Taiwan: The Beautiful Island

Fly from London (regional connections available) direct to Taipei with China Airlines.

Arrive and transfer to The Sherwood Hotel Taipei hotel (or similar) for 2 nights. A welcome dinner will be held this evening.

Full-day tour of Taipei, including the National Palace Museum, National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Martyrs’ Shrine and Longshan temple. Optional evening visit to the Chinese opera. 

Drive south to the village of Beipu, home to members of the the Hakka ethnic minority group. See the traditional architecture and sample Hakka food, then continue to Sun Moon Lake for a 2-night stay at the Fleur de Chine hotel. The following day, take a short boat excursion on the lake, then visit the Wenwu Temple and the Tse-en Pagoda.

Drive to the Alishan Forest Park, one of the most spectacular mountainous regions of Taiwan. Afternoon walking tour of the park. Overnight at Alishan House. 

Optional early morning ride on the Alishan Forest Railway to see the sunrise (weather permitting) from the summit of Mount Alishan. After breakfast, drive to the charming mountain township of Zhuqi, and take a stroll down historic Fenchihu Old Street. Continue to Tainan to visit Fort Anping and historic Yanping Street. Then proceed to Fo Guang Shan, the largest Buddhist monastery in south-east Asia. Stay overnight at the monastery guesthouse.

Option to rise early and join the monks for morning prayers. Drive south to Kenting National Park, which protects an area of low-lying hills, limestone caves, forests and beaches. Explore the park on foot, then head north towards Taitung. Stay 1 night at the Hotel Royal Chihpen. 

Drive north on a sightseeing route to the Taroko National Park and stay 1 night at Silks Place Taroko. (B)

Morning tour of remarkable Taroko gorge and visit the Eternal Spring shrine and the Swallow Grotto. Drive on to Taipei. Stay overnight at The Sherwood hotel. Options available to extend your stay in Taipei. 

Fly direct to London with China Airlines.