Arrival at Taipei Taoyuan Airport (flight not included / schedule to be reconfirmed). Welcome by your English-speaking guide in the arrivals hall after passing through immigration and baggage claim (he will have a sign with your name on it), then transfer to your hotel in the heart of Taipei to settle in or drop off your luggage (your room will be officially available from 2 p.m.). Your guide will take care to introduce you to Taiwan, the spirit of your trip and the different stages of your program.

Lunch at leisure. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner included, with your guide. Overnight stay in Taipei at the 3-star PaPa Whale Hotel (or similar).

Breakfast, and a day dedicated to exploring the capital’s famous sites and monuments. You’ll begin your day at 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, as well as for simply strolling with the family or relaxing with a book after a hard day’s work.

Lunch, and continue to the Boan Temple and the Confucius Temple, built over 230 years ago, making it one of the oldest temples on the island. You will then head to the National Palace Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese art treasures. A quick stop at the Grand Hotel, which dates back to 1952 and was built facing the Keelung River like a 14-story palace based on an architectural concept derived from an East-West fusion, making it a beautiful expression of Chinese art based on modern Western architecture. It will then be time, in the late afternoon, to head to the Shilin Night Market, one of the most famous on the island. Don’t hesitate to share a table with the locals to enjoy some freshly prepared dishes or skewers! Return to your hotel. Overnight in Taipei, at the PaPa Whale 3* Hotel (or similar).

Breakfast and day trip outside the city. An hour’s drive will take you to Yehliu Geographic Park, on the northeast coast. Yehliu is famous for its natural rock formations, which are an incredible array of artistic forms 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 wander further afield on the peninsula.

The trail is primarily used for hiking in the natural environment and birdwatching. Venture to the highest point and its magnificent view of the ocean and cliffs. You’ll be alone in the world! Lunch, return to Taipei and don’t miss the unmissable Taipei 101, the tallest tower in Taiwan with its underground shopping center and its many refined restaurants and cafes. The 89th floor will be your vantage point with a bird’s eye view of the entire city. Finally, at the end of the day, enjoy a bike ride along Riverside Park.

Stretching along the riverbanks between Zhongshan and Dazhi Bridges in Taipei’s Zhongshan District, Dajia Riverside Park is an urban greenery project inspired by an effort initiated by the city government to straighten the course of the Keelung River. The park boasts sports facilities for basketball, tennis, badminton, and croquet, as well as a mile-long bike path. A popular weekend getaway known for its spaciousness, convenient parking, and scenic beauty, Dajia Riverside Park hosts major events that showcase Taipei’s metropolitan vibrancy. Dinner and overnight stay at the 3-star PaPa Whale Hotel (or similar).

Breakfast, and new discoveries of the daily life of Taipei residents. Your day will begin with a Tai Chi session, in the heart of Park 228 (Peace Park). A teacher will introduce you to Tai Chi for an hour, and you will be able to observe the locals practicing this martial art every morning in the park’s alleys. A pleasant moment of tranquility in this green lung in the heart of the city. Then head to the North of Taipei, with Beitou and Yangmingshan National Park on the program. Beitou is a district of Taipei located in a valley carved by a river at the origin of the hot springs of the region, and which are the main attractions. Here you can discover the history behind the place by visiting notable places: the Beitou Library (Taiwan’s first green library) or the thermal valley which is the very heart of the hot springs of the region.

The site is quite touristy, but is located on your way, hence the interest in lingering there for a few moments, at your convenience of course. Lunch, then you will leave towards Yangmingshan, which is the third largest national park in Taiwan, and which has natural landscapes changing colors according to the seasons: fields of flowers in spring, snow-capped mountains in winter. During your visit to the park, you will have the opportunity to visit places where traces of volcanic activity can be found, but also the plains and hills of Qingtiangang and the flower fields of Zhuzihu.

A visit to the park will also be an opportunity to discover the former summer residence and reception hall for foreign visitors of President Chiang Kai-shek, now a place with obvious intellectual and cultural echoes. To recharge your batteries at the end of the day, you can take a foot bath in one of the park’s many hot springs. Return to Taipei, dinner, and overnight at the 3* PaPa Whale Hotel (or similar).

Breakfast, and departure to the Yilan region via the fifth longest tunnel in the world (12.9km)!

Continue to Hualien via the East Coast Cliff Road, which offers breathtaking views. Stop at the Qingshui Lookout overlooking the South China Sea. Lunch en route. Arrive at Taroko National Park, where you can walk along the trails to the Swallow Cave and Shakadang. Dinner at the hotel for a meal with aboriginal flavors. Overnight in Taroko, surrounded by nature, at the 3-star Taroko Village Hotel. (Accommodation in Hualien City is possible subject to availability).

After breakfast, head to Sun Moon Lake, via the Central Ridge Road, passing Mount Hehuan, which rises to 3,275 meters above sea level, the highest point of the route, from where you have the most beautiful view of the island’s central mountain range. Lunch en route. Private boat cruise on the lake. Dinner, and overnight stay at Sun Moon Lake, at the LeaLea Hotel 3*+ (or similar).

Today, visit the Wenwu Taoist Temple, and head to the unmissable ancient capital of Taiwan for a historical, cultural, and culinary discovery of the island. You’ll visit several 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. We’ll take you through the ancient alleys, then to discover the Koxinga Temple, the Confucius Temple, and Fort Anping, before ending the morning with a visit to Fort Provintia. Lunch, then this afternoon we will attend the Taiwan Drum Concert, a traditional and historical art of Chinese culture, before ending your day with a little shopping in the unmissable Hayashi Department Store with its art deco facade dating from 1932 during the Japanese colonial era. It is the oldest shopping center in Taiwan.

Dinner and overnight stay at the 3-star FX Hotel (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 excitement, where you can improvise some snacks in this city renowned for its culinary specialties. To be arranged with your guide.

Breakfast and departure for the east coast of the island. You will reach the Taitung region. You will follow the southern shores and pass through Kenting National Park, famous for Cape Maobitou, which is one of the southernmost points of the island of Taiwan. Continue to Longpan National Park and its lighthouse at the southern tip of Taiwan. Lunch en route. Arrive in Taitung and check into the 3-star Hoya Resort Hotel (or similar). Your hotel has natural hot springs and baths. Dinner and overnight stay in Taitung.

Breakfast and departure to explore Taitung and its surrounding area. You can hike in the hills above the city, with beautiful views of the sea, such as those offered by the Dawu Sea View Trail, or the Liyu Mountain Trail with its century-old banyan trees. Drive to the north of the region along its spectacular coastal road bordering the Dulan National Forest. Stop at the Xiaoyehliu site, where picturesque sandstone rock formations plunge into the sea. Lunch, then visit Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue, a site crisscrossed by country roads winding through lush green rice paddies popular with walkers and cyclists. Return to Taitung for your night. Dinner and overnight at the 3* Hoya Resort Hotel (or similar).

Breakfast, then transfer to Taitung Station for your train to Taipei. This railway offers beautiful scenery. Allow approximately 4 hours for a journey aboard a local train for a truly Taiwanese experience. Arrive in Taipei and transfer to your hotel, the 3-star PaPa Whale (or similar), for check-in.

Lunch and a stroll through the young and vibrant Ximen district, with its shops, impromptu street performances, tattoo shops, and numerous dining options, especially in the evening. If time permits, you’ll take a look at the giant wall and its armored gates that protect Taipei from flooding during summer typhoons; this is an integral part of the city’s identity.

You’ll continue to Lungshan Temple, the city’s oldest temple and certainly the most beautiful, especially when illuminated by the moon and its discreet lighting after dark. A very special atmosphere reigns here, in stark contrast to the lively Monga Night Market, just a stone’s throw away (Guangzhou Street Night Market). You’ll head there and enjoy an impromptu dinner there or at a local restaurant in the area. This market has managed to remain authentic and is very popular with locals. Overnight in Taipei.

Breakfast, then you’ll head to Pingxi and Shifen, small traditional mountain villages crossed by the railway. These two villages are among Taiwan’s most popular destinations, where tradition and history meet. Your first stop is Pingxi, where you can try your hand at releasing lanterns, symbols of peace and prosperity on which you can write your wishes before releasing them into the sky. Next, you’ll head to Shifen and its ancient streets, full of romantic and nostalgic beauty. Not far from there is the famous Shifen waterfall, located in the middle of the forest and which you’ll reach on foot. You’ll be able to admire its somewhat isolated setting, and the mist rising from the basin can lead to the appearance of rainbows.

Lunch, then you’ll head to Jiufen Village, one of Taiwan’s must-see destinations. With its teahouses and narrow streets, red lanterns and sweeping views of the China Sea, Jiufen is a place steeped in history and tradition, inspiring many artists over the years.

Continue to the northeasternmost part of the region, located by the sea, which offers astonishing landscapes: coral reefs, amazing rock formations transforming the coast into a veritable sculpture garden and mountains plunging into the sea. Return to the land to discover the old mining town of Jinguashi, a fascinating dive into the region’s past, notably with its golden waterfall, with colorful hues evoking the precious metal once mined there. This visit will also be an opportunity to visit an old gold mine, now abandoned, witness to the tumultuous past shared by Taiwan and Japan. Return to the PaPa Whale 3* hotel (or similar). Dinner and overnight in Taipei.

Breakfast and free time until your transfer to the airport for your return flight to Paris (flight not included / times to be reconfirmed). Lunch and dinner are at your leisure.

Note: Rooms must be vacated by 12:00 noon. Your luggage may be stored at your hotel reception until your departure time to the airport.

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