directly. Sometimes, the price is better than OTAs. The downside is that their websites don't accept foreign credit cards or guests have to do wire transfers. If you want to save all these troubles and find decent B&Bs, Airbnb and AsiaYo (a local brand) are the best alternatives.
Besides from HSR Zuoying Station to Taroko Gorge , there are other popular routes, such as…
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Distance：371 km ｜Travel time：465 mins
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