You will be picked up from your Taipei hotel in the morning and driven outside the busy city to start the ride to Fusing.
You will start at sea level and end at 450m, allowing for a gradual ease into cycling in Taiwan. Following a gentle 12km through the undulating hills, you’ll begin the climbing through thick forest, moss and ferns that line the narrow roads, giving it a scenic Jurassic feel.
Spend the night at the Da Kung Hotel where you’ll enjoy a local dinner before preparing for a longer ride tomorrow.
Start day 2 from your hotel where the ascent of the Central Cross Islands Link takes you to just under 2000m and the high altitude plateau of Wuling.
The exotic forest will, once again, provide you with a exceptional views and the air will be clear and fresh. Spend the night in a special region of Taiwan where, in 1960, veterans were resettled as farmers. You will notice that this area has been oriented towards the tourism and agriculture industry. Spend the night in charming Wuling Farm.
Begin the day with a ride up the north cross island highway to Lu Shan, a town famous for its mountain fruit. After 25km, you will reach the highest point of the day which is just over 2000m up. From here, you’ll take a turn off for Li Sying Road where you’ll ride through one of the most remote parts of the island. This ride is mostly downhill and surrounded by farmland and high mountains. It is undoubtedly one of our favourite days of the trip.
Spend the night in the Honey Moon hotel where the friendly staff will greet you and make you feel at home.
There is an optional ride today in the morning for those looking to challenge themselves. After an early start, ride 32km and climb 2175m up to the Hehuanshan Pass Sitting at 3275m, this is the highest road in East Asia. Transport options will be provided for those who wish to start the day at the top.
From here, it’s all downhill. This is one of the most exhilarating cycling experiences you can endure. Descend 3270m through the world famous Taroko Gorge, endless tunnels and a number of different Eco zones.
The last 20 km of Taroko Gorge is a mind-blowing ride through marbled walled passageways that twist and turn as the gorge rises some 500-1,100m above. You will never forget this experience.
Today you will take a break from the bikes and, instead, hike around Taroko Gorge. Visit Siangde Temple that has a giant statue of Guanyin and a pagoda that provides views of the valley from the top. Next, walk the Tunnel of Nine Turns trail, which is on the original road through the narrowest part of the gorge.
There are many other hikes to choose from. You and your group will be given the different options, then you can decide which ones are best to do based on the group’s interests.
From Taroko Gorge, you will ride out onto the east coast and into the superb East Rift Valley.
Next, follow an undulating cycle route that hugs the foothills and takes us through numerous aboriginal villages. After cycling through this fertile valley, you will overnight at yet another wonderful hot spring resort!
Begin the day with a ride south from your hotel. Following this, head up into the Badlands area and enjoy splendid views from the deserted mountain road.
After a scenic ride, you will connect with the Luye back roads and enjoy a wonderful route through the outskirts of the port town of Taitung and down to the lush Jhihben River Valley. Here, the hot springs are between 75-96 degrees Celsius.
Today’s spectacular ride takes you over the top of the Capricorn Pass and down to the white sand beaches of Kenting. You will spend the early parts of the day riding down the south-east coast where you’ll make the east to west crossing – a popular part of the island for cyclists.
You’ll continue the ride over the southern mountains before descending down the west coast and around the Kenting peninsula. As you reach the southernmost point of Taiwan, you will have time to take photos after a stunning day of riding. Stay at the White hotel tonight, a charming hotel overlooking the Baisha beach.
Another early morning awaits you as you set off exploring southern Taiwan and its dramatic coastline. Ride parallel to the islands beaches before climbing into the mountains after lunch. Here, the village of Wu Tai awaits you, famous for its stone house architecture.
The road up to Wu Tai village takes you along the highest bridge in Taiwan at 100m above the river. The ascent is a gradual 20km. Enjoy a short walking tour of Wu Tai in the afternoon and spend the evening relaxing.
Today is the final day of cycling as you leave behind the mountain village towards the last hot spring of the tour. You’ll cycle through a number of aborigine villages between the fertile farmland before stopping for traditional aborigine food.
In the afternoon you will ride to the banks of the Lao Nong River, a preferred area of Buddhist monks with impressive temples dotting the landscape. Enjoy a farewell dinner and soak in the hot springs this evening.
There will be a group transfer to Jaohsiung where you can catch a flight or the high speed train (highly recommended!) to Taipei. If you’re planning to spend the night in the Kaoshiung hotel in Taipei just let us know.
The East Asian State has a completely unique environment. The island’s east coast is notorious for its mountainous landscape, spanning the length of the coast and working its way in-land to the 100 peaks in central Taiwan. The views atop these mountains will last with you forever, as will the Jurassic landscape that surrounds you for much of your trip. The aborigine lifestyles in the south are truly fascinating and there is no better way to discover their culture than getting involved yourself. The mix of climates and Eco zones makes Taiwan a completely unique place to travel. You won’t regret embarking on this awe-inspiring adventure.
