Eastern Beauty 5 Day Private Tour (Classic)

On day two we’ll head south down the coast, making many stops along the way to check out the regions astonishingly varied coastal terrain. We’ll stop to visit the Baxian, or “eight deities” caves, known both for their geological features and religious iconography. Further down the coast, we’ll stop for a hike in Sanxiantai, whose long arched footbridge connects the rocky coast with a neighboring island. In the afternoon we’ll visit the town of Dulan, known for its tribal artists, surfing scene and laid-back vibe before a quick stop at the sugar factory.

On day three we’ll visit a most unusual museum, one made not of brick and glass but of interconnected trees, part of a forest preserve maintained and protected by members of the local Bunun tribe. We’ll learn about the lives and cultures of SE Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, enjoy tribal cuisine, and even do a bit of tree climbing ourselves. Afterward, we’ll head back to Taitung city to chill out and explore.

Having reached the southern extent of our tour, we'll begin the trek back north, traveling through the spectacular Rift Valley. With the coastal mountains to the east and the central mountains to the west, we'll pass through some of Taiwan's most gorgeous landscape. Activities for today include a bicycle ride through the rice paddies in Chishang, a visit to the Tropic of Cancer Marker, and fresh ice cream at the Guangfu Sugar Factory. We'll head back to Hualien to enjoy local snacks at the at Hualien Golden Triangle Shopping District before checking into our hotel.

On the last day of our Eastern Beauty Tour, we'll head to Taroko Gorge and spend some time exploring the place some call Taiwan's Grand Canyon. We'll drive along a picturesque road quite literally carved into the canyon walls, stopping for lunch with a marvelous view, visit a temple, shrine or waterfall, and even take a brief hike into the gorge itself. After gorging ourselves on scenery, we'll head back to the coast for the final leg of our Eastern Beauty Tour - a spectacular evening drive back up the eastern coast.