ULTIMATE TAIWAN

Landing in Taiwan’s capital, you’ll be transferred by private car to your palatial hotel in the buzzing neighbourhood of Zhongshan.

Setting out with your guide, you’ll discover everything from the impressive monument of Chiang Kai-shek to the National Palace Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese artefacts. At 509m, the bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 dominates Taipei’s skyline, and offers unrivalled views from its 89th floor observatory. You’ll stop for dinner at Michelin-starred Din Tai Feng, leaving room to sample some of the delectable street food on offer in Rahoe, one of Taipei’s oldest night markets.

The following day, you’ll visit the incredible rock formations at Yehliu Geographic Park, the scenic Shifen Waterfall, and the old gold mining town of Jiufen, where closely-packed houses cling to steep mountainsides. After exploring the charming Shifen railway station area, you’ll conclude your time in Taipei by releasing sky lanterns – a classic Taiwanese tradition.

Stay: Three nights in a Deluxe Room at The Grand Hotel

Today you’ll visit to the salt fields at Beinan, a popular sunset spot where you can see the traditional drying, raking and harvesting of salt. Not to mention the striking Beinan Crystal Church.

Next stop is Tainan, a former Dutch colony and Taiwan’s oldest city. Top sights include the Confucius Temple, the Chihkan Tower and the 17th century Aping Fort and Treehouse. A cruise down the Sicaco Green Tunnel is an essential Tainan experience. Known to the locals as the ‘Little Amazon River’, the mangrove forests on either side of the tunnel grow together to form an enchanting natural corridor.

Later, you’ll visit the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Caoshan, an impressive expanse of badlands with fascinating geological features. You’ll then round up your time with a musical performance at Tem Drums Cultural Village.

Stay: Two nights in a Superior Room at The Place Hotel

Your journey now brings you to southern Taiwan and the bustling port city of Kaohsiung. Enjoy visits to pretty Lotus Lake and its profusion of temples, including the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and the ​​Spring and Autumn Pavilions. Stop by the monastery of Fo Guang Shan to see a giant bronze Buddha and get a deeper insight into one of the island’s major religions. In the afternoon, head to the Great Harbor Bridge to witness Taiwan’s first horizontally rotating landscape bridge in action.

You can also hop on a ferry to the little island of Qijin, where you’ll find a lively old street, sandy beaches and the 300-year-old Tianhou Temple. Back on the mainland, spend some time at the Pier 2 Art Centre, before dedicating the evening to exploring the 138 stalls of the Liuhe Night Market.

Stay: Two nights in a Superior Room at Grand Hi Lai Hotel

You now arrive in Taitung on the southeast coast, where Taiwan’s largest and most complete prehistoric settlement was discovered. Relics recovered from the site at Beinan Cultural Park, which include pottery, stone tools and jade, can be viewed at the Museum of Prehistory. Finish your day with a romantic evening stroll through Tiehua Music Village, a creative haven for Taitung’s emerging artists and musicians.

The next day, visit the seaside area of Xiaoyeliu to examine a myriad of unique sandstone rock formations, as well as the serene lake at Taitung Forest Park. The beach and islands at ​​Sanxiantai are also worth exploring, where three huge rocks have spawned legends about Chinese saints. Finish at the Amis Folk Centre.

Stay: Two nights in a Knight King Room at Sheraton Taitung Hotel

One of the nine national parks in Taiwan, Taroko National Park is renowned for its spectacular mountains and canyons. The Taroko Gorge, a 19km marble-walled canyon carved out by the Liwu River, gives the park its name.

Soak up the incredible landscapes along the popular Shakadang Trail and the Tunnel of Nine Turns. The latter covers the most scenic section of Taroko Gorge, where you can closely observe the faults, folds and layering of the marble walls. At Swallow Grotto, you can see birds like house swifts and Pacific swallows forage and nest in small holes in the marble cliff face. Finish at the Eternal Spring Shrine, a lovely temple set atop a natural spring that gushes out of the rocks into a waterfall.

Stay: One night in a Grand View Taroko Suite at Taroko Village Hotel

Head back to Taipei, where you’ll enjoy one final night before your return journey home. Relax at your hotel or visit the National Centre of Traditional Arts, which sits beside the beautiful Dongshan River in Yilan.

Stay: One night in a Deluxe Room at The Grand Hotel

Transfer to Taoyuan Airport for your return flight home.