Land of Jade & Tea – Active Taiwan

Welcome to Taiwan! Upon arrival in Taipei, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Taiwan's sprawling capital city is an exciting mix of South East Asia, US and Japanese influences. The skyline is dominated by the impressive Taipei 101 Tower, once the tallest in the world, and made more impressive by its backdrop of rolling mountains in the North. The city is quirky and friendly and one of the safest capitals in Asia. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure to get acquainted with the city. Stay 3 Nights: ArTree Hotel or similar

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel this morning before departing to explore Taipei.

You will start at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, an impressive local monument with a square with the National Concert Hall and National Theatre on either side. Similar in shape to Beijing's Tiantan, the building has been designed to invoke the character of the number 8, which represents good fortune and abundance.

You will continue to Lunghsan Temple, one of the oldest and largest temples in Taiwan, built in 1738 and housing the statues of hundreds of Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist Deities. Close by is Herb Lane, a fresh produce market that sells a wide variety of herbs, to be used primarily in traditional healing. The range of herbs includes rare and specialty herbs such as Japanese Knotweed and saxifrage – learn how they have been used in the past and the present day.

Next, it is time to get an incredible aerial view over Taipei, as you head to the 89th floor observation deck of Taipei 101 Tower. From 2004 to 2010, this was the tallest building in the world and it is the perfect place to take in a bird's eye view of the city.

From here you will continue to Mt. Elephant, where a trail of around 600 stairs will take you to a lookout from where you can get impressive views of the city, but this time the iconic Taipei 101 Tower is included in the skyscape.

For something slightly more challenging, your next stop will be Jinmian Mountain, which will be the first trail walk that you do in Taiwan. This trail is classified as moderate, and in certain areas, you will need both hands to climb, with ropes permanently attached to these areas for you to use to assist you as you walk. The view from Jinmian Mountain is simply breathtaking.

You will continue to Raohe Night Market, one of the oldest traditional markets in Taipei and bustling with street food stalls, carnival games and quaint little shops. You might like to try some of the interesting local specialties as you walk around the eateries (paid locally). Afterwards, you will return to your hotel and have the evening at leisure. (B)

• Travel time and Distance: Taipei 101 Tower to Mt. Elephant: Approx. 1.5 km/ 10 mins drive; Mt. Elephant to Jinmian Mountain: Approx. 6.5 km/ 20 mins drive; Jinmian Mountain to Raohe Night Market: Approx. 9 km/ 25 mins drive

After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart to visit Yangmingshan National Park, a stunning National Park that is well known for its sulphur crystals and hot springs. At the western entrance of the park, you will see the Flower Clock, a large garden artwork formed of colourful flowers. From here you walk to the volcanic landscape of Thermal.

Your hike today is known as the Jinbaoli Path (Yulu Historical Trail), a century-old path that linked the villages of Daping and Dapu and was used as a trade route to deliver fish, tea and sulphur. This 6.3km route will take around 3 hours to hike, and you will see wildflowers and tantalising glimpses of the coast as they follow the dirt trails and stone steps that make up the path.

This afternoon, you will visit Dunshui Harbour Town, a laid-back coastal town with a main shopping street full of historic buildings and interesting street vendors. You will explore Fisherman's Wharf which is full of little cafes and restaurants as well as being a hub for fishing boats. Here, you can walk along Lover's Bridge, a curved white cable-stayed pedestrian bridge that gets its name from its original opening which was on Valentine's Day.

At night, it is lit up with changing colours and a great place to watch the sunset. After enjoying the Danshi River bank with its interesting variety of wetland plants, you will take a ferry ride to the other side of the river. At the end of the day, you will return to your hotel in Taipei and have the evening at leisure. (B)

• Travel time and Distance: Yangmingshan National Park to Jinbaoli Path (Yulu Historical Trail): Approx. 10 km/ 20 mins drive; Jinbaoli Path (Yulu Historical Trail) to Danshui Harbour Town: Approx. 30 km/ 45 mins drive; Danshui Harbour Town to Danshui River Bank: Approx. 2 km/ 5 mins drive; Danshui River Bank to Taipei: Approx. 25 km/ 40 mins drive

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing for Yehliu Geo Park. Located on a strip of land that stretches into the Pacific Ocean, this beautiful park is known for its bizarre rock formations formed by wind and sea abrasion. These include mushroom and honeycomb-shaped rocks, and one particularly regal rock tower known as the Queen's Head which looks like either Queen Nefertiti or Queen Elizabeth in likeness, depending on which angle you are looking at it from.

You then continue to Jiufen (Chiufen) Village, a quaint and charming small town packed with history. The word “Chiufen” means nine pieces and refers to when this town was originally so small and isolated that its inhabitants were made up of just nine families. With markets far away, when they needed supplies they would send just one family who would come back and divide the spoils into nine pieces.

For a while in the 1890s, the town swelled to a larger size as it became a site of the gold rush, and there are multiple historic sites to be seen as you explore the narrow alleyways lined with teahouses, giving a glimpse of the past glory of this location. Throughout the town you will find nooks that have beautiful mountain views, as well as vistas that take in the Yingyang Sea.

This afternoon, you will trek for around 3.5 hours on the Caoling Historic Trail, which cuts across Sandiao Cape (Sandiaojiao) starting at Yuanwangkeng, and finishing at Dali on the coast. It is the only section that still remains of the old Ching Dynasty Trail, which is over 130 years old. The present trail is approximately 10 kilometres long and beautifully scenic, as you walk over rolling green hills, with stunning ocean views.

When you have finished your hike, you will drive to Yilan, where you will check into your hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure. Your unique accommodation includes hot and cold spring water baths in your room, perfect for soaking in as you relax at the end of a long day. Stay 2 Nights: Well Springs by Sllks, Lakeshore Suao or similar (B) *hot springs only at Wellsprings by Silks

• Travel time and Distance: Yehliu Geo Park to Jiufen (Chiufen) Village: Approx. 38 km/ 1 hr drive; Jiufen (Chiufen) Village to Caoling Historic Trail: Approx. 37 km/ 50 mins drive; Caoling Historic Trail to Yilan: Approx: 30 km/ 40 mins drive

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll embark on a journey to Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, which is about a two-hour drive. Taipingshan, one of Taiwan's three major national forest recreation areas, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, featuring valuable Taiwan cypress trees and geothermal energy from the Renze Hot Spring. Here, you'll visit the Bailing Giant Tree and experience the Bong Bong Train.

Next, you'll explore the Jioujhihze Scenic Area, where Qingshui Geothermal Park, nestled deep in the valley, offers foot soak pools, raised cooking pools, and bathhouse facilities. Enjoy the unique experience of cooking eggs and corn in the hot-spring water using a wicker basket. Following this, a walk along the Jioujhihze Natural Trail awaits, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature along its 1.2-kilometre path.

After a day of exploration, you'll return to your hotel for a relaxing evening at your leisure. You might choose to unwind in the hotel's hot springs. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to central Taiwan to a famous lake resort. Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in the country. It is renowned for its scenic beauty, with the lake's eastern side resembling the sun and the western side resembling the moon. Surrounded by lush mountains, the area offers a tranquil setting and is popular for boating, cycling, and hiking. The lake is also home to cultural sites like the Wenwu Temple and Ita Thao Village.

Once you check in to your hotel the rest of the day is at your leisure. Stay 2 Nights: Sun Moon Lake Hotel or similar (B)

• Travel time and Distance: Yilan to Sun Moon Lake: 300km / 3 hrs 34 min drive

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and enjoy the beautiful views of Sun Moon Lake. The lake sits at an altitude of 762m in the mountains of Nantou County.

After breakfast, you will drive around part of the lake to visit Wen Wu Temple. This impressive temple is the only Confucius temple in Taiwan where you will see a statue of Confucius himself, and some of the other bronze statues also represent his disciples. If time permits this morning, you will also visit Tse En Pagoda and Tehua Village.

It will then be time for your hike of the day, the Mt Moalan Trail (approx. 3 hours). This is a relaxed scenic walk that takes you to a weather observatory that was built by the Japanese in 1940. From the summit, at 1020m, you can see as far as Puli. The 3km trail is paved, and you will wind through villages, cedar trees, and vast tea plantations, accompanied by the sound of birdsong. The scenery around you is spectacular, with the view of rolling green hills and silhouetted mountains in the distance. (B)

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a drive to the Mt. Hehuan National Forest Area, situated 2900-3000 meters above sea level. This region is renowned for its breathtaking high mountain landscapes and diverse wildlife. Depending on the season, you can witness various types of flower blossoms.

Your adventure includes a walk along the Mt. Shimen Trail, which sits at 3,237 meters above sea level. This 0.8-kilometre trail is one of the most accessible high mountain trails in Taiwan, suitable for both young children and the elderly, allowing for a relaxed stroll with stunning views of open grasslands and the surrounding mountains.

Next, continue to Mt. Hehuan Main Peak, which reaches 3,416 meters above sea level. The 1.8-kilometre trail to the summit rewards you with panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range. There may even be time to walk to the East Peak of Mt Hehuan if time permits.

Following your hike, you will drive to Taichung City for an overnight stay. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Stay: Millennium Hotel Taichung or similar (B)

• Travel time and Distance: Sun Moon Lake to Taichung City: 77km / 1 hr 30 min by car

After breakfast, you will visit the Taichung Opera House (external visit only), taking in the fascinating architecture. Continue to Rainbow Village where you will see how this retired soldiers community has been transformed into a colourful and eye-catching attraction.

Alternatively, you may choose to explore the elegant Wufeng Lin Family Mansion, known for its intricate details and traditional architecture. You will be transferred to Taichung International Airport in time for your onward flight. (B)