Orchid Island Transportation Guide: How to Get There & Get Around, Flight vs Ferry Prices & Pros & Cons

Orchid Island is one of Taiwan’s most rewarding islands to visit, but getting there takes a little more planning than most destinations because you can only go by flight or ferry, and departure points are limited to Taitung and Kenting (east and south side of Taiwan). This Orchid Island transportation guide shares flight and ferry comparisons, including prices, travel times, departure points, and pros & cons of each option, plus tips on getting around Orchid Island, so you can figure out the best way to get to Orchid Island and which option suits you more.

• 🔗Best spots to watch sunrise and sunset in Orchid Island
• 🔗5 Amazing Snorkeling Spots in Orchid Island

How to get to Orchid Island (Lanyu) Taiwan?

There are two ways to get to Orchid Island from Taiwan: by small aircraft or by ferry.

Each option has its own pros and cons, and the right choice really depends on your travel style and how much time you have.

Below I will share more detailed information about both transportation options, so you can decide which one works best for you.

1. Take a flight to Orchid Island (Lanyu) Taiwan

To get to Orchid Island by flight, you will need to go to Taitung (Fong Nien) Airport and depart from there. The flight only takes about 30 minutes, making it the most practical option if you have a short holiday or want to spend as little time as possible on transportation.

However, Orchid Island (Lanyu) Airport is tiny with a surprisingly short runway, so only small 19-seat planes can land and take off there. Because of that, flights fill up fast, and there is always a chance flights will get cancelled if the weather turns bad. If you are planning to go by flight, booking 1 to 2 months in advance is strongly recommended.

Honestly, the moment I saw that runway with my own eyes, I gave up the idea of flying to Orchid Island in the future.

Ticket price and where to buy

A round-trip flight from Taitung to Orchid Island costs around NTD 3,000 (approximately NTD 1,487 one-way).

For available flights, more information and booking, you can check 🔗 Daily Air website(德安航空). It’s only available in Chinese, but you can always use a translator or AI tool to help you while booking.

2. Take a ferry to Orchid Island Taiwan

If you are the same as me, not too keen on hopping on a tiny plane, taking the ferry is another popular way to get to Orchid Island.

The ferry ride takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, which is about 4 to 4.5 times longer than flying.

There are two departure points going to Orchid Island from Taiwan: Fugang Harbour in Taitung on the east coast, and Houbihu Harbour in Kenting in the south.

I’ve taken both routes and the experience is quite different. In my experience, the Taitung route tends to be rougher and with bigger waves, even on a perfectly clear, sunny day! The Kenting route depends more on the weather, take my rides as examples, it was a little wavy on my way to Orchid Island from Kenting (it’s nothing compared to Taitung), but the return trip was really smooth.

For the details of both routes, including what the ride is actually like, detailed ferry information, what to know before you go, and tips to avoid seasickness, you can check out my🔗Orchid Island ferry guide.

Orchid Island ferry price & where to buy

Below is the round-trip ferry prices from either Taitung or Kenting to Orchid Island:

Full fare is NTD 2,400 per person, children (ages 3 to 12) and seniors (65 and above) are NTD 1,200 per person.

I highly recommend you book your ferry tickets early, don’t leave this to the last minute! Tickets sell out fast during peak season (summer).

Every time I visit Orchid Island I make sure I book at least 3 weeks ahead, or even 1 to 2 months in advance during the busiest periods. 🔗This is my go to website for booking Orchid Island ferry tickets. They even offer discounts for the round-trip tickets sometimes.

Once you purchase online, you will receive an e-ticket with a QR code in your email.

On the departure day, just pop by the counter to swap it for a paper ticket, and you are good to go. No need to wake up even earlier and queue at the harbour, or worse, show up in Taitung or Kenting only to find out the tickets are sold out. That would be such a pity!

How to get around Orchid Island

Since most of the roads on Orchid Island aren’t wide and parking spots are limited, renting a scooter is the most common and convenient way for tourists to explore the island. It gives you more freedom to move around, exploring Orchid Island’s hidden gems and great snorkeling spots.

If you’d like to reserve a scooter in advance, you can 🔗book your scooter on this discounted list. That way, you can pick it up right at the harbour when you arrive and start your island exploration right away instead of having to worry about finding a scooter rental shop after a long ferry ride.

I personally think it’s super convenient! Plus, booking in advance might get you a discounted price, making it cheaper than renting on the island when you arrive (NTD 500 per day).

If you are traveling with a lot of luggage, you can pay the scooter rental shop to help transport your bags from the harbour to your guesthouse or hotel. You can also arrange for them to take your luggage back to the harbour on the day you leave Orchid Island.

For example, I’ve asked the owner of Yunchen Scooter Rental (雲晨機車出租) to help me out. He charged NTD 100 per bag for a one-way trip, or NTD 500 for more than five bags. The owner was really kind. However, since I rented the scooter on-site, I paid the regular price of NTD 500 per day, without any discount, and had to fill up the gas before returning the scooter.

Another way to get around Orchid Island is to drive a car. Even if it is less popular, renting a car is also available. You can contact Shing Le car rental (星樂租車) 🔗on their Facebook.

Things to know before riding a scooter and driving a car on Orchid Island:

• Gas station: there is only ONE gas station on Orchid Island (Lanyu), which is right at the port. So make sure to check your gas every time when you pass by the port.
• Road conditions: most roads on Orchid Island are smooth and easy to ride on, but Lanyu Cross-Island Highway leading to the Orchid Island Weather Station is a mountain road that is steep. There are also a few sections along the coastal path that are also worth watching out for, including areas near 🔗Dragon Head Rock(Ji mazicing), 🔗Helmet Rock(Gangkui Yan), 🔗The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Storage Site, and 🔗Hutou Slope. These parts can get pretty steep and some of the roads are very close to the edge of cliff. The wind can also get surprisingly strong in these areas, I actually felt my scooter shaking when passing through those areas. So take it slow and hold on tight!

For a detailed Orchid Island ferry guide, 🔗check out this post!

If you are worried about ferry tickets selling out, you can book your Orchid Island ferry tickets in advance through 🔗the site I always use.

Hope you have an amazing and safe trip to Orchid Island!