Explore Taiwan

Welcome to Taipei! Your adventure begins in the densely populated and beautifully located capital of Taiwan. You can arrive at any time today, as there are no activities planned until a welcome meeting at 6 pm. With the formalities out of the way, head out for an optional dinner with your fellow group members this evening. If you arrive with time to spare, perhaps visit the hot springs at Yangmingshan National Park.

Explore Taipei this morning by foot and by the excellent metro system. With your local leader, you’ll stroll through Dihua Street – the oldest street in Taipei – to get a sense of the city’s merchant past and to see how young entrepreneurs are revitalising the area. You’ll pass by traditional Fujian-style Qing Dynasty homes, Baroque and modernist architecture from the Japanese colonial occupation, and 100-year-old businesses still in operation, alongside modern cafes and craft shops – representing the different phases of Taipei’s history. Continue to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall – an impressive dedication to the former president of the Republic of China. Then, you’ll have free time for the rest of the day and night. Maybe head to the Shilin Night Market for dinner tonight.

Visit the National Palace Museum – home to the world’s largest collection of Chinese art. After, leave Taipei behind and head to Hualien – best known for it’s natural surroundings, including the rift valley plain and a rocky seashore that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. On the way, stop in at Qixingtan for a stroll along the promenade and some fresh ocean air. Continue to Hualien and when you arrive, head out for an orientation walk. Tonight, you’ll explore the night markets on a street food crawl with your group, trying some local specialties like coffin bread (fluffy French toast with fillings), exploding chicken rolls, spring onion pancakes and oyster omelettes. Hualien has the largest Indigenous population in Taiwan, so you can also find traditional specialties like bamboo rice, wild boar, and flying fish.

Visit the Qingshui Cliff today – a long stretch of coast that drops almost vertically into the sea. After taking in the view, continue your journey to Taroko National Park (named after the epic Taroko Gorge). Witness the natural beauty, winding turquoise river and high cliffs of the gorge and then set out along the Shakadang Trail, which follows an aqua stream to a Truku village. Entry to the village isn’t permitted, but if you’re lucky, you might see the small market outside, which sells Indigenous foods and handicrafts. After a two-hour hike, you’ll have the chance to explore one of the park’s other trails. Your leader can advise on which one is right for you, depending on energy levels and desires. Later, return to Hualien and enjoy free time to relax, or maybe grab a foot reflexology massage to truly unwind after a tiring day.

Today, you’ll make your way to Yilan, stopping at Leshui along the way. Here, visit the Indigenous Atayal tribe – only 2.5% of the Taiwanese population are identified as Indigenous, and the Atayal people are one of the 16 main groups. Soak up the rare opportunity to connect with their community and learn about the cultural significance of their tribal costume and face tattoos. Try your hand at making the local bamboo rice and then enjoy the fruits of your labour as part of the hearty, home-cooked lunch with the locals. Using local ingredients, you’ll be treated to a showcase of delicious Indigenous flavours. Then head into the forest with a local who will demonstrate their traditional hunting and trap-setting tricks. Say goodbye to your gracious hosts and carry on to Yilan, where your evening is free.

Visit a spring onion farm this morning to see how one of Taiwan’s favourite ingredients is grown. Pop on a pair of gum boots and get grubby in the fields, trying your hand at produce picking. Then, learn how to cook the spring onions in the beloved snack of Taiwanese pancakes. Enjoy the product of your success and then kick back with a free afternoon. You might like to head to a local hot spring and indulge in a relaxing soak (or stay close to home and choose to try out the hotel’s hot spring instead). Tonight, maybe ask your trip leader where the best spot for a local feed is and head out with your fellow travellers.

Take a private bus to Sun Moon Lake this morning – one of the most iconic destinations in Taiwan. On the way, visit the Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Puli. Though it was built just 20 years ago, the unique combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles makes it an impressive sight. Here, you’ll take a guided tour with one of the resident nuns or a guide and learn the secrets and history of the monastery. Continue to Sun Moon Lake, arriving in the afternoon. This is the only natural lake in Taiwan and is named for the shapes that its outline forms. This is a gorgeous destination, so make sure you’ve got your camera handy! Tonight, return to Puli and relax in your guesthouse for the night.

After breakfast, hop in a private vehicle headed for the Hugosum Tea Farm. Here, you’ll gain an insight into the production of Taiwan’s beloved black tea and have the opportunity to roll your own leaves, which will then be dried and packaged so you can take a taste of Taiwan home with you. Then head back to Sun Moon Lake and walk through the forested foothills of the mountains around Sun Moon Lake, along the Ci'en Pagoda Trail. At the trail's end, you can climb to the top of the 46-m-high pagoda and take in the sweeping views. Keep the active energy going on a cycling adventure along some scenic paths on the lake’s shores. The evening is yours to spend.

Today, head to the flat and fertile land of Changhua County, sometimes known as the ‘breadbasket’ of Taiwan. Visit Longshan Temple and explore the beautiful gardens on site. Continue to the fishing village of Fangyuan, where you’ll have the chance to go clam picking and discover water birds, fiddler crabs and mudskippers. There will also be the chance to sample local seafood like clams, crabs and oysters. In the afternoon, travel to Taichung and enjoy an free evening.

Before returning to Taipei, stop at the Rainbow Village and learn the story behind the incredible murals that cover every inch of the town. If you’re lucky, you may just catch the artist Huang Yung-Fu (who is 96 years old, and counting!) sitting outside his house and enjoying some sunshine. Return to Taipei, arriving around midday. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore the city at your leisure. Maybe meet back up with your leader and group for an optional dinner or visit the Taipei 101 Observation Deck for a magnificent view over the city at night.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. No activities are planned for the day, and you're free to leave the hotel any time after checkout. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.