A Journey to the Heart of Taiwan: sacred forests, mountain trails and traditional charms
This carefully crafted 10D9N journey will touch on a selection of Taiwanese highlights, from dreamy, verdant landscapes to lively night markets, memorable dishes and historical sites. After a day of adventure around bustling Taipei, your journey’s guide will accompany you south to Taichung City, where tidal wetlands and architectural gems new and old await. Ascending through rolling, farm-dotted hills to Nantou County, you’ll then reach the island’s mountain heart, where you’ll breathe the crisp air along alpine trails and the idyllic shores of Sun Moon Lake. A further southward hop will land you amid the five fabled wonders of the Alishan National Scenic Area, among them a sacred forest, a sea of clouds and a heritage mountain railway. A high-speed train up the coast from Chiayi will round off the journey, returning you to Taipei.
This journey outline is by no means fixed. As the traveller takes centre stage in our planning – from the type of lodging to daily activities – your journey will be crafted to suit you.
Day by Day Highlights
Day 1 Arrival into Taipei City
Spend time checking out Beitou Thermal Valley’s hot springs, which contains mineral stones known for its healing properties – a perfect way to start your sojourn through Taiwan.
Day 2 New Taipei City
Yehliu is a cape of about 1,700 meters long formed by Datun Mountain reaching into the sea. Marvel at its peculiar scenery consisting of sea trenches/holes, candle shaped rocks, and pot shaped rocks.
Visit Jiufen as well as Pingxi and Shifen, two of several towns alongside highway 106, a narrow back road that runs between southern Taipei and southern Keelung.
Day 3Miaoli County
Nanzhuang Old Street is located on the main street and side alleys of Zhongzheng Road, near Yongchang Temple and the Nanzhuang Visitor Center in downtown Miaoli. The street is also known as "Osmanthus Alley" by merit of its most popular souvenir: osmanthus wine. Other must-taste specialties here are pig cage buns, rice dumplings wrapped in shell ginger leaves, iced osmanthus dumplings with fruit, osmanthus plums, lei-cha (ground tea), soy stewed firm tofu, and Hakka cuisine.
Flying Cow Ranch has its own herd of cattle, and the related waste products are used to enrich the soil of the ranch’s organic vegetable gardens. Visitors can fully experience the life of dairy farmers, learn about the ecology of dairy cows and have an opportunity to experience the milk production process.
Day 4 Taichung City
The Fengjia Night Market is one of Taichung's famous commercial business districts, and is where you can find delicious snack foods and quality clothes at bargain prices. Continue to Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden, which was the official residence of the influential and gifted Lin Family of Wufeng.
The Miyahara Eye Hospital is a new tourist attraction at central district of Taichung, which is actually an ice cream joint. It started out as an eye clinic built by a Japanese optometrist Miyahara during the time of the Japanese occupation, and has since been renovated and restored to a flagship store for “Dawn Cake”.
Day 5 Taichung City
The National Taichung Theatrewas designed by Japanese architect Ito Toyo. Based on the "sound cave" concept, elements such as curved-wall units and air holes are used to build this space. Calligraphy Greenway is a tree-lined boulevard and a popular leisure spot for city residents. At night, the ambiance is at times quiet and at others energized as the boulevard lights up with the neon signs of the stores lining the road.
Visit the Gaomei wetlands and explore its vast ecology of flora and fauna spanning 300 hectares.
Day 6Nantou County
Puli is a basin surrounded by undulating mountains, hills and farmland, with most famous tourist spots such as the Puli Brewery Factory, Guang Xing Paper Mill, and Chung Tai Chan Monastery.
Continue onto The Paper Dome Church in New Homeland Scenic Park, designed by architect Shigeru Ban after the Takatori Church collapsed in the 1995 Osaka-Kobe Earthquake. The church is held up by 58 paper columns, with even its bench chairs being made out of paper.
Day 7Nantou County
Explore Mount Hehuan, a great place to see snow in the tropics, and escape from the summer heat. In as little as one day, you can travel along the highest road in East Asia, and take the many hiking paths that lead off the main road.
Visit Qingjing Farm, Green Green Grassland, famous for its green meadows, goats and sheep.
Day 8Nantou County
The Sun Moon Lake, located in the middle of Taiwan, with an elevation of 748 meters above sea level, is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. The southern part of Lalu Island is shaped like a new moon, and the northern part is shape like a sun; hence the name Sun Moon Lake.
The most famous sights around Sun Moon Lake are the Ita Thao, Lalu Island, the Xuanzang Temple, the Ci'enPagoda, and the Wenwu Temple. The natural forests bordering these roads are great places for bird watching.
Day 9Chiayi County
Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is located in the Alishan Township of Chiayi, covering an area of 1,400 hectares and an elevation of about 2,200 meters above sea level. Heavy wet weather contributes to a rich forest and climate landscape, with famous sightseeing spots which you will be guided to.
Day 10Chiayi County - Out
Fenqihu marks the half-way point on the way to the top of Alishan on the forest railway. Culinary attractions include the famous “Alishan Railway Lunchbox”, “Caoagui” and the special “Train Cake”.
From USD$5,100/pax based on twin-sharing, on a private basis. Excludes international flights.
This journey outline is by no means conclusive. It is just a guideline and can be tailored according to your comfort level, interests and preferences for every detail from accommodation to activities.
