Taiwan: Essential Taipei & Nature Immersion
Lying on the western edge of the Pacific, Taiwan offers wondrous vistas, from majestic natural landscapes to lively traditions. This tour will introduce you to their culture from the National Palace Museum to Chinghsiu Temple. You’ll enjoy the picturesque landscapes from the mysterious Shakadang Trail inside Taroko National Park to the peaceful Liyu Lake — and observe the nightlife of the Dongdamen Hualien Night Market. Ps, Taiwan is well positioned for a short stopover on your way to mainland China or Southeast Asia. You have options!
Taipei, Taiwan, has experienced an incredible revitalization — and you’ve got to check it out. In the late 1980s, Taipei was a sooty traffic jam barely giving way to a gritty, noisy industrial metropolis heaving with helmet-free scooters doubling as family mini-vans. Today, 23 million people riding 15 million scooters—now all wearing helmets—share the roads with 8 million 4-wheel vehicles…but it works. Rude driving and horn-honking are rare and the air is clear in what is now a dazzling, livable city. You might even see a scooter carrying a dog wearing her own helmet. As amazing as Singapore’s 1970’s turnaround, Taipei’s central planning rebirth makes it a great destination where shopping pedestrians enjoy a genuine right-of-way when crossing intersections. A once polluted river now has a tree-lined riverbank park with bicycle lanes. No food or drink is allowed on their vast, efficient, predictable and odorless subway network; this rule is enforced! Revitalized shrines, temples and colonial buildings mingle with dazzling skyscrapers that have repainted this into a contemporary landscape. A transformation miracle reminiscent of New York City’s Times Square, this revolution also showcases Taipei’s green architecture. Welcome to Taiwan — you are going to enjoy this incredible tour of the Taipei and it’s green otherworlds!
Highlights
- City tour of Taipei
- National Palace Museum, the treasure chest of Chinese culture
- Longshan Temple, a feast of architecture and folk culture
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
- Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan
- Hualien, a region rich with natural resources — Taroko National Park
- Shakadang Trail
- Dongdamen Hualien Night Market for a glimpse of local nightlife
- Asian melting pot — Pine Garden and Chinghsiu Temple to experience the Japanese Buddhist practices
- Short bike ride around Liyu Lake and a duck-boat cruise
- Destination
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Included
AccommodationsActivities as SpecifiedEnglish Speaking GuideGovernment taxesTransportation
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Not Included
Domestic AirfareInternational AirfareMeals as SpecifiedTips For Tour GuidesTravel InsuranceVisa Processing
From our gallery
TAIPEI ARRIVAL
- Upon arrival, your private guide will meet you at the airport and then escort you via private car to your hotel in Taipei. The rest of the day is free time on your own. Go explore!
TAIPEI
- After breakfast, you'll rise with the vibrant Taipei and start today's exploration. The first stop is the National Palace Museum, where you'll discover the treasure chest of Chinese culture. Later, you'll visit Longshan Temple to soak up a feast of architecture and folk culture.
- Your next stop will be the historical Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, followed by a visit to the symbol of Taipei – Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan. You can take in the fantastic view of the whole city from its observation deck on the 89th floor.
- Spend the remaining time of the day at leisure. Keep exploring!
TAIPEI / HUALIEN
- After breakfast, we'll depart for the train station and depart for Hualien, a region rich with natural resources, where we'll visit Taroko National Park, which features spectacular gorges, high mountains, and numerous waterfalls -- all exisiting in sync with the indigenous Taroko people. Here you can explore the Shakadang Trail and admire the magic of nature. In the evening, we'll partake in activities at the Dongdamen Hualien Night Market and get a glimpse of local nightlife.
- Return to your hotel for an overnight.
HUALIEN / TAIPEI
- After breakfast, you'll experience this Asian melting pot. Our first stop is the Pine Garden, originally a Japanese military office where we'll learn about the history of Japanese colonial period, and then step into Chinghsiu Temple to experience the Japanese Buddhist devotional practices.
- We'll then enjoy a short bike ride around Liyu Lake and a duck-boat cruise taking in the sites of picturesque Qixingtan while listening to the whisper of the Pacific.
- After this wonderful and full day we'll head to the train station for the train back to Taipei and transfer to your hotel. What a day!
DEPARTURE FROM TAIWAN
- After breakfast you'll be transferred from your hotel to the international airport for your onward flight.
Dates
Unlike most tour operators, you are not required to choose a fixed date or travel with a group. You can choose to begin your private tour on any date. These are EVERYDAY DEPARTURES.Tour Price
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| Low Season (Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Nov, Dec) |
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- Prices are per person based on double occupancy.
- Single supplement price for single room as part of a group of 2 or more.
- One person traveling alone will incur a higher price due to private tour.
- All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change.
- Please note: Prices for 5 & more travelers available upon request.