Lanyu Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Boat

Taking a boat to and from Lanyu is a distinct option, as several boat companies operate small vessels from Fukang harbour, outside of Taitung, to Lanyu. We’ve also heard that one company plans to begin service to Lanyu from Kenting soon. Our experience with trying to boat it to Lanyu has been a bit sketchy; schedules are dependent both on weather and the number of passengers, making booking further than a day in advance an iffy proposition (especially in the low season). We hear the three-hour trip can be quite an ordeal, even for the strongest of stomachs, which is probably the main reason that visitors and locals alike prefer to take the more expensive but infinitely more comfortable plane ride. If you’re still set on taking the boat, verify with a travel agency in Taitung or at the harbour what boats are running and when. And bring those motion-sickness pills!

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Air

Daily Air Corporation (362 489) has a counter in the Lanyu and Taitung airports, and flies six planes daily between the two places. The flight costs NT1405 each way and takes 20 hair-rising minutes. During summer, the 19-seat planes fill up quickly so you’ll want to book both ways as far ahead as possible. In the winter months, flights in and out of Lanyu are erratic due to the volatile weather. Should the weather turn rough during your stay, you’ll be stuck on Lanyu, so carry enough cash and clean clothes with you to wait out the storm.

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