Taiwan

Welcome to Taiwan! Your adventure begins in the capital, Taipei. The city sits in an ancient lakebed basin, enclosed by mountains and teeming with hot springs. Home to nearly 4 million people, Taipei is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world. Whether you want to roam around world-class museums, laze about the hot springs or try the local delicacies, Taipei will keep you entertained for days. You can arrive at any time today, as there are no activities planned until a welcome meeting at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note for you at reception detailing the time and place of this important meeting. Tonight you’ll head out on a first Taiwanese dinner with your group.
Hotel: Sonnien Hotel or similar

Special Information
Although we return to Taipei later in the itinerary, we recommend arriving a couple of days early to make the most of this fascinating city. You could take an optional drive outside of Taipei and visit Yangmingshan National Park, (Taipei's Backyard Garden). Yangmingshan is known for its hiking trails, natural hot springs, sulphurous rocks and volcanic openings. You could also discover the up-and-coming art scene in Taipei, and taste hundreds of delicious Taiwanese dishes at the Ningxia Night Market.

Journey north to Nikko for a visit to TOSHOGU SHRINE and its famous Have you ever dined in a tree house? Today's your chance. Tree Top Restaurant, in the New Era Art Resort, is a highly regarded restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine from a chef's tasting menu. Incorporating living trees that weave through its multistory interior, the Tree Top Restaurant offers exceptional dining in bamboo-inlaid nooks amid the aroma of native trees.

After your meal, visit the Japanese style wooden train station, Checheng, which was built to transport wood during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. Next, a tour of the Shuili Snake Kiln will take a look at the unique form of traditional pottery turned in this region.

During free time in the afternoon, either relax back in your hotel or explore more of Sun Moon Lake.

Today you’ll drive approximately 4 hours to the east coast and Hualien, Taiwan's largest state, from where you’ll explore the majestic Taroko Gorge. The gorge stretches out over 18 kilometres, with marble walls that climb hundreds of metres above the Liwu River. Its spectacular scenery makes it a popular walking and hiking destination. Taroko (named after the Truku tribe that once populated the surrounding river valleys) was formed over millions of years by the erosion of marble by the path of the river. With dramatic scenery and an abundance of wildlife, Taroko Gorge is a natural splendour that covers 92,000 hectares and is undeniably one of the highlights of the trip. Photographers are sure to get some dramatic landscape shots while walking around the gorge. Be prepared though as, as one Taiwan's most popular sights, the area can get busy. You’ll enjoy a one-hour hike on the Shakadang Trail around the lush surrounds, following the crystal clear Shakadang River as it winds through the marble canyons. The walk is not on a steep incline so anyone with a reasonable amount of fitness will be fine on this trail. You’ll then travel to Hualien for the evening, perhaps for a spot of shopping and a visit to the local night market for dinner.

Continue your journey north to Yilan county for an afternoon spent exploring Lo-don Forest District and the National Center for Traditional Arts (approx. 3 hours). Created to showcase traditional Taiwanese life and culture, this centre contains in its complex numerous examples of everyday life, from conventional grocery stores to folk arts, merchants and eateries. Live shows of colourful costumes and acrobatic acts parade through the streets, and you can browse the stores for traditional Taiwanese arts. While here you’ll also stop to see a Chinese puppet show, ceramic glaze making, fabric dyeing, and a host of other cultural artisan crafts, each providing an insight into the past society of the island.

Back at the hotel, unwind with a soak in the Jiaoxi Hotspring. Because they're not of the sulfur kind, these springs are pleasantly odourless. And, being rich in naturally occurring minerals, are renowned for their skin-heeling properties.
Hotel: Guan Xiang Century Hotel or similar

Today travel the short distance (approximately 1 hour) out to the north coast and Yehliu National Geological Park. The park has stunning views across the bay and is famous for its hoodoo stones (isolated free standing rocks) and thin spires of rock that were formed by sea erosion, wind and the movement of the Earth. It’s easily possible to spend a couple of hours here gazing at the rock formations – many have been given names like “Ice Cream Rock” and “Candle”, with the most famous being the “The Queen's Head”.

The next stop is the Gold Rush town of Jiufen, founded late on in the Qing Dynasty (the 1890s) and located in the hills of north-eastern Taiwan. This town was once a major hub during World War II due to the mining of gold and copper that was used by the military. Discover the hidden corners of Jiufen Old Street, where the structures are built into the side of the coastal hills. Here locals and visitors explore the small stores and dine in the many restaurants along the quaint streets, Take a tour of the first movie theatre in Northern Taiwan. After enjoy a local snacks in Jiufen and return to Taipei once again for the night.

There are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. If you choose to extend your stay here we can assist you with booking additional accommodation.