Tour Overview
Welcome to Taiwan, also known as Formosa – The Beautiful Island, a place that defies easy definition. This adventure takes you well-away from the industrial center in the West to the sparsely populated and traditional north east coast, where you will discover for yourself what it really means to be “Made in Taiwan”.
You will explore on a network of hundreds of kilometres of quiet country roads through rice paddies and tiny hamlets, and past countless temples. You will learn Taiwanese Tea Ceremony, and bathe in mineral hot and cold springs. You will experience both rural and urban Taiwanese culture, and can try to fathom the Taiwanese spirit as you wander through bustling night markets, or participate in a favourite national pastime as you head out on the town to sing some karaoke. If the cycling we have planned for you is not enough, you will have the option to ride more challenging routes through the mountains, and will enjoy the exploration of Taroko Gorge, carved into the marble and jade of the Lifu River valley, whose name means “magnificent and splendid”. This could refer to the gorge itself, or the view of the Pacific Ocean from its mouth. We suggest you come and create your own impression.
Route Notes: This is an unusual adventure that will be most appreciated by riders interested in an unusual, culturally-different experience. The food, hotels, and customs differ from Western norms in refreshing ways. The route includes both flat and hilly riding, and exhilarating hiking of moderate challenge.
Start: Taipei CKS international airport at noon (by special arrangement), or your hotel in Taipei 13:00, day 1.
Finish: Taipei, 13:00, Day 8.
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.
Trip Information
Reserving your adventure:
Reservations can be made with VISA or MasterCard by fax, mail, email, or phone, or with a cheque or money order by mail. A deposit of 30% is required to reserve your space, and the balance is due 30 days before the adventure begins. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you an information packet, including a checklist, map, and meeting details. Cancellations received in writing at least 60 days in advance of start date will receive a 50% refund of any deposit paid. Cancellations received between 60 and 30 days ahead will forfeit deposit. Cancellations within 30 days require full payment of the tour cost.
Insurance:
Travel accident insurance is mandatory, and cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. If you do not have accident insurance through your credit card or another source, ask us when you make your reservation. We can provide combined cancellation/emergency medical/travel accident/baggage & personal effects coverage, through RBC Travel Insurance, when you make your reservation, for approximately 6% of your total cost.
Single Occupancy:
All adventure prices are per person, and based on double occupancy. Single occupancy charges reflect the cost of having a room by yourself. If you prefer to share or to avoid the extra cost, give us as much notice as you can, and we will do our best to match you with a roommate of the same gender. In fact, if you give us at least 90 days, and are willing to share a room, we will reduce the single occupancy charge by 25% for you even if we are unable to match you up. Please note that where suitable shared occupancy is not available, a pro-rated single occupancy charge will apply.
Our Changes:
We reserve the right to change prices and itineraries without notice. If relevant currency exchange differs significantly between advertised print date and final balance due date, we reserve the right to apply fair adjustment to the final balance. We reserve the right to cancel trips when circumstances make it necessary, in which case a full refund will be made to any registrants. If there are fewer than six participants in your trip, three to four weeks prior to departure you may be given the choice of switching to self-guided, paying a premium to keep the trip guided, switching to another guided adventure, or postponing your trip. We reserve the right to deny participation to anyone endangering or disrupting the enjoyment of any other trip participants, in our estimation.
Your Changes:
If, after reserving your adventure, you want to switch to another adventure in the same calendar year, you must provide at least 60 days notice, and pay a change fee of $100 per person. All other changes will be treated as cancellations.
Tax:
Canadian adventures are subject to 5% sales tax (13% in NS and NF).
Discounts for Referrals:
If you have referred new customers to us since your last Freewheeling Adventure, you are entitled to a reduced cost. Each new guest who mentioned you as a referrer will allow you 5% off your next trip in the same season, in addition to the 5% discount you will receive as a returning guest.
Luggage Restrictions:
Luggage is restricted to two soft-sided duffel style pieces per person – one may be large, and the other must conform to airline carry-on rules – usually used as a day bag. Hard sided suitcases must be declared at booking. Fees for excess luggage and hard suitcases are lower with advance notice than when unexpected, are based on the cost of having an extra vehicle and driver, and are applied when final balance is due. We reserve the right to charge these fees at any time. Bike boxes cannot usually be transported.
Guided Adventures:
If you want to travel with van support and cheerful, caring guides, and have most of your meals included, a guided trip is a perfect choice for you. We carry your luggage for you, and on most days, the support vehicle will pass you several times to offer you snacks, drinks, and opportunities to catch a lift. The groups usually congregate for picnic lunches and special affairs, but otherwise tend to spread out along the route during the day, each rider choosing his or her own pace. Because you will be sharing your holiday with other adventurers likely to have a few things in common with you, your evening dinners become enriched by shared stories and entertainment, and you may make friends who will share your future adventure plans.
Starting a New Group:
If you want to join a guided group, but the advertised dates are not convenient for your agenda, you can add a new departure to our schedule. Here’s how:
Reserve your dates with us, with confidence that we will guarantee the trip for you, on the following conditions: We will confirm quickly, and start advertising the trip through our website, mailings, and network. Of course, the more lead time you give us, the better the chances of growing an enthusiastic group to travel with you.
Here is how we guarantee the trip for you:
We require a minimum of four people to operate the trip at the advertised price. Try to give us as much advance notice as you can so that we can attract others to join you. If, a month before the trip starts, there are fewer than four registrants, you have the following choices:
1. Switch to self-guided. We can switch back to guided if anyone else joins in time.
2. Have a private guided trip at a 20% price premium (2-3 participants), or 140% for one participant (including single occupancy).
3. Switch to another trip in the same year without paying the usual change fee.
Self-Guided Adventures:
If you want greater independence to cover the routes at your own pace, without having to carry your luggage, this is a good way to enjoy these itineraries with the privacy and intimacy of traveling by yourselves. You will have a driver to move your luggage for you, who will be on call and can provide “boosts” when you request it ahead of time. Otherwise, you will normally be expected to ride the route each day, and to be more independent than on a guided trip. Lodging and breakfasts are provided, and we inform you about your best options for lunches and dinners. You will be expected to have the knowledge to make routine bike repairs, including repairing flat tires, fixing chain derailments, and tightening loosened bolts. If you are using one of our rental bikes, you can expect a well-maintained bike in good condition, and our attention to make sure it stays so. If you bring your own bike, you will be responsible for all repairs, and we strongly recommend a thorough, professional tune-up before you commence your trip.
One last note: You can choose your own travel dates, and request easily-customized plans. We like to have some advance notice to work on your holiday, but can often put it together even if your departure is imminent.
What are extra services and what do they cost? Extra services include:
• Driving requests beyond the originally prescribed route
• Bicycle repair assistance for routine breakdowns (flat tires, chains off, broken chains, etc)
• Bicycle repair assistance for guest’s own bike
Basic extra cost is $50 per day, in addition to the following:
Cost per kilometer =$0.95 + Any associated costs
Note: If you expect to request many extra services, we recommend you consider a private, guided trip. Most adventures are available privately on dates of your choice, at the advertised guided group full price for four people or more.
Custom and Special Interest Adventures:
You can request something specific or different for you, your family, or your group. First, have a look at our website to see the adventures we already have waiting for you. We can establish a new date, and can make changes to suit you. If you want something else, tell us. We will explore new places and possibilities for you. Whatever you choose, we are enthusiastic about working for you. Call us to discuss the options; you will find us very flexible!
Families:
We welcome families of one, two, or three generations, and we are frequently able to match families with similar ages. You can join or start a new family trip at any time, and we encourage you to reserve well in advance to improve our opportunities to grow your trip. Some plans are specifically designed for travel with younger children, and there are discounts available when three or more people share a room.
Burley trailers are available for hauling one or two toddlers up to 100 lbs. Trailer bikes turn any bike into a tandem for children up to 4’10" tall, and full tandem bikes are also available in some locations.
• Nova Scotia - Lighthouse Family Frolic
• Nova Scotia - Annapolis Valley Family Frolic
• PEI - Family Frolic
• or to customize something special for you and your family.
Mixed-Ability Groups:
Some itineraries have been designed to offer activity choices each day. Even non-cyclists can enjoy these adventures. If your group includes, for example, cyclists, golfers, walkers, and shoppers, we suggest you consider the following itineraries:
• Nova Scotia: Lighthouse Route Kayak Bike, and Hike
• Prince Edward Island: Hike, Bike, & Kayak
• PEI & Magdalen Islands
• Italy: Venice to Florence
Multisport Adventures:
Most of our multisport trips are based on cycling as a main mode of transport (Mexico’s Yucatan also includes plenty of swimming in salt and fresh water swimming holes, and Nova Scotian Pedal and paddle trips are balanced with extraordinary paddling to rarely seen places). The other activities contribute to a thoroughly active experience, based on what the area has to offer. The trips are flexible, so that if you prefer more time on your bike, or more time with other activities – hiking, kayaking, rafting, whale-watching, or relaxing, it is usually easy to adapt to your wishes.
Solo Travelers:
Several adventures each year become dedicated to solo travelers. Those not specifically advertised as such are usually comprised of a combination of couples and singles. If one of the designated trips does not suit your preferences, call us. We can tell you about how the groups are shaping up, and suggest the best options for you. Once you choose to join a trip, it can raise the enthusiasm for others joining the same trip, especially if you make plans well ahead of time.
Lodging:
We love to find inns whose comfort and excellence are reflected in the warmth and charm of their owners. The discoveries include Portuguese Pousadas, French chateaux, Japanese ryokan, and small, family-run inns with distinctive ambience and special locations. Many of these places have few rooms, and are unable to accommodate large groups. We love this! Keeping our groups small allows us to explore out-of-the-way places we might otherwise not be able to show you.
Usually, if a child 12 or under 12 shares with two adults, and will accept a temporary style of bed, a discount will apply. With few exceptions, rooms have private bathrooms, and either one queen-sized or two twin beds.
