12 Day Tour - Discover Taiwan. Brochure For more information or to book your place, or visit pedaltaiwan.

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1 12 Day Tour - Discover Taiwan Brochure 2018

2 The Pedal Taiwan Discover Taiwan Tour The 12-day, 781km Pedal Taiwan cycling tour offers a unique opportunity to ride stunning and challenging routes, in one of the most beauaful corners of the world. With its imposing mountain ranges (Jade Mountain stands at nearly 4000m), rolling paddy fields, gorgeous ocean roads, ultra-modern cycle lanes and world-famous cuisine, Taiwan provides the perfect blend of safety, comfort and adventure to make it an ideal locaaon to explore by bike. StarAng in the capital, Taipei, you ll head east through the lush hills surrounding Taiwan s capital, finding natural hot springs, waterfalls and hidden mountain communiaes along the way. You then hit the coast, where the East China Sea meets the Pacific, and from here hug the rugged coastline unal we begin one of South East Asia s most beauaful and challenging climbs, high into Taiwan s central mountains. But what goes up must come down, so ater reaching the peak you ll enjoy the once in a lifeame opportunity to glide more than 3000 veracal metres down through the iconic marble cliffs of Taroko Gorge, before a rest day exploring the food markets in the culinary capital of Taiwan - Hualien. Back on the bike, you ll meander through miles of ancient paddy fields and farming villages in Taiwan s RiT Valley, before rejoining the undulaang coastal road and following it all the way to Taiwan s southernmost Ap, KenAng. A surfing hot spot, grab a board or simply chill on the beach with an ice cold beer. To wrap things up, you ll complete your circuit of Taiwan by taking the High Speed Rail with a top speed of 300km/h back up the west coast to Taipei. ATer a day of seeing the sights, enjoy a memorable hot pot dinner in one of Taipei s best-loved local restaurants to conclude the tour. With a vastly experienced guide and a support vehicle with you at all Ames, you can simply relax and enjoy the ride, as well as savour the delights Taiwan has to offer think night markets, naaonal parks, temples, waterfalls, natural hot springs and so much more! Although the support vehicle will be with you at all Ames, it should be noted that this route is not one to be taken lightly. A huge part of Taiwan s incredible natural beauty comes from the severity and scale of the central mountain range that rises straight up from the Pacific Ocean. So whilst you ll cover between 43km - 132km a day, expect to climb an average of 1000m. It is for this reason that we would only recommend this tour to individuals with good experience of road riding and to those that are confident they can handle this level of exeraon. See the full ianerary below for more details. Dates and Weather The tour will run from Sunday 25th March - Friday 6th April, with the first day of riding taking place on the 26th. You ll need to arrive into Taipei by the evening of the 25th, when we ll hold a full tour briefing and set up everyone with their bikes and kit. See the full ianerary below for more details. Spring and Autumn in Taiwan are ideal for cycling. Average highs top out at around 20 C in Taipei and 26 C to the south in KenAng. Overnight temperatures usually dip to between C.

3 Flights and Insurance Although we are more than happy to recommend flight opaons, we are not able to offer flights as part of the tour package. You ll need to arrive at the latest by the evening before the tour starts, but we d recommend arriving at least a day earlier to have an explore for yourselves beforehand and to get over the jetlag! No visa is required by UK, EU, US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand naaonals for up to 30 days in the country. If you hold a passport from a different country or need more informaaon, visit the Taiwanese Bureau of Consular Affairs website It is a condiaon of the tour that you must hold adequate travel insurance to cover you in case of any accidents. By paracipaang in the tour it is understood that you accept all responsibility for your health and any accidents that may occur. Bringing your own bicycle Although we can provide you with excellent rental bikes, direct from Taiwan s premium bike manufacturer, Giant, we understand that some people may wish to bring their own. There is no problem with this whatsoever, as long as you let us know in advance. We cannot, however, accept any responsibility for any loss or damage to personal bikes, so would highly recommend obtaining bike insurance if you plan to bring your own. Food Taiwan is world renowned for its food. An incredible blend of Indigenous, Chinese and Japanese flavours, we know that you ll find it a real highlight of your trip. Breakfast, cycling snacks, lunch and water are included in the cost of the trip. We will also provide you with some local recommendaaons for dinner in the evening, as well as organising a few trips to night markets to really get a taste of authenac Taiwanese street food. If you have any special dietary requirements we will do our utmost to accommodate, however, please do let us know in advance. Cost The total cost of 13 nights accommodaaon, breakfast and lunch, local guide/ride leader, support vehicle, and internal transport will be 2399pp. Giant TCR Advanced bike hire is available for the trip through Pedal Taiwan, for an addiaonal cost of 300pp. Singles are more than welcome, however, unless you are willing to share a twin room, there will be a single-room supplement of 400. A 500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place on the trip, which will be subtracted from the total cost when the final balance is due 4 weeks before the start of the trip.

4 Day 1: Start: Taipei Coffee: Shiding (18km) Lunch: Shifen (33km) End: Keelung Total Distance: 65.2km Total Climb: 1195/861m We ll ease you into the adventure on Day 1 with a 15km cruise through the eastern suburbs of Taipei, passing the world s 3 rd highest building Taipei 101, and climb into the foothills surrounding the city before stopping for a coffee at Shiding. From here we ll gently climb through lush forest to Shifen Old town where we ll eat lunch at a local restaurant. ATer refueling, we ll head a couple of kilometers up the valley to visit Shifen Waterfall perhaps the most famous in Taiwan. From the waterfall, the road climbs a up into the hills before we hit the day s high point of just under 500m. The final 25km stretch takes us down into the port city of Keelung, where our recommended restaurant offers some of the finest seafood in the country.

5 Day 2: Start: Keelung Coffee: Jiufen (15km) Lunch: Shuangxi (32km) End: Fulong Beach Total Distance: 43.4km Total Climb: 853/541m Day 2 starts with a gentle cruise along the Pacific coastline, before we climb 250m upwards to the historic mining town of Jiufen. Built back in the gold rush at the turn of the 20 th century, the narrow lanes, tearooms and views of the ocean will make for a perfect morning break. A further 250m of climbing takes us to the day s high point before we meander down through the forest to lunch at Shuangxi. The final stretch takes us along the flat Shuang river valley towards the final stop in Fulong, famous for its wide sandy beach and rolling Pacific waves.

6 Day 3: Start: Fulong Beach Coffee: Dali (20km) Lunch: Wufengchi Waterfall (45km) End: Jiaoxi Total Distance: 46.5km Total Climb: 332/83m A break from climbing on Day 3 will see us follow the flat coast round to Sandiaojiao Cape Lighthouse, also know as the Eye of Taiwan. This spot, which was also a baolefield during the Pacific campaign of WW2, marks the most easterly point of Taiwan and offers stunning 270 degree views of the ocean below. From the cape, we head south along the coastal road before turning off to head up to the Wufengchi waterfalls. If you re feeling brave enough, bring your swimmers and take a dip in pool at the booom of the 100m, three-stage waterfall! From there it s a leisurely glide down through paddy fields to our B&B in Jiaoxi. ATer dropping off the bikes we ll head up to the local hot springs (one of more than 100 in Taiwan) for a post-ride soak and to prepare your legs for the day ahead.

7 Day 4: Start: Jiaoxi Coffee: Chilan Hill (30km) Lunch: Nanshan (56km) ATernoon Coffee: Pingdeng (88km) End: Lishan Township Total Distance: 102.2km Total Climb: 3636/2659m ATer a gentle couple of days by the coast, Day 4 brings the biggest challenge of the trip the 102.2km ride up to Lishan. StarAng at the Kavalan whiskey disallery (incidentally home to the world s best single malt in 2015!) we follow the mighty Lanyang River. Carved out by monsoon and typhoon rains that can top 2000mm in a day three Ames what London receives in a year this vast river is a true reminder of the power of nature in Taiwan. As we gently climb at an average gradient of 2%, the valley narrows and the hills begin to rise ever higher. A coffee at Chilan Forest marks our first crossing of the river. The climb ramps up slightly as we cross the river once more to ride through cabbage and spring onion fields. We ll take lunch at Nanshan, at around 1100m, before the final stretch to Lishan. It s not all uphill as there are two downhill secaons, but the switchbacks out of Nanshan and the final stretch to Lishan are certainly big climbs. Once at the summit, you ll have climbed over 3000m and reached almost 2000m Ame to enjoy a big bowl of steaming noodles and enjoy a wellearned rest! If this sounds too much then speak with the organising team and we can arrange for you to perhaps cycle some of the route, or head straight up to Lishan for a hike through the tea plantaaons and apple orchards above the village to a spectacular viewpoint over the valley.

8 Day 5: Start: Wuling Coffee: Bilu Giant Tree (26km) Lunch: Tianxiang (68km) End: Hualien Total Distance: 108.1km Total Climb: 327m (descent of 3250m) ATer a good night s sleep in Lishan, Day 5 will see us drive 30km further up through the mountains unal we pass 3200m to reach Wuling for what promises to be the most epic of descents perfect ater a long day of uphill riding. With bellies full of local breakfast delicacies, our day ahead is almost enarely downhill. We ll glide all the way down to the Pacific through the iconic marble-walled Taroko Gorge, stopping for refreshments, photo stops and short walks to the best sites along the way of course! ATer reaching the ocean, we turn south unal we reach the culinary capital of Taiwan - Hualien.

9 Day 6: REST DAY OPTIONAL CYCLE: Start: Hualien Coffee/Lunch: Liyu Lake (20km) End: Hualien Total Distance: 49.2km Total Climb: 363/119m Day 6 is the Ame to enjoy a well-earned rest! Explore the city of Hualien and the surrounding areas at your leisure. Head off to the beach for a spot of sunbathing, hire scooters to ride up Taroko gorge or take a hike in the stunning mountains nearby. If, however, you re itching to be back on the bike, a gentle opaonal ride will be available. The 49km, mostly flat route will take in Liyu Lake popular for Taiwanese canoe racing and the East Coast NaAonal Scenic Area, where you can witness spectacular views of Hualien City and the mighty Pacific Ocean. In the evening, we ll make a group trip to Hualien s huge night market to sample all of Taiwan s delicious street food such as oyster omelets, bao or its famous fried chicken.

10 Day 7: Start: Hualien Coffee: Shoufeng (19km) Lunch: Fenglin (39km) End: Ruisui Total Distance: 73.9km Total Climb: 1213/488m Back on the road ater our day off (or back on the bike if you couldn t resist a spin of the pedals on Day 6!), we will be following the picturesque Huatung Valley. Our route takes us meandering through coastal paddy fields and small villages, all framed by imposing mountains and vast rivers to the right-hand side. Although we re following a river valley, a few short and gentle climbs (maximum elevaaon gain of 150m at 1.5%) can be found along the way to our evening stop in Ruisui. Relax in the hotel and stretch your legs by wandering into town for dinner.

11 Day 8: Start: Ruisui Coffee: Baxian Caves (34km) Lunch: Sansiantai Bridge (66km) End: Donghe Total Distance: 87.8km Total Climb: 1031/501m Day 8 starts by sharply climbing 200m over the Haian Range and out of the rit valley, before we drop back down to the Pacific Ocean. We ll head south along the spectacular coastline (crossing the Tropic of Cancer in the process) and will stop at Baxian Caves, large sea caves that have become famous for their Old Stone Age ruins. From there we will conanue down to Sansiantai Bridge, an incredible piece of architecture designed to resemble a dragon, which connects the main land to the Island of the Three Immortals. ATer a walk around the island, we ll take a picnic lunch of local treats overlooking this incredible manmade structure. ATer lunch and some Ame to explore the island, we stay on the coastal road to the town of Donghe, where we will have the chance to marvel at Taiwan s unique uphill river trust us on this one!

12 Day 9: Start: Donghe Brunch: Taitung (33km) End: Taimali Total Distance: 57.2km Total Climb: 452/236m On our final, gentle day on the east coast road, we will conanue south unal we reach our coffee break (or perhaps brunch depending on how much of a lie in you want!) in the bustling city of Taitung just over 30km down the road. From Taitung, we head towards old Duoliang StaAon. This staaon, now abandoned, was by some considered to have the best view of any staaon in the world a great claim to fame! From here we head to our hotel, situated in an elevated posiaon in the hills above the Pacific. Head down to the beach for a swim if you want a dip and if you re up for it and the skies are clear the morning sunrise over the Pacific will be spectacular.

13 Day 10: Start: Taimali Coffee: Daren (43km) Lunch: Kugihu (65km) ATernoon Coffee: Manzhou (105km) End: KenAng Total Distance: 131.8km Total Climb: 2067/1084m Our final day on two wheels is a real epic. StarAng in Taimali we ll cover 131.8km before we reach the southern Ap of Taiwan KenAng. The flat first 43km conanue south along the coast road before the final big climb of the tour, a 450m ascent as we cross into Pingtung County. We stop for lunch 10km ater the summit at Kugihu for our final meal on wheels, before conanuing out descent through lush forests. Via a series of hairpin bends we ll end up back down by the east coast, before entering the gently rolling KenAng NaAonal Park with 42km of the tour to go. ATer arriving in KenAng Taiwan s favourite beach resort grab an ice-cold beer and reflect on a epic ten days!

14 Day 11: REST DAY Put your feet up and relax! You have just cycled the enare length of Taiwan, and there can be no beoer place to recuperate than the beach town of KenAng. Popular with Taiwanese and one of the best places to surf on the island, feel free to rent a board for the day or go exploring one of the many beaches in the area. If you re desperate to ride sall, there will of course be an opaon to take a ride along the coast to take in some of the small fishing villages, the region s famous rock formaaons and of course the beaches. Day 12: A morning bus will transport you all to Kaohsiung City, where you will catch the High Speed Rail (HSR) back to Taipei. Travelling at a top speed of 300km/h, this journey back to our start locaaon will take only 90 minutes! Spend the aternoon exploring the sights of Taipei, such as the Chiang Kai-shek memorial or Taipei 101, before taking a short hike up Elephant Mountain for sunset. We will end our trip with a group dinner at one of Taipei s best-loved local restaurants. Day 13: END OF TOUR Total Tour Distance: 765.3km Total Tour Climb: 11469/6899m Elements of this route may change slightly due to weather condiaons, road closures or unforeseen circumstances.