Explore Taiwan

Explore Taiwan

1,361 Views
11 Days From

$3480

$2784

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Discover a glittering coastline, lush landscapes and tranquil temples on this 11-day adventure through Taiwan. Be tempted by night market food stalls and welcomed into Indigenous tribes, visit tea farms and learn the tricks of local cuisine by collecting clams and cooking farm fresh onion pancakes. Travel to the misty mountains and serene lakes that have captured the attention of many international powers throughout history and learn why Taiwan earned the nickname ‘the beautiful island’. With a hike through mountainous foothills, a train ride through old growth forest and a local leader by your side to teach you about culture, land and people – this adventure will leave you curious and wanting more. ...more ...less

Highlights

  • Discover Taiwan’s food culture by collecting clams in Wangong, sipping black tea at a plantation and cooking farm-fresh spring onion pancakes in Yilan.

  • Hike through lush mountain foothills to a 12-tiered pagoda that overlooks Sun Moon Lake, and take a ride around the emerald green waters on a cycling adventure.

  • Enjoy a special visit to the Indigenous Atayal tribe and spend some time with their community to learn about their forest survival techniques and costumes, then enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal that showcases tradition and Indigenous flavours.

  • Explore stalls pilled with dried fruits, herbs and medicines on Dihua Street – considered one of the oldest streets in Taiwan.

  • Ride the Forest Railway train through Alishan’s tropical and subtropical forest, then hike the Sacred Forest Trail to get closer to the old, resident Cypress trees.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Taipei

Location: Taipei

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Huan ying! Welcome to Taipei. Your adventure begins in the bustling capital of Taiwan with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe visit the hot springs at Yangmingshan National Park. After the meeting, head out for an optional dinner to get to know your local leader and fellow travellers.

Day 2: Taipei

Location: Taipei

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

After breakfast, explore Taipei with your local leader. Get a sense of the city’s merchant past on Dihua Street – the oldest street in Taipei – and see how young entrepreneurs are revitalising the area. With traditional medicine shops, Fujian-style Qing Dynasty homes and Baroque architecture standing alongside modern cafes and art studios, it represents the many chapters in Taipei’s rich history. Continue to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall – an impressive dedication to the former president of the Republic of China. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Maybe head to the Shilin Night Market for dinner tonight to try fried fish meatballs, oyster omelette or the infamous stinky tofu.Included Activities:-Taipei - Dihua Street walk-Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Day 3: Yilan

Location: Yilan

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

This morning, take a private transfer to Yilan, stopping off at the National Palace Museum which houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese art. Then, visit a spring onion farm where you'll pop on a pair of gum boots and get grubby in the fields! Pick your own produce before learning how to cook one of Taiwan’s most beloved snacks: crispy spring onion pancakes. Arrive at your hotel in Yilan in the late afternoon, where you’ll have free time to relax or explore at your own pace.Included Activities:-Yilan - Spring onion farm & cooking demostration-Taipei - National Palace Museum

Day 4: Yilan

Location: Yilan

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

This morning, visit the Indigenous Atayal tribe – Indigenous people make up just 2.5% of the Taiwanese population, and the Atayal people are one of the 16 main groups. This is a rare opportunity to connect with the community and learn about the cultural significance of their tribal costume and face tattoos. Try your hand at making bamboo rice before sitting down with the locals to enjoy a hearty lunch that showcases Indigenous flavours. Then, head into the forest to learn about traditional hunting and trap-setting techniques. Say goodbye to your hospitable hosts and return to Yilan where you'll have a free evening to explore. Included Activities:-Yilan - Indigenous Atayal tribe half day visit

Day 5: Sun Moon Lake

Location: Sun Moon Lake

Accommodation Name: Guesthouse

Meals Included: breaksfast

Today, you’ll visit a morning market to learn about the fragrant ingredients used in Taiwanese cooking and how to make peanut roll ice cream. Then, head to Sun Moon Lake – one of the island’s most iconic destinations named after the shapes that its outline forms. This alpine lake – the only natural lake in Taiwan – lies in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range and is surrounded by forested peaks and hiking trails. Tonight, you’ll stay in Puli at a guesthouse surrounded by lush gardens. You have a free evening to take a walk, relax or watch the sunset over the peaks.Included Activities:-Yilan - Morning market visit & Peanut roll icecream making

Day 6: Sun Moon Lake

Location: Sun Moon Lake

Accommodation Name: Guesthouse

Meals Included: breaksfast

After breakfast, take a leisurely stroll along the Ci'en Pagoda Trail through the forested foothills around Sun Moon Lake. At the trail's end, you’ll arrive at the 46-m-tall Ci'en Pagoda, where you can climb to the top and take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Then, keep the active energy going on a scenic cycling adventure along the lake’s shores. The evening is yours to spend how you wish.Included Activities:-Sun Moon Lake - Ci'en Pagoda Trail walk-Sun Moon Lake - Bike Ride

Day 7: Chiayi

Location: Chiayi City

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

After breakfast, take a private vehicle to Hugosum Tea Farm. Here, you’ll get an insight into the production of Taiwan’s beloved black tea and roll your own leaves, which will be dried and packaged to take a taste of Taiwan home with you. Then, visit the Chung Tai Chan Monastery – the unique combination of Chinese and Western architecture makes it an impressive sight. You’ll meet one of the resident nuns or a guide for a tour to explore the gardens and dive into the monastery's history. Afterwards, head to Chiayi in a private vehicle where you’ll have a free evening.Included Activities:-Puli - Chung Tai Chan Monastery-Puli - Hugosum Tea Farm

Day 8: Alishan/Chiayi

Location: Alishan Township

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

This morning, head to Alishan National Scenic Area – along with Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge, Alishan is one of the most dramatic parts of Taiwan. Climb aboard a train for a picturesque ride on the old Forest Railway, passing tropical, subtropical and temperate forests along the way. Then, hit the Sacred Forest Trail for a hike to get closer to the flora and fauna, including the giant Cypress trees that call this park home. Later, return to Chiayi for a free evening.Included Activities:-Alishan - Forest railway-Alishan - Sacred Forest Trail hike

Day 9: Taichung

Location: Taichung

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Today, head to the flat and fertile land of Changhua County – sometimes known as the ‘breadbasket’ of Taiwan. Visit Longshan Temple, one of the oldest temples in Taiwan, before continuing to the fishing village of Fangyuan where you’ll try your hand at clam picking and see water birds, fiddler crabs and mudskippers. There'll also be an opportunity to sample fresh seafood like crabs and oysters. In the afternoon, travel to Taichung for a free evening.Included Activities:-Lukang - Longshan Temple-Fangyuan - Clam picking

Day 10: Taipei

Location: Taipei

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Today, you’ll arrive back in Taipei around midday. The afternoon and evening are free to explore at your leisure. Maybe meet back up with your leader and group for an optional dinner or visit the Taipei 101 Observation Deck for a magnificent view of the city lit up at night.

Day 11: Taipei

Location: Taipei

Meals Included: breaksfast

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. With no activities planned for the day, you're free to leave the hotel any time after checkout. If you want to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (8 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights)

  • Meals
    10 breakfasts, 1 lunches

  • Taipei - Dihua Street walk

  • Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

  • Yilan - Spring onion farm & cooking demostration

  • Taipei - National Palace Museum

  • Yilan - Indigenous Atayal tribe half day visit

  • Yilan - Morning market visit & Peanut roll icecream making

  • Sun Moon Lake - Ci'en Pagoda Trail walk

  • Sun Moon Lake - Bike Ride

  • Puli - Chung Tai Chan Monastery

  • Puli - Hugosum Tea Farm

show more

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Included Activities

  • Taipei - Dihua Street walk
  • Taipei - Sweet Potato Mama Urban Adventure
  • Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
  • Hualien - Night Market
  • Hualien - Danong Dafu Forest Park
  • Hualien - Qingshui Cliff
  • Taroko Gorge - scenic hike
  • Yilan - Spring onion farm & cooking demostration
  • Yilan - Whisky distillery
  • Jiufen - Old Town walk
  • Turtle Island - Boat tour
  • Sun Moon Lake - Bike Ride
  • Sun Moon Lake - Ci'en Pagoda Trail walk
  • Puli - Hugosum Tea Farm
  • Puli - Chung Tai Chan Monastery
  • Sun Moon Lake - Kayaking
  • Lukang - Longshan Temple
  • Fangyuan - Oyster picking
  • Taipei - National Palace Museum
  • Taichung - Rainbow Village

Transport

  • Private Bus , Metro , Public Bus , Bike

Accommodation

  • OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
  • TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
  • Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.
  • CHECK-IN TIME
  • Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
  • PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
  • If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, except in Sun Moon Lake and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Mode of Transport

  • Private Bus , Metro , Public Bus , Bike

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    We use mainly private transport between destinations on this trip to enable you to pack as many highlights as possible into each day. When in Taipei you can expect plenty of walking and to make use of the efficient metro system.

    There are several opportunities for hiking and cycling on this trip. While these are not strenuous, they do require a good overall level of fitness.

    This trip doesn’t spend a lot of time in Taipei. We highly recommend you spend extra time in this great city. Please consult your booking agent for booking extra accommodation here before or after the trip.
    ...more ...less

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍 ...more ...less

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

I just completed my first...

15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon! ...more ...less

John Appleby (Google Reviewer)  

The Intrepid tour to Everest...

13-Mar-2025

The Intrepid tour to Everest Base camp is the best tour I have ever done. The itinerary was perfect and the guides were incredible. They look after the participants constantly and are constantly on the look out for any issues with altitude. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip it was amazing ...more ...less

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

I have just come back...

26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic. ...more ...less

john whelan (Google Reviewer)  

We booked the 10 day...

28-Feb-2025

We booked the 10 day Group Explorer package with them for Vietnam and Wow !!! . It was fantastic. We were initially a bit anxious, but that all settled after day one. There is a fair bit of travelling and moving involved, but we'll woth it as you get to see and experience loads .Our Guide Huy was brilliant and looked after us really well from local knowledge to restaurants and tour information and activities . It's worth doing folks with intrepid . Well done, keep up that standard of service. ...more ...less

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong ...more ...less

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X ...more ...less

Nicole  

North American Adventure

12-Oct-2021

This was my first international solo trip, but I never felt “alone” - there was always someone to go shopping, hike, or grab a quick bite with. The itinerary was a great balance between organized activities, while still allowing free time for exploring. Each location was unique and charming in its own way. Spending the night in the holy city of Moulay Idriss and wandering the winding streets of Chefchaouen were especially memorable. Thank you Mustapha and Intrepid for an incredible adventure! ...more ...less

Declan Curry (Google Reviewer)  

I have recently completed the...

07-Feb-2025

I have recently completed the Premium India In Depth tour. A most wonderful introduction to this amazing continent. From the Taj Mahal to Tigers 🐅 in the wild , dining whe the locals eat and a couple of meals with families was a great way to embrace the people and their culture. Magnificent architecture,be it Forts or Shrines. The most informative and inspiring of guides was great to have with us. Mumbai to Delhi and 6 more cities plus A Safari included. Best trip to experience India 🇮🇳. Prepare to have all your senses assaulted . Go for it. ...more ...less

D' ARTICULATE (Google Reviewer)  

They offer some great deals...

11-Jan-2025

They offer some great deals and group travel itineraries without the flights but will include them if needed by the traveller ; leaving one to choose a more personal holiday stance or exploration & time schedule too. Neat!

1 Select your preferred date

Thursday - Sunday

May 01, 2025 - May 11, 2025
$3690 $3321 (USD)

Operator discount: -$369 (USD)

Saturday - Tuesday

May 17, 2025 - May 27, 2025
$3480 $2784 (USD)

Operator discount: -$696 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Explore Taiwan

11 Days Starting and ending in Taipei

Visiting: Taipei, Yilan, Sun Moon Lake, Chiayi City, Alishan Township, Taichung

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

CJSA

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

15-99

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Cycling, Hiking

From: $3480 $2784 (USD) Operator discount: -$696 -20%

NB: Prices correct on 02-Apr-2025 but subject to change.

Similar Tours