Jiufen, Shifen And Houtong Cat Village Private Tour

great experience with my 2 parents. he was very considerate and fun the whole time! the car was very comfortable

Wow, Jennifer! What an incredible talent you have! Your hand-drawn artwork is absolutely lovely. Thank you so much for this thoughtful and beautiful gift. We truly appreciate it, and it will definitely be a special reminder of our wonderful trip to Taiwan. ❤️ We genuinely enjoyed every moment of the trip. Thank you for being so flexible, accommodating, and thoughtful in making sure we maximized our time and got to explore as many of Taiwan’s beautiful destinations as possible. One of the reasons we would love to come back to Taiwan is its beautiful people, and you are definitely one of them! Your warmth, friendliness, and genuine hospitality made our experience even more memorable. From your superb service, excellent tour guiding, and now this lovely personalized gift, everything was truly 101% excellent! You went above and beyond our expectations. Thank you again, Jennifer! We hope to see you again on our next visit to Taiwan. Keep sharing your wonderful talent and kindness with others! ❤️

I really loved this trip, everything was perfectly organized, the guide was very nice and he has a wide knowledge of the topic. Thanks a lot😊👍🏻

This tour was perfect from start to finish. Even the rain couldn't take away the beautiful scenery at day or evening ! Steven answered all my question, we talk and laugh a lot. I showed me all the best places and was very patient. Thank you for the beautiful memories ! ☀️

James was excellent. He spoke very good English and knew a lot about the history of Taiwan and the places we went. Very Attentive.

James was excellent guide and driver. Very kind and patient. We had an excellent experience. Will recommend him.

We had a great time during the tour, I was traveling with a family member who had mobility issues, and the tour guide was able to accommodate the tour accordingly especially in Jiufen were there are a lot of stairs. He was able to provide a good mix of history and general information about the places we visited,it truly felt tailored to our interest and needs. Overall I would recommend booking this tour. He is also a great photographer and we got several amazing photos.

It was really a great tour today. Our tour guide, Nicolas, was professional, friendly and nice. Definitely highly recommended, and if your tour guide is Nicolas, you will be lucky!

It was really a great tour today. Our tour guide, Nicholas, was professional, friendly and nice. Definitely highly recommended, and if your tour guide is Nicholas, you will be lucky!

Mr. Chen is a very nice person, patient. and kind. Explains everything well. We enjoyed this trip very much.

My guide Steven arrived early which was great. He was kind and thoughtful about making sure that I saw everything and that I had enough time at each location. He took pictures of me whenever I wanted. The Shifen waterfall was beautiful and not crowded because I had an early tour departure. I saw many cats at the Cat Village and I bought cat souvenirs there. After the tour was over, I felt like Steven was a new friend. Be sure to ask for Steven.

James was a great tour guide for this trip. He wasn’t just a driver, he escorted us to the beautiful Shifen waterfall, to the cat village and then to our hotel in Jiufen. Along the way he gave us a really interesting expert commentary about Taiwan’s history and the different districts we passed through. The countryside was amazing. So beautiful. Pickup was from our door, his car was spotless, with great air con. He gave us as much time as we wanted to wander. I highly recommend James as a guide, and doing this trip from Taipei.

This was an amazing tour! James, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable, fun, and kind as he took us around the mining towns and waterfall! James also was good at speaking English and provided a rich history of Taiwan and how its history influences the culture and country today. Would recommend James and this tour to anyone I know if they are visiting Taipei.

We had such a great time with our guide Nicolas Ying who is really accommodating, welcoming & friendly! He went above and beyond - giving us interesting facts about the places we visited & even helped us take many great photos at the locations we visited! We even got to enjoy some great tea together, thank you Nicolas for the great experience in Taipei ❤️

We were unlucky because it rained quite heavily on the day of our tour. Even so, our guide managed to make the experience fantastic. During the drives between the different stops, he showed us videos and explained many aspects of Taiwan, from local products to interesting facts about the culture. For example, he showed us small models of typical Taiwanese fruits and explained each one to us, which made even the time spent in the car interesting. Once we arrived at each place, there was always a great balance between the guide’s explanations, having time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and taking photos. Our guide was also amazing at taking pictures and made sure we came away with some great memories of the experience. The only thing we were a little disappointed about was the time in Jiufen. It was such a beautiful place that it was impossible not to wish we could explore and enjoy it more. In Houtong, most of the shops were closed, and the rain also limited the experience a little. Still, all of this was completely out of our guide’s control and didn’t change the great impression we had of the tour. We highly recommend this experience!

Had an amazing time with our guide Jennifer. Very knowledgeable and nice. Didn't feel rushed at all and she timed everything so that we avoided the crowds. She took great pictures of all of us as well and sent them to me for memories. I really enjoyed it

Had an amazing time with our host. She was so kind and informative- it was a great girls trip. Definitely recommend 10/10

Loved loved this tour and tour guide! Jennifer gave us good history of the area during the rides and guided us to make the best use of our time ( keeping some things shorter to give us more time later for what we would really like ie:famous tea house sit down to savor the experience). Guide brought umbrellas -super helpful to us to stay dry ❤️👏🏻. Lanterns was a highlight for me. Perfect pace. Delightful tour due to the conscientious guide.

This is one of my favorite tours I've ever done. Our tour guide Jennifer was so nice and very knowledgeable. Since it was just us, we were not rushed through the experience at all. She also got a ton of pictures of the group and other details that we may have missed and sent those all to us. She also timed the stops so they would be the least crowded which we really appreciated. Highly recommend this tour

We had a great time with our guide Vincent. Very kind, knowledgable, and helpful! Would recommend this tour to all.

Junior was an excellent guide. He arrived at the hotel early in a new, super clean and comfortable car. He jumped out of the car to say hello when we arrived and introduced himself and the tour once we were all in and settled. He was organized, with cold water in the holders for all of us, and his english is fabulous. During his tour, he always made sure we had umbrellas during downpours and were guided and wrangled during busy, packed streets, using all the short cuts as needed. He was an excellent guide and easy company and gave us choices to stop and rest, eat or keep going! He helped us stop and get cash from an ATM and coffee, provided information on Taiwan and Taipei and kept the energy and fun high. We had the best time and still talk about Jiufen.

I did the Jiufen, Yehliu, and Cat Village experience and it was a great day! Paul, our guide, was attentive and made sure we had a great time. He was knowledgeable and hit all the highlights. Ask him to play his playlists! He has great music taste. Would definitely recommend

Bubble was a great guide of Taiwan! We had just arrived and were very much in need of assistance to find cash and he helped us. Our kids were very jetlagged and he was patient and helped us get to most of the stops and guided us thru the Jiufen market and helped us locate some great shops. We loved releasing our wishes on the lantern. He went above and beyond! Our daughter fell asleep in the car and woke up asking for Bubble. Definitely recommend this tour.

Jeffrey was a great guide! Very communicative and organized. We really enjoyed our day with him and learned a lot.

I had such a lovely time on my private tour with Jennifer! It ended up just being me (solo) and Jennifer was an excellent companion. She taught me so much about Taiwan history and culture on our drives and while exploring the sites. The logistics of the trip were very smooth. The hike to Shifen waterfall was beautiful and I enjoyed the flying lantern activity much more than expected, especially after learning the unique history of the tradition. The cat village was small and sparse but had cute cafes and shops. I was so glad to have Jennifer with me for Juifen— she explained all the food options and showed me all the best places to eat! Not only did Jennifer take tons of fantastic pictures of me during the trip, she also sent me a portrait drawing of me in Shifen after the trip! Highly recommended!

This day was amazing! We did 4 tours in 10 days while in Taiwan and this one by far was THE BEST! Nicholas was the most knowledgeable and attentive guide. He thought of everything! Down to the umbrellas and the lovely music during our drive. Each stop was wonderful but the lunch with an ocean view and the Old Village stop was unforgettable. Thank you Nicholas for making this day one we will never forget.

It was raining cats and dogs, but we had a very nice time with Bubble. He was very accommodating, full of knowledge and tips, and made adjustments to make it easier to enjoy ourselves in spite of the downpour. We highly recommend this tour.

Our guide, Henry, turned what could have been a washout into a special experience. The weather was miserable for a good portion of the day (which meant no cats in Houtong) but Henry was so accommodating and informative that we all thought this trip was the highlight of our Taiwan experience.

Jennifer was very knowledgeable to all the areas and the history of each place. She was very prompt on arrivals to pick up us up. The ride was very relaxing ☺️

It was a great way to see more of the country and experience different parts of Taiwan! Our guide, Cody, was very helpful and informative. He went above and beyond to let us spend time in the places we wanted to spend more time. Great day!

Alex was a great guide who allowed us to take our time and really enjoy each stop. Very knowledgeable and charming guy who gave us great info regarding the temples and some history in the areas. Great tour!

Roger was a fantastic guide! He was a great conversationalist in English and provided background of the areas all along the way. Highly recommend Roger!

We spent the day with Nicholas. His knowledge and enthusiasm helped make the tour a memorable experience. We enjoyed the locations and our lunch at the Tea House. Highly recommend.

We're not sure why this tour is even on the list of things to do. There actually isn't much to do here. Some run down or vacant buildings/dwellings, a handful of cats, some of which look skinny & have skin conditions, nowhere really acceptable to shop or eat. It's s real stumper as to why Trip Advisor promotes this one.

The tour guide was so knowledgeable about the area and kept the tour very fun. Felt extremely organized and well put together. Was definitely worth getting a guide instead of exploring on our own.

We booked the Jiufen, Shifen, and Houtong Cat Village private tour with Sean and it was one of the best decisions of our entire trip to Taiwan. Hitting three such different spots in one day could easily feel rushed, but Sean paced everything perfectly and made each place feel special. Jiufen was stunning — Sean knew exactly where to position us for the best views and helped us avoid the crowds. At Shifen, he made the sky lantern experience feel genuinely memorable rather than just a tourist checkbox. And Houtong? The cats basically came to us, which we’re pretty sure was Sean’s doing. Beyond the itinerary itself, Sean was just great company — friendly, flexible, and full of local knowledge that you won’t find in any guidebook. Having a private driver and guide made the whole day feel effortless. Highly recommend, don’t even think about doing this one without him.

Great and very memorable tour, thanks to Roger and his positive and attitude!! Definitely recommend ! You will see another side of Taiwan, full nature and history!

We booked a private charter through YOLO. Aaron, our driver, had excellent English. We had a full day of sightseeing and activities. Aaron tailored our requests (less of shopping, more nature/views). Shifen is a must for lantern decorating and releasing and waterfall. Jiufen was crowded, festive, and lively, however Aaron was able to steer us to a quiet tea house with amazing views. The Cat Village was cute and full of lounging cats basking in tourist attentions. The cat village was a favorite of the kids. We had a fun filled day.

Our guide Richelle was amazing. She was extremely knowledgeable, kind, and was very accommodating with my two daughters. It was a rainy day and she made the best of it with a great tour. Would definitely recommend.

We highly recommend this tour! If these sightseeing spots are on your list, this is the best and most efficient way to go. Everything went very smoothly thanks to our guide, Chiao-Chiao. She was very hospitable and knowledgeable about the places where we went. She gave us enough time at each spot to explore. Because she's been to these locations hundreds of times, she know the best spot to take photos, eat and shop. She even knew where all cats were in the cat village! (I heard from my friends who went there by themselves that there weren't that many cats, but we saw many cats. I think you need to know where to find them.) She even contacted our hotel in Jiufen while we were exploring Shihfen and made an arrangement for our suitcase to be picked up from her car once we arrived at Jiufen. No time wasted!

Correspondence with, Nana, our tour operator was always quick and consistently answered our questions. We were a large group of adults and children. Nana was always looking out for our safety on the streets, our enjoyment of the tour and providing us with some Taiwanese history. She tailored the tour to fit our needs and was a lot of fun. She took lots of pictures for us and even put together a video. We all appreciated Nana’s efforts!

Despite the rain, Roger our tour guide still was able to have us enjoy the lanterns of Shifen and the quaint stores of Juifen. I really wanted to do the tea house but there was no views to enjoy so we skipped this., We replaced the cat village for Chiang Kai Shek memorial which I very much appreciated since there likely will have no cats to enjoy with the rains. Being able to adjust our itinerary freely was a joy!

This tour was fantastic. Our tour guide, Bubble, was wonderful. I was with a small group of friends and we all thought it was the perfect day. The waterfall is especially cool, and Bubble tailored what we did in Jiufen and Shifen to make sure we were able to do everything we wanted. I would recommend this you to any group.

The tour was fun and interesting. Aaron was very knowledgeable and made the experience even better! Would definitely recommend.

Henry was great/knowledgable and took great photos. Felt relaxed pace and kindly dropped us off at a night market/gave recommendations for what to do in Taipei. Great trip!

This was my third time taking a Jiufen tour but a first for some of my family, though we all agree our guide Vincent was one of the best we’ve ever had in any of our travels! Although it was raining the whole time, we had so much fun on this tour that we didn’t even mind the weather. Vincent was incredibly knowledgeable and took us off the beaten path in some areas so that even those of us who’d seen the sights before were able to have new experiences. In our group we had a senior with minor mobility problems as well as two young kids, and he was incredibly considerate and accommodating to them. One of our kids in particular bonded with him so much that she wouldn’t let go, and he took it all in stride. Overall, we really loved this tour and highly recommend it, especially if you happen to get a guide as wonderful as ours!

Splendid day touring Jiufen, Shifen and Houtong Cat Village with a private guide, Hicks, who was a pleasure! Hicks not only had excellent English, but he was cheerful, polite, and very knowledgeable about each of the areas we visited. Furthermore, he was exceptionally good at taking photos with my phone--so he helped preserve some wonderful memories. The day began with a lovely 50 minute drive to Shifen Waterfall which is just gorgeous, and we took a gentle walk-hike all around the area. Jiufen is an extraordinarily beautiful city with some of the finest cliff views of the ocean and island I have ever seen. The shops and cobblestone roads are colorful and fascinating to explore, especially near dusk. For cat lovers, Houtong Cat Village is a must--and while I am more of a dog person, I went to send pictures and information to my cat-loving sister. Lots of fun, busy day--well organized, smoothly run, and terrific guide, Hicks. YOLO travel did a wonderful job putting this package together and I do recommend it.

Vincent was very accommodating and personable. We had elderly and he made sure we took shortcuts to avoid as many stairs as possible. It is also truly door to door service. Picking up from the hotel was extremely convenient. I would recommend to those who want an English tour guide.

Roger was an awesome driver and guide. He showed us some of the best food spots in Jiufen, including for stinky tofu, and went above and beyond for us. We had a great day with him!