Taiwan small group tour
Min 2, max 16 people.
Single room supplement: £370.
Option available for upgraded hotels.
Description of Taiwan small group tour
Embark on an 8-day escorted group tour to discover the highlights of Taiwan and delve into its diverse and dynamic culture, shaped by indigenous, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Han Chinese histories. Taiwan presents a captivating fusion of lively urban experiences, awe-inspiring natural landscapes and profound cultural immersion. The tour encompasses must-see attractions, such as Taipei's juxtaposition of ancient temples and modern boutiques, Sun Moon Lake's Wen Wu Temple, the 17th-century Confucius Temple in Taiwan's oldest city, Foguangshan Monastery, the picturesque east coast and the breathtaking marble gorge of Taroko National Park.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Land Taipei. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. A complimentary one-day Taipei Pass is included in the trip cost allowing unlimited rides on the Metro. |
Day 2 | Explore bustling Taipei today using your one-day Taipei double decker bus ticket, a recent addition to the city's efficient transportation system. This hassle-free tour covers both the Red and Blue lines, departing from Taipei Main Station. (B) |
Day 3 | Take a drive to Taroko Gorge along the elevated scenic Suhua Highway which offers fabulous views of the coast. Stop en-route at the Quingshui Cliffs. Arrive at Taroko National Park and visit the Taroko Gorge, Eternal Spring Shrine and Swallow Grotto. (B) |
Day 4 | Today head to Sun Moon Lake along the Central Cross Island Highway, a scenic mountain road. Visit the Mount Hehuan visitor Centre which stands at over 3,000 metres above sea level. Your journey takes you along the shor of Sun Moon Lake, stopping at Wen Wu Temple before spending the night near the lake itself. (B) |
Day 5 | In the morning visit the Holy Monk Shrine, Tehua Village and the Tse En Pagoda. Continue on to the ancient capital of Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan. Visit Anping Fort and walk the ancient streets and overnight in the city. (B) |
Day 6 | In the morning visit the Chihkan Towers whose foundations were laid by the Dutch in 1653 as well as the Confucius Temple. Continue on to Kaohsiung, stopping at the Foguanshan Monastery. The evening is at leisure and you may choose to visit the Liuho Night Market. (B/L) |
Day 7 | Visit the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas along with the Spring and Autumn Pavilion. Enjoy free time to stroll around the Lotus Pond Scenic Area before returning to Taipei. The evening is at leisure. (B) |
Day 8 | Return to Taipei airport for the onward or return flight. (B) |
Price information
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Reviews
1 Reviews of Taiwan small group tour
Reviewed on 09 Feb 2018 by Anders Blaxhult
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The nature
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would recommend Taiwan but not this tour
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No, indifferent
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Too many temples and too little information about current life in Taiwan
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your feedback on our Highlights of Taiwan Group Tour.
Following our request for further clarification on the feedback from you, we understand that the focus of the tour, as advertised and run, was possibly not
really what you were looking for, as it featured many traditional cultural aspects, such as temples, at the expense of interactions with local people, to
experience how everyday life happens in Taiwan.
Group tours will generally feature a significant proportion of cultural highlights, to provide a historical context to how a country or region has evolved, as
well as sites of natural beauty; our tour of Taiwan was designed with this approach. Regent Holidays does offer both group and individual travel experiences
and we hope to be able to help you with a more tailored itinerary for your future travel plans, which allows the interaction with local people you sought on
this tour.
The tour is run by our local Taiwan agents, a company which is wholly owned, managed and staffed by Taiwanese people. They have been offering tours since 1971 and in that time have become an important contributor to the country’s economy and a significant Taiwanese employer of tour leaders, drivers and guides. The tour is designed to use local hotels which are also owned, managed and staffed by Taiwanese people - we try to avoid using international chain hotels on our tours wherever possible.
The tour introduces guests to many parts of the country allowing a deeper understanding of the country’s culture and customs – it is not all about the glitz and bright lights of Taipei.
When staying in Taroko Gorge guests stay in the Leader Village Hotel which employs local aboriginal staff and features art made by local craftsmen for sale in the gift store. This not only keeps money in the local economy but also helps maintain their traditions for future generations. The tour is on a bed and breakfast basis with all extra meals sourced locally and paid for by guests in-country which further keeps money in the local economy. The light lunch included at the Foguanshan Monastery is provided by the monks and is paid for by our operator to help support the monastery.
Responsible Travel
Planet
As a destination Taiwan does not tend to attract huge numbers of visitors and as a result environmental considerations which are now common-place in many other parts of the world often get overlooked. We work with our local agent to encourage environmental responsibility where possible. Such things as not asking for new towels every day in the hotel and turning lights off when leaving a room are strongly encouraged by our local agents and the hotel but can be still slow to catch on.All food served on the tour is sourced locally which not only helps the local communities but minimises the environmental impact of transporting goods. The very format of this trip as a group tour means fewer vehicles are required to transport visitors thus avoiding excess vehicle fumes being released into the atmosphere. Drivers of the vehicles are also advised not to leave it 'idling' to avoid release of pollution into the air.
People
Our local Taiwanese agents have been operating tours to the country since 1971 and they are an important employer of local Taiwanese drivers and guides. This tour stays in a locally owned and run guesthouse at Sun Moon Lake which employs local staff from the surrounding villages. This is a small but important employer for the local community. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the Foguanshan monastery lunch - all food served on the tour is sourced locally which contributes an important extra revenue source to the local communities it visits. The various entrance fees paid by the local agents as part of the tour go towards supporting the museums, temples and national parks and stops are made to give visitors the opportunity to buy handicrafts direct from the craftsmen themselves. The trip is guided by English-speaking Taiwanese guides which not only provides revenue for the local guides themselves but also provides the most current information on the country.Popular similar holidays
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