Taiwan

Cultural Treasures & Inspiring Landscapes

Explore this overlooked jewel among Asia’s diverse destinations, with a thriving arts scene and a vibrant traditional culture.

tour snapshot

  • September 15-25, 2024 | 11 Days

  • $9,860 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)

    $2,860 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel room

    A $1,000 AUD non-refundable deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour.

  • 10 nights’ accommodation in centrally located 4 and 5-star hotels. All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 2 dinners. Services of an expert tour leader and an experienced tour manager throughout. All ground transport, entrance fees and tipping.

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  • Waitlist. Tour Full.
    Bookings are closed for this tour.

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  • Grade Two. This tour is designed for people who lead active lives.

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Tour Status: Waitlist - Tour Full

 

tour overview

Long off the tourist radar, Taiwan has more recently become one of the must-see destinations for travellers drawn to its extraordinary history, stunning scenery and spectacular collections of traditional and contemporary art.

Named “Ilha Formosa’ – the beautiful island – by 16th-century Portuguese explorers, Taiwan’s history changed forever when Chiang Kai Shek evacuated his nationalist government here from the mainland in 1949. Today the island blends vibrant modernity with a respect for the past, where traditional art and architecture still thrive.

Our 11-day tour begins in Taipei before heading South, with the temples, houses and streetscapes of the historic towns of Tainan and Lugang. We then spend three days on the shores of spectacular Sun Moon Lake, exploring the nearby monasteries and museums and relaxing on gentle lake and forest walks. The last part of our itinerary takes us back to Taipei, the bustling capital and home to the world-famous National Palace Museum and other interesting institutions.

 

tour highlights

This 11-day tour offers an insight into one of Asia’s most underrated destinations.

 

your expert tour leader

Judy Tenzing is a historian with a passion for all things South Asian – India, the Himalaya, Myanmar, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Her deep knowledge and love for the history, music, textiles and literature of these regions adds a rich dimension to the tours she leads. Judy has a degree in South Asian History as well as post graduate qualifications in secondary teaching. She has taught at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education – offering courses in the histories of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and Myanmar, as well as courses on the religions and cultural traditions of these regions.

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In good hands...

In addition to your expert tour leader, you will be accompanied by a trained tour manager for the duration of the tour. Our tour managers will ensure your safety and comfort on tour, while also overseeing the behind-the-scenes logistics. Our tour managers are great travel companions who ensure your needs are well taken care of. From offering suggestions for your free time, to a lively chat at dinner or even providing space for a quiet moment of reflection, rest assured you are in good hands when travelling.

tour itinerary

Taipei (1 night), Tainan (1 night), Lugang (1 night), Sun Moon Lake (3 nights), Taipei (4 nights)

 

Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D.

  • The tour starts on Sunday 15 September, at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei, with a transfer to the hotel.

    The tour ends on Wednesday 25 September, at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei.

  • Flights from Australia arrive in Taipei early in the morning. We are met by our tour leader and guide at the airport before transfer by coach to our hotel. After an early check-in and time to freshen up, we meet for a tour of historic Taipei, visiting both the Linan Tai Historical House and Fort San Domingo before enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Overnight Taipei (L)

  • This morning we take the fast train to Tainan. Upon arrival we explore some of the historic sites of Tainan, the island’s first capital and site of the overthrow of the Dutch colonialists by the folk-hero Koxinga. Tainan preserves a very atmospheric city centre, with narrow laneways, traditional shop-houses and dozens of ancient temples. Our sightseeing includes the Dutch Fort Zeelandia, centuries-old Daoist temples and the city’s splendid 17th-century Confucian temple, the oldest in Taiwan. After a lunch at which we sample some of Tainan’s well-regarded delicacies, the afternoon is free. You might like to participate in High Tea at the Shangri-la Hotel for your first taste of Taiwan’s highly regarded Oolong tea. This evening there is the option of heading out to Tainan’s vibrant night markets, where traditional ‘small eats’ abound. Overnight Tainan (B, L)

  • After a morning talk, we depart Tainan, and head north along the island’s seaboard to the town of Lugang. Lugang is Taiwan’s most interesting historic town and was the second largest settlement on the island during the 1700s. Highlights of our visit include the vibrant Tianhou temple, a Daoist place of worship, as well as the Koo family mansion. Built during the Japanese period, it contains interesting displays of furniture, art and design of the 18th and 19th centuries. We have lunch in Lugang before visiting the Longshan Buddhist temple to view the fine wood carvings that decorate its ceilings and roofs. Overnight Lugang (B, L)

  • This morning we head to Taichung to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts. Mainly dedicated to visual arts, the museum places a large emphasis on works by upcoming and established contemporary Taiwanese artists and features an outdoor sculpture garden. The collection also includes documents from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and works from the Japanese era through to the period following the Second World War, effectively documenting Taiwan’s history through its art. We continue to Sun Moon Lake, our base for the next three nights. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, L)

  • Sun Moon Lake is some 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by steep mountains. Strict planning laws have preserved the natural environment of the lake. This morning we journey around the lake, visiting the Syanzuang and Syuangang temples that occupy a picturesque location on the lake shore. The temples preserve the relics of one of China’s most famous Buddhists, the monk Xuan Zang. In the early 7th century Xuan Zang made pilgrimages throughout China and as far as India, collecting some 657 Sanskrit texts of Buddhism (sutras). He had an enormous influence on Chinese Buddhism. After a lunch break in a local village we visit an Assam tea farm and experience first-hand the art of Taiwanese tea making. The afternoon is free for you to wander the well-maintained lakeside walks near the hotel, enjoying the lush vegetation, bird life and architecture of the lake. This everning we enjoy dinner together in one of our hotel’s excellent restaurants. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, D)

  • Today we visit the Chung Tai World Museum, located near the town of Puli, about 40 minutes’ drive from Sun Moon Lake. Opened in October 2009, this superb museum is adjacent to the main Chung Tai Chan Temple and contains an outstanding collection of Buddhist art in stone, gilded bronze and wood, beautifully displayed with comprehensive explanations in English. It easily ranks as one of the world’s great collections of Buddhist art, and it is simply a matter of time before it enjoys an international reputation. After lunch in a local restaurant, we return to Sun Moon Lake with the evening at leisure. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, L)

  • We return to Taipei today, travelling via the township of Miaoli where we visit the remains of the Longteng Bridge, a masterpiece in Taiwan’s Railway history. Designed by American engineers for the Japanese colonial government, the bridge was damaged by several successive earthquakes and is now a monument to these events. We also visit the old Shengxing Train Station, built entirely of wood in the Japanese huya or tiger-tooth style, traditionally constructed without nails or glue as a means of warding off evil spirits. Today, many artifacts from the Japanese occupation period can still be seen here and we’ll enjoy a cafe lunch before continuing on to our hotel in Taipei. This evening we attend a performance of Chinese Opera at the Taipei Eye, home of Taiwan’s traditional performing arts. Overnight Taipei (B, L)

  • Today we make our way northeast of Taipei, heading to the coast to visit the popular sites at Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen. Yehliu is known for the Geopark, an impressive landscape of honeycomb and rock formations carved by sea erosion, weathering and earth movements. Keep an eye out for the Queen’s Head, the Fairy’s Shoe and the Yehliu Turtle. There is then time to explore the winding alleyways, shops and tea houses of the traditional towns of Jiufen and Shifen before we meet for lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to participate in the local sky lantern tradition, where wishes are written onto a traditional lantern before releasing it skywards, a nod to the days when locals sent sky lanterns up to notify others when the area was safe from bandits. Overnight Taipei (B, L)

  • This morning we have a city tour of the Wanhua and Zhongzheng districts, where we find some of Taipei’s best sites. One of Taipei’s oldest districts, Wanhua is home to many historic buildings including the impressive and colourful Longshan Temple. Established around 1740 by Chinese settlers, the temple has been rebuilt several times following damage from earthquake, fire and bombing during WW2 and hosts daily chanting ceremonies. The Zhongzheng district is home to many of Taipei’s government buildings. Here we visit the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, whose monumental forecourt consciously mimics Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, referencing Taiwan’s dramatic 20th century history. We also have the opportunity to visit the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper, inspired by Chinese pagodas and offering unparalleled views across Taipei from its 89th floor observatory. The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Taipei (B)

  • We enjoy a relaxed start to the day before we meet mid-morning and make our way to the National Palace Museum, Taiwan’s most famous cultural institution. The museum’s collection is based on the careful selection of over 500,000 artefacts and artworks from China’s imperial collection taken by Chian Kai Shek in 1949 as he retreated from the communists. Stored in the hills near Taipei after a long and often dramatic journey the pieces, representing the very finest in Chinese art and including ancient bronzes and jade pieces, exquisite Ming porcelain and fine paintings from the Song Dynasty, eventually became the basis of the museum’s collection. There is free time to explore the collection after our guided introduction. This evening we meet at our hotel’s fine restaurant for our farewell dinner. Overnight Taipei (B, D)

  • Our tour ends after breakfast today, but we have full day use of our hotel rooms in anticipation of evening flights to Australia. Later, we head to Taipei’s international airport for afternoon flights. (B)

  • The accommodation we have arranged is excellent, with 4 and 5-star hotels throughout.

    • Taipei, Regent Hotel (5 nights, total)

    • Tainan, Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (1 night)

    • Lugang, Union House (1 night)

    • Sun Moon Lake, The Lalu Hotel - Lake View Rooms (3 nights)

tour booking

$9,860 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$2,860
AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel room

A $1,000 deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour. This deposit is non-refundable.

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your tour consultant

The consultant for this tour is Jamal Fairbrother. For further information or to discuss the tour, please call 9235 0023 (Sydney) or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email jamal@academytravel.com.au

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