If you’re looking for a unique summer experience in Taiwan, a visit to Luye for the International Hot Air Balloon Festival is a must. This one-of-a-kind event runs – in the summer – for a few weeks each year, bringing together hot air balloons from dozens of countries, showcasing their vibrant designs. As a visitor you will be able to enjoy the show and sign up for a balloon ride and take in the stunning landscapes of this beautiful region. In this 3-day itinerary, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know—what to do, when to visit, how to get there, and tips to make the most of your time at the festival.
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Where is the Luye International Hot Air Balloon Festival?
The Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place in the scenic town of Luye that is located in Taitung County on Taiwan’s southeastern coast. It is about a 4 hour train ride from Taipei Main Station. The Luye Highlands is an amazing backdrop for the festival because you have the mountains all around.
How many days do you need for the balloon festival?
Since the festival is weather dependent we recommend at least 3 days / 2 nights, giving you a backup option in case you can’t see the balloons on a given day. If you’re short on time, a lot of visitors go for just the weekend or stay one night.
About the Luye International Balloon Festival and Things to Do in Luye
Luye International Hot Air Balloon Festival
The festival takes place every year in the summer for about 4 weeks. It usually starts in early July and ends by the middle of August. You can check the schedule on the government’s official website. The balloons get inflated twice per day. The first time is in the morning between 05:30am and 07:00am and in the afternoon between 05:00pm and 06:30pm.
The balloons you see in the morning may be different than the ones you see in the evening so its worth checking out both times. Also in the evening, you get to watch the balloons light up their fire at the same time which is quite special. Check the official schedule for any special fireworks, drone show or any other performance offerings they might have on specific dates.
You won’t be able to see the balloons during the day outside of these times. So this gives you most of the day to explore the region.
In 2024, there were no more than 43 different ballons that you could experience from 14 countries! Keep in mind that every showing only showcase a few of these balloons so if you want to see all of them you might have to return each week!
Also, there are drones show and fireworks on selected evenings! These will be announced once the official schedule will be released. Make sure to follow on the Taiwan International Balloon Festival Official website.
For reference, here is the schedule for the festival in 2024
Here are a few ideas of what to do between these showings:
Guanshan Bicycle Lane (1/2 day)
Guanshan is a lovely town a 20 minute drive north from Luye. It has the first bicycle lane in the country and it runs through the picturesque countryside, offering stunning views of rice fields and mountains. It’s a great 2 hours experience to explore the region. There are bike rental shops all around the town for you to rent city bikes, road bikes or even pedal bikes.
Aboriginal culture (1/2 day)
Taitung County is know for being the home of a dozen of indigenous tribes, so it’s a great place to learn about their culture and try out their food (check our food section for some recommendations).
Among the tribes in the Taitung County you will find:
- Amis (Pangcah) – The largest indigenous group in Taitung.
- Paiwan – Primarily found in the southern parts of the county.
- Rukai – Also found in the southern region.
- Puyuma (Beinan) – Mostly located in the Taitung City area and surrounding regions.
- Bunun – Found in the highland areas of Taitung.
- Tao (Yami) – Indigenous to Orchid Island, part of Taitung County.
Other things to do in the Taitung area
If you want to extend your stay in the area, we suggest to visit Taitung itself. Here are some blog posts that can give you further ideas:
- Slow Food in Taitung: our top recommendation to immerse yourself in Taiwanese food culture
- Discovering Taitung’s Secrets: A Cross-Generational Experience
3 Day Itinerary of the Luye International Hot Air Balloon Festival
For your convenience, here is a map with all the places we mention in this article.
Here is a detailed itinerary that we used to enjoy the Luye International Hot Air Balloon Festival and the surrounding areas:
| Day | Itinerary |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Commute to Luye via train Rent scooter from a shop near the Luye train station Lunch & Experience at the Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm Check-in at the Goose Nest guesthouse Dinner at Aijiao Yi Dim Sum Restaurant Check out the evening hot air balloon show |
| Day 2 | Check out the morning hot air balloon show Breakfast at the Goose Nest guesthouse Bike ride along the Guanshan bicycle path Lunch at Fish Restaurant Post lunch snack at AiYu Jelly place Check out the evening hot air Balloon show |
| Day 3 | Check out the morning hot air Balloon show Breakfast at the Goose Nest guesthouse Check out of guesthouse Lunch at Restaurant 197 Leaving Luye |
Getting to Luye
The best way to get to Luye is by train. A lot of trains depart from Taipei and the major cities in Taiwan. We recommend booking your train in advance using the official Taiwan Railway Corporation website.
Here is a sample of the express train from Taipei to Luye
What about the HSR? You could also take the High Speed Rail (HSR) train to arrive in Kaoshiung but since you need to connect with a local/express train to get to Luye you may not be saving that much time.
Where to Stay in Luye, Taiwan
Pro-tip: Be aware that accommodation in Luye do get fully booked quickly during the festival and the price usually doubles from the normal rate. We highly suggest that you book your accommodation months in advance due to the extreme popularity of the festival.
We stayed at the Goose Nest guesthouse – we really enjoyed this place (built in 2007, but renovated since then) as it was just a 10 minute drive from the festival. It included a nice and generous breakfast, parking for our scooter and nice and spacious rooms while being in a serene setting. It also offers a generous cancelation policy (up to a week prior to check-in). The place also has a laundry and common kitchen area if you would like to do your own cooking, making it convenient for people that would like to extend their stay in the region.
Depending on when you book, you might not have a lot of options because accommodations fill up well in advance – especially on the weekends and during special nights.
Here are alternatives guesthouses that you can consider as well:
- Lutai BnB – This guesthouse has a 9.0 rating on Booking.com. It is a 2 minutes walk from the festival making it extremely convenient. The property comes with a shared terrace and a garden for guests to enjoy. All rooms feature air conditioning, flat-screen TV with cable channels, bathrooms with shower facilities and hairdryer. Some rooms have a balcony!
- Du Du Hao BnB – This bed and breakfast has a 9.0 rating on Booking.com. It is just a few minutes drive to the festival. Breakfast is obviously included as well as a fully equipped kitchenette. Rooms comes with A/C, free private parking, free Wifi and a flat-screen TV.
Where to Eat in Luye and surrounding areas
Taitung county has a very strong aboriginal culture, so it is without surprise that you can get really good food when visiting this region (Read: Slow Food in Taitung: our top recommendation to immerse yourself in Taiwanese food culture)
Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm
We visited this farm for their afternoon performance, and it was absolutely worth it. The food, however, was a bit underwhelming, especially compared to other spots we tried during our getaway. If you go, be sure to catch the performance—it’s a highlight. The food? Not the highlight but it is not a bad option.
Aijiao Yi Dim Sum Restaurant
For our first dinner, we stumbled upon this place that has amazing pork belly and tofu dishes cooked in tea. You don’t have too many options since they mostly do set menus but you won’t leave hungry.
Fish Restaurant (Qiu Xiangfang)
One of the few restaurants in GuanShan entirely dedicated to fish. If you’re not a fan of fish, it’s best to skip it. The restaurant offers nice set meals that includes rice, veggies, and a few other side dishes. There is a great selection of a lot of different kinds of grilled fish.
AiYu Jelly Drink (痴愛玉)
AiYu jelly drink is a refreshing beverage popular in Taiwan, made from a fig looking plant. This is a refreshing drink with quite a unique texture. 痴愛玉 restaurant in Guanshan has received recognition for their take on the drink and we highly recommend you to try it out if you haven’t had it before. Keep in mind that this place doesn’t always open every day or even at the same time. Their Facebook page is the best place to get an update on their business hours.
Aboriginal Restaurant (Isaac 197 Canteen)
This café was the perfect way to wrap up our stay in Luye. Be sure to call ahead and make a reservation before you go. It’s located right in the middle of a field—literally—but once you arrive, you’re in for a fantastic aboriginal food experience.
Cost of Trip to the Luye Balloon Festival in Taiwan
A trip to Luye Balloon festival is relatively affordable and worthwhile. The cost is considerably higher during the festival but it’s still very reasonable. Here is the breakdown of how much money we spent during this 3D/2N itinerary commuting from Taipei.
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| Category | Total Cost USD | Details (for 2 people) |
| Accommodation | $170.03 | 2 nights at Goose Nest guesthouse |
| Local Transportation | $116.60 | – Return train ticket from Taipei – Scooter rental + gas + parking |
| Dining Out | $56.11 | 2 Lunches & 1 Dinner |
| Recreational Activities | $34.10 | – Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm Experience |
| Snacks | $12.86 | Various snacks |
| Gifts | $4.65 | 1 keychain |
| TOTAL | $389.36 |
Other Tips
- Book the balloon ride in advance: the Luye International Hot Air Balloons is REALLY popular in Taiwan and brings people from outside of the country. Rides are limited and will sell out as soon as they are open for people to book (usually in early May). So make sure you can book yours asap.
- Book accommodation in advance: Accommodation in Luye gets fully booked well in advance of the festival. You can always book first and then make sure you cancel within the free cancellation window if your plans change.
Things to Avoid
- Nothing is particular. If anything, make sure you get to explore the Taitung county during your stay!
Final Thoughts on the Itininerary for the Luye International Balloon Festival
The Luye International Hot Air Balloon Festival is a must-visit destination for anybody visiting Taiwan in the summer. It is more than just an amazing spectacle of various hot air balloons, it is also a great way to explore the wonderful countryside of Taiwan. It took us 4 years before we made it to the festival and we are glad we finally managed to experience it!
What do you think of the Luye International Hot Air Balloon Festival? Have you considered visiting? Please leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you.
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