Home > Virgin Cycle Taiwan
Virgin Cycle Taiwan
Price from
1750 USD
Duration
7 Days | 6 Nights
Level
3
Average Ride
Overview
When you mention Taiwan, many people’s first thoughts are “Made in Taiwan” or possibly an uneasy relationship with its big brotherly neighbour, China, but this tiny jewel in the Pacific has a lot, lot more to offer. While most of Taiwan’s population lives on the bustling West Coast, the Pacific East Coast is a rugged land of lush jungly mountains running down to sweeping palm-fringed beaches, inhabited by some of the friendliest and most helpful people on the planet. Remote areas of incredible natural beauty are connected by good quality, little-used roads, seemingly built exclusively for the use of two-wheeled adventurers seeking the wilder side of Ilha Formosa (“Beautiful Island”).
Our route takes us from the world’s deepest marble gorge through the vast East Rift Valley, an enchanted wonderland of rice paddies, tropical fruit orchards, small indigenous villages, and soothing hot springs, to emerge on the dramatic East Coast. We move south down the coast, mountains to the right, Pacific to the left, until the last day when we make our way across the Southern Central Mountains and then down to Kenting, Taiwan’s tropical playground, and now famous as the shooting location for the final beach scenes in the Life of Pi.
Highlights
Hike through the imposing Taroko Gorge before settling your accommodation nestled within it.
Soak in hot springs to rejuvenate tired legs.
Cross the coastal mountain range on a picturesque ride to the Pacific coast.
Cycle the jungle-covered hills of the Hengchun Peninsula on a spectacular ride.
Day to Day
Today you’ll arrive at different times and make your way from the airport to our city hotel. We’ll meet in the evening for an introduction to the tour and a quick welcome drink.
This morning we’ll transfer along the dramatic Pacific coast to Taroko Gorge, stopping at magnificent Qingshui Cliffs and for a short but stunning hike en route to our hotel, deep in the gorge. Taroko Gorge is the world’s deepest marble gorge, forging its way through the immense Central Mountain Range and is breathtaking, whether bathed in sunlight or shrouded in mist. On arrival we’ll check in to our hotel and then get acquainted with our bikes and then have a detailed briefing to the adventure ahead.
We have an early start to make the exhilarating ride down through Taroko Gorge and to the Pacific. Avoiding the main highway, we ride narrow lanes lined with banana palms and temples, taking beachside rest stops on our way south along the coast. South of Hualien we bear inland into the vast East Rift Valley, a land of lush green rice paddies and small aboriginal communities. At day’s end there’s the chance to soak in the mineral–laden hot spring pools at our resort hotel in Ruisui.
This morning we cross the Coastal Mountain Range on a beautiful little road which follows the course of Taiwan’s best whitewater rafting river, possibly spotting monkeys, snakes and a variety of birdlife along the way. We emerge on one of the most dramatic stretches of the Pacific East Coast and ride south, passing Tot and Simon’s house en route to our lovely overnight stop, complete with pool overlooking the ocean.
Today’s route hugs the coastline, passing the bustling fishing harbour of Fugang and south past Taitung from where it’s a hilly hop on a busier stretch of road before we cut inland into the backwoods where our simple but lovely overnight stop awaits. We’ll head back to town for a delicious seafood dinner in the tiny fishing harbor at Shangwu
Our last day’s ride is fittingly spectacular and challenging with two notable ascents, and of course correspondingly, some lovely downhills. After the first climb we ride south through the low, jungly hills of the Hengchun Peninsula on small, little used roads passing remote aboriginal communities. We emerge onto the coast and ride past abandoned military bunkers before commencing the day’s second climb which leads us all the way to the island’s southernmost point and eventually Kenting, Taiwan’s tropical playground. On arrival we’ll settle in to our atmospheric oceanside lodgings and will head out for a final dinner to celebrate our epic ride through La Ihla Formosa.
We’ll have a free morning to relax and enjoy the beach before heading to Kaohsiung, stopping en route to visit one of the island’s largest Buddhist monasteries. Kaohsiung International Airport has flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai, while the high-speed rail terminal offers fast train back to Taipei and Taoyuan International Airport. If you want to spend some extra time enjoying Kenting’s beautiful beaches, we will be offering a Kenting extension (more to follow).
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
This tour has been specially crafted to show you the very best of Taiwan, from the impressive Taroko Gorge to the tropical south and stunning Pacific coast. Enjoy scenic rides, comfortable accommodations and authentically Taiwanese experiences on this active adventure.
