Arrival at Taipei Taoyuan Airport early morning (flight not included / times to be reconfirmed).

Welcome by your English-speaking guide in the arrivals hall after passing through immigration and baggage claim (they will have a placard with your name on it). If you wish, you can easily purchase a local SIM card at the dedicated counter in the main hall (between 20 and 30 EUR depending on the validity), then transfer to your hotel in the heart of Taipei. Your room will be available at 3 p.m.; your luggage can be stored at the reception. In a teahouse, your guide will take care to introduce you to Taiwan, the spirit of your trip and the different stages of your program. Then, your first discoveries of the capital. You will go to the Taipei Botanical Garden, which presents more than 1,500 species of plants! Then, a stroll in the young and bustling district of Ximen (where your hotel is located), with its shops, improvised street performances, tattoo workshops and multiple possibilities for eating, especially in the evening. You’ll continue to Longshan Temple, the oldest temple in the city and certainly the most beautiful, especially when illuminated by the moon and its discreet lighting after dark. A very special atmosphere reigns here, in total contrast to the lively Monga Night Market, just a stone’s throw away (Guangzhou Street Night Market). This market has managed to remain authentic and frequented by locals. Overnight in Taipei, at the Just Sleep Ximending 3*+ (or similar).

Breakfast, meet your guide, and spend the day exploring the capital’s famous sites and monuments. You’ll begin your visit to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, an impressive monument dedicated to the great Chinese leader. The majestic hall overlooks more than 25 hectares of landscaped gardens, graceful pavilions, and ponds. An imposing statue of the late president watches over the city from the main building.

An elegant Ming-style arch at the main entrance is flanked by two classical-style buildings, the National Theater and the National Concert Hall. The square between the two buildings is a popular gathering place for festive occasions, but also for simply strolling with the family or relaxing with a book after a long day of work. Next, you’ll head to the National Palace Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Chinese art treasures (closed on Mondays). Then, head to the must-see Taipei 101, Taiwan’s tallest tower with its underground shopping mall and numerous fine restaurants and cafes. The 89th floor will be your vantage point, with a bird’s-eye view of the entire city.

Stunning at sunset! At the end of the day, if you wish, we can drop you off at the Shilin Night Market, one of the most famous on the island. Feel free to share a table with the locals to enjoy some freshly prepared dishes or skewers! Return to the hotel on your own. Overnight in Taipei, at the Just Sleep Ximending 3*+ (or similar).

This morning, we’ll set off to explore Yehliu Geological Park, with its impressive rock formations created by erosion and other natural forces. Among the rocks, the Queen’s Head is one of the most famous! But beyond this very touristy spot, take the time to venture out onto the peninsula. Venture to the highest point and its magnificent view of the ocean and cliffs. Lunch is free in the fishing village of Guihou, before continuing to Shifen; it’s the widest and most spectacular waterfall on the entire island! We’ll then paint our wishes on a Chinese lantern that we’ll launch from the rails of the old town. Finally, we’ll continue to Jiufen, a former mining town clinging to the mountainside, whose atmosphere inspired the famous manga “Spirited Away.” Today, it’s a veritable open-air market. Return to Taipei for your night at the Just Sleep Ximending 3*+ (or similar).

After breakfast, we head south along the coastal road to Sun Moon Lake. Along the way, we’ll stop in Lukang. Lukang boasts some of Taiwan’s most beautiful temples, including the temple of Matsu, the sea goddess feared and respected by sailors from China and Taiwan. Its temples offer unique architecture, unrivaled on the island, and are well worth a visit.

The streets of the old town are pleasant to explore on foot. The points of interest are generally surrounded by traditional pedestrian streets with a good number of shops and small restaurants where you can enjoy seafood and other steamed buns filled with vegetables and/or meat (at your own expense). Then we will head inland to Nantou and the shores of Sun Moon Lake. Cruise on the lake, and visit the Wenwu Taoist Temple before settling into the 3*+ LeaLea Hotel (or similar), for a well-deserved evening of rest!

Breakfast, and we’ll climb to Ci’En Pagoda for a beautiful panoramic view. A short bike ride along the riverbanks (about 45 minutes) before heading to Alishan via a beautiful mountain road. Alishan is a county known for its forest landscapes, its century-old train, and its tea. This afternoon, we’ll hike for about 2 hours up on the trails encircling the mountain where your guesthouse is located. Bamboo and pine forests and tea plantations will follow one another. Tea tasting at your guesthouse or in a tea house. Overnight at Our House (or similar), surrounded by tea gardens, with a 360° view of the valley and the sea of ​​clouds.

This morning, breakfast and a walk in the forest among thousand-year-old cypress trees (flexible duration to be discussed with your guide depending on the timing). Then you will board the Alishan train, one of the three last high-altitude trains in the world. Pass through the village of Fenchihu, its old alleys and stalls; it is here that you will find the most famous (and also the best) bento on the island, which you can taste for your lunch (at your expense).

Next, head to the unmissable former capital of Taiwan, for a historical, cultural, and culinary discovery of the island. You’ll visit some major sites, but above all, take the time to lose yourself in the maze of dead ends and alleys that give Tainan’s city center an undeniable old-world charm. Here, take the time to live, savoring tea in a vintage cafe while observing picturesque street scenes. You’ll visit Fort Anping, and the Tree House, a former warehouse. The name “tree house” refers to the living roots and branches of the banyan tree that cover the building.

Dinner on your own and overnight at the 3-star Hotel A (or similar). We highly recommend venturing into one of the street food alleys or to one of the famous night markets, where you’ll experience an incredible local atmosphere of scents, flavors, and bustle, where you can improvise some snacks in this city renowned for its culinary specialties. Your guide will be happy to advise you.

Breakfast, then you will be taken through the ancient alleys of Tainan, and to discover the Koxinga Temple, the Confucius Temple, or Fort Provintia, before attending the Taiwan Drum Concert, a traditional and historical art of Chinese culture. The end of the day is free for time at your own pace and to enjoy the picturesque atmosphere that emanates from Tainan. You can venture to the unmissable Hayashi Department Store for a little shopping, with its art deco facade dating from 1932 during the Japanese colonial era. It is the oldest shopping center in Taiwan. Dinner on your own and overnight at the 3* Hotel A (or similar).

Early breakfast and drive to Kenting, the national park renowned for Cape Maobitou, one of the southernmost points of the island of Taiwan. We will follow the sea and its immense beaches as far as the eye can see. Pass through Longpan National Park, on the opposite side of the island. Splendid views of the Pacific Ocean, often in strong winds! We continue our journey north. Late arrival in Taitung, at the very end of the day. Check-in in Zhiben (outside Taitung) at the 3*+ Hoya Resort Hotel. Your hotel has natural hot springs with baths, for a relaxing evening (free access, until 11 p.m.)!

Breakfast and drive north of the region along its spectacular coastal road. But before that, we will spend time at Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue, a site crisscrossed by country roads winding through lush green rice paddies popular with walkers and cyclists. Golf cart rental. Then it will be time to explore the famous site of Sanxiantai, composed of islands and coral reefs. You will see three enormous rocks that have spawned legends about three Chinese saints: Lyu-Dongbin, Li-Tieguai and He-Xiangu, who landed on the island, hence the name (The Island of the Three Saints). The place is famous for its long walkway evoking the body of a dragon, which connects the coast to the largest island. Arrival in Hualien at the end of the day. Overnight at the Just Sleep Hotel 3*+.

Breakfast, then return to Taipei via the Yilan region and the cliff road, which offers breathtaking views. Stop at the Qingshui lookout overlooking the China Sea (access currently closed – Uncertain for the coming months / This does not prevent you from enjoying superb views during the journey!). Continue to the Wufengqi waterfalls for about 1 hour of walking. You can then relax at the traditional Japanese geothermal springs, that is to say without clothing, at Jiaoxi. The site developed during the Japanese occupation and today represents the preferred destination for Taiwanese people on weekends. If you prefer, it is possible to go to a hotel to enjoy its springs, in a swimsuit. In both cases, the access fees are your responsibility (not included). Not far from there, there is also the possibility of enjoying a fish spa where small fish come to tickle your feet (at your expense)! Arrival in Taipei in the late afternoon. Overnight at Just Sleep Ximending 3*+ (or similar).

Breakfast and free time until your transfer to the airport for your return flight to Paris (flight not included / times to be reconfirmed). Rooms must be vacated by 12:00 p.m. Your luggage may be stored at your hotel reception until your departure to the airport.

End of our services. Our teams wish you a pleasant flight home!