Description

Day 1 ARRIVAL TAIPEI
Upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car (English-speaking driver).
The remainder of the day will be free at leisure to  rest.

Accommodation: Howard Plaza or similar

Day 2 ULTIMATE TAIPEI CITY TOUR (B)
Ancient China, colonial Formosa and ultra-modern Taipei, all yours to experience on our Ultimate Taipei City Tour. You’ll uncover this dynamic capital’s must-see spots in style on a full day tour mixing tradition religious venues, historically important spots and places of scenic beauty. Highlights of the tour include a brief visit to Taipei 101, a trip up volcanic Yangming Mountain, an hour at the National Palace Museum sampling ever-so-briefly 5000 years of Chinese art and culture, and a delicious tour of the bustling exotic Shilin night market. It’s a whirlwind tour, designed for visitors looking to experience as much of the capital as possible in the shortest time.

Overnight in Taipei

Day 3 TAIPEI / TAROKO GORGE (B)
We will leave the capital today and begin with a drive down the stunning east coast, where towering cliffs meet the ocean before turning inland to spend a full day in geologically stunning Taroko National Park. Best known for being the home of visually stunning Taroko Gorge, the park is also a treasure trove of rivers and waterfalls, cliffs and trails, tunnels and temples. We’ll hike, sightsee, and explore the gorge, perhaps even seeing some of the local monkeys who call the area home before retiring our night at a 4-star hotel.

Accommodation: Taroko Liiko Hotel or similar

Day 4 TAROKO GORGE / SUN MOON LAKE (B/D)
After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll head higher still, across the island’s mountainous spine. While the drive is long, we’ll take many breaks for sightseeing, photography, and soaking in panoramic views. We’ll stop to touch the trunk of the Bilu sacred tree, said to date back to biblical times. After reaching the top, we’ll descend into the valley, reaching magical Sun Moon Lake, the island’s largest and most pristine body of water. Once at the lake, we’ll relax and unwind with a traditional tribal meal before checking into a 3-star hotel with a view of the lake.

Accommodation: Lealea Garden Hotel or similar

Day 5 SUN MOON LAKE (B)
Yesterday was about travel, so today is about staying put and exploring Sun Moon Lake to the fullest. We’ll travel across the lake on a pleasure boat, hike through a magnificent grove of climbing bamboo, and visit the serene Xuanguang temple, a major pilgrimage site for followers of the Buddhist faith. We’ll have great meals, and do a cycling trip around the lake (listed as one of the top ten cycling routes in the world by CNN Travel) before heading back to the hotel.

Overnight at Sun Moon Lake

Day 6 SUN MOON LAKE / ALISHAN (B/L)
As we say goodbye to Sun Moon Lake, we will head deeper into the mountains to the Alishan scenic area. The landscapes through which we’ll be passing by is so beautiful that we’ll take our time, stop for a tribal meal with a great view first followed by a visit to a well known tea farm, where we’ll walk a trail passing through some of Taiwan’s most beloved tea fields. Once we get to Alishan, we’ll take a ride on the narrow gauge Alishan mountain rail before checking in for the night at the historic Alishan House Hotel.

Accommodation: Alishan House Hotel or similar

Day 7 ALISHAN / TAIPEI (B/L)
We will get up early to enjoy the sunrise atAlishan. Only at this time of a day, you’ll be treated to a view of the “sea of clouds” for which the area is justly known. The morning will be taken up by hiking through the high mountain forests of the area, including visiting a cypress tree that is said to be a thousand years old. After lunch, we’ll head to a tea house called Alishanwin for tea with tremendous views before heading back to Taipei City.

Accommodation: Howard Plaza or similar

Day 8 TAIPEI DEPARTURE (B)
Your day is free at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for your onward flight.