Taipei Eastern Coast Explorer Tour
Introduction: Similar to our survey tour of Taiwan in July, 2011, we are pleased to present the Eastern Coast Explorer Tour. Starting in the city, we'll have a look at the main sites and then make our way over the mountains and enjoy the natural beauty of the eastern seaboard of Taiwan. Look to be impressed by the soaring walls of Tarako Gorge, the beautiful East Rift Valley, stunning coastline and lush tea plantations of the northeast corner of the country. We loved this tour and sure you will as well!
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Taipei
Day 2: Taipei
City tour
Day 3: Taipei – Northern Cross Island Highway - Wuling Farm
Day 4: Wuling Farm - Fushoushan Farm - Taroko Gorge - Seven
Star Bay – Hua Lien
Day 5: Hua
Lien - Liyu Lake - Fuyuan forest recreation area – Yuli
Day 6: Day
trek to Nanan National Park
Day 7: Yuli – Chishang – Luye – Taitung - Chihpen Forest Recreation
Day 8: Chihpen Forest Recreation – East Coast - Jici Beach
Day 9: Jici Beach – East Coast – JiuFen
Day 10: JiuFen - Pinglin- Wulai – Bitan Lake
Day 11: Taipei
departure
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Taipei
(D)
Upon your arrival, meet your local guide and
driver. You are then driven to the hotel for check in. Depending on your
arrival time, you can choose to visit one of the following sites: Taipei
101 or Night market (Raohe Street or Shin
Lin Night Market) or night view tour
Note: We will have light travel plan for your first
day in Taipei. The trip
will be given depend on your arrive time.
Day 2: Taipei
City
tour (B/L/D)
After a good night sleep, you have breakfast at the
hotel and the day is spent to explore the city including Traditional Temple,
visit to a Local Market, National
Palace
Museum,
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the Presidential Office Building. In the
evening, depending on what you have seen the night before, you can choose to
visit one of the following sites: Taipei 101 or Night
market (Raohe
Street or Shin Lin Night
Market) or night view tour. You will be back to the hotel at about 8pm
Day 3: Taipei
- Northern
Cross Island Highway - Wuling Farm (B/L/D)
Depart
Taipei, you have a week ahead to explore the East of Taiwan including the amazing Northern Cross Island
Highway with wild
scenery, stunning East Coast Loop with coastal waters and
rugged shorelines and partial North East Loop with
magnificent landscape and interesting story. You spend the
night camping at Wuling Farm.
Northern
Cross Island Highway: The highway starts in the old Taoyuan County town of Daxi
(not to be confused with the Ilan County town on the northeast coast), famous
for its excellent dòugân (firm tofu) and the Qing-dynasty façades on Heping St. At first
the road winds through the countryside, passing flower farms. other seasonal
farms and settlements, including the
burial grounds of former leader Chiang Kai-shek. After passing above Shimen
Reservoir, the largest body of water in northern Taiwan,
the road narrows and starts to rise and wind its way along steep gorges, across
precipitously high bridges and through some pretty fantastic mountain scenery.
At Chilan, the highway descends suddenly and an hour later enters the flood
plains of the Lanyang
River.
It then continues South to Wuling Forest Recreation Area. There are many great stops leading to waterfalls,
caves, forest reserves, hot springs and stands
of ancient trees.
Wuling Farm: Wuling Farm arranged for the veterans to engage in agricultural
production at the initial stage, and then developed agricultural resources of
mountain farms that affiliated with the commission along the East-West Cross-Island Highway.
In spring, peach, pear, and apple trees found in abundance
through the farm property envelop the area in their subtly fragrances. During
summer time, newly ripened fruit hang plump and temptingly juicy amongst high
tree branches. Take a look is enough to make your taste badly tingled. As
autumn warmth wanes, the maple forest covering the mountains valley with red
blanket, with maple leaves shimmering and dancing in the crispy mountain
breeze. When winter comes, caps of white snow deposited at peak of reefs and
the whole area put on cloth white enough to dwarf alpine. Under the cycle of
seasons, you see its beauty in different faces
Note: Today we will have long drive about 6-8 hours driving in the mountain. Please be prepared enough warm clothes in winter time
Day 4: Wuling Farm - Fushoushan
Farm - Taroko
Gorge - Seven Star bay – Hua Lien (B/L/D)
Awake up in
the farm, enjoy the morning’s fresh air deep in the Mountain valley while
having breakfast. Today, you experience the wonderful change of landscape and
pace from mountain to ocean and the world wonder’s Taroko Gorge!
Fushoushan
Farm: There are impressive landscapes in all seasons with
precious agricultural specialties and natural tourist resources. There is the
Heaven Pool on the top of the farm where there is water all year long. Also,
there are dozens of temperate fruits, mountain vegetables and flowers. Therein,
Fushou Everspring Tea is the prime in Taiwan loved by the public
Taroko
Gorge- Impressive grand canyons: Taroko is famous for its spectacular mountains and
marble canyons. Cliffs and canyons stretch along Li Wu River. Four million
years ago, the island
of Taiwan
was formed by the collision of plates. After millions of years of wind erosion,
the marble rocks were exposed and cut by Li Wu River, creating impressive grand
canyons. From Tsing Shui to Nan Hu Peak, the drop height is 3,742 meters.
Seven Star bay- Pacific Ocean sun set seeing: This
beautiful area of coastline lies at the tip of a crescent bay overlooking the
blue-green Pacific Ocean.
Still a fishing village at heart, the area’s outstanding beauty has made it a
popular tourist attraction, now one of Taiwan’s most visited sightseeing
beach areas.
Hualien -
local food dinner: This city owing to the Hualien
River
empties into the Pacific
Ocean on the East Coast . Hualien
County,
facing the immense Pacific
Ocean in the east and leaning against the
grand Central Mountain Range in the west, is famous for its beautiful scenery.
Day 5: Hua
Lien - Liyu Lake - Fuyuan forest recreation area – Yuli (B/L/D
Today, you
travel along the East Rift Valley Scenic Area. And spend the night at a small
quiet town of Yuli where we take you
to the best B&B of Taiwan!
Liyu Lake: It’s the largest natural inland lake in Taiwan,
and has a splendid backdrop of lush green hills. There are pavilions and
walking trails and even boat rental shops along the shores, but they are mostly
of wood-and-stone construction and blend in nicely with the environment.
Fuyuan
forest recreation area: The geology of this area is
formed by Tertiary metamorphic rocks with various shapes and colors, the giant
rocks are very colorful. There are magnificent cliffs upstream that even have a
suspension bridge across the creek. Fuyuan
Falls
let out cool anions from atop the cliffs. A small canyon, with forest to either
side, is the most beautiful natural landscape. The slope downstream is less
steep. Its water is crystal blue and the rocks nearby are white and gray.
Yuli: The crystal-clear water of this alkaline spring is clear but has the
unpleasant odor of hydrogen sulfide. It emerges from the ground in copious
quantities at a temperature of 66 degrees Celsius. It is said to cure wounds, skin
ailments, and gastric complaints, among other things.
Day 6: Day
trek to Nanan
National Park
(B/L/D)
You spend a
day to explore what Yuli has to offer! The day trek is what we recommend, but
the overnight trek can also be organized if you have the time. Just let us
know!
Nanan
national park: In the Nan An area, you will see
miscellaneous landforms are valleys, waterfall, cliffs and etc which were
carved by the rivers. Cultural and historical trails are preserved through the
Ching Dynasty Batongguan Historic Trail, the Japanese Occupation Era Batongguan
Traversing Road and the Guanshan Traversing Road.
These trails were the entrance to the highest mountain, Jade mountain, in Taiwan.
Note: Today we will have long walk in forest please
wear comfortable shoes and bring enough water.
Day 7: Yuli – Chishang – Luye – Taitung - Chihpen Forest Recreation (B/L/D)
Continuing
down the road number 9, along the Southern part of the East Rift Valley, take
your time to explore and by the end of the day, soak in natural hot spring in
Chihpen to wash away all tiredness!
Chishang: Chishang is an important tourist
scenic spot on the East Rift Valley route. With its smooth terrain, fertile
land, and plentiful rain, the locals subsist mainly on rice. The influence of
the climate causes the rice-grains to be larger, with better resilience, and of
superior quality and taste. In the past, this rice was sent to offer tribute to
the Japanese Emperor. Chishang lunchboxes owe their fame to the wonderful
Chishang rice.
Luye: The Luye area, which was formerly called "Luliao", is Taitung County's most famous tea farm area. In
the early 1960s, due to the suitability of the climate and soil, it became a
tea cultivation area. The Taitung Branch of the Taiwan Tea Research and
Extension Station was also set up here. Thus, one can imagine the quality and
scale of the Luye Tea Plantation at that time was first class.
Taitung
city: Taitung, the home of natural wonders, appears long
and narrow in shape. Hills are found on one side and water on the other side.
With Central and Coastal Mountain Ranges running through it, the landborders on
Siouguluan River and Hu alien in the north, Dawu Mountain and Pingtung in the
south, and faces the Pacific Ocean on the east side.
Chihpen Forest Recreation: Chihpen is no doubting the beauty of the natural surroundings, set in a
canyon at the foot of a mountain range. The village itself is unremarkable,
featuring the usual gaggle of restaurants and convenience stores lining each
side of the main road that runs through it.
Note: After the long walking, we can have hot
spring for relax. So please prepare your swimsuit for the comfortable bathing
Day 8: Chihpen Forest Recreation – East Coast - Jici Beach
(B/L/D)
Have enough
mountain and look for ocean breeze, wait no longer! Today, you travel along the
scenic East Coast and spend the night on the 
sandy beach. Camping and BBQ diner
await at Jici beach. If you want to have one more day to relax at the beach,
just let us know!
Dulan: This is a large valley, to the west of which is Mt. Dulan,
once noted for producing large quantities of jewels. Nearby is the Giant Stone
Culture Remains, which have been designated as a national archaeological site.
Visitors have a chance to exercise their brains and see the strange phenomenon.
Sanhsientai(Three
Immortals Terrace): This small
offshore is formed by volcanic blocks.
This island is covered with oddly shaped rock, and other topographical
features. It is home to numerous species of plants, and the sea, rich in marine
life, makes the area ideal spot for skin diving.
Shihtiping(Stone
Stair Flats): Named for the stairlike way it ascends from the ocean.
To the south, halfway up the hills along the highway, is a cave called
Yeuhtung(Moon Cave), which is a bout 70 meters long
and affords another marvelous sight. Shihmen(Stone Gate)
This coast features many eroded caves and
platforms. Named for one of the caves,
it is shaped like an arch.
Jici Beach: The first sandy bay south of
Hualien having a terraced topography, is ideal for camping and swimming.
Note: Today we will ride along the coastline, you
might need the sun glasses and protection.
Day 9: Jici Beach – East Coast drive – JiuFen (B/L/D)
Continuing
north along the East Coast, enjoy its sounds and sights. Before the end of day,
you will know why we bring you to JiuFen for the night!
Jiaosi hot
springs: The special ground or crust stratum in Yilan County had made this area
well known for its numerous hot springs, which are the result of air warmed by
some source underground, and rising upward blended with under-layer water.
Among them you would see the most historic " Jiaosi Hot Spring",
which is quite rare in Taiwan
for its occurrence on a flatland. " Tangwei Hot spring", meanwhile, has
been famous since Ching Dynasty and placed on the list of " Eight Scenes
of Lanyang Area". The Hot Springs area is
the busiest district of Jiaosi Township with hot
springs hotels lining the streets on either end of the
railway station. Public springs are also available on Jhongjheng and Gongyuan
Roads, and behind the Wusha Memorial Hall. Admission is free.
JiuFen: Historic Commercial
District-old street, Songde Park,
Wufan Tunnel, Some spots of Spirited Away. The village once was gold city of Asia and called little Shanghai or little Hong Kong.
However, with the decline of gold mining activities, Jiufen fades. Later,
several movies chose to shoot here and the movies won international
acknowledgement. For example, the film the Sad City
has won first prize in Venice Film Festival and awakened people's memory of
Jiufen. It seems that the prosperous old streets, buildings, mines and the
glamorous gold digging days are flashing before our eyes.
Day 10: JiuFen - Pinglin- Wulai – Bitan Lake (B/L/D)
Today, you make your way back to Taipei by having a loop via the following
sites:
Pinglin is famous for its locally grown bao chung tea. The town also features the world’s largest
tea museum, where you can learn not only how tea is grown and processed, but
also how to drink it.
Wulai Aboriginal Tribe village: Wulai is the home of Atayal
tribe people, and here you can observe their traditional dances and rituals; if
you're interested, you can join in the dancing yourself. You can also enjoy the
sight of a gushing waterfall amidst the lush green landscape, or take an
exciting cable-car ride across the gorge. Wulai is surrounded on all sides by
mountains, a place of beauty including streams, hot springs, waterfalls, cherry blossoms and
red maple leaves, birds and butterflies, a cable car.
Bitan green lake - night view: Bitan is one of the eight famous attractions in Taiwan for
people to relax and enjoy their vocation. The lake's steep cliffs and
aquamarine water make it one of Xindian's scenic spots. The green lake suspension
bridge was renovated and reopened to public use in 2000. A park on the eastern
shore contains paths and viewing stands. Floating in a boat on the lake, the
reflection of the green mountains create and exquisitely beautiful scene. You will be back to hotel around 9pm
Day 11: Taipei
departure (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, the day is free at
leisure until time for airport transfer. On the way, you will pay a visit to a
local fish market.
Note: We will have easy travel plan for your last
day in Taiwan. The trip
will be given depend on your departure time.
Our trip includes:
- Private 9 seater-van
- Full
time English speaking guide
- 4 stars hotel or unique local guest house
- Traditional Taiwanese meals
- Local cell phone and sim card
- Unforgettable memories
- Entrance fee
Our trip excludes:
- International flights
- Visa & visa arrangement
- Meals not indicated
- Drinking water, soft drink and alcohol
- Tips
& personal expenses
Prices contact info@remoteasia.com
