Challenge and Adventure

Tour Overview

Our 13 days trip is no doubt the best choice for people who love to take up challenges and passionate for adventures.The 3275 meters highest mountain trek in East Asia is definitely making this tour different and worth challenging.

First, we will take a train from Taipei to Luodong for the classic climb through mighty Northern Cross highway, viewing the scenic cypress forests in the mountains.

Our second day of riding is to head toward the north-south central mountain range road, then challenge the central mountain ranges to reach the highest mountain road in East Asia, which is also known as Taiwan’s most challenging trek.

Continue cycle 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 the most famous rice paddies in Taiwan, and you will experience making Tofu in a traditional way there.

We will reach the famous beach resort Kenting National Park after a long ride along the east coast, with the spectacular Pacific Ocean view on your left-hand side. The tour will end in Kaohsiung and you can take the high speed rail to the airport (optional).

DETAILS

OVERVIEW

★★★★★

From

US$3,395

Duration

Difficulty

Total Distance

807 km / 501 mi

Avg. Daily Distance

80 km / 50 mi

Max. Altitude

3,275 m / 10,745 ft

Additional Service

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

13 days / 12 nights

Bike Rental

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

UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage: Daoist Baoan Temple

Wuling: East Asia's highest road (3,275m/10,745 feet).

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

HIGHLIGHTS

Itinerary

DAY

DESCRIPTION

DISTANCE

01 Welcome to Taiwan

-

02 Taipei Sightseeing

-

03 Cilan

48km/30miles

763m/2,503ft

04 Lishan

71km/44miles

2,412m/7,913ft

05 Wuling—Tiansiang—Xincheng(Hualien)

106km/66miles

1,047m/3,435ft

06 Baci — An Tong Hot Spring

135km/83miles

1,325m/4,347ft

07 Fuli — Chihshang

58km/36miles

515m/1,690ft

08 Coastal Mountains — Donghe — Taitung

95km/59miles

927m/3,041ft

09 Shouka — Hengchun

120km/75miles

1,123m/3,684ft

10 Eluanbi — Kenting

68km/42miles

690m/2,264ft

11 Kenting

34km/21miles

299m/980ft

12 Fangliao—Kaohsiung City

72km/45miles

545m/1,788ft

13 Departure

-

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

Taipei Sightseeing by 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: Bao-an Temple

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

National Palace Museum

The most important repository of Chinese arts in the world.

Accommodation

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

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: On your own I Dinner: Local Cuisine

Cilan

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

48km/30miles

763m/2,503ft

After breakfast, we will take an hour train ride from Nangang Train Station to the central mountain range, where we begin the main bike trip.

Our First day of riding will be a classic climb in the mountains, which brings the magnificent views. As we cycle along the Lishan branch line of the Northern Cross-Island Highway, we will pass the mighty Mt. Cilan, which is a large forest area with stunning topography and ecology.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Cilan Resort（http://makauy.lealeahotel.com/about/）

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Traditional 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

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.

Lishan

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

71km/44miles

2,412m/7,913ft

Map&Route Profile

Today we start with heading toward the north-south central mountain range road. Peculiar vegetation can be found along the range; also we can perceive this range representing the island’s bulk with numerous lines of peaks running side by side. After a series of challenging climbs, we will reach the highest point of this branch, Arthur's pass (2,000m).

During Spring, there are cherry blossoms along the road from Cilan to Lishan. In autumn, tree leaves will turn into orange colour, giving the mountain a unique view.

Accommodation

Lishan guest house (http://www.lishanguesthouse.com.tw/enhotel/Index.aspx)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Local light lunch I Dinner: Local dish

Wuling—Tiansiang—Xincheng(Hualien)

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

106km/66miles

1,047m/3,435ft

Today we will challenge the magnificent mountain ridge. After climbing through the rugged, saw-tooth serpentine slice of sky-piercing rocky mountain, we will reach Wuling, where features the East Asia’s highest road and tremendous views. It is known as Taiwan’s most challenging trek (King Of Mountain).

We keep riding along Provincial Highway 8 and into Taroko National Park which features sheer gorges. It is unique for its marble gorge with walls rising hundreds of meters high. No other places in the world have such spectacular and dramatic marble cliffs, deep canyons and wild waterfalls as Taroko Gorge. We descend Taroko Gorge to Xincheng from Tiansiang.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Liiko Hotel (http://www.liikohotels.com.tw/)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Light Meal I Dinner: Taiwanese Cuisine

Baci — An Tong Hot Spring

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

135km/83miles

1,325m/4,347ft

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

Kaohsiung — International Airport Departure

(Optional) We will transfer to Zuoying to take HSR (High-Speed Rail) train (Ticket excluded) to Taoyuan to connect shuttle bus to the international airport when we reach the end of our Taiwan cycling adventure.

At this point, we hope that as we bid you farewell, you have come to think of the cycling tour in Taiwan as an unforgettable and pleasant experience.

Meals

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

Shouka — Hengchun

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

120km/75miles

1,123m/3,684ft

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 lunch, we will follow the direction of the sunshine along the coast with views of the Pacific Ocean and ride through the scenic east-west mountains cross road.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Grand Bay Resort (http://www.grandbay-resort.com.tw/)

Meals

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

Eluanbi — Kenting

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

68km/42miles

690m/2,264ft

Today we will head along the eastern side of Hengchun Peninsula to a place called Fongchueisha, which means “the wind blows sand.” When it rains, 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. There is no scheduled itinerary in the afternoon. This allows you to spend the afternoon leisurely exploring or getting around Eluanbi.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Kenting Howard Hotel

Meals

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

Kenting

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

34km/21miles

299m/980ft

The Kenting area features two prominent peninsulas on its south side. Today, we will ride through both of the peninsulas and visit the Southernmost Point. Gaze southward from the Point, you will be looking at the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines.

Kenting is well known for the beach resort with clear and azure sea water. You will have the entire afternoon doing water activities such as surfing and swimming, sunbathing or just strolling along the beach.

Map&Route Profile

Accommodation

Kenting Howard Hotel

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Buffet I Lunch: Free on your own I Dinner: Free on your own

Fangliao—Kaohsiung City

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 and a half train from Fangliao to Kaohsiung City, where we are going to explore the local Night market and the fascinating Formosa Metro Station.