What to do in Kenting

Welcome to the most southerly point on the island of Taiwan. Stunning scenery, gorgeous beaches and beautiful sunsets are the order of the day. There is more than enough to see and do to keep you busy for 3 or more days. Half of the pleasure comes from exploring the winding coastal roads. Use our guide to help you plan what to do in Kenting. 

Getting there and away

Located at the very southern tip of the island, the town of Kenting itself is tiny, with a decent smattering of guesthouses and restaurants. Its close proximity to the beaches, hiking trails and scenic spots that make up the stunning Kenting National Park means that this is where most travellers head to, us included.

The only way the get to Kenting is from Kaoshuing (高雄), Taiwans second city. There are direct buses from bus stations outside both the main and high speed rail stations. The journey from Kaoshuing itself can take anything from 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic and how many people are getting on and off along the way. From Taipei it took us about 8 hours, however if we’d taken the high speed train it would have shaved a couple of hours off of our travel time.

Where to stay

We stayed just off the main street close to the beach at Liang Qin Hai hotel. This street is gets you away from the music and hubbub coming from the night market and bars on the towns only street. There are a number of guesthouses further down the peninsula however it is much quieter and harder to reach without your own set of wheels.  

Getting around

Public transport here is not great, whilst there are buses their service is limited and they are not very regular. You are best off with your own set of wheels here. For this you have 2 options, an e-bike or a scooter. Usually the rules in Taiwan are very strict; no IDP, no scooter. However you can rent an e-bike with your national driving licence. Sadly my IDP (International Drivers Permit) had expired, but our guesthouse was quite happy to rent it out to me with my UK license, much to my surprise. I must stress this is certainly not the norm. Pretty much every other traveller we saw was on an e bike. 

The roads are in good condition and the traffic is very light, however do watch for the gargantuan tour buses hauling mainland Chinese tourists around. However the network of roads is so vast that the chances of you actually encountering them is pleasantly rare.

What to see and do

There is a lot to see in this rarely visited region of Taiwan. Stunning beaches, excellent walks and great food make it a very popular place for those fortunate enough to make it down this far. All of the places we visited required a scooter, be it battery or petrol powered. Apart from the beach close to the night market nothing else is walking distance from the main town of Kenting itself. 

We spent three days in Kenting exploring the area and could have quite happily spent longer. Below is the itinerary we put together with each day spent exploring a different part of the peninsula. 

Day 1

We spent our first day exploring the western portion of the region. This area is quiet even by Kenting’s standards. It’s littered with stunning beaches, a gorgeous coastline and possibly one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever seen.

Maobitou Park

This geological park perched right on the coast offers some spectacular views of the Kenting peninsula and the likelihood is that you will probably have the whole place to yourselves. 

Baisha

North west of Maobitou park is the stunning Baisha beach. Umbrellas and loungers can be rented from the hut close to the beach. The former is especially necessary when you consider we were there in November and it was over 35 degrees.

Hengchun

The largest town on the Kenting peninsula, Hengchun is everything you would expect a quiet coastal town in Taiwan to be. The south gate which you will more than likely enter through is certainly worth a stop.

Chuhuo

Home to a flame that has been burning for years that started without human intervention. Whilst its a pleasant place for a wander, there are probably more interesting things to be found in the area.

Wanlitong

This tiny little piece of beach is known locally for its excellent snorkelling and diving as well as it’s gorgeous sunsets. We spent the afternoon snorkelling with plenty of fish before hopping out of the ocean to watch the sunset. Gear can be hired from the dive shops close to the beach if needs be. The currents are minimal and there are plenty of fish beneath the waves. 

Most people with end up at Guanshan for sunset and it is certainly popular, however it can get quite busy. We stumbled across sunset at Wanlitong purely by chance. Lady luck was obviously looking out for us. 

Day 2

We spent the day exploring southern part of the peninsula which is littered with gorgeous beaches and quiet country walks. 

Sail Rock

This famous rock formation which unsurprisingly looks like a sail is surrounded by stunning coastline. There are certain areas that a not accessible so as to prevent environmental damage to the fragile eco system. The area is very quiet and aside from a few fellow travellers with scooters or e-bikes.

Continue following the road along the coast from here and you will pass a number a truly stunning beaches where you can just relax or take a dip. The likelihood is that these beaches will be far quieter than the beaches north of Kenting town, due to the fact that there is far less public transport heading to the south than to the north.

Eulanbi Park

Close to the southern tip of Taiwan is this gorgeous park that is most famous for it’s lighthouse that was built in the late Qing Dynasty, modernised by Imperial Japan and further enhanced by the Nationalist Government after they fled to Taiwan. This was probably the busiest place we visited in Kenting, although that’s not really saying much. There are a number of short walking trails through the park, although the hill leading down to trail heads offers gorgeous ocean views and trees to shade you from the scorching sun, which we took full advantage of. 

The trails themselves are between 30-45 minutes tops, so they are certainly not demanding, but do watch out for snakes. We encountered a 2 metre long snake that according to a guy we asked in a restaurant was venomous. 

The lighthouse itself is probably not as stunning as the coastal views on offer, but it has a good exhibit with plenty of English. 

Taiwan’s most southern point

A short drive from Eulanbi park Taiwans most southern point. From the car park it’s 30 minute or so walk down to the viewing point itself. 

We finished our day by returning to Wanlitong to watch the sunset again and it was just as pretty as the previous night. 

Day 3 

We focused on the central and eastern regions, probably the two quietest parts of the peninsula. The centre is filled with the Kenting National Forest Park which offers a number of nice walks whereas the eastern side is dominated by stunning coastal scenery. 

Kenting National Forest Park 

Located around 20 minutes drive from the town of Kenting itself, the park is famous for its stunning views over the peninsula and it’s diverse flora and fauna. The hikes here not difficult at all and in truth a more akin to a stroll than a hike. The viewpoints punctuate the vast tree coverage which is a welcome escape from the peninsulas searing heat.

Eastern Coast Road 

This portion of the peninsula is low on particular things to see but on the wow factor for scenery. Whereas the western side is made of beautiful beaches and rock formations the east is dominated spectacular cliffs plunging into the ocean. 

Longpan Park 

Offering some of the best views on the peninsula, you will know where this park is by the handful of people snapping photos. The views here are sublime but it can be very windy. 

Chuifengsha 

A view point looking down over a unique sand formation. 

From these two points carry on heading down and you will get to the end of the road offering views back up the coast.