Explore Taiwan
Explore Taiwan
Explore Taiwan
11 Days Starting and ending in Taipei
Visiting: Taipei, Yilan, Sun Moon Lake, Chiayi, Alishan/Chiayi, Taichung
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CJSA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Discover a glittering coastline, lush landscapes and tranquil temples on this 11-day adventure through Taiwan. Be tempted by night market food stalls and welcomed into Indigenous tribes, visit tea farms and learn the tricks of local cuisine by collecting clams and cooking farm fresh onion pancakes. Travel to the misty mountains and serene lakes that have captured the attention of many international powers throughout history and learn why Taiwan earned the nickname ‘the beautiful island’. With a hike through mountainous foothills, a train ride through old growth forest and a local leader by your side to teach you about culture, land and people – this adventure will leave you curious and wanting more.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Taipei
Location: Taipei
Accommodation: Hotel
Huan ying! Welcome to Taipei. Your adventure begins in the densely populated and beautifully located capital of Taiwan, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe visit the hot springs at Yangmingshan National Park. After the meeting, head out for an optional dinner with your fellow group members this evening.
Day 2: Taipei
Location: Taipei
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Explore Taipei this morning on foot and 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 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.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Yilan
Location: Yilan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, take a private transfer from Taipei to Yilan, visiting the National Palace Museum along the way – home to the world’s largest collection of Chinese art. Then, you’ll visit a spring onion farm 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. Arrive at your hotel in Yilan in the late afternoon and with your free evening, maybe relax or wander around at your own pace.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Yilan
Location: Yilan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
This morning, 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 return to Yilan, where your evening is free.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Sun Moon Lake
Location: Sun Moon Lake
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, you’ll visit a morning market to learn about the fresh ingredients used in local cooking. Then, learn how to make your own peanut roll ice cream from a local! Then, head to Sun Moon Lake – one of the most iconic destinations in Taiwan. This alpine lake lies in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range and is surrounded by forested peaks and foot trails. This is the only natural lake in Taiwan and is named for the shapes that its outline forms. You’ll stay at a guesthouse Puli, surrounded by lush, green gardens. You have a free evening to take a walk or relax and watch the sunset over the peaks.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Sun Moon Lake
Location: Sun Moon Lake
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
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 how you wish.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Chiayi
Location: Chiayi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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, visit the Chung Tai Chan Monastery. 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. After, head to Chiayi in a private vehicle where you’ll have a free evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Alishan/Chiayi
Location: Alishan/Chiayi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Along with Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge, Alishan is one of the most scenic areas in Taiwan and this morning, you’ll head to Alishan National Scenic Area to see it for yourself. Enjoy a train ride through the dense forest on the old Forest Railway, passing tropical forest, subtropical forest and temperate forest along the way. After your train ride, take a 2-hour hike on the Sacred Forest Trail to get closer to the flora and fauna, including the giant Cypress trees that call this park home. Later, return to Chiayi for a free evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Taichung
Location: Taichung
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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 for a free evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Taipei
Location: Taipei
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Day 11: Taipei
Location: Taipei
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights) -
Taipei - Dihua Street walk
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Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
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Hualien - Night Market Street Food Crawl
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Taipei - National Palace Museum
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Hualien - Qixingtan
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Hualien - Qingshui Cliff
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Taroko Gorge - scenic hike
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Yilan - Indigenous Atayal tribe half day visit
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Yilan - Spring onion farm & cooking demostration
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Puli - Chung Tai Chan Monastery
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Taipei - Dihua Street walk
- Taipei - Sweet Potato Mama Urban Adventure
- Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
- Hualien - Night Market
- Hualien - Danong Dafu Forest Park
- Hualien - Qingshui Cliff
- Taroko Gorge - scenic hike
- Yilan - Spring onion farm & cooking demostration
- Yilan - Whisky distillery
- Jiufen - Old Town walk
- Turtle Island - Boat tour
- Sun Moon Lake - Bike Ride
- Sun Moon Lake - Ci'en Pagoda Trail walk
- Puli - Hugosum Tea Farm
- Puli - Chung Tai Chan Monastery
- Sun Moon Lake - Kayaking
- Lukang - Longshan Temple
- Fangyuan - Oyster picking
- Taipei - National Palace Museum
- Taichung - Rainbow Village
Transport
- Private Bus , Metro , Public Bus , Bike
Accommodation
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, except in Sun Moon Lake and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- Private Bus , Metro , Public Bus , Bike
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
We use mainly private transport between destinations on this trip to enable us to pack as many highlights as we can into each day. When in Taipei you can expect plenty of walking and to make use of the efficient metro system.
There are several opportunities for hiking and cycling on this trip. While these are not strenuous, they do require a good overall level of fitness.
This trip doesn’t spend a lot of time in Taipei. We highly recommend you spend extra time in this great city. Please consult your booking agent for booking extra accommodation here before or after the trip. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions