Overview
This classic cycling route takes us from Taroko Gorge down along the coast, and into the lush East Rift Valley, before we re-emerge on the rugged Pacific East Coast, enjoying a rest day at the laid-back surf village of Dulan. The final leg of the ride take us past Taitung, south along the increasingly dramatic coastal cliffs and then inland across the mountains to Kenting in the tropical south.
This is a comprehensive bike tour of Taiwan that showcases the best scenery and cycling of the country as you connect with the culture around you. At day's end the island offers yet more surprises: whether marveling at the sheer power of the Pacific, soaking away the stresses of life in one of the island’s numerous hot springs or just slurping down a hearty bowl of delicious noodles, Taiwan assaults your senses and leaves you hungry for more!
425 km distance. The terrain varies from gently undulating along parts of the East Coast to steep ascents and descents over the coastal mountain range. Traffic is generally light, although there will be stretches on busier roads.
Highlights
Take a train and drive into the dramatic Taroko Gorge to your accommodation before exploring by bike along the King of the Mountain route.
Enjoy the surprisingly delicious flavors of Taiwanese cuisine with organic meals, fresh seafood, and tasty beef noodles!
Cycle to the striking Saoba Monoliths, the Stonehenge of Taiwan.
Spend a rest day in the surfers’ town of Dulan for some fun in the sun before cycling with gorgeous ocean views.
Day to Day
This afternoon we’ll meet in the hotel lobby for a welcome drink and an introduction to the ride ahead. From here we’ll head out for a short walking tour through the narrow streets of one of the city’s oldest districts, passing time-old stores and ornate temples en route. We’ll end our walk with the chance to get to know one another over a delicious local dinner.
Today we’ll take a beautiful train ride along the dramatic east coast to 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. From the station, it’s a short but beautiful drive to our overnight lodgings, situated deep into the heart of the gorge. On arrival, we’ll check in and then have a bike fitting and take a short warm-up ride deeper into the gorge (part of the famous King of the Mountain route!).
We have an early start to make the exhilarating ride down through Taroko Gorge, stopping for a short but stunning hike along the aquamarine waters of Shakadang stream, a tributary of the main Liwu River. On exiting the gorge we’ll emerge onto the Pacific Coast, and avoiding the main highway we ride narrow lanes lined with banana palms and temples, taking beachside rest stops on our way south. After lunch in Hualien and a visit to a traditional Taoist temple, we’ll pedal away from the city and into the picturesque but little visited East Rift Valley, a land of lush green rice paddies and small indigenous communities. We spend the night in a unique and boutique bed and breakfast with architecture that takes full advantage of the idyllic views. Dinner this evening is at a wonderful organic restaurant with a menu determined by the best and freshest local produce.
This morning we continue our journey down through the Rift Valley with towering mountains on either side of the route. We’ll park our bikes for lunch at a community-run organic farm restaurant in an Amis village and have the chance to meet some of the friendly locals. In the afternoon we’ll cycle on south through prime tropical fruit growing country to our lovely resort set amidst beautiful countryside where a refreshing pool and soothing hot springs await.
This morning we start with a short detour to visit the Tropic of Cancer Monument, the Saoba Monoliths (Taiwan’s version of Stonehenge), and for a cuppa amidst the tea farms of Wuhe. Now officially in the tropics, we continue pedaling south through the ever-widening Rift Valley to our overnight stop which provides fabulous views. In the afternoon there’s the option of a hike into the foothills of the Central Mountain Range along the enchanting Walami Trail where sightings of monkeys, deer, Swinhoe’s Pheasant and eagles are commonplace, and Formosan bears are occasionally spotted!
This morning we ride away from the Rift Valley, along a magical little road (often with more monkeys than cars) which cuts its way southeast through the low jungly hills of the coastal mountain range. We’ll hit the coast at one of its most impressive stretches, often compared with Hawaii, and after some tasty local baozi (steamed buns) it’s only a short pedal south to the laid-back surf settlement of Dulan. As well as being a mecca for surfers, Dulan is also famous for a recent indigenous arts revival which encompasses music, painting and sculpture which can be seen in the warehouse galleries around the focal point of the village, the old Sugar Factory. This will be an interesting experience of modern life in Taiwan. In the evening we’ll meet for a traditional indigenous meal overlooking the ocean.
Today is free to relax on the beach, hike, surf, visit some of the local sights or just read a book and rest! As well as Taiwanese and indigenous cuisine, Dulan has a host of Western-oriented cafés and restaurants serving food from around the globe, including authentic French, Indian and Vietnamese cuisine. There is also sometimes live music at the Sugar Factory on Saturday nights. Take advantage of this day in Dulan to check out what’s going on in town or rest your legs for the next day’s ride.
Fresh from our day out of the saddle, today is a longer ride as we continue south along the East Coast, bypassing the city of Taitung and then climbing over a series of headlands which afford stunning ocean vistas. This is Taiwan’s premier Buddha Head Fruit (aka custard apple) region and we’ll have the chance to sample some along the way. We stop for lunch at a famous beef noodle restaurant and then a few kilometers before the end of the ride we bear inland to our simple but lovely overnight stop near the tiny fishing harbor at Shangwu. Dinner this evening is at a simple harbourside restaurant which turns out incredible sushi and seafood.
Fittingly, our last day’s ride is also the most challenging and starts with a long, gradual ascent into the hills of the Hengchun Peninsula. We’ll take a rest stop to stretch our legs at an ornate temple with great views and once we’ve reached the top we bear off the main east-west route onto a lovely little road through remote jungle dotted with the odd indigenous village before bringing us back down to the coast. The coastal stretch here is one of Taiwan’s finest, with the road running right alongside the ocean, passing windswept beaches and abandoned military bases before once again ascending into the jungle. The last leg of the ride takes us all the way to the island’s southernmost point, from where it’s just a short ride to Kenting, Taiwan's tropical playground. In the evening we’ll explore Kenting night market and head out for a final dinner to celebrate our incredible Taiwan ride.
This morning is free for you to further explore Kenting’s bounty of activities. A group transfer is available at noon back to Kaohsiung International Airport or High-Speed-Rail Station. The tour ends on arrival in Kaohsiung. For those who want to stay longer in Kenting, we can arrange additional accommodation at our lovely tour hotel, plus a range of activities.
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
With our experience in providing bike tours through Asia, we are able to pack a great cycling route, cultural immersion, delicious meals, comfortable resorts, and some incredibly photogenic views into our cycling holiday itineraries. This iconic Taiwan tour takes you through spectacular views in this cycling-friendly country, from the mountains through the valley to the coast for a comprehensive look at this beautiful island nation.
