3D/2N: Tea Culture Trip

In the morning you will take the train from Taipei/Kaohsiung/Tainan to Taichung with the  High Speed Railway train. This tour starts from Taichung or Chayi HSR Railway station.  If you are travelling with the High Speed train to reach Taichung or Chayi, enjoy our 20% discounted tickets. High speed train from Taipei or Kaohsiung is available and pick up will be - in this case - at the Chiayi HSR Train Station.

Once arrived in Taichung train station, you will meet with the English speaking guide and transfer by private van to Sun Moon Lake.

On the way to Sun Moon Lake, it will be possible to stop at the 921 Earthquake Museum; you can decide directly on that day together with your guide.

Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's major Assam black tea production area. 
In December of 1925, during the Japanese occupation, the Japanese imported tea seeds from Assam Province in India, and attempted to cultivate it in the Sun Moon Lake area's Yuchi Township. This experiment proved to have outstanding results, and was then promoted extensively, becoming the most famous of Sun Moon Lake's special teas.

Tea cultivation in the Sun Moon Lake area dates back to the Qing Dynasty (17-1800's) when Chinese settlers began cultivating the naturally occurring wild tea tree. In the early 1900's, the Japanese colonists developed large scale Black Tea production using the Assam strain here, following the British model in India.

Lunch will be on the way (not included in the quotation). Your guide will suggest some places on the way.
Dinner free, not included. (with the 4* hotel dinner at the hotel is included)

In the morning you and your guide will continue the visit of the area of Sun Moon Lake and after lunch you will be transferred to Alishan.

On the way to Sun Moon Lake, visit the Lugu Area; home of Dong Ding Oolong Tea that has a reputation of being one of the finest oolongs in the world.

Alishan; famous for its high-mountain oolong tea; Taiwan’s oolong teas are so good that they have been described as the "champagne of tea.”

On the way to Alishan stop in some beautiful viewpoints and at the Elephant Mountain National Scenic area to learn about tea culture and to enjoy the magnificent view.
 

Your guide will also suggest some stops along the road; there are several train stations with small villages and old street markets as well as stunning plantations tea.  
 

Early in the morning you will take the Alishan Mountain Railway to Zhushan Station and witness one of the famous sunrises. (Tickets not included, please pay for your guide)

With the guide you will have a walk at the Alishan Forest Recreation Area and meet the thousand year old Taiwan cypress tree.

Discover the Alishan Tea, the Champagne of Taiwan Oolongs!  The oolong tea growing areas are situated between 1000 and 2300 meters in attitude. The high mountain conditions offer plenty of fog and low temperatures which are ideal for oolong tea and the water used for irrigation is from pure mountain springs. Explore one of the tea house in the mountain, taste the tea and learn about the process and the mountain culture in Taiwan.

Transfer by private van to Chayi or Taichung.