Around the Island

Tour Overview

Circling the whole island in less than two weeks is surely an unforgettable experience, and it is definitely one of the must try tours of Panagoe.

First, we cycle from hilly Taipei outskirts to cross a north central mountain range to the fertile Lanyang Plain. Taking a train from Suao and reaching Taroko Gorge National Park start our second day of cycling.

Continue cycling along the West Pacific to one of the most famous hot springs called An Tong where you can enjoy it and refresh yourself. We will then go through the long narrow East Rift valley that lies between the Central mountain and coast mountain ranges, which is most famous rice paddies in Taiwan.

Following the sunshine along the coast with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and riding through the east-west mountains, you will see the unique “wind blows sand” phenomenon. We will stay reach the most southern part, and Kenting is well known for the beach resort with the clear and blue sky.

After bypassing the south and get to the west part of Taiwan, you will have a chance to see the Gaomei wetland, huge alluvial plain and grand Longshan Temple in Lukang.

DETAILS

OVERVIEW

★★★★★

From

US$3,075

Duration

Difficulty

Total Distance

1,002 km / 623 mi

Avg. Daily Distance

100 km / 62 mi

Max. Altitude

635 m / 2,083 ft

Additional Service

Airport pick-up /drop-off: US$40 each

12 days / 11 nights

Bike Rental

Road Bike US$350/E-bike US$450

HIGHLIGHTS

One of the most unique marble gorge in the world: Taroko National Park

Famous hot spring Chalet: An Tong Hot Spring

Making Tofu by yourself in a traditional way at a Hakka agriculture village

Endemic species: Formosan Macaque

Kenting National Park: Sandy beach and coral sea cliff

Unique wind blows sands in the most southern peninsula

Gaomei Wetland: One of the few natural reserves for migrating birds in Taiwan.

Famous for its diverse ecology and bird-watching.

Longest River: Jhuoshuei River

Lukang Longshan Temple: One of the oldest temple in Taiwan (Founded in 1786) and it is famous for its master architecture.

Itinerary

DAY

DESCRIPTION

DISTANCE

01 Welcome to Taiwan

-

02 Pinglin—Jiaoshi—Suao

105km/65miles

1,570m/5,150ft

03 Xincheng(Taroko Gorge) — Hualien

82km/50miles

700m/2297ft

04 An Tong Hot Spring

05 Fuli — Chihshang

06 Coastal Mountains — Donghe — Taitung

07 Shouka — Kenting

152km/94miles

1,543m/5,062ft

08 Fangliao — Kaohsiung City

72km/45miles

545m/1,788ft

09 Tainan — Taibao

110km/68miles

229m/751ft

10 Lukang — Taichung

115km/71miles

264m/866ft

Taichung Gaomei — Hsinchu — Taipei

11 98km/60miles

583m/1,913ft

12 Departure

-

115km/71miles

1,327m/4,354ft

58km/36miles

515m/1,690ft

95km/59miles

927m/3,041ft

Welcome to Taiwan

Our friendly guide will meet you at Taoyuan International Airport and transfer you to check-in the hotel. (Airport pick-up optional)

Accommodation

Just Palace Hotel (https://www.justpalacehotel.com.tw/en/)

Meals

Breakfast: On your own I Lunch: On your own I Dinner: On your own

Pinglin—Jiaoshi—Suao

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

105km/65miles

1,570m/5,150ft

First of all, the tour will start from Taipei and pass Pinglin, where the topography is mostly hills. Afterwards, the fertile Lanyang Plain, where Yilan County is located, is straight in front. Cycling along the coastline, you will successively go through Jiaoshi and Suao, with the Pacific Ocean right on your left-hand side.

Lanyang Plain offers spectacular views of flat farmland, mountainous terrains, wetland and the Pacific Ocean at the same time. As we cycle through, you will be able to experience all these sceneries in a single day.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Lakeshore Hotel (http://www.lakeshore.com.tw/en/suao)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Local cuisine I Dinner: Taiwanese cuisine

Taipei Sightseeing with Metro and YouBike

Today is a day of touring in Taipei. We are going to go around Taipei with the clean, fast and highly convenient Metro.

Attractions include:

The Presidential Office Building

Designed in 1910 by Japanese architects during their colonial period in Taiwan through the first half of the 20th century its eclectic style blends traditional European architectural elements, including Renaissance, Baroque and neo-Classical.

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

This impressive building is based upon monumental Chinese architectural design.

Master Daoist Temple--Baoan Temple

Awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage in 2003, the grand and stately Baoan Temple is famous for its elaborate decoration and Daoist architecture.

National Palace Museum

The most important repository of Chinese arts in the world.

Xincheng(Taroko Gorge)—Hualien

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

82km/50miles

700m/2297ft

Today we take a train to pass through the magnificent views of the Suhua coastline. The coastline faces the Pacific Ocean and is bounded on the west by the Central mountain range.

We will then continue to ride up from the coast along Provincial Highway 8 and into Taroko National Park, which features high mountains and sheer gorges. Taroko National Park is renowned for its marble gorge, with walls rising hundreds of meters high. No other place in the world can match Taroko Gorge in its spectacular and dramatic marble cliffs, deep canyons, and wild waterfalls. We will start to descend back down to the Provincial region of the east coast, and then to Hualien city with some brief stretches to tree shaded bicycle paths.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Classic city Resort (www.classichotel.com.tw)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Traditional cuisine I Dinner: Taiwanese cuisine

An Tong Hot Spring

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

115km/71miles

1,327m/4,354ft

The day begins with cycling all along East Coast Highway 11.

The east coast road stretches south along a long, narrow band situated between the steep Pacific ridge and the ocean. The geology is unique with the broken ridges, steep cliffs, and meandering coastline. As we enjoy the sea breezes, we will continue to cycle south and pause at the Baci Overlook Platform, the best place to take in the famous and breathtaking view of the Pacific Bay.

We then resume riding along the Siouguluan River to have lunch at a small local village, famous for both rice terrace and fishing. After lunch, we continue along the Jade road up through a 2660m/1.55 mile tunnel (450m/1445 feet high) over the Coastal Mountain range, which has a distinctive bowed shape, making it perhaps the most instantly recognisable range in all of Taiwan.

A steep climb brings us to An Tong Hot Springs. This alkaline spring is clear, with a distinctive hydrogen sulphide odour as the water emerges at 66 degrees Celsius. Make sure you try the hot spring and let nature ease away the aches and pains from the day long ride.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Water Moon Hot spring & Resort(www.wmhotspring.com.tw)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Local Meal I Dinner: Traditional Taiwanese Cuisine

Fuli — Chihshang

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

58km/36miles

515m/1,690ft

Today we will cycle along the East Rift Valley that lies between the Central Mountain Range and the Coastal Mountain Range. This long and narrow valley is home to some beautiful countryside such as tea farms, waterfalls, and green rice fields.

We will visit a Hakka village, a traditional farm, where people still make tofu in the traditional way. They use natural ingredients found in the mountains such as the water from the volcano. This place is run by pleasant people from whom you can learn about the tofu production. You’ll also have the opportunity to make it yourself.

Afterwards, we will pedal along a countryside road and later rest at Da-Po Pond, which is the largest lake in Taitung Province, with fine views of the East Rift Valley. The abundance of water chestnuts, water bamboo, lotus, reeds and water willows at the lake attracts more than ten different types of birds to visit all year round.

Our ride continues towards the west on Provincial Highway 20, with a challenging climb the Southern Cross-Island Highway. (Optional)

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Fuji B&B (www.fuji111.com.tw/)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Famous traditional Hakka meal I Dinner: Local Cuisine

Coastal Mountains — Donghe — Taitung

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

95km/59miles

927m/3,041ft

We will follow country bike paths through bountiful rice fields of Golden Rape today (if in season). We continue to travel through the East Rift Valley to a typical country village where we may have the opportunity to see how farmers plant rice or harvest crops. The landscapes shaded by rice terraces offer unique local views.

We resume our ride through highway 23, which starts from the East Rift Valley and cuts through the Coastal Mountain Range. It is a particularly peaceful rural road, which is home to the Formosan Macaques.

Natural wonders and wild sceneries abound here, giving proof to the old saying that this scenic view makes for the most rewarding alpine passes in Taiwan – surely worthy of the challenging ride.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Sheraton Taitung Hotel (www.sheraton-taitung.com)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Traditional Taiwanese meal I Dinner: Local Cuisine

Shouka— Kenting

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

152km/94miles

1,543m/5,062ft

Today we will cycle along Southern Highway 9, and visit Jinlun St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which was inspired by the aboriginal Paiwan culture and by Catholic missionaries. Inside, you will see cultural artefacts and pictures that result from this unique blending of the aboriginal culture and western religion. After that, we will follow the sunshine along the coast with views of the Pacific Ocean and ride through the scenic east-west mountains crossroad, reaching the highest point, Shouka.

We will then head south along the eastern side of Hengchun Peninsula to a place called Fongchueisha, which means “the wind blows sand.” When it rains, the sand is washed down onto the seashore. When the wind blows, which it does quite often, the sand is propelled back inland and upward, forming sand dunes.

Afterwards, we will ride along Road 26, via Banana Bay, to Eluanbi, the very southernmost point of Taiwan. This grass-covered promontory is fringed by slumping cliffs, where situated a picturesque heritage-site lighthouse.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Kenting Howard Hotel

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Local seafood restaurant I Dinner: Hotel restaurant Buffet

Fangliao — Kaohsiung

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

72km/45miles

545m/1,788ft

Today we cycle along the west edge of the southern Peninsula to view Taiwan Straits. We will pass numerous plantations growing pineapples, bananas, mangos, papayas.

Next, we will visit the Fangliao Arts Village, an out-of- commission former train station located along the lane of terraced houses. Now it turned into an arts village by a few art enthusiasts and have gradually become decorated and attractive.

We will, later on, take an hour train from Fangliao to Kaohsiung City, where we are going to explore the local Night market and the fascinating Formosa Metro Station.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Kaohsiung Howard (Kaohsiung.howard-hotels.com.tw)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Harbour view restaurant I Dinner: Hotel Restaurant

Tainan — Taibao

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

110km/68miles

229m/751ft

Today we will continue further to Tainan. The city plays an important role in Taiwan’s history and many cultural and historical sites still remain today.

Tainan was the capital of Taiwan between the era of Dutch colony and Qing dynasty. Owns many old monuments, temples, historic buildings and various local characteristics. We will visit Anping Tree House, where aerial roots and branches of banyan trees wrap around the building, is a worthwhile place to see.

Later on, we will cycle along western Taiwan’s coastal lowlands, which lies within the Southwest Coast National Scenic Area and the coastal forest. This area is a good place to observe marine birds and other animals.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Evergreen Palace Hotel (Chiayi)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Taiwanese Cuisine I Dinner: Local Restaurant

Lukang—Taichung

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

115km/71miles

264m/866ft

Today, we will head north along Road 17 where tilts slightly westwards between the coastal regions, a narrow alluvial plain comprises a wide variety of landscape, a huge area of sandbars, lagoons, mangrove swamp. We will pass through the longest river in Taiwan and then arrive at one of Taiwan’s oldest towns, Lukang.

Lukang was originally aboriginal’s village and later on developed to be one of the most important port in Qing dynasty. It is well known for its diverse architecture and small narrow streets. Longshan temple, which dates to 1786, is the most important among the town's numerous classical-style old temples. It is one of Taiwan's best-preserved and most exquisite imperial-era structures.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Taichung Harbor Hotel ( https://www.tchhotel.com/en/index.php)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Local Meal I Dinner: Local Cuisine

Taichung Gaomei—Hsinchu—Taipei

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

98km/60miles

583m/1,913ft

Today, you will have a chance to make a trip further north to the well-known Gaomei Wetlands.

Gaomei Wetland, comes in 1,500 acres, have special soils mixed with mud and sand. Ecology here breeds diversified organisms of both plants and animals and is home to more than 120 different kind of birds. It is one of the few places preserved for migrating birds in Taiwan. Every year around fall and winter, large flocks of migrating birds would come here for either short or long stay over the winter, making the wetland a perfect spot for bird-watching.

Before arriving Taipei, we are going to cross three counties--Taichung, Miaoli and Hsinchu. Miaoli County has a lot of fascinating landscapes, simple fishing villages and rich Hakka culture. Riding along one of the most beautiful coastlines in Taiwan, you will also see a lot of wind farms, which are important power supply to locals. We will end the cycling in Hsinchu, the "Silicon Valley of Taiwan". It is home to many well-known technology companies, including TSMC, the world's largest contract semiconductor manufacturer.

We will, later on, take the express train to reach Taipei.