20D/19N: Explore Taiwan

When you arrive at TPE Taoyuan Airport, you will meet your driver and you will get a private transfer to the hotel. Thereafter, you will check-in in your hotel.

Depending on the arrival time, activities can be scheduled.

When the time allows, you can do an Evening night market tour: get out of the tourist traps, join the food tour with our English speaking guide and discover the local specialities eating like a local. Explore the people and places around the well known food street markets!

Your second day in Taiwan will start with breakfast at your hotel. Afterwards, you can discover the capital of Taiwan, Taipei, by yourself. If you wish, you can join a private walking tour with a professional guide (English speaking, any other language on request!)

Taipei City Tour:

► At 9:30AM meeting with your English-speaking guide (driver optional) at the lobby of the hotel and visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall: The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and the area surrounding is one of the most prominent landmarks in Taiwan and is also one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Taipei with thousands of people showing up each day. The Memorial Park covers an area of over 240,000 square meters and during the Japanese Colonial era it was a military base. The expansive park consists of three large buildings: the Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂),The National Theatre (國家戲劇院), the National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳) and the beautiful gardens behind the Memorial hall. The Memorial Hall is probably the main reason people visit the area and express the spirit of Chinese culture. It was constructed using Taiwanese marble and the roof is blue representing the color of Chiang Kai Shek party and has an octagon shape because in Asia, the number eight is associated with abundance and good fortune. The most imposing and impressive structures on Liberty Square are that of the National Theatre (國家戲劇院) and National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳). The two buildings play host to major performances all year long and are considered the best artistic venues in the country. Behind the Memorial Hall, there are beautiful gardens and the homes of squirrels, birds, fish, turtles and cranes.
► Watch the guard changing ceremony at 11AM and visit the museum and the garden. The guard changing ceremony will approximately take 20 minutes.

► For lunch, you can go to Din Tai Fung Restaurant; it is located in the Taipei 101 Branch.
Menu @Din Tai Fung (choose one of the packages below):
Package A (for 1): 4 Xiao long bao, 1 steamed vegetable dumpling, 1 steamed shrimp dumpling, 1 steamed fish dumpling, 1 steamed shrimp shao mai, red bean xiao long bao, shredded pork and egg fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, hot and sour soup.

Package B (for 1): 4 Xiao long bao, 1 chicken xiao long bao, 1 steamed vegetarian mushroom dumpling, 1 steamed fish dumpling, 1 steamed shrimp shao mai, 1 taro xiao long bao, shrimp and egg fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, hot and sour soup.

► Once you have finished your lunch, you can visit the Taipei 101 Tower itself. Taipei 101 is impossible to miss with its 508mt. Untill 2011, it held the title of the world’s tallest green building. Observation decks are on the 88th and 89th floors, with an outdoor deck on the 91st floor opened on some occasions, weather permitting. Don’t miss the massive gold- colored iron wind damper that keeps the tower stable through typhoons and earthquakes.
► The National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built in 1972 as a tribute to the founder of the Republic of China. The hall contains displays of Sun’s accomplishments from the revolution during and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, and today is a meeting ground for various social, educational, and cultural activities. Although the hall’s main purpose was intended to display historical relics of Sun’s life and the Xinhai Revolution, it was later opened for performances and exhibitions.
►The Longshan Temple is founded in 1738 by Han immigrants from Fujian. This temple has served as a municipal, guild and self-defence centre, as well as a house of worship. These days it is one of the city’s top religious sites, and a prime venue for exploring both Taiwan’s vibrant folk faith and its unique temple arts and architecture.

After your day exploring Taipei, time to take dinner is free!
Overnight will be in Taipei.

Your third day will start with breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, at 9:00AM, meet your English-speaking guide/driver at the lobby of your hotel. Today, you will do a Northern Coast Tour.

► Yehliu Geopark: Yehliu is a cape on the northern coast of Taiwan, about an hour 's drive from Taipei. It's known as Yehliu Geopark; a landscape of honeycomb and mushroom rocks eroded by the sea. The coastline is dotted with remarkable geological formations named after their shapes, including the Queen's Head and Dragon's Head, because of their shapes resembling faces; ice cream cones and giant sandals. Both a museum and scenic attraction, the Geopark offers extensive information on the natural geological processes that created these rock formations. Yehliu also boasts an ecological reserve and the country's first marine park.
► The Golden Waterfall: the water from the Golden Waterfall has a yellow hue, resulting from the heavy metal elements that seep through the old mines and got deposited in the riverbed.
► Jiufen Old Street: During the Qing Dynasty, this isolated village housed only nine families; thus the village would request "nine portions" every time shipments arrived from town. "Jiu" means "nine", "Fen" means "portions". Until the 1950's, Jiufen was a prosperous gold mining town but in the next years the town started to decline. This small village is located within hills, next to the mountains, and facing the ocean. Its special location saved it from becoming another anonymous mining ghost town. Jiufen is now a popular tourist destination for Taipeites eager to relive scenes from the past.
► The Shifen Waterfall: Shifen Waterfall is a 40 metre tall waterfall that creates a rainbow as it splashes into the lake, widely regarded as the most scenic in all of Taiwan.

Depending on the weather and the time availability, these are the main things we will try to see today, but the guide can change the itinerary. 

Your day will end in Yilan, where you will check-in in your hotel.
 

You take breakfast at your hotel and afterwards, you will meet your English speaking licensed guide/driver to visit the Yilan and the National Center of Traditional Arts.

Lunch will be in Yilan or on the way to Hualien. After lunch, a transfer to Hualien via one of the most beautiful scenery roads in Taiwan.

After you arrive in Hualien, you will check-in in your hotel and recommended is to visit the very famous night market and to taste some local food (not included). Enjoy the local specialities surrounded by the breeze of the ocean.

After your wake up in your hotel in Hualien and after breakfast, meet your guide/driver to leave to explore the breathtaking, world-renowned Taroko Gorge National Park.
Enjoy a guided tour of its spectacular mountains, marble canyons, gorges, rapid rivers, and stunning waterfalls. Visit the Eternal Spring Shrine and the Swallow Grotto Trail till the Bayang Waterfall through the Water Curtain Tunnel (itinerary might change according to the weather).

After this beautiful day, your guide/driver will bring you back to your hotel in Hualien.
 

Your sixth day will start with breakfast at your hotel, followed by checking-out of your hotel in Hualien and a meeting with your guide/driver. Follow the most beautiful Highway 11 southbound to Jialulan Park through the East Rift Valley; a vast, fertile plain, with many beautiful scenic places to stop by and explore.

Taitung County is a charming rural part of the island where life is slower, where the fields seem greener and the air fresher. This is a region where you want to slow down, rewind, take a deep breath, and regain your energy, and so will you do today! Take it easy, stop and relax, follow your guide suggestions and decide your schedule! 

Arrival in Taitung Country where you will have your overnight!
 

After you wake up in Taitung and you took your breakfast, a transfer to Kenting; this area is famous for the custard apple, also known as sugar apple or Buddha’s head fruit, it tastes like banana and pineapple mixed together. Just south of Taitung City you’ll also pass Chihpen/Zhiben Hot Spring and Taimali Beach. You will decide together with your guide if you take a break in the area or if you drive straight to Kenting.

Once you arrived, you will have your overnight in Kenting!
 

The eighth day of this tour will start with breakfast at your hotel. Today will be a free day to enjoy the beach. If you don't like to spend time at the beach, you can also explore the area with your guide/driver.

In the afternoon/evening, your guide/driver will bring you back to your hotel in Kenting where you will have another overnight. 

The itinerary for day 9 will be the same as day 8:

Today will start with breakfast at your hotel. Today will be a free day to enjoy the beach. If you don't like to spend time at the beach, you can also explore the area with your guide/driver.

In the afternoon/evening, your guide/driver will bring you back to your hotel in Kenting where you will have another overnight. 

Breakfast at your hotel, check-out and meeting with your guide/driver in your hotel. Together with your guide/driver, you can decide if you would like to spend some more time on the beach or to get a transfer to Kaohsiung.

Depending on the arrival time in Kaohsiung, visit the The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and enjoy the sunset by walking around the Lotus Lake.

In the afternoon, check-in at your hotel in Kaohsiung.

You will wake up and you will have breakfast in your hotel in Koahsiung. Today you will visit the beautiful Kaohsiung. You can decide to have a tour with a guide or just explore the city yourself and get lost in the artistic area of Pier 2. You can also take the 5 minutes ride ferry to Cijing which is famous for not only historical and cultural sites, but also for the fresh seafood.

Instead, if you prefer a private tour with a guide and driver, this could be your itinerary for the day:
► The British Consulate at Takow was built in 1867. It is the most antique western-style modern architecture as well as the first British Consulate in Taiwan. Shoushan, the "love" Deck, from where you will enjoy the spectacular view of the city.
► Kaohsiung Rose Basilica, designed in a Gothic style, was rebuilt in 1928 and is the largest cathedral in Taiwan and one of the 3 cathedrals in Asia.
► Formosa Boulevard Station was rated second of the most beautiful subway stops in the world. The real treasure is underground -- the 2,180-square-meter Dome of Light, a glass mural built into the ceiling of the station. The colorful ceiling was created by American-Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata. It's the largest such glass installation in the world.
► Wei Wu Ying Center for the Arts - which is still under construction - will become the largest natural ecological park as well as International-class arts performing center in Southern Taiwan.
► Ciaotou Sugar Refinery is the first sugar refinery in Taiwan, traced back to the Japanese Colonial period when it was also serving as an indispensable center of social life for local residents.
► Vogue Hills: These abandoned Japanese-style dorms is today a renovated, distinctive cultural and creative area with shops and restaurants. Among all the items you can buy, take a look at the made-in-Taiwan non-toxic tableware made from corn.
► Dashu Old Railway Sky Bridge was used to carry passengers and freight from Kaohsiung Harbour. With its length of 1.526 meters, it used to be the largest in Asia and nowadays it is the only railway bridge designated as a national historical monument.

In the evening, you can have a cruise on the Love River or enjoy the dinner in one of the famous night markets. You will have your overnight in Kaohsiung. 

After breakfast and check-out in your hotel in Kaohsiung, you will have a transfer to Tainan. On the way to Tainan, visit Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center. This is not only a spiritual symbol and center, but also the tallest sitting Buddha in the world which is made of bronze.

Lunch can be done on the way or at Fo Guang Shan Monastery. There is a buffet restaurant inside.

Afterwards you will move on to Tainan and you will check-in at your hotel. In the late afternoon/evening you will visit the city center of Tainan; Taiwan’s oldest and fifth-largest city which was formerly its capital during the Qing Dynasty, which is one of Taiwan’s greatest hidden gems.

You will head back to your hotel and you will have your overnight in your hotel in Tainan. 

After breakfast at your hotel in Tainan, you will check-out and follow the road towards Alishan. On the way to Alishan, you will have a stop in some beautiful viewpoints and at the Elephant Mountain National Scenic area to learn about tea culture and to enjoy the magnificent view. The area is also famous for its production of high mountain tea and wasabi, notably tea and carvings and handicrafts made from red cypress.

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.

Lunch on the way (not included in the quotation). Your guide will suggest some places on the way.

After you spent your day in Alishan, you will move on towards your hotel in the area and you will check-in. You will have your overnight in your hotel in Alishan. 

Your fourteenth day of this tour will start early with a meeting with your guide at your hotel. Early in the morning you will take the Alishan Mountain Railway to Zhushan Station and witness one of the most famous sunrises. (Tickets not included, please pay for your guide too)

After you enjoyed watching the sunrise, you will go back to your hotel to take breakfast and to check-out. Your tour will be followed by a transfer to Sun Moon Lake.

Check in at your hotel in Sun Moon Lake and later take a boat ride to Xuanguang Temple, cycle around at the top ten cycling routes in the world (chosen by CNN) or take the gondola to the top of the hill and enjoy the magnificent view. (tickets are not included, to be paid also for the guide)

We will choose to do the activities according to the arrival time. Some of the mentioned can also be done the next morning.

You will have some free time to eat dinner and then head back to your hotel to have your overnight in Sun Moon Lake. 
 

Today will start with breakfast at your hotel. Afterwards, you can choose to relax in Sun Moon Lake or to keep visiting the area with your guide.

Several options can be chosen today!
Optional activities (not included in the quotation):
► Cycle round one of the best bike paths in the world. It is about 30 km with hills and will take 3-4 hours with stops at a few of the attractions along the way. A local guide will follow you and show the paths;
► Cable car overlooking the lake: on a bright day, you can enjoy stunning views at the lake with a gondola trip taking about 7 minutes each way (however, in peak times, the waiting line can take hours);
► Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village;
► Boat tour (Shueishe, Ita Thao and Xuanguang Temple piers);
► Carton King: in this shop, everything from utensils to furniture are made from carton boxes;
► Visit Ita Thao: the origin of Thao people; it is believed that their ancestors, originally from Alishan, chased a white deer to a faraway lake where they found an abundance of fish. They returned to their homeland, brought the whole tribe, and decided to settle down at Sun Moon Lake, as we call it today. Although tribal life is almost extinct now, a visit to Ita Thao allows you to experience the aboriginal culture and you get to taste delicious aboriginal food too.
► Antique Assam Tea Farm: Shuili Snake Kiln is the town where remains the eldest tradition of kiln-making. There is the biggest kiln work which is in the Guinness Book of Records by the size of 6.68 meters.
► Sup or Paragliding for the adventurous people among us!

Sun Moon Lake activities are not included in the quotation:
► Renting bike: from TWD 150 per bicycle
► Sun Moon Lake Gondola: TWD 300 per person
► Parking fees (at the Gondola station): TWD 100

After your sightseeing day at Sun Moon Lake area, you will go back to your hotel to have your overnight. 

Your day will start with breakfast in Sun Moon Lake. After breakfast, you will check-out and your guide will bring you to Taichung.

On the way to Taichung, you will visit the 921 Earthquake Museum which is a must-to-see museum in Taiwan and a unique educational opportunity.

► First stop is the Taichung National Theater, where you will visit the theater and the futuristic roof. The theater is designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito. Using the concept of the primitive caves and holes, Toyo Ito designed the world first and only Sound Cave Curved Wall for National Taichung Theater. There are no vertical and horizontal structures and it’s the world’s first curve surfaced hanging structure architect.
► Second stop is the Rainbow Village; a “one man show” painted by a very talented, and rather visionary, old veteran soldier, MR. Huang.
► After the Rainbow Village, you will take the road to Gaomei Wetlands, a perfect place to enjoy the sunset and the cool breeze from the sea. Covering an area of 1,733 acres (701.3 hectares), the Gaomei Wetlands is a mix of mud and sand. It is a famous habitat for a diverse number of birds, fish, crabs, invertebrates, and plants.

After enjoying the sunset, your guide will bring you back to Taichung where you will have your overnight.

You will wake up in your hotel in Taichung and you will have breakfast. Today you can choose to visit Taichung with your guide or just get lost in the streets of Taichung yourself!

Optional is to take a Bubble tea class to discover the history of Taiwan's popular drink and to make it yourself, or to take the bike and bite tour to discover both the city and the amazing local food.

If you prefer to keep visiting with your guide/driver, we suggest you to do a day tour in Lukang. Lukang was an important sea port in the 18th century and 19th century. It was the most populous city in central Taiwan until the early 20th century. The history of the town of Lukang has been characterized by rapid change. Lukang old town was once a bustling port during the Qing Dynasty in the 1600s and continued to be a thriving business center until 1895 when the Japanese came and shut down most of the trade with mainland China. The end of Lukang came when the harbor, which has never been that deep and suitable for the larger vessels, silted completely. Today the city boasts over 200 temples dedicated to a wide variety of deities, such as Longshan Temple - which dates to 1786 - and Matzu Temple. Lukang Old Street is filled by traditional Taiwanese-style houses with carved doorways and windows, narrow streets such as the notably famed Nine-Turns Lane, thin red brick walls. In the afternoon, you will visit the Lukang Folk Art Museum and after visiting the town and tasted some of the amazing food in the old street, your guide will bring you back to Taichung!

Overnight will be in Taichung.

After your breakfast, you will leave Taichung to take to road to Smangus, which is said to be on of the most Taiwan’s most remote village. Before the giant trees in the area were discovered, Smangus was completely cut off from the outside world. The area was only connected to the electricity only in 1979 and the only road to the outside world wasn't even completed until 1995.

Smangus (司馬庫斯部落) is a gorgeous, remote aboriginal village in the mountains of Hsinchu County, surrounded by epic mountain views, bamboo forests and ancient tree groves. Smangus is famous for its grove of giant Cypress trees, which are some of the oldest and largest in Taiwan at up to 2,700 years old.

The Ayatal tribe resides here. Drive an hour away, through winding roads, and arrive at Zhenxibao. Another indigenous village with a network of trails looping through pristine forests and even larger ancient tree groves.
 

Overnight will be in the area, but please be aware that there are no luxurious hotels in the area. Accommodation will be simple but clean in a B&B.

You will wake up in the beautiful area of Smangus and after your breakfast, you can keep going with discovering the area yourself. The itinerary will depend on the weather and the conditions of the road. Your guide will give you today’s itinerary just the day before. No matter what, it will be an unforgettable experience in the wild nature!

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you to Taipei where you will have your last overnight.

In the afternoon drive to Taipei and overnight, in a B&B or a 3* , 4* or 5* hotel. 

Your last day of this tour will start with breakfast at your hotel in Taipei. Depending on the departure time, there will be free time to say hello to Taiwan before heading to the airport with your private transfer.