Taiwan

Day 1 | Saturday 21 February
Arrive Taipei
Flights from Australia arrive in Taipei early this morning. We are met by our tour leader and local guide and transfer by private coach to our hotel for early check-in. After time to refresh, we begin our exploration of Taiwan’s vibrant capital with a visit to the beautifully restored Lin An Tai Historical House – one of Taipei’s best-preserved examples of traditional Fujian-style architecture, with sweeping roofs and tranquil courtyards that recall the refined domestic life of the Qing period. We then pause for lunch together in a nearby restaurant before continuing north to Tamsui (Danshui). Once a bustling 19th-century port for European merchants, we stroll along its charming Old Street and visit Fort San Domingo, originally built by the Spanish in 1629, later occupied by the Dutch and eventually serving as the British Consulate. On return to our hotel, the remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Taipei (L)

Day 2 | Sunday 22 February
Taipei to Taroko
Departing Taipei this morning, we journey eastward along the spectacular coastal highway, where lush mountains rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean. En route, we pause at the Qingshui Cliffs, one of Taiwan’s most dramatic natural landmarks, where marble cliffs drop almost vertically into the turquoise sea. Entering Taroko National Park, we follow the winding road through the marble-walled gorge – one of Asia’s great scenic wonders – whose tunnels, bridges and river-carved chasms reveal the island’s complex geology. Our visits include the Taroko Gateway, the serene Xiangde Temple at Tianxiang, and the Eternal Spring Shrine, built to commemorate workers who lost their lives during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway. The gorge, named for the Truku Indigenous people, remains a sacred site to local communities. Later we check in to the elegant Silks Place Taroko, dramatically located within the park itself. Dinner this evening in is the hotel’s restaurant, offering regional cuisine surrounded by panoramic mountain views. Overnight Taroko (B, D)

Day 3 | Monday 23 February
Through the Central Mountains to Sun Moon Lake
Our journey today follows one of Taiwan’s most scenic routes – the Central Cross-Island Highway, an engineering marvel that traverses the island’s rugged interior. The route climbs through forested valleys and high passes of the Central Mountain Range, offering ever-changing vistas of peaks and waterfalls. We pause in the alpine region of Hehuanshan for a local lunch before descending towards the tranquil shores of Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest body of water. On arrival, we check in to The Lalu, an exceptional lakeside retreat blending minimalist design with views across the lake and surrounding mountains. The remainder of the afternoon is free to rest, enjoy the hotel’s facilities or stroll the scenic lakeside paths. This evening we dine together in the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, where fine seasonal ingredients reflect the harmony of the setting. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Tuesday 24 February
Sun Moon Lake
Set amidst verdant peaks at an elevation of 1,000 metres, Sun Moon Lake has long inspired poets, painters and travellers. Its distinctive shape – half resembling the sun, half the moon – gives the lake its name. This morning we visit a nearby Assam tea farm, learning about the history of Taiwan’s tea production, introduced during the Japanese era, and sample the delicate Oolong and black teas for which the region is renowned. A relaxed tour follows, tracing the lakeshore to Xuanguang Temple, built to honour the 7th-century monk Xuanzang, whose pilgrimages to India and subsequent translations of Buddhist texts profoundly shaped East Asian religious thought. The afternoon is then at leisure to further enjoy the serene natural setting. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B)

Day 5 | Wednesday 25 February
The Chung Tai World Museum
Following a talk in our hotel this morning, we travel to the nearby town of Puli to explore the Chung Tai World Museum, a magnificent complex affiliated with the Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Designed to reflect Buddhist cosmology, the museum contains an extensive collection of religious art, from delicate gilt bronzes and carved stone Buddhas to timber sculptures and exquisite calligraphy. Following lunch in the museum café, we continue with a guided tour of the main galleries, which illustrate the spread of Buddhism across Asia through artefacts from India, China, and the Southeast. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, L)

Day 6 | Thursday 26 February
To Tainan via Taichung
Departing Sun Moon Lake this morning, we drive westward to Taichung, Taiwan’s creative hub. Here we visit the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, a vast institution whose galleries chart the development of Taiwanese art from traditional Chinese influences to modern and contemporary expression. Its collection includes works from the Japanese colonial era, the post-war period and the rise of Taiwan’s modern art movements. After an early lunch together, we transfer to Taichung High-Speed Rail Station for the short, comfortable journey south to Tainan. On arrival, we begin with a guided visit to the acclaimed Chimei Museum, established by philanthropist Shi Wen-long, whose private collection includes European painting, sculpture, musical instruments and decorative arts – notably the world’s largest violin collection. We then check in to our hotel, followed by a relaxed evening. You may wish to stroll through Shennong Street, lined with traditional shop-houses now housing cafés and artisan boutiques, or sample local delicacies at the nearby Garden Night Market, one of Taiwan’s most vibrant evening scenes. Overnight Tainan (B, L)

Day 7 | Friday 27 February
Tainan and Chiayi
As Taiwan’s oldest city and former capital, Tainan is a living museum of the island’s layered history. We explore the atmospheric lanes of the old city this morning, visiting Anping Fort (formerly Fort Zeelandia), built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century, and the Confucius Temple, the oldest in Taiwan, with its tranquil courtyards and centuries-old banyan trees. Following lunch in a traditional Taiwanese restaurant, we continue our journey to Chiayi, a provincial centre known for its strong cultural identity. Here we visit the charming Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles, where we have the opportunity to make our own tile pin, and then ride the short Sugar Train to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, whose modern architecture houses masterpieces of Asian art. We conclude our day on check-in to our hotel. Overnight Chiayi (B, L)

Day 8 | Saturday 28 February
Lugang
Travelling north along the western plains today, we arrive at Lugang, once one of Taiwan’s busiest ports during the Qing dynasty. Its name – ‘Deer Harbour’ – recalls its early trade in deer hides and antlers. Today, the town is celebrated for its beautifully preserved heritage architecture and intricate temple carvings. We first visit the Tianhou Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, before exploring the Longshan Temple and the late 19th-century Koo Family Mansion, now the Lugang Folk Arts Museum. After together lunch at a local restaurant, we stroll along the lively Market Street, lined with traditional craft shops and local delicacies, followed by an afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace or relax at our boutique hotel. Overnight Lugang (B, L)

Day 9 | Sunday 1 March
To Taipei
We return to Taipei today, travelling via Miaoli County, where we pause to view the striking Longteng Bridge, a remnant of Taiwan’s early railway engineering designed during the Japanese colonial period and now preserved as a national monument. We also visit the nearby Shengxing Railway Station, an atmospheric timber structure built entirely without nails in the traditional “tiger-tooth” style. After lunch in a local restaurant, we continue to Taipei, where this evening we enjoy a private performance of traditional Taiwanese puppet theatre – a centuries-old art form originating from Fujian province and once performed outside temples to honour the gods. Overnight Taipei (B, L)

Day 10 | Monday 2 March
Jiufen & Shifen
Heading northeast today, we first visit the former gold-mining town of Jiufen, whose hillside lanes, tea houses and ocean views evoke Taiwan’s early 20th-century prosperity. After lunch, we continue to nearby Shifen, set along an old railway line, where we take part in the local sky lantern tradition – writing our wishes on paper lanterns before releasing them into the sky, a practice rooted in folklore and good fortune. We return to our hotel in the early evening. Overnight Taipei (B, L)

Day 11 | Tuesday 3 March
The National Palace Museum
This morning we visit the National Palace Museum, Taiwan’s most renowned cultural institution. Its vast collection of more than half a million treasures from China’s imperial palaces was brought to Taiwan in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek’s government. Among its highlights are ancient bronzes, jade carvings, Song-dynasty paintings, and delicate Ming and Qing porcelain. Following a guided introduction, there is ample time to explore the galleries independently using audio guides. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy Taipei at leisure – perhaps visiting the city’s night markets. Overnight Taipei (B)

Day 12 | Wednesday 4 March
Wanhua & Zhongzheng
After a talk in the hotel this morning, we embark on a tour of Taipei’s historic heartlands. In Wanhua, the city’s oldest district, we visit the richly decorated Longshan Temple, a masterpiece of traditional architecture founded in the 18th century and still an active place of worship. We then continue to Zhongzheng District to explore the monumental Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, whose vast plaza symbolically echoes Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, and ascend Taipei 101, the city’s iconic skyscraper, for sweeping views across the metropolis. Tonight we gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel’s acclaimed teppanyaki restaurant for a memorable finale to our journey. Overnight Taipei (B, D)

Day 13 | Thursday 5 March
Depart Taipei
Our tour concludes after breakfast. Day-use hotel rooms are available until 6.00pm before evening departures. (B)