Destinations: Taipei, Jiufen, Shifen, Taichung, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Kenting
Destinations: Luodong, Yangmingshan National Park
Delve into a lush land of mountain lakes and tropical beaches on this small-group tour of spectacular Taiwan. Let Taiwan’s finest tea spirit you away in charming Jiufen, cycle the idyllic shores of alpine Sun Moon Lake and uncover the eerie ruins of the Anping Tree House. Wind your way to Taiwan’s southernmost point to explore the tropical wonders and white-sand beaches of Kenting National Park. Then discover rich history and lively traditions as you visit the Dragon & Tiger Pagodas on Lotus Lake. You’ll enjoy comfortable travel in your private air-conditioned vehicle throughout, with an expert English-speaking tour guide to lead your exploration.
Destinations: Taipei, Jiufen, Shifen, Taichung, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Kenting
Destinations: Luodong, Yangmingshan National Park
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then set out for Taiwan’s northern coast. Stop at sea-swept Yehliu Geopark and explore the unique rock formations such as the Queen’s Head, known for its uncanny resemblance to the bust of Queen Nefertiti. Look beneath your feet for the fossils of sea urchins from millions of years in the past.
Continue to the wide cascade of the Golden Waterfall, coloured by the copper and sulfur through which the water runs. Nearby, view the derelict remains of an old copper refinery. Set into the mountainside, the thirteen levels of this disused industrial plant have been reclaimed by the verdant land.
Take a moment to absorb the eerie silence, then travel onward to idyllic Jiufen. An historic gold-mining village, its winding Old Street retains a lively small town charm as it weaves towards the magnificent Amei Tea House. Famed for a close resemblance to the bathhouse in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, this teahouse serves blends of Taiwan’s best tea leaves, cups of which soothe the soul as you take in the spectacular view out to sea.
Travel to graceful Shifen Waterfall, then head for the railway strip that runs through the town. You’ll try your hand with a calligrapher’s brush as you write your wish on an enormous paper lantern and set it lit, drifting into the sky. Return to Taipei for the rest of the day at your leisure. Choose to visit majestic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, built in honour of China’s former President, or stroll the tranquil Daan Forest Park.
Gather your energy over breakfast, then head off to serene Sun Moon Lake. On your way into the foothills of the Central Mountain Range, stop at a local tea farm to learn about Taiwan’s centuries-old tea tradition and taste the delicate flavour of locally grown black tea.
Afterwards, reach peaceful Sun Moon Lake, named for the shape it once resembled. Home of the Taiwan’s Thao peoples, this alpine lake serves as your picturesque backdrop as you cycle around its clear waters. Visit Xiangshan Visitor Center, shaped like two hugging arms and designed to reflect the harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world.
Step into the glorious Wen Wu Temple and gaze upon its bronze statue of Confucius, then turn to survey the glistening lake from your vantage point. Drive to Taichung City and check in at your hotel for an afternoon at your leisure.
Wake to explore the arts and culture hub that is Taichung. See Taiwan in colourful splendour, from the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts to the former military housing estate that residents transformed into a Rainbow Village of vibrant street art.
Grab a refreshing bubble tea – Taichung is the very place where this wildly popular drink originated – then head south to Taiwan’s oldest city and first capital, Tainan. Drive to the historic Anping District and visit the 17th-century Dutch-built Anping Fort to uncover its military and political history through the ages. Discover the Anping Tree House, a former warehouse owned by British merchant company Tait & Co that long since succumbed to the thick roots of the banyan tree.
Tuck into a sumptuous lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to the Dutch outpost of Chihkan Tower and Tainan Confucius Temple, known as the ‘First Academy of Taiwan’.
Bid farewell to Tainan and drive to Kaohsiung on the country’s southern coast, where you’ll check in at your hotel. Enjoy a leisurely evening visiting one of the bustling night markets while you enjoy the cityscape after dark.
Rise for a hearty breakfast before boarding your transport to the southern beaches of Kenting. Drive through Taiwan’s farm country, where tropical fruits such as banana, mango, cacao and pineapple are cultivated, then stop in stunning and varied Kenting National Park to explore the emerald coastal meadows of Longpan Park.
Find your way to the end of the road and visit Eluanbi Lighthouse at the southernmost tip of Taiwan, where you can gaze out over the Luzon Strait.
Check in at your sweeping resort stay and spend the evening as you please, walking along the warm sand beach or make the most of luxurious amenities with a drink by the pool.
In the morning, drive back to Kaohsiung and pay a visit to the colourful Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, built over Lotus Lake and decorated by bizarrely mesmerising hellscapes intended as cautionary tales.
Hop across to the Taoist Spring and Autumn Pavilions, then carry on to the Fo Guang Shan Monastery and Buddha Museum where you can stand in the shadow of its 108-metre-high Buddha statue. Settle in for a 4D cinematic animation of Buddha’s life, then try your hand at the peaceful practice of sutra writing using an elegant calligraphy brush.
Take the bullet train back to Taipei and check in at your hotel before a farewell feast and one last chance to experience the city’s thriving streets by night.
After breakfast, spend any remaining time exploring Taipei before you transfer to the airport and bid farewell to your Taiwan experience.
Booking Summary: After you book, please follow the instructions in your booking summary email and ensure you complete your traveller information details in full.
Update 19 December 2024: Amendments & Cancellations section updated, please see below.
Please note, our 7-Day Change of Mind ‘No Questions Asked’ Refund Guarantee and Date Change policy does not apply to Tours
Date Changes
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Fine Print and package inclusions are accurate at the time of purchase and not subject to change, unless updates or corrections are specifically noted in the latest Fine Print with a timestamp. Please check the Fine Print prior to departure for any updates.
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Accommodation for the duration of your tour is included in the Tour package.
Please note:
Pre- & Post-Tour Accommodation Pre- and post-tour accommodation can be booked to extend your stay before or after your tour by contacting our Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com.
Luxury Escapes uses a range of accommodation partners. For pre- and post-tour accommodation options where we can offer the same hotel as the start and end of your tour, your pre- and post-tour accommodation will be booked independent of your tour. If the hotel for your tour changes, this will be independent of your pre- or post-tour accommodation booking. In this instance, change fees may apply on your pre- or post-tour accommodation, if you choose to change; change fees can be found in your ‘My Escapes.’
For pre- and post-tour accommodation bookings, you may be required to check out of your room and check in again on the first or last day of your tour. You will need to confirm these details directly with hotel.
Please contact the Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com for further information.
Transfers
Travel Insurance
Passports & Visas
Traveller Details
Tour Pace
Travel Styles
Fully Guided Tour: You’ll have a tour director and driver with you throughout the entire trip, from start to finish.
Partially Guided Tour: You’ll have a tour driver and local guides at specific locations or portions of the trip, but not the entire time. There might be different local guides for different regions.
Self-Guided Tour: You will not have a guide for your trip. You will be provided detailed trip notes with elements, such as accommodation and transport, pre-booked for you.
Health and Fitness Acknowledgement:
Your tour begins at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and ends at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) on Day 7. The extended tour ends at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) on Day 10.
Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. If your chosen tour departure date is guaranteed at the time of booking, you may be able to purchase flights immediately. If your tour departure date is not yet guaranteed (still pending minimum numbers), flights should not be booked until you receive an update on the status of your tour.
Please book your flights to arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) before 4pm on Day 1 and depart from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) any time after 11am on Day 7, or on Day 10 for the extended tour.
Roundtrip airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day only, unless you have booked your pre- and post-accommodation with Luxury Escapes. If you have booked your pre- or post-accommodation with us, please advise our Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com to arrange your transfer.
You must complete your Traveller Details form within 7 days of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge Team will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive at your starting location on your chosen tour start date.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website, Visas Direct, to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa, please let us know and we will be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements (subject to availability). Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
Time zone: GMT +8
Telephone: +886
Currency: New Taiwan dollar (TWD/NT$)
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Climate: Subtropical/tropical. Short, mild winters with occasional snow in the mountains/north (November-March) and hot, humid summers (April-October).
Dress code: Relaxed but respectful, especially when visiting religious institutions.
Update 2pm, Friday 25 October 2024: Due to extensive damage from the recent earthquake, Taroko National Park is no longer accessible for the foreseeable future. As such, an alternative itinerary for the extended tour has been arranged for Yilan. For further information, please contact our dedicates Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com.