Highlights of Taiwan

Welcome to Taiwan, considered the jewel in the Asia Pacific rim. On arrival at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, you will be greeted by our airport representative, who will assist with the transfer to the capital city – Taipei (80 km, 45 minutes). Along the way, view city landmarks from a distance, such as the palace-like Grand Hotel and the Taipei 101 Tower – the tallest building in the world until early 2010. Taiwan is also famous for its wide variety of cuisine. When Chiang Kai Shek came to Taiwan back in 1949, two million people followed him; among them were students, soldiers, and chefs from different provinces of China. As a result, there are many restaurants showcasing dishes from all over China, and in addition, there are the flavours introduced by Taiwan’s Hakka community and 16 indigenous tribes. This combination of tastes and trends has resulted in fabulous flavours and cuisines. In the early evening, explore the city’s CBD area and get an understanding of the city as you drive through the organized traffic, the greenery, the tall buildings, and how everything keeps moving at a steady pace. Tonight you will be introduced to the delicious signature dishes at Din Tai Fung dumpling restaurant. Watch the dumpling master making the dumplings in the open kitchen. After dinner, visit the local night market and get a glimpse into Taipei’s nightlife.

After breakfast, you will depart by local public transport to Yangmingshan National Park. View the steaming Thermal Valley (Xiaoyukeng) and the sulphur landscape as you walk the Jinbaoli Trail (Yulu Historical Trai North section, 3.7 KM, 3 hrs). In the early days, the locals used the Yulu trail to transport fish, tea, and sulphur by foot between Taipei and Jinshan in the north. Yulu literarily means “fish path”. These days, it is a historical trail used for recreation. Along the path, there are traces of the trail’s history, including well-preserved equipment. In the afternoon, you will be introduced to the National Palace Museum, which houses an impressive collection of more than 650,000 Chinese imperial exhibits covering thousands of years. This exquisite collection includes jade pottery, porcelain, documents, letters, paintings, calligraphy and sniff bottles. 

After breakfast at your hotel today, you will visit the scenic Northern Coast. At Yehliu Geo Park, explore interesting rock formations as well as real fossils right beneath your feet. Enjoy the wide-open ocean view, the small tidal creatures and the sea breeze. Next, visit the seafood market and enjoy a seafood lunch fresh off the boat! The highlight of today is the Caoling Historical Trail. The trail cuts across Sandiao Cape (Sandiaojiao), starting at Yuanwangkeng just inland from Fulong, and ending at Dali on the coast. It is the only remaining section of the old Ching dynasty trail that was constructed 130 years ago to provide a land link down the northeast coast from Tamsui to Yilan. The present trail is approximately 10 kilometres long and offers a pleasant hike of three hours. Continue to Yilan, famous for its natural hot spring and on arrival, enjoy relaxing in the hot springs.  

At the completion of breakfast, check out and embark for Taroko National Park, one of the few marble gorges in the world. It offers spectacular views and an insight into the indigenous culture in Taiwan. Enjoy a stroll on Shakadang Trail, an easy walk alongside the Shakadang River and see the beautiful gorge with its crystal-clear river. Swallow Grotto is a marble cliff, and river erosion has created holes in the cliff now inhabited by swallows – hence the grotto’s name. Walk the Tunnel of Nine Turns, this scenic trail is only 700 metres long but is considered the best in the area. Walk beside the mountains and cliffs, overlooking the Liwu River, and take your time to admire the beautiful details, faults and folds of the marble cliff.

Visit Bulowan Terrace and walk over the Sanyue Bridge to see this marble gorge from a different angle.

Tonight dinner is enjoyed at the hotel. 

Today we’ll wake up and find ourselves surrounded by greenery. The highlight for today is the Zhuilu Historic Trail (10km, altitude 700-800 M, 5-6 hours). Zhuilu Old Trail offers the most impressive and breathtaking views within Taroko Gorge. 

After breakfast today, you will head to Mt. Hehuan Peaks via the Central Cross-Island Highway, the most beautiful highway in Taiwan. Mt. Hehuan (Hehuanshan) is a 3,416-metre-high mountain in central Taiwan. The peak lies on the boundaries of Nantou and Hualien counties and is within the Taroko Gorge National Park. Summer is delightfully cool and highly scenic as different alpine flowers bloom from May to September. Autumn and spring are wonderful seasons for hiking and trekking. Trail 1 today is Shihmen Mountain trail (775m, altitude 3237m, 40-60 min). At 3,237 metres, Shihmenshan (Mt. Shihmen) is a high, but accessible climb. The trail from the parking area to the top is relatively flat. It takes only about 30 minutes to walk, making it suitable for visitors of all ages. From its position on the crest-line of the Central Range, enjoy the sweeping views over the alpine landscape. Trail 2 is the Hehuan Jian Shan trail (505m, altitude 3217m, 45-60 min round trip). Trail 3 is the Hehuan East Peak (938m, altitude 3421m, 2 hours round-trip). The main trail begins right across from the cottage and ascends the north slope of the mountain, and there are some steep sections where you have to use your hands or where hiking poles might come in handy.

Enjoy an early start today as we head out to the centre of Taiwan and travel to Sun Moon Lake. The lake sits at an altitude of 762m in the mountains of Nantou County; it enjoys good weather year-round and has many outdoor activities to offer. It’s not surprising it’s one of Taiwan’s most renowned tourist destinations. Visit Wen Wu Temple, which offers beautiful lake views, and if time allows, visit Tse En Pagoda and Tehua Village. In the afternoon, walk the Mt. Maolan Trail (3hrs round-trip). Mt. Maolan Trail is an easy walk to a weather observatory built by the Japanese in 1940. From the summit, at 1.020m, you can see as far as Puli. The 3km trail (a paved road actually) winds through vast tea plantations. 

At the conclusion of breakfast, enjoy a relaxing bicycle ride around the lake to take in more of the scenery. (There is the alternative option of a boat trip.) In the late morning, you will transfer back to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport for your onward flight.