Scenic East

Tour Overview

Our Scenic East tour will bring you to the most fascinating and natural area in Taiwan; moreover, the tour will also be briefly showing the culture and history of the island when in Taipei.

In Taipei, we will visit the famous Daoist Bao'an Temple and well-known National Palace Museum.

Our first day of cycling will start after taking a train from Taipei to Taroko Gorge National Park. 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 coastal mountain ranges, which is the most famous rice paddies in Taiwan, and you will experience making Tofu in a traditional way there.

We will cycle along east coast with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, and end the journey in the second biggest city, Kaohsiung.

DETAILS

OVERVIEW

From

US$2,265

Duration

9 days / 8 nights

Difficulty

★★★★★

Total Distance

531 km / 330 mi

Avg. Daily Distance

88 km / 55 mi

Max. Altitude

635 m / 2,083 ft

Additional Service

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

Bike Rental

Road Bike US$210/E-bike US$270

UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage: Daoist Baoan Temple

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

Famous hot spring Chalet: An Tong Hot Spring

Cycling along 5 different types of geology

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

Endemic species: Formosan Macaque

HIGHLIGHTS

Itinerary

DAY

DESCRIPTION

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

01 Welcome to Taiwan

-

02 Taipei Sightseeing

-

03 Xincheng(Taroko Gorge) — Hualien

68km/42miles

691m/2267ft

04 An Tong Hot Spring

115km/71miles

1,327m/4,354ft

05 Fuli — Chihshang

58km/36miles

515m/1,690ft

06 Coastal Mountains — Donghe — Taitung

95km/59miles

927m/3,041ft

07 Shouka — Hengchun

120km/75miles

1,123m/3,684ft

08 Fangliao — Kaohsiung City

75km/47miles

422m/1,385ft

09 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

Xincheng(Taroko Gorge) — Hualien

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

68km/42miles

691m/2267ft

Our First day of riding will start with a classic climb with magnificent views of the mountains. After having breakfast, we will transfer to the Train Station for a 1 hour and 52 minute train ride to the east coast, where we officially begin the cycling part of the trip.

We ride up from the coast along Provincial Highway 8 and into Taroko National Park, which features high mountains and sheer gorges. It is also renowned for its marble gorges, with walls rising hundreds of meters high. No other places in the world match Taroko Gorge in its spectacular and dramatic marble cliffs, deep canyons, and wild waterfalls.

Our turnaround point is Tiansiang. We will start to descend back down Taroko Gorge to the Provincial region of the east coast, riding 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 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.

Baci — An Tong Hot Spring

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

115km/71miles

1,327m/4,354ft

Map&Route Profile

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

The East Coast Highway 11 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 Spring. This alkaline spring is clear, with a distinctive hydrogen sulphide odour. Make sure you try the hot spring and let nature ease away the aches and pains from the day-long ride.

Accommodation

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

Meals

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

Fuli — Chihshang

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

58km/36miles

515m/1,690ft

Today we 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 Haka 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 have the opportunity to see how farmers plant rice or harvest crops.

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 — 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 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 Cuisine

Fangliao — Kaohsiung City

DISTANCE

ELEVATION

75km/47miles

422m/1,385ft

Our last day will be cycling along the west edge of the southern peninsula (Provincial Highway 26). As we ride through the rural roads in Pintung County, we will pass numerous tropical plantations and will also have a chance to view the Taiwan Strait.

Next, we will visit the Fangliao Arts Village, an out-of-commission former train station located along the lane of terraced houses. These houses have now been 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 Kaoshiung 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: Taiwanese cuisine

Kaohsiung city — International Airport Departure

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

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.

Transfer to airport to take a flight for your journey home. Bon Voyage!