Food & Hiking Tour of Taiwan

(11 Days – Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Taipei, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Beitou

The ultimate private Taiwan tour, this itinerary features the many unforgettable cultural, natural and culinary highlights across this beautiful island country.

Begin in Taipei, the fascinating capital of Taiwan. During flexible private touring with your own guide and driver, dive into the city's many culinary traditions. Enjoy a private cooking lesson to learn to prepare favorite Taiwanese and Chinese dishes. Explore the best food stalls at renowned Shilin night market, a vast indoor-outdoor emporium of tiny shops offering Taiwanese delicacies such as stinky tofu, oyster omelets and fried chicken cutlets. Also visit Raohe or other night markets to try distinctive dishes according to your interests. Walk through the historic port district and along backstreets where shops inside evocative, century-old buildings offer Taiwanese specialties such as dried mushrooms, mullet roe and ginseng. At an atmospheric local tea house, sample Taiwan's acclaimed tea, such as delicate mountain-grown oolong. Try ice cream flavored with beer, pork or tropical fruit. Learn about traditional Taiwanese herbs in a local market. Visit beautiful Longshan Temple and other Buddhist and Taoist temples that bustle with worshippers at all hours. Stop by the landmark Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial to learn about one of the founding fathers of modern Taiwan. Venture up Taipei 101—among the tallest buildings in the world—for panoramic views over the city and mountains. Enjoy time to browse for Taiwanese crafts, such as high-quality ceramics and glassware, or explore the shops at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Also visit the renowned National Palace Museum, the repository of the imperial Chinese art collection, to see masterpieces of painting, porcelain, jade carving, calligraphy and other arts.

Next, enjoy the scenic train ride to Hualien, followed by a private transfer into spectacular Taroko Gorge, a narrow canyon carved into marble mountains. Visit highlights such as Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto and the Shakadang River. If desired, enjoy hiking in the hills to see beautiful waterfalls and Buddhist temples. You will also have time to relax at the spa and other facilities at your Taroko Gorge resort.

Continue with your private guide and driver on the Central Cross-Island Highway through forested mountains and over breathtaking Wuling Pass (10,745 ft), the highest road pass in Taiwan, to Sun Moon Lake. Stay at one of the best resorts in Taiwan with views of the beautiful lake and surrounding mountains. During flexible private touring in the region, enjoy options such as a private cruise on Sun Moon Lake, visits to local temples, a stop at a working tea plantation, a visit to a handmade paper factory and a tour of fascinating Chung Tai Chan Monastery, one of the most important religious sites in Taiwan. Other options include riding the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway over the mountains and visiting the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.

Continue south to Tainan, one of Taiwan's oldest cities and home to some of the finest regional dishes. Dine on local culinary favorites such as danzai noodles, pineapple cake, black sugar cakes, coffin bread and steamed rice dumplings in banana leaves. Also see cultural highlights such as remnants of the Dutch colonial period, the Confucius Temple and other beautiful temples, and small workshops that produce crafts such as embroidery and hand-painted lanterns.

Return to Taipei, and stay in the hot springs area of Beitou. Enjoy scenic touring or hiking in Yangmingshan National Park, an expanse of lush green volcanic mountains on the edge of the city. Alternatively, stay in Taipei and enjoy flexible touring or shopping according to your interests. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange reservations at the finest restaurants in Taipei and tickets to performances of puppet theater, Chinese opera and Cloud Gate Dance Theater.

Taiwan combines well with other destinations in Asia, such as Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Taipei Fast-track airport assistance. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 2 Taipei Full-day flexible private tour. Evening night market visit Day 3 Taipei Half-day flexible private culinary tour Day 4 Taipei – Taroko Gorge Private transfer to train station. Morning train to Hualien with guide, then private transfer to hotel for 2 nights, with touring and/or hiking en route Day 5 Taroko Gorge Full-day private hiking excursion Day 6 Taroko Gorge – Sun Moon Lake Morning private hiking, if desired. Private transfer over mountains to resort for 2 nights with flexible touring en route Day 7 Sun Moon Lake Full-day flexible private tour, including private lake cruise and visits to local temples and other highlights Day 8 Sun Moon Lake – Tainan Private transfer to hotel for 1 night. Afternoon flexible private tour Day 9 Tainan – Taipei (Beitou) Morning flexible private touring in Tainan or Anping. Private transfer to train station for business-class HSR train to Taipei. Private transfer to Taipei hotel or Beitou resort for 2 nights. Afternoon flexible private tour Day 10 Taipei (Beitou) & Yangmingshan National Park Half-day private scenic touring or hiking Day 11 Depart Taipei Private airport transfer. Fast-track departure assistance

Hotels

Taipei: Mandarin Oriental, Taipei Taroko Gorge: Silks Place Taroko Sun Moon Lake: The Lalu Tainan: Silks Place Tainan Taipei (Beitou): Villa 32 or The Gaia Hotel

Cost

$10,825 Per person (double occupancy)