A Taste of Taiwan - Adventure tour in Taiwan

Itinerary
Day 1 | Taipei
On Day 1 we will meet at noon before heading out for some lunch and an introduction to the tour. After lunch we’ll visit the astounding National Palace Museum, home to the world’s greatest collection of Chinese arts. In the evening we’ll get the chance to try the culinary curiosities to be found at a traditional nightmarket.
Day 2 | Taroko
Today we head off early for the stunning drive to Taroko National Park. En-route we’ll stop for a beach picnic looking out to the vast Cingshui Cliffs. In the afternoon we’ll reach breathtaking Taroko Gorge which forges its way through the Central Mountain Range. Whether shrouded in mist or glowing in sunlight, this sheer marble gorge is a captivating sight and we’ll take a short hike through a stunning tributary gorge.
Day 3 | Sun Moon Lake
Today we continue west across the mountains on a beautiful journey that will take us to over 3000 meters (10,000 feet) before descending to the turquoise waters of Sun Moon Lake. Sun Moon Lake’s is surrounded by mountains, temples and pagodas and it is a great place to enjoy a relaxing boat trip.
Days 4-5 | Alishan
Alishan is a charming mountain village which is famed for its stunning sunrises, beautiful hiking trails, and its spring cherry blossom. On Day 5, we rise early to seek the “sea of clouds” and catch a glimpse of Taiwan's highest mountain, Yushan (Jade Mountain). After breakfast we’ll take a hike through the pristine forests, stopping for a picnic lunch beneath an ancient cypress tree. The rest of the day is free to relax and soak up the fresh mountain air. Please note that due to the devastation caused by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, the famed Alishan Forest Train remains closed until further notice and until it re-opens we will be transferring from Sun Moon Lake by road.
Day 6 | Tainan
Today we cross the Tropic of Cancer on our drive to Tainan, the island's oldest city which showcases Taiwan’s varied past through its lively temples, colonial remnants and traditional cuisine. Tainan is located at the heart of the south’s rice, banana, coconut and pineapple belt and its balmy heat lends the city a relaxed atmosphere. In the afternoon we take a walking tour of the old city of Tainan, wandering narrow lanes to brightly colored temples. In the evening we head out for a final dinner of local delicacies to celebrate the end of our Taiwan trip.
Day 7 | Tour Ends
The tour ends after breakfast. From Tainan there are regular High-Speed-Rail (HSR) connections to Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei. Kaohsiung International Airport is also within an hour of Tainan and from here there are international flights to Hong Kong and many other Asian destinations.

NB. The itinerary is subject to change without notice in the case of extreme conditions (see Climate).
Facts and Information
Style
adventure travel tour
Grasshopper Leader
Your tour leader on this trip will be Simon Foster. Simon has been living in Taiwan for seven years when not on regular guidebook writing work which takes him away on research trips throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
meet Simon
Inclusions
private transport, tour leader, Sun Moon Lake boat cruise, some meals, all entry fees as per itinerary
Group Size
minimum 4, maximum 12
Accommodation
6 nights comfortable hotels
Meals Included
6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Difficulty
easy to moderate
Feedback and Reviews
"I am writing to tell you that Simon Foster made our stay in Taiwan a memorable one and a big thank you to Grasshopper. Simon and his wife Tot Foster made sure we had a great time seeing everything possible in our time limit. Simon made us feel really welcome and altered the tour to suit what we wanted to do. We stayed in a monastery, visited Sun Moon Lake, went up the world's tallest tower Taipei 101, visited gorges, fabulous beaches, old towns, night markets and lots more. Taiwan is a beautiful stunning country that everyone should visit if they are travelling to Asia. Thank you very much"
  - Neil, October 2009