Round Island Tour of Taiwan
Fly with EVA Air, an award-winning 5-star airline on this adventure to Taiwan. Start your holiday in style with a choice of three classes of cabin service: Royal Laurel Class (complete flatbed Business Class), award-winning Premium Economy Class and Economy class. Personal seat-back state of the art touch screen, audio/video-on-demand entertainment systems.
This Taiwan adventure takes you from bustling Taipei to some of the most spectacular scenery on the stunning East Coast. You’ll experience Taiwanese history and culture, visit the minority indigenous tribes of Sun Moon Lake, walk through historic Lukang, join in the morning prayers with the monks of Foguangshan and perhaps enjoy a dip in the hot springs. There is also time for some soft trekking in the Taroko Gorge area and options to include some adventure walks in the Maolin Scenic Area.
The holiday is fully flexible and we can tailor-make this to your exact requirements. This holiday may also be enjoyed via rail travel.
Best time for this itinerary is April, May, October, and November.
Touring style: Self-guided adventure or with a private guide using a vehicle or by rail.
Prices are seasonal, twin-sharing and include accommodation, breakfast, transfers and tours with a professional English speaking guide.
Starts from:
GBP 2500 per person, Standard Class Hotels
International and domestic airfares are additional
- Experience Taiwanese history and culture
- Walk through the small and winding streets of historic Lukang
- Take a private lake cruise to Lalu island
- Join the monks in morning prayers and a meditation session
- Day 1 Fly to Taipei
- Day 2 Arrival in Taipei
- Day 3 Taipei sightseeing
- Day 4 Explore to historic Lukang and Sun Moon Lake
- Day 5 Sun Moon Lake touring and relaxation
- Day 6 Sun Moon Lake via Puli to Alishan
- Day 7 Sunrise at Alishan, soft trek and drive to Tainan
- Day 8 Tainan touring (optional trip to Maolin Scenic Area)
- Day 9 Tainan to Fo Guang Shan and Kaohsiung
- Day 10 Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park
- Day 11 Kenting to the hot springs of Chihpen via the spectacular East Coast
- Day 12 East Coast Scenic drive to Taroko Gorge
- Day 13 Taroko Gorge soft trek
- Day 14 Scenic drive from Taroko Gorge to Yilan
- Day 15 Yilan to the Northeast Coast, Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen
- Day 16 Departure from Taipei or extend to Penghu Island
Day 1: Flight to Taipei
Fly with EVA Air, an award-winning 5 star airline on this adventure to Taiwan. Start your holiday in style with a choice of three classes of cabin service: Royal Laurel Class (complete flat bed Business Class), award-winning Premium Economy Class and Economy class. Personal seat-back state of the art touch screen, audio/video on demand entertainment systems.
Day 2 Arrival in Taipei
Arrive in Taipei - meet and greet at the airport for a transfer to your hotel.
This evening you will experience a Taipei night tour near the Lungshan temple area, one of the oldest areas of Taipei city. Lungshan Temple has been a local landmark since its establishment in 1738. It is frequented by locals as well as international visitors for its vibrant atmosphere and lively night scene.
Overnight in Taipei.
Distance and journey time: 48 km, 45 mins
Day 3 Taipei sightseeing
Enjoy a Taipei city tour. Spend the whole morning in the world's finest Chinese art gallery, the National Palace Museum. The collection includes several thousand years of artefacts.
In the afternoon, visit the memorial hall of former President Chiang Kai Shek with its striking white walls and blue-tiled roof. Proceed to visit the Martyr's Shrine and Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world.
Overnight in Taipei.
Day 4 Taipei to Lukang and Sun Moon Lake
After breakfast, depart with your driver and head down the highway to the historic town of Lukang. Lukang was Central Taiwan's most important port and second-largest city from the mid-17th to the 18th century. Its small and winding streets still preserve the look and feel of southern Chinese architecture. Sites to be visited include the old street, the Tien Hou Kung Temple, the Lukang Longshan Temple and the Lukang Folklore Museum. After your Lukang tour, turn west into the mountains to Sun Moon Lake.
Overnight in Sun Moon Lake.
Distance and journey times:
Taipei to Lukang: 184 km, approx 2.45 hrs
Lukang to Sun Moon Lake: 89 km, approx 1.30 hrs
Day 5 Scenic Sun Moon Lake
Wake up early this morning to appreciate the sunrise. Take your time and enjoy a refreshing breakfast by the lakeside. After breakfast, there is an opportunity to ride a bicycle along the shore or take a private lake cruise and visit Lalu Island and the Tse-En Pagoda.
Overnight in Sun Moon Lake.
Day 6 Sun Moon Lake, Puli and Alishan
Morning at leisure and depart at midday to Alishan. Stop at the Taomi eco-village to see the only “Paper Church” in the world (a church made of paper!).
Alishan is well known for its rich forests, cherry blossoms, a sea of clouds and sunrises. Visit The Alishan National Forest Recreational Area and enjoy a ride on the Forest Train (Shenmu Line)
Overnight in Alishan.
Distance and journey times:
Sun Moon Lake to Puli: 25 km, 40 mins
Puli to Alishan: 175 km, allow 3 hrs
Day 7 Alishan trekking and leave for Tainan
Wake up very early in the morning. Enjoy a ride on the Alishan Forest Train to see the sunrise at Chu-Shan. Afterwards, take a soft trek along forest trails and return to your hotel for breakfast. Depart for Tainan
Overnight in Tainan
Distance and journey time: 123 km, 2.30 hrs
Day 8 Tainan touring
Tour the cultural riches of Tainan city. Start the day with a visit to the Ten Drum Culture Village to see a drum percussion performance, Afterwards, visit Fort Zeelandia and the Tainan Confucius Temple. End the day with a visit to Shenon Old Street to visit the Old Hayashi Department Store.
(optional side trip to Maolin Scenic Area for trekking)
Overnight in Tainan.
Day 9 Tainan, Foguangshan and Kaohsiung
Travel to Fo Guang Shan to visit the impressive Buddhist Monastery. Continue to Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s largest commercial harbour and the second-largest city. Visit Sijin Peninsula, a narrow shoal in the sea at the western edge of Kaohsiung, Spring, and Autumn Pavilions. In the evening, visit Love River and wander around the bustling Lio Ho Night Market
Overnight in Kaohsiung.
Distance and journey times:
Tainan to Go Guang Shan: 48 km, 1 hr
Fo Guang Shan to Kaohsiung: 36 km, 40 mins
Day 10 Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park
A full-day tour to Kenting National Park, which is 90 kilometres away from Kaohsiung. With a total area of 466.8 hectares, it is the first national park in Taiwan and home to beautiful beaches, hot springs, tropical forests, and varied wildlife. Pay a special visit to Oluanbi Lighthouse and Maobitou Park, which are famous spots in the National Park.
Stay overnight in Kenting.
Distance and journey time: 110 km, 2 hrs
Day 11 Kenting National Park to Taitung / Chihpen
After breakfast, head toward the famous East Coast, which stretches 170 kilometres. Enjoy the stunning coastal view and stay overnight at the hot spring resort town of Chihpen.
Overnight in Chihpen
Distance and journey time: 120 km, 2.30 hrs
Day 12 Chihpen to Taroko Gorge
Proceed north up the east coast driving by some of the island's most striking and beautiful terrain, arriving in Taroko Gorge in the late afternoon. Stops will be made at the Tung He Bridge, Sansiantai, and the stone steps.
Overnight in Taroko
Distance and journey time: 178 km, 3.30 hrs
Day 13 Taroko Gorge sightseeing and soft trek
Tour the amazing Taroko Gorge, a stunning, awe-inspiring river gorge lined by sheer river-carved cliffs of marble. The visit includes stops at the Swallow Grottoes, the Marble Bridge, and the Eternal Spring Shrine.
Afternoon soft trekking on the Sakadon Trail.
Day 14 Taroko Gorge to Yilan
Depart for Yilan via Qinshui Cliff, one of the most spectacular sights on Taiwan‘s Pacific coast. The cliff is more than 1,000 meters high and drops almost vertically into the sea.
Overnight at Forte Dong-shan Villa in National Centre for Traditional Arts.
Distance and journey time: 107 km, 2.30 hrs
Day 15 Yeliu & Chiu Fen & Northeast Coast National Scenic Area
Onward via Northeast Coast National Scenic Area nestled between the mountains and the sea. Visit Yeliu Geo Park famous for its bizarre rock formation, especially Queen‘s Head Rock, Cinderella‘s Slipper, candlestick rocks and many others. Chiu Fen (Jiu fen) is an old gold-mining town built on a steep mountain slope and retains much of its quaint traditional flavour.
Return to Taipei.
Distance and journey times:
Yilan to Yehliu: 70 km, 1 hr
Yehliu to Taipei: 40 km, 45 mins
Day 16: Departure from Taipei
Do you like the freedom of travelling on your own instead of an organised tour? Then this round island trip is for you. This suggested itinerary will cover the main sites. It is your choice to choose to visit different sites or not to visit some. You can add days or reduce the overall programme. Please get in touch with us to discuss. We are ready to help. Call us at 01473 214305 or sales@eastravel.co.uk