10D/9N: Crossing Taiwan

This tour starts from the international Taoyuan airport. Depending on your arrival time, you will meet your English (any other language on request) speaking guide/driver at the airport. After arrival, private transfer by comfortable car/van to your hotel in Taipei.

When the time allows, we can schedule a visit of the city on this day with your guide/driver.

► The Longshan Temple was 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.

► We will move on with Taipei's masterpiece: Taipei 101 tower; the tour guide will lead you at the top of the tower to enjoy the stunning sightseeing of the capital from the second tallest tower in the world. You will reach the top floor with the fastest elevator in the world. The lifts take just 40 seconds from ground level to the 89th floor, situated at 382 mt and have atmospheric pressure regulatory systems to avoid discomfort (ears 'popping') for the occupants.

Taipei 101 is designed to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquake tremors that are common in the area east of Taiwan also thanks to its giant mass dumper. Essentially acting as a giant pendulum, the enormous steel sphere moves slightly back and forth to counter any motion of the building itself. It is an engineering marvel meant to limit the vibrations of the 1,667-foot tall building.

► Dinner at Din Tai Fung Restaurant (101 Branch) (included)
Menu @Din Tai Fung
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

After dinner, some free time in the evening and return back to the hotel. 

Your second day of this tour will start with breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast and check-out, meeting with your guide/driver at the lobby of your hotel. Today, you will visit the Northern coast of Taiwan. 

► About an hour from Taipei, on the northern coast of Taiwan, there is a landscape that looks like if it belongs to another planet! This is Yehliu Geopark, made up of geological formations that jut out of the stony shoreline in shapes resembling faces, mushrooms, ice cream cones and the most popular one, called "Queen's Head".



► 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.

Lunch will be on the way (not included). Your guide/driver can suggest you some nice local places on the way. 

► During the Qing Dynasty, Jiufen Old Street 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.
► Pinxi is famous for the unique railway passes above houses and streets. Pinxi is also world renowned for their sky lanterns; visitors can write their wishes on a lantern and release it in to the sky. In almost evry little shop in the town you will find a lantern seller. The old houses have become now stores selling souvenirs and local flavored snaks. The Lantern Festival is held in February and attaracts thousend of visitors, making impossible to move easily.



After your tour in the Northern part of Taiwan, you will move on to Fulong Beach. You will have some free time in the evening to enjoy the beach. 

Your third day will start with breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast and check-out, you will meet your guide/driver in the lobby of your hotel for a transfer to Hualien. 

On the way to Hualien, you will have a stop in Yilan at the National Center of Traditional Arts. This center executes its designated missions on cultivating talents in traditional arts and conducting the investigation, research, conservation, transmission and development of traditional arts.



Lunch (not included) will be in Yilan or on the way to Hualien and on the suggestion of your guide/driver.

After your arrival in Hualien, you will have a indigenous aboriginal cooking class at 15.00. If you ever wanted to bring home some special knowledge about local, aboriginal culture - this is the place to go. You will learn how to prepare traditional food and drinks like the locals. At the end of our class you will sit down to enjoy the food you have prepared, along with a glass of wine or a beer. 

After your cooking class, you will go to your hotel in Hualien to check-in. In the evening, you will have some time to visit the famous night market of Hualien for a late night snack or a local tea. 

You will have breakfast at your hotel and check-out. You will meet your guide/driver afterwards for a day in the Taroko Gorge National Park. 

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 due to the weather).

Lunch will be in the park and on the suggestion of your guide (not included).

After you have visited Taroko Gorge National Park, you will move on to Cingjing area. In the evening, you will have some time to explore the area yourself or to relax.

You will start your day with breakfast. After breakfast and check-out, meeting with your guide/driver for a transfer to Sun Moon Lake:  Taiwan’s largest freshwater lake, located at an elevation of 748 meters above sea level. The lake is divided into two sections by Lalu Island. One section is circular, somewhat shaped like the sun, while the other is more crescent shaped, similar to the moon. Thus, this is how the lake got its name. Lalu Island is considered the dwelling place of the ancestors and the sacred land of the Thao tribe. Thao legend tells that the tribe originally lived in Alishan but hunters following a mysterious white deer found their way to the banks of this lake and found it to be a good place to live. This is a very diverse scenic area with more than a dozen hiking trails, cycling paths and boat tours. In addition to a Thao village, there are several temples to explore including those devoted to Confucius and to two monks from the Tang Dynasty. In addition, at the top of the Cien Pagoda are panoramic views of this breathtaking lake and its surrounding mountains.

After arrival in Sun Moon Lake area, you can enjoy a boat tour to explore the lake. In the evening, you can explore the area by yourself and enjoy a dinner (at your hotel, if it is applicable).

Today will start with breakfast at your hotel. Today will be dedicated on relaxing and exploring the lake yourself. Guidance can be provided, please request that. 

► Cycle round one of the best bike paths in the world: It is about 30km with hills and will take 3-4 hours with stops at few of the attractions along the way. A local guide will follow you and show the paths (Bicycle rental included).
► Cable car overlooking the lake: On a good day you can enjoy a stunning views of the lake with the trip taking about 7 minutes each way, however in peak times the wait can be hours (Cable car tickets included).



Optional activities: 
► Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village;
► Carton King; where everything from utensils to furniture are made from carton boxes;
► Ita Thao is 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, bro ught 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 a biggest kiln work which is in the Guinness Book of Records by the size of 6.68 meters.
► Hot Springs;
► Sky Lounge dinner at Fleur de Chine Hotel;
► Stand up Paddling (SUP) on the lake;
► Paragliding in Puli (50 minutes drive from SML)

After your day of exploring Sun Moon Lake, return back to the hotel for dinner or at a local place in the area of the lake. 

After breakfast and check-out at your hotel, meeting with your guide/driver at the lobby of your hotel for a transfer to Alishan National Scenic Area. 

The Alishan National Scenic Area covers four townships in Chiayi County, located in southern Taiwan. It is famous for its towering mountains, pristine forests, cherry blossoms, tea plantations, coffee plantations, and indigenous Tsou culture. Although this scenic area is rich in natural forest, Alishan was once home to a flourishing forestry industry. Traces of that can be seen in the small town of Fenqihu and in the narrow gauge railway that zigzags up the mountain.


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). 

After arrival in Alishan, explore the area yourself and have dinner at your hotel.

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 then have a walk at the Alishan Forest Recreation Area and meet the thousand year old Taiwan cypress tree (not suitable for wheelchair or for people with mobility issues). 

After this experience, you will return to your hotel to have breakfast and to check-out. You will have a transfer to Tainan. Depending on the weather, some stops in the mountains; will be suggested by your guide. Lunch will also be on the way (not included) and on the suggestion of your guide. 

After arrrival in Tainan, check- in at your hotel. Afterwards, visit the city center of Tainan on your own accord: 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.

Your ninth day of this tour will start with breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, check-out at your hotel in Tainan and meeting with your guide/driver for a transfer towards Koahsiung with a stop on the way. 

First stop will be at Fo Guan Shan, Taiwan's largest Buddhist temple area. The Fo Guang Big Buddha - behind the Main Hall towers - is 108 meters high, making it the tallest sitting bronze Buddha statue in the world.  There are eight pagodas, each representing different ideas or precepts.  From 1997 to 2000, Fo Guang Shan was closed to the general public in order to create a more cloistered atmosphere for the practicing monks, it is now re- open for the public so please remember that Fo Guang Shan is still a place where many monks and volunteers work toward enlightenment and it also serves as a place of public education. The monks are quite used to visitors and they are polite and tolerant of indiscretions. As a tourist you are request to do your best to be respectful and kind. Despite other Temples, Fo Guang Shan has really embraced modern technology and culture: multimedia displays, holographic exhibits and even special apps to make it more accessible.The museum is especially busy during the period from the Lunar New Year holiday to the Lantern Festival. At that time, the hills around the monastery are covered with lanterns..

After you have visited Fo Guang Shan, you will move on to Kaohsiung. When the time allows, you can visit: 
► Pier2 Art Center: this is our favorite area to visit in Kaohsiung. If you are an art lover, take your time to explore the area with all the hidden galleries, some of them are free others require and entrance tickets.

"It was once an abandoned and forgotten warehouse buried in history due to the move from an industrial based segment to the service sector. However, with a group of persistent artist who injected waves of creativity and inspiration into the area, the Pier-2 area was released and re-born making the region a place where tourist and locals can come together to enjoy fine art. With the collision of an old area and new fine art, Pier-2 becomes an area of new vitality and liveliness."

► The British Consulate at Takow: 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.

►Dragon and Tiger Pagodas: the name is from the 2 buildings representing a dragon and tiger. Visitors enter the towers through the statues' bodies. Entering the dragon's mouth and exiting via the tiger's mouth is believed to be auspicious. The towers are connected to the shore with a 9-angle bridge (九曲橋).

After you have explored Kaohsiung a little, it is time to go to your hotel in Kaohsiung, where you will have your overnight.

The last day of your tour will start with breakfast at your hotel in Kaohsiung. Depending on your departure time, you will have some free time to explore Kaohsiung yourself. 

You will have to take a taxi to the High Speed Train station in Kaohsiung, Zuoying (taxi fee not included). From Kaohsiung, you can take the HSR back to the north, to Taoyuan. 
Please note that the HSR doesn't reach to the airport; you will have to take a taxi/bus/metro to reach the airport (not included).

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