For the ambitious climbing enthusiast who’s ready to take on some of the best cycling terrain in the world, SpiceRoads presents: Taiwan Traverse. Over 900 kilometers of spectacular winding roads, extreme grades, 10,000 meters of climbing, and exciting descents make this a dream trip for cyclists up for the challenge.
A great way to experience the country by visiting places not normally seen by tourists.
Very challenging but beautiful country to bicycle and hike in. The Taiwanese people are quite friendly!
DestinationsTaiwan
Tour MeetsTaipei
Fly in toTaiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Group Size4-12 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
On this mountainous, and in places steep, ride, you and your legs will be put to the test as you head up and over the challenging passes of Taiwan's mountain ranges. You will ride just under 915 km in 9 days of riding on smooth tarmac roads.
The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of cold drinks, ice, and fresh fruit.
Suitability: This is a tour for cyclists possessing a high level of physical fitness. Riders should be capable of making sustained climbs, and riding over 100 kilometers per day through mountainous terrain. Fitness will be a huge asset on those long days, steep climbs, and undulating hills, as will cycling skill to handle long descents. The tour is fully supported, and the bus is always close at hand for those that find the riding too difficult.
Biking Conditions: This is a climber's dream tour. A total of over 10,000 m climbing in 10 cycling days, the true test is within the first four days of the route, which are the most climbing intensive days and total over 8,000 meters elevation gained in less than 400 kilometers. Despite the climbs, the route is on good quality tarmac roads through the mountains and along the coast.
Meet in the hotel to do a bike fitting or help with assembling bikes. After we will have a trip briefing before having dinner.
Les Suites Taipei Daan
DinnerWe pick you up from your Taipei hotel in the morning and drive outside the busy city to start our ride to Fusing. We will just have a short ride, but it will start at sea level and end at about 450 m. It will be a gentle start through undulating hills to get the legs warmed up before we start the serious climbing. You'll be riding through thick forest, and the thick moss and huge ferns that line the narrow road give the whole place a Jurassic aura.
Da Kung HotelLunch, Dinner
Ride 50km
+514m
-185mThe second day, and first big climbing day begins from the hotel. 35 undulating kilometers warm up to one of the first steep sections and the first peak of the day at 60 kilometers. You’ll make a sharp descent down to the base of the plateau before the long climb begins to the top of Shih Yin Pass, nearly 2,000 meters above sea level. Admire the dense forest, changing from cedar to bamboo along the way, and breathe in the fresh air- you’re going to need it!
Wuling Farm Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 100km+2200m-1577mWe start the day by continuing up the north cross island highway to Li Shan, a town famous for its mountain fruit. After 25 km, the long climb begins as we make our way to the day’s peak, at over 3,000 meters in one of the most remote areas of the island. Following our climb, we have a long descent through the remote farms in the high mountains.
Honey Moon HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 90km+1562m-1754mOne of the highlights of the trip, the climb starts immediately, and you’ll make an early start to ride the 32 kilometers and 2,175 meters up to Hehuanshan Pass, the highest road in East Asia at 3,275 m. A car transport and options to start at different points along the way on the way up are available. Once at the top, the rewards come one after the other: cold drinks and snacks, fabulous scenery for memorable photos, and an exhilarating ride down into Taroko National Park and the world-famous Taroko Gorge. This will be one ride you will never forget as we drop some 3,270 m, riding through endless tunnels and a multitude of eco zones. The last 20 km of Taroko Gorge is a mind-blowing ride through marbled walled passageways that twist and turn as the gorge rises some 500-1,100 m above!
Crossing the Rainbow Bridge Guest House/Taroko Delight VillaBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 125km+2275m-3200mWe take a break from the bikes and spend the day hiking in Taroko Gorge. We will visit Siangde Temple that has a giant statue of Guanyin and a pagoda that provides views of the valley from the top and walk the Zhui Lu Ancient Trail, which takes you several hundred metres above the gorge for a breathtaking cliff-wak and spectacular views of the gorge below. There are many other hikes to choose from, and we'll decide which ones are best to do based on the group's interests.
Crossing the Rainbow Bridge Guest House / Taroko Delight VillaBreakfast, DinnerFrom Taroko Gorge, we ride out onto the east coast and into the superb East Rift Valley. We cycle on an undulating route that hugs the foothills and takes us through numerous aboriginal villages. After cycling through this fer-tile valley, we overnight at yet another wonderful hot spring resort!
An-Tong Hot Spring HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 135km+801m-592mWe ride from our hotel south and then up into the Badlands area and enjoy splendid views from our deserted mountain road. We eventually connect with the Luye backroads and enjoy a wonderful ride through the outskirts of the port town of Taitung and down to the lush Jhihben River Valley, where the hot springs are between 75-96 degrees Celsius.
Hoya Resort and SpaBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 110km+714m-915mToday's ride takes us over the top of Capricorn Pass and down to the white sand beaches of Kenting. Starting with a 50-km ride down the south-east coast, we make our first crossing of the island from east to west. This is the route taken by most riders travelling around the island. As we ride over the southern mountains, we descend down to the west coast and around the Kenting peninsula and overnight at Bai Sha Wan beach, famous for being a setting in the movie "Life of Pi."
White HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 120km+1013m-1042mStarting early in the morning from our guest house, we explore the southern part of Taiwan, which has the most dramatic coast line. We'll be hugging the coast and seeing the island’s best beaches. Then it's a 2 hour transfer from the coast to the mountain area, to navigate around busy roads. After lunch, we start climbing into the mountains to the village of Wu Tai, famous for its stone house architecture. On the road up to the village, we cross the highest bridge in Taiwan, approximately 100 m above the river. We finish the day with a 17-kilomtre climb to our destination
Shenshan HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 105km+1366m-701mOn the last ride of the tour, we leave behind our mountain village and head towards the vibrant southern city of Kaohsiung. We’ll lose elevation, cruising downward out of the peaks that have defined our journey through Taiwan. Fertile farmland lines the mountainous slopes along our ride, and we’ll stop for lunch in on one of the many indigenous villages for some traditional aborigine food. Only a few small climbs remain, until we reach the Kaoping River on the very outer limits of Kaohsiung city. The day doesn’t end here however, we have one more surprise in store, the fantastic Fo Guang Shan Monastery. Multi-level pagodas and endless gilded Buddha statues line the pathways of this incredible Buddhist establishment. Following a wide-eyed wander through the monastery, we’ll transfer to our hotel in the city for the evening, with plenty of time to disassemble bikes, pack, and rest up for the next day of onward travel.
Kindness HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 80km+1267m-883mWe'll have one group transfer to Kaohsiung where you can catch a flight or the high-speed train (highly recommended!) to Taipei or to your Kaoshiung hotel if you wish to spend the night in this port city.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. If you want to bring your own peddles (remember to bring your shoes if they clip into your peddles) & saddle (as we know some people are sensitive to the saddle they use) we can fit them for you.
If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a road bike in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for yellow fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
The Tropic of Cancer runs straight through the middle of Taiwan resulting in a subtropical climate. Summers can be hot, humid and wet, although rainfall is often limited to short showers. Typhoon season hits in late summer to mid-autumn and tends to strike the east coast particularly hard. Winter temperatures are mild and the only snowfall is on mountain peaks.
The annual average temperature of the northern part is around 21.7C (71F) while it is around 24.1C (75F) in the southern part. The coldest months are from January to March with the lowest temperature to about 10C (50F). The average temperature of the rest of the year is around 25C (77F).
Rain is always a possibility in Taiwan so please come prepared with waterproof jacket and pants. As we also cycle to high altitudes where the weather can be cooler and change quickly it is best to have layers available.
Taiwan is also prone to earthquakes as it sits on the colliding Eurasian and Philippine plates. These grinding plates are also responsible for the beautiful mountains and amazing hot springs that make the trip to Taiwan truly worthwhile. Most of these quakes are small earth tremors.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, and soups. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring drinks while you are riding are included in the tour price. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20 a day, for incidentals.
Taiwan’s currency is the New Taiwanese Dollar (NT). ATMs, which are abundant, are the easiest way to get NT. With more than 4,000 7-Elevens across the country, there are ATMs on the international Plus or Cirrus network and have English-language options. Have a supply of US dollars in cash on hand, just in case your card doesn’t work. Credit cards are accepted in big cities and resort hotels but you’ll need cash for family-run guesthouses or restaurants.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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Taiwan is a great cycling destination. The mountain stages were particularly challenging but Mark, our guide, always gave us options to shorten the rides if we wished. The food and snacks were excellent. Overall, a fabulous trip and a great way to see the country.