Taiwan: The Other China
Adventure Travel tour in Taiwan | 15 days ex Taipei | US$3000
Taipei - national parks - native culture - temples - hot springs - mountains and beaches
Coined “La Ilha Formosa” (The Beautiful Island) by the Portuguese, Taiwan offers beautiful beaches, breathtaking gorges, picturesque peaks, serene lakes, tropical forests, aboriginal peoples, stunningly ornate temples, neon-clad cities and decaying Qing dynasty courtyard houses. Amazingly, this is all contained in an island only 450 miles long and less than 150 miles wide
Free from the purges of the Cultural Revolution across the water on the mainland, “the other China” has managed to keep its cultural legacy far more intact and accessible than its big brotherly neighbor – you’ll see offering tables laid out and ghost money being burnt on the street on auspicious days of the month and might even witness a noisy festival procession.
Whether relishing a hike in East Asia’s highest mountains, marveling at the world’s tallest building, joining in some morning tai ji, soaking away the stresses of life in one of the island’s numerous hot springs or just slurping down a hearty bowl of delicious noodles, Taiwan assaults your senses and leaves you yearning for more!
Feburary 22, 2009 - Special Trip
This tour will be a special 14 day trip with a slightly altered itinerary. Price will be US$2900. Contact us for details on the itinerary. The tour is guaranteed to depart so book now!
Itinerary
Days 1-2 | Taipei
On Day 1 people will be arriving throughout the day. We’ll meet in the evening to get to know one another over dinner and have an introduction to the tour. On day 2 we take in some of the contrasting attractions of this modern city including the world's 2nd tallest building, the fabulous Chinese art on display at the National Palace Museum and the culinary curiosities to be found at the legendary Snake Alley Night Market.
Day 3 | Taroko Gorge
We start the day with some tai ji at the Chiang Kaishek Memorial. Next we drive via picturesque tea plantations and along the dramatic coastal highway to breathtaking Taroko Gorge which forges its way through the Central Mountain Range. Whether shrouded in mist or glowing in sunlight, this sheer marble gorge is a captivating sight.
Days 4-5 | Sun Moon Lake
In the morning we take a stunning trek in Taroko National Park before driving across the jawdropping 3000m high Cross Island Highway and on to Sun Moon Lake. Sun Moon Lake’s turquoise waters are surrounded by mountains, temples and pagodas and it is a great place to enjoy a relaxing boat trip or one of the many walking and cycling trails.
Days 6-7 | Alishan
Alishan is a charming mountain village which is famed for its stunning “sea of clouds” sunrises, its beautiful hiking trails and the way that you get there! The Alishan Forest Train is one of only three steep-grade alpine trains in the world, and runs from sea level up to alpine forests at 2000m elevation.
Day 8 | Tainan
Today we’ll cross the Tropic of Cancer on our drive to Tainan, the island's oldest city which showcases Taiwan’s varied past through its lively temples, blend of cuisines and colonial remnants. Tainan is located at the heart of the south’s rice, banana, coconut and pineapple belt and its balmy heat lends the city a relaxed atmosphere.
Day 9 | Foguangshan
After a free-morning to explore Tainan, we’ll drive to Foguangshan, the island’s largest Buddhist Monastery. We’ll have the chance to fully explore the monastery’s beautiful grounds and then spend a surprisingly comfortable night learning about monastic life in Taiwan.
Days 10-11 | Zhiben
On day 10 we drive via the aboriginal region of Sandimen to Pingtung and across the mountainous interior of the island to Zhiben which was established as a hot spring resort by the Japanese. On day 11 we take a day trip by boat out to Green Island which once served as an exile for political prisoners, but these days is visited for its dramatic coastal scenery and the sublime pleasure of soaking in a saltwater hot spring on the seashore – one of only three places in the world you can do so.
Days 12-13 | Kenting
Continuing our journey we head to Taiwan’s southernmost point, Kenting, deservedly famous for its fine beaches, national parks and nightmarkets. Kenting is a great place to spend a relaxing couple of days, hiking, swimming, snorkeling or even surfing.
Days 14-15 | Taipei
After a short drive we take a late afternoon train ride to Taipei on Taiwan’s very own super-fast bullet train. On arrival we celebrate the end of our adventurous journey to this little visited part of the world with a traditional theater show and a last Taiwanese meal.
Facts and Information
Style
adventure travelling
Grasshopper Leader
Your tour leader on this trip will be Simon Foster. Simon has been living in Taiwan for three years when not on regular guidebook writing work which takes him away on research trips throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
meet Simon
Inclusions
private transport, bullet train, Sun Moon Lake boat cruise, Green Island Day Trip, tour leader, some meals, entry fees
Group Size
minimum 4, maximum 12
Accommodation
13 nights hotel/guesthouse, 1 night monastery
Meals Included
14 breakfasts, 7 dinners
Difficulty
moderate
