Day 1: Introduction. 13:00 meeting at your hotel in Taipei, a short taxi or bus from Chiang Kai Shek International airport. During the afternoon, you will visit the CKS Memorial grounds, and the viewing deck on the 101st floor of Taipei 101. In the evening you will have an orientation to Taiwan's history and culture, and either a short session on colloquial Mandarin or a visit to “Snake Alley” night market.
Lodging: The Grand Hotel
Day 2: Transfer, and hike. Optional half-day challenging mountain ride (40 km). Morning transfer to Jui-fen (1.5 hours), an old gold mining town perched on a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You will hike along the ridges and peaks surrounding Jui-fen, with panoramic views from the top of “Tea Pot” Mountain. In the evening you can wander Juifen's winding car-free lanes and hidden alleys, visit one of the many artists’ studios, or relax in a traditional tea house.
Lodging: Jui-fen B&B
Day 3: 62 km. Bike on quiet paved roads through the mountains, valleys, and sub-tropical jungle. A buffet lunch will be provided en route. After a final descent to the coast, there will be a short van transfer (15 minutes) to Tou-cheng City, where you will continue with a relaxing ride on the back roads of Ilan County, through countless rice paddies on your way to Chiao-hsi, famed for its rejuvenating hot springs.
Lodging: Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi Spa
Day 4: 69km, or 100 km with extra mountain riding. Take a short hike up to Wu Feng Chi, on of the tallest waterfalls in Taiwan, then spend the rest of the day riding through Ilan's country side, visiting Long Tan (Dragon Lake), as well as a couple of enormous Temples. Later in the day, for an optional extra challenge, ride a mountain road up to the Fu-Shan Forest Reserve. This evening you can practise your basic Mandarin in Lotung's bustling night market, and perhaps sample local specialities.
Lodging: Landis Inn, Lotung
Day 5: 76 km. Cycle through vast lotus fields on your way to Sanching Temple, one of the largest active Daoist Temples in Taiwan. A short hike behind the Temple reveals picturesque Tea Fields and a view of the entire county. Back on your bike, you will continue exploring the plains before arriving at your B&B in WuJie, located near Ilan's Dong Shan River Park. Finish the day with a visit to the active fishing port of Nan Fang Ao, to dine on fresh seafood.
Lodging: The Designer's House
Day 6: Train, then bike up Taroko Gorge (30km and on). Morning rail transfer (1 hour, 10 minutes) on the east coast railway to Xin-cheng, the gateway to Taroko Gorge, to begin a steady bicycle ride up into the mountains on one of the most spectacular roads you will ever ride. Buffet lunch will be provided en route. After arriving at your hotel, you can choose to continue riding up the gorge, or spend the remainder of the afternoon hiking on either or both of two exhilarating trails – the Shakadang and Baiyang trails through tunnels of tung trees and to the water curtain. Highlights of the gorge include:
• Tunnel of Nine Turns
• Eternal Spring Shrine Swallow's Mouth
• Jinheng Park
• The Bridge of the Kind Mother
• Tiansiang
• Jhueilu Precipice
Lodging: The Grand Formosa Taroko
Day 7: Hiking in Taroko Gorge. You will enjoy a rewarding hike on the “Meiyuan Jhucun” trail (trailhead located 6 km from the hotel). At times, the trail clings to cliffs (there are hand rails) along a raging river. You will pass through former aboriginal village sites, bamboo forests, and fruit orchards. Those with energy to spare can hike a side trail up to Lotus Lake.
Lodging: The Grand Formosa Taroko
Day 8: Descend from the gorge to catch the morning express train back to Taipei (3 hours). It is possible to take the train directly to the airport.
Note: We recomment that while in taipei, you try to visit The National Place MuseumThe National Palace Museum, containing one of the largest collections of Chinese Art in the world, brought over on ships in 1949 by the Nationalists after they were defeated by the Communists.
