Yilan: Guishan Island Half-Day Tour (Whale-Watching)

I went whale watching at Turtle Island in Yilan today, and it was amazing! 🚢 The morning sun shining on the sea was so relaxing. 🤩 We took a boat out to sea and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way. ⛰️ Then, we saw so many whales jumping on the surface of the water, it was so exciting! 🐳 Their figures were truly amazing, and I couldn't help but keep taking pictures. 📸 Near Turtle Island, you can also see special geographical landscapes, like the turtle head of the island. 🐢 There's also a chance to see cute dolphins 🐬 swimming around the boat, so adorable! This whale watching trip was so worth it, and it filled me with awe for the ocean. 🌊 Yilan is truly a beautiful place, I'll definitely come back to visit again! 🥳 I recommend everyone to experience it! 💯 #YilanTurtleIslandWhaleWatching #TurtleIsland #WhaleWatching #TaiwanTravel #Dolphin #Whale

Before boarding, they carefully teach you how to wear a life jacket and constantly check if passengers are wearing them correctly, promptly asking everyone to adjust theirs, which is a big plus for safety. They are very experienced and explain the geography, landscape, and history of Guishan Island. The sea conditions were very calm, and we saw a group of over a hundred spinner dolphins. All the adults on board were even more excited and happy than the kids. I recommend lining up early to choose a spot on the deck for a better view.

The boat model is good, and it's comfortable to ride. The front deck is quite large for sightseeing. If you get tired, you can retreat to the boat's cabin for comfortable air conditioning. Drinking water, restrooms, and chairs/sofas are provided. Guishan Island isn't very big; a full circuit takes about an hour. There's a service center at the entrance, the only place to get water. The whale and dolphin watching was very professional; they quickly pointed out locations. We were lucky and saw many of them.

The ticket staff were professional and patient, and the crew on board were very friendly and responsible. The waves were a bit rough that day, and some passengers got seasick. The crew promptly assisted with cleanup and continuously handed out plastic bags, which made everyone feel at ease. The safety briefing before boarding and the historical and scenic tour commentary were both clear and engaging. For the whale and dolphin watching portion, the captain of the Kavalana never gave up until the very last moment, and we were fortunate enough to spot some beautiful dolphins. We are very grateful for the efforts of all the crew members who helped fulfill our wish. The guided tour by the teacher on Guishan Island was also fantastic; both the adults and children had a wonderful time.

Wonderful boat ride out to Guishan Island. We saw schools of dolphin play! The island is also quite pretty after we landed though the walk was a bit short it was good to hear the history. the meet up location was confusing. You need to go into the Visitor Station on the 1st floor past the gift shop to register. That’s not quite clear from Klook instructions. Be sure to arrive early. They never emailed the night before like they said will happen. Just watch the weather.

We chose the dolphin watching and island landing tour. From Taipei, the 1877 bus from Nangang was convenient. The bus didn't arrive on time, which made us a little nervous, but we arrived in just under an hour and a half. On this day, we were the only Japanese tourists, and since the guide only spoke Chinese, no one else seemed to have trouble, but I thought it would be nice to have a simple brochure translated into Japanese. However, if you understood Chinese, you would feel that the very kind guide explained things in detail and carefully, both on the boat and after landing. We were able to see some dolphins and whales, and although we heard they hadn't been seen much recently, it was an experience that an aquarium can't replicate. There's also a tour that goes to the island's summit in about three hours, so I'd like to come back again when the weather isn't too hot.

We saw many dolphins, and the commentary on the boat was excellent. We learned a lot of interesting facts about Turtle Island, Yilan's history, and marine life. Thank you to the guide for their dedicated tour!

Both the tour guide and the captain were incredibly professional! Their explanations were very detailed, and every day they take their professional boats out to look for whales and dolphins, trying their best to ensure everyone gets to see them. We were so lucky this time to see a whole pod of dolphins 🐬 – it was amazing! 🥳

The Guishan Island 401 Highland tour was perfectly timed, including the boat trip, ascent, descent, and island walk. The scenery on the island is stunning, making it an unforgettable and fulfilling experience!

Today's tour guide was Lin Dong Hai, and he's one of my favorite tour guides I've had on day trips over the years. Because of his passion for natural ecology, he diligently shared his knowledge of Guishan Island and Yilan with each of us travelers. He also patiently answered my questions about the ecological environment and cetaceans. More importantly, he maintained an optimistic and cheerful attitude throughout the entire four hours. Although he didn't frequently lecture us on profound principles during the activity, he quietly taught me a lesson: whether you're happy or unhappy, it's still just another day, so it's up to you to choose how you spend it. PS: Tour guide Lin's "lighting up the Guanyin Bodhisattva" was hilarious XD.