Taste of Taiwan – 12 Days

Description

General Information

Tour Highlights

• Strive to make a pound of tea on your own
• Get an insight into Taiwan’s religious belief
• Learn about poetry, art, and nature of Taiwan
• Taste scrumptious local meals
• Experience the wildlife in National Park

Tour Details

Duration: 12 Days/ 11 Nights
Start/ End: Taichung / Taipei
Tour Route: Taichung – Hualien – Taroko Gorge – Sun Moon Lake – Alishan National Park – Kaohsiung – Taipei
Tour Type: Tailor-made tour
Tour Customizable: Definitely! Tell us your interest
Vehicle: private air-conditioned vehicle and licensed driver
Guide Service: private English-speaking guide
Tour Departure: No fixed departure. Anytime you wish!

Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Taipei Arrival | Taipei City Tour
Day 02: City Tour in Taipei and Tea Tasting
Day 03: Taipei National Palace Museum & Yang Ming Mountain
Day 04: Taipei – Hualien
Day 05: Taroko Gorge – Hualien
Day 06: Taroko – Sun Moon Lake
Day 07: Sun Moon Lake – Tea Plantations
Day 08: Alishan National Park – 1^st Day
Day 09: Alishan National Park – 2^nd Day
Day 10: The Ancient Capital Tainan
Day 11: Kaohsiung City Tour
Day 12: Departure

Full Itinerary

Day 01: Taipei Arrival | Taipei City Tour

Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to warmly greet and escort you to the hotel. Once you’ve settled in the hotel, relax at leisure.
In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a visit to the Taipei 101 for a chance marveling at the sunset scenery and Ding Tai Fung Dumpling just before heading to a night market.
Later, back to your hotel and overnight.

Day 02: City Tour in Taipei and Tea Tasting

Start from the hotel at 9 am. Morning visit to the Lin Family Garden which is a beautiful heritage site and shines a light on the family traditions of Taiwan.  Then visit the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and break for a light lunch at a famous tea house nearby. After lunch is a traditional Chinese Tea Tasting. Then onto Yong Kang Street which is a bustling artisan area with boutique coffee shops and additional points of cultural interest. Beef noodles or other fine dishes can be enjoyed before dinner. Returning to the hotel at around 6 pm.

Day 03: Taipei National Palace Museum & Yang Ming Mountain

Pick up from the hotel at 9:30 am for a 10:00 am guided tour of the National Palace Museum.  Here you’ll find the greatest collection of Chinese Arts and Artifacts in the world. At least 2-3 hours are required.  From here, we’ll travel to the beautiful Yang Ming Shan to see the flowers and do some gentle hiking after a lunch of fresh mountain veggies and other delights.  Spend a relaxing afternoon in Yang Ming Shan before returning to the city for dinner and a foot massage in ‘shemingding’ (little Tokyo). Back to the hotel around 9 pm.

Day 04: Taipei – Hualien

Depart from the hotel at 8:30 am and stop in Yeh Liu to visit the unique geological park. Then onto the old Gold Mining Town of Jiu Fen to visit the museum (includes the prison camp in Jingwaushi). Continue down the East Coast to Hualien where you can enjoy local food (dumpling soup with vinegar, mochi, and seafood, etc.) and culture.  The hotel has an excellent sauna and spa facilities.

Day 05: Taroko Gorge – Hualien

Depart from the hotel at 8:30 am for Taroko Gorge.  First, stop at the Eternal Spring Temple to visit the Pagoda and Monastery. Then continue into the gorge stopping at Swallows Grotto, Lui Shwei trail and the Bai Yang trail. We will be staying in the very heart of Taroko Gorge in wood cabins nestled into the hills’ side. Aboriginal dancing for evening entertainment.

Day 06: Taroko – Sun Moon Lake

Depart from Taroko Gorge at 9 am and begin the climb from 700 meters to 3,500 meters as we cross the central cross highway. One of the most stunning roads in Asia. Visit a 3,200-year-old divine tree. See monkeys on the roadside as we head for Herhua Mountain for a high-altitude stroll.  Lunch at the top for roast chicken before we drop down to Sun Moon Lake. Dinner at the Crystal Hotel.

Day 07: Sun Moon Lake – Tea Plantations

Visit tea gardens and do some DIY tea making activities.  Return to Sun Moon Lake to take an afternoon-chartered boat ride with drinks. Then some free time strolling the old lakeside village of Ita Thoa.  Dinner at the Sun Moon Lake restaurant for some local foods including wild boar.

Day 08: Alishan National Park – 1^st Day

Depart early for Ali Shan over the beautiful route 21 going up past Jade Mountain. Beautiful Mountain passes before arriving in Ali Shan National Forest.  Lunch and dinner in the National Park which has a great selection of mountain foods.

Day 09: Alishan National Park – 2^nd Day

An early rise at 4:30 am for the stunning sea of cloud sunrise over Ali Shan (this is very early and is optional). Return to the hotel for breakfast.  Hiking and exploring the ancient forests of Ali Shan. Afternoon at leisure for tea drinking, hiking, and photography.

Day 10: The Ancient Capital Tainan

Depart at 8:30 am for our drive to Tainan, the ancient capital of Taiwan. Lunch in Anping Tainan, then a brief tour of An-Ping, the oldest trading port in Taiwan.  Plenty of quaint old streets for exploring here. Check into the hotel around 4 pm. Roast Duck for dinner in the Hotel.

Day 11: Kaohsiung City Tour

Foguangshan Buddhist Temple in the morning before visiting the old British consulate at Takaw in the early afternoon.  Return to Tainan to visit the Dutch Fort and Confucius Temple. For dinner, we’ll try traditional street food for the final night.

Day 12: Departure

Time to say goodbye in Taiwan. Breakfast and morning at leisure until getting escorted to the airport for a flight coming home. The trip ends. Hope we had a good time together and wish that we can serve you next time when it comes to other Asia tours.