The tour was fantastic! Last time, I went to Shifen by train, but a friend recommended this tour, so I decided to join. This time, since there were fewer participants, the tour was conducted as a private charter with the guide driving a dedicated vehicle. It's important to check your email, as I received a message the day before with changes to the meeting point and tour details. I was glad the guide provided their LINE contact via email, which made communication easy when we met on the day of the tour.
Our guide, Ms. Wang (a woman) who spoke excellent Japanese, provided us with insights into Taiwan's attractions that I hadn't known before. Her careful driving (many drivers in Taiwan can be a bit aggressive) meant I didn't get carsick, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The guide also accompanied us to Shifen Waterfall. She consistently pointed out restrooms, which was reassuring. The walking path is paved, but there are stairs, so I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes. As the guide mentioned, some people might get lost at Shifen Waterfall without a guide, and it can be a bit challenging to navigate on your first visit, so I highly recommend joining a tour. The guide also offered to take photos for us throughout the trip. We had about an hour of free time during the Shifen lantern release, which we used for strolling and enjoying some food and drinks. We had the option to be dropped off at a night market or the original meeting point. I believe the night market was Raohe Street Night Market.
I'm so glad I joined this tour. It was late August, so it was incredibly hot, but being able to travel and sightsee comfortably in an air-conditioned car was wonderful. My friend enjoyed it so much that she said she'd want to join this tour again the next time she visits Shifen. Thank you very much.