Taiwan

Day 1. Friday: Brisbane - Taipei Flight Meals
This afternoon we are transferred from the Northern Rivers to the Brisbane International terminal where we board our overnight flight to Taipei with China Airlines.
Flight departs Brisbane.

Day 2. Saturday: Taipei Dinner
We arrive into Taipei early this morning where we are met by our local guide. As we make our way to our accommodation for an early check in, our guide will give us information on our program for this afternoon commencing with an eye-opening city tour of Taipei, which includes the impressive C.K.S. Memorial Hall. Later in the day we meet at the hotel restaurant for our first dinner tonight as a group. After dinner we visit Longshan Temple and Snake Alley.

Day 3. Sunday: Taipei - Taichung
An exciting day begins at the National Palace Museum where 5,000 years of Chinese Imperial arts and jade collections are exhibited. We then visit Martyrs’ Shrine where we will see the Changing of the Guard, Taipei 101 - one of the world’s tallest buildings and more. If good weather prevails on the day, time will permit for a visit to the Taipei 101 Observatory (Own cost).The views are fantastic and it’s definitely a “must experience”.We depart Taipei and proceed south via the Western Coastline enjoying a stop at the Wood Carving Village of Sanyi, before continuing to the provincial City of Taichung for our overnight stay.

Day 4. Monday: Taichung - Puli - Sun Moon Lake - Kaohsiung
After breakfast and hotel check out we travel into the scenic and lofty mountains of central Taiwan and Puli, here we enjoy a fascinating visit to the Chung Tai Monastery with a resident monk as our guide. We then continue onto Sun Moon Lake, situated 762 metres above sea level. Sit back and relax on our cruise on scenic Sun Moon Lake whilst enjoying a packed lunch. After our cruise we take the Cable Car to the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village which has been established to preserve the cultural heritage of Taiwan's nine hill-tribe houses and their living styles. Later this afternoon we travel back to Taichung and board the High Speed Rail to Kaohsiung - Taiwan’s second largest city.

Day 5. Tuesday: Kaohsiung
A great day of exploration and sightseeing awaits starting with a Kaohsiung City Tour in the morning. Our tour includes a ferry ride to Chichin Island, a long narrow island that forms a natural breakwater protecting Kaohsiung Harbour. Enjoy a traditional Tricycle Ride as Chichin is the only place in Taiwan where we can still ride a traditional three-wheeled pedicab (tricycle) powered by men in Chinese costume…a unique experience indeed! Later we catch the ferry back to Kaohsiung and proceed on to Lotus Lake, a lovely man-made lake adorned by various Chinesestyle structures including the ornate Spring and Autumn Pavilions located over the water. Enjoy a “60 minute body or foot massage” We are then transferred to Kaoshiung Pier 2. Once an abandoned and forgotten warehouse, a group of persistent artist have injected waves of creativity and inspiration creating Pier 2. A place tourist and locals can come together to enjoy fine art, bringing a new sense of vitality and liveliness back to the area. We return back to our hotel where we enjoy dinner this evening. Those wishing may like to venture down to the Liuhe Night Market which is just a 10 minute stroll from the hotel and which is a must visit market while in Kaohsiung. The highlight of the market is seafood. There are many stands selling, crab, shrimp, octopus, and squid.

Day 6. Wednesday: Kaohsiung - Taipei
An early morning check out and departure this morning to board the Alishan Forest Train departing from Chiayl . The narrow guage railway was originally built by the Japanese to transport logs out of the forest. We take a short ride on the nostalgic passenger train as it winds it way up the steep mountain through misty forests. After disembarking from the train we visit the Train Garage Park at Chiayl City which is the base of the Alishan Forest
Railway. Here we will find a garage, repair facilities and a car wash. Parked in the garage is a collection of every sort of train and equipment imaginable. If you are a railroad fan, a visit here will certainly make for a rewarding experience. But even if you are not, you are likely to be moved by the historical significance of these old trains. In addition to the little train parked here, known as the “Black Head” old steam locomotive, there are also diesel
engines, early cypress cars, dining cars, and the like. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant we return back to Taipei from Chiayl by “High Speed Rail. On arrival we transfer to our hotel to freshen up before dinner

Day 7. Thursday: Taroko Gorge
This morning after an early breakfast we depart Taipei by coach for our full day tour to discover the stunning Taroko Gorge, a natural attraction created by a river which has cut deep into the mountains of solid marble. A road carved into sheer walls of rock snakes its way past forested peaks and cliffs towering thousands of feet above it, while
hundreds of feet below a river roars past gigantic marble boulders. We visit one of the World’s largest marble factories with its impressive displays and massive showrooms. Stops are also made at Evergreen Shrine, Swallow Grotto, Marble Bridge and Tienshiang. Taroko Gorge is spectacular in every sense and will be one of the major highlights of the tour. We then enjoy a delicious lunch (mix of Asian and Western cuisine) at Silks Place Taroko

Day 8. Friday: Free Day
After breakfast enjoy a free day at leisure. Our hotel is centrally located close to many of Taipei’s shopping and tourist districts with convenient and in-expensive public transport options. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train system is adjacent to the hotel and you can travel from one side of Taipei to the other in half an hour. Browse the endless shops in search of that unique souvenir or local bargain, take the opportunity to revisit any of the cities tourist attractions or sites, the choice is ours, so let’s make the most of the day. Tonight we meet at the hotel before we are transferred for dinner. This evening we enjoy a delicious Mongolian BBQ. After dinner there will be time to visit one of the famous Taipei Night Markets - Taipei Tonghua Night Market or Taipei Shida Night Market are bothsituated within a couple of kilometres of the hotel.

Day 9. Saturday: Taipei - Brisbane
Regrettably it’s our last day in Taiwan. For convenience we have arranged a leisurely breakfast and a later than normal hotel checkout. Enjoy a special farewell from Taiwan when we visit one of Taipei’s original icons, the luxurious and ornate Taipei Grand Hotel for a traditional afternoon tea. It is a grand experience and sheer indulgence with a capital “I” so make sure you save plenty of room in your tummies. Late this afternoon we depart the City en-route to CKS International Airport with a visit to Yingko pottery town. overnight flight with China Airlines back to Brisbane.

Day 10. Sunday:
Brisbane After a pleasant flight we arrive at Brisbane International airport. After clearing customs and immigration we are transferred home to the Northern Rivers taking with us unforgettable memories of our trip to Taiwan with Trade
Travel.