The Best Guided Tours In Taiwan For Every Type Of Traveller

Think Taiwan, and images of incredible temples and that one-time tallest building in the world Taipei 101 spring to mind. However, there’s so much more to this small island rich both in culture and natural beauty. And what better way to learn all there is to know than by taking a guided tour. But what kind of tours can you go on? And what will you learn? Here are some of Taiwan’s most popular guided tours for all kinds of travellers.

For the foodie

Taiwan is famous for its diverse range of cuisines. From Indian to Italian, if you crave it, then there’s a good chance someone in Taipei is serving it up. But the truth is that the majority of tourists have one thing on their mind when they arrive in Taiwan: street food.

The Street Food Tour of Taipei is a three-hour private tour that takes you to those small food stalls that you always wanted to buy food from, but were too afraid to try. It’s a great experience and a real eye-opener.

There are many places to take a hike in Taiwan, and each has its own particular benefits, but for the casual hiker, the Jiufen Hiking Tour is perfect. On this tour not only do you get to hike through some of the most beautiful countryside in Taiwan, but you also get to visit an old gold mining town and sample some tea in the oldest local teahouse.

Jiufen is a hugely popular tourist destination, but with this tour taking you back to the old town in the evening, you’ll miss most of the daytime tourist crowds. It’s a relaxing enough hike, although you will need proper boots and to be relatively fit to complete the hike.

For the history buff

With so many historical sights to see, there are no tours that cover them all. However, if you stick to Taipei, then the Taipei Half-Day City Tour has you covered for three of the most popular historical sites in the capital.

This tour takes in Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Martyrs’ Shrine, and the National Palace Museum in a quick whistle-stop tour. It’s a great way to see the most popular sites in a short time and perfect for those on a weekend trip to the city.

For the cycling fanatic

There are plenty of short cycling tours that you can take around Taiwan. Tours around Taipei City, or Taroko National Park, or even tours that take in a tea plantation or two. But if you’re really serious about cycling, then there’s no better tour than the Pedal Taiwan 12-Day Road Tour.

It’s a 781km tour that starts in Taipei and winds its way over mountains and along the coast, taking in Taroko Gorge and Hualien until you reach your final destination in Kenting. This tour includes accommodation for 13 nights with breakfast and lunch for each day of the tour. There’s also a support vehicle following you for the entire trip, so you’ll never find yourself stranded.

For the scenery lover

You can’t visit Taiwan without taking in some of the countryside’s amazing scenery, and this three-day tour provides you with plenty of opportunities to do just that. Picking you up in Taipei the tour takes you to Sun Moon Lake, Puli, and Alishan National Scenic Area.

With breakfast, accommodation, and a tour guide included, this is a great chance to see some of the most popular scenic hotspots in a few short days.

For the mountain climber

Where else would you go but the tallest peak in Taiwan? Yushan, which is also known as Jade Mountain, is a hugely popular destination for climbers and hikers, and with limited numbers allowed on the mountain each day, the park is relatively unspoiled.

This two-day, two-night hiking tour of Yushan takes you to the top of the mountain where you can take in the breathtaking scenery of the region. You’ll also get a certificate stating that you completed the climb and some pretty awesome mountaintop photos.

For the tea drinker

Taiwan is world-famous for its teas and is something of a Mecca for tea lovers from all over the world. There are many places in its cities to enjoy a cup of locally grown tea, but visiting a tea plantation is so much more fun.

On the Tea of Taipei Tour, you get to take a trip on a gondola, visit Bagua tea plantation and take part in a traditional tea ceremony, all while surrounded by spectacular greenery. It’s a full-day tour with only seven people along with you, so you’re guaranteed a personal experience.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.