Taiwan small group holiday
Late availability on these dates: 03 Oct, 17 Oct, 19 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 04 Nov, 07 Nov, 11 Nov, 14 Nov, 18 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec
Description of Taiwan small group holiday
Taiwan is rapidly earning a reputation as a major Asian destination, and this small group adventure covers a lot of ground. Packed with fascinating experiences from start to finish, the tour begins in Taiwan’s electrifying and densely populated capital Taipei. Get your bearings with an aromatic visit to the Ningxia night market, or a soak in the hot springs of nearby Yangmingshan National Park.
You’ll visit Sweet Potato Mama, learning how this social enterprise helps women start their own small businesses. You’ll meet the bustling entrepreneurs in the merchant zone, help prepare lunch at an aboriginal village, and stop at a spring onion farm, discovering how one of Taiwan’s favourite foods is grown, and how to prepare them in a pancake for a delicious snack.
On a boat trip out to Turtle Island, depending on the time of year, you might see hundreds of dolphins, or whales. There are many more dramatic landscapes to enjoy, such as the vast Qingshui Cliff in Taroko National Park, Danong Dafu Forest Park with its chattering birdlife, and the iconic Sun Moon Lake where you’ll trek the scenic Ci’en Pagoda trail.
Other highlights include a tour of the island’s only whisky distillery, a chance to have a soothing foot massage at a historic temple, and a chance to roll your own black tea leaves at a farm visit. Oh, and did we mention the food? There are plenty of night markets to wander throughout Taiwan, where you might sample fish balls, molasses cakes, coffin bread and even the famous ‘exploding’ chicken rolls!
Map
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Holiday information
Reviews
2 Reviews of Taiwan small group holiday
Reviewed on 01 May 2023 by Lieselot Wachters
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Evening markets
Taroko Gorge
Lukang Township
Diverse activities
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Lots of free time to explore on your own
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Reviewed on 29 May 2019 by Eric Stead
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Kayaking on Sun Moon lake and the walk in Taroko gorgebe
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for a western level of infrastructure. Definitely a first world
culture. Not a cheap place to visit.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefited local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Not as good as expected. Fell short of the description of trip. Only one and a half hours walk in Taroko gorge and no chance of free time to do other trails. Didn't do hot springs at Yilan. Would have been better to see Yehliu Geopark rather than yet another market at Jiufen ( no views cos of mist ).
No chance to see the mangroves at Wanggong. We didn't actually pick oysters there and it was a waste of time. We needed a guided tour of the old quarter of Lukang in order to appreciate it. The noodles trip did not materialise either. All in all the trip wasn't quite as described. The guide, Irene, was excellent though.
Responsible Travel
Planet
Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, boasts one of the most efficient recycling systems in the world, and our leaders will explain how it works during our travellers’ initial welcome meeting. They will then understand best practise when it comes to waste disposal throughout the trip.In a lot of the accommodation we stay in there are kettles available to use if passengers want to fill up their bottles with tea, coffee or water for the day. This dissuades them from buying bottled water in an attempt to decrease plastic waste.
Our leaders will also encourage travellers to purchase their own chopsticks to avoid using instant ones. Instant chopsticks are very common in lots of Taiwanese eateries and the plastic consumption and waste they create is substantial. As part of learning and adapting to Taiwanese food culture, it’s a great idea to carry a pair with you. Plus, they make a great souvenir to take back home!
People
On this trip, travellers will take part in the fun yet purposeful activity of selling sweet potatoes to locals on the street. The initiative is called the Sweet Potato Mama Project and helps single mothers live independently by allowing them to become vendors of these traditional Taiwanese root vegetables.This project is supported by the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation (GSWF), which has long been helping women to earn an independent living. We will help the mamas to sell their produce, get to know them and learn about their lives as they teach us how to roast sweet potatoes.
There are plenty more hands-on experiences included on this tour such as a visit to a local farm, a noodle making class and tea picking. In Taiwan’s smaller towns and cities, they face issues of labour loss because young people prefer to move to the bigger cities for a taste of modern life and better job opportunities.
Tourism definitely alleviates this issue somewhat and our group’s visit helps to support the local economy, retain their workforce and preserve the local traditions and culture too.
Popular similar holidays
Highlights of Ancient Greece holiday
From £1949 - £2749 9 days including UK flights
A cycling adventure around the 'island of serendipity'
Bulgaria small group holidays
From £3295 12 days excluding flights
A superb tour exploring the Bulgaria's undiscovered beauties
Hunza and Skardu cultural tour, Pakistan
From £2360 14 days including domestic flights only
Experience the rich cultural heritage of Karakoram valleys