The Best Farm Stays in Taiwan

Rural Chishang – stuffed with rambling, photogenic rice fields and ringed with craggy peaks – plays host to this homely farm stay. Spend your mornings meandering through the patchwork of fields, shimmering in shades of green, then afternoons throwing a ball around with the friendly dogs, Abao and Oji – if you have your own pet, it’s invited along too. Rooms sleep as many as six people, making it a prime choice for families looking to escape the urban rush of Taiwanese cities.

The clue is in the name: this farm stay on the west coast of Taiwan lets you get up close and personal with cows, whether it be feeding baby calves, assisting with milking or just devouring all kinds of creamy treats – think yoghurt, milky egg tarts and milk cookies. The bright rooms, dressed in warm woods and whites, come in a range of sizes, the largest easily sleeping six. Got picky eaters in tow? They’ll surely be happy with dinner: an epic barbecue feast.

Just because you’re staying by a farm, doesn’t mean you need to go all Old McDonald. A spectacular home ringed by hills, Jing Shuhu B&B shows that you can get bucolic vibes along with swish design. Floor-to-ceiling windows sprawling over multiple floors; mid-century, modern-style furniture; statement light fixtures; a grand piano – they all add a cool, contemporary feel that wouldn’t look out of place in a big city. And yet, step out the front door and it’s nothing but rural bliss, with trails through rice fields for daily strolls.

The lakeside setting is a major selling point: rise in the early morning to sip tea on your private balcony and watch local birds glide across the waters. It’s not the only simple pleasure of a visit to this Yunshanshui homestay. Pod chairs hanging from the bedroom ceilings – where you can curl up with a book and, again, that view – are another perk. Visit in autumn when the trees that line the lake turn a blazing, photogenic orange.

From the outside, you’d never think you were in Taiwan – the half-timbered frame of this manor in Cingjing looks like it’s been plucked from the heart of Bavaria. Inside keeps up the look, with beamed ceilings, tiled floors and a giant, brick-style oven. But the one thing that won’t fool you is the surrounds: up in these mountains, the lush flora and fauna is definitely Taiwanese. Be sure to visit nearby waterfall Guanyin and popular Qingjing Farm, home to fluffy sheep.

Culture-packed Tainan, on Taiwan’s southwesterly coast, is well worth a visit for its centuries-old gardens, temples and fortresses. But when you’ve had enough of the urban rush, escape the city, just half an hour to the east – to Fu Wan Leisure Farm, one of the top homestays in Taiwan. Between the pool, the fine-dining restaurant turning out top-notch seafood and the understated-luxe rooms with crisp white sheets, you’ll certainly not be roughing it. Don’t miss a wander around the onsite pond, fringed in lush foliage.

Farm stays don’t just have to be about animals. This flower farm outside of Taichung City lets you take in an array of blooms, from structured pink orchids to fragrant lavender. And it’s not just about ogling the impressive rainbows of petals that grow here, either. A visit also includes organic pondside lunches – featuring herbs grown right on site – and a chance to create your own aromatherapy beauty products. Even the men’s urinals are on-brand, with each one shaped like a different giant flower.

Soaring nearly 2000m above sea level, this chilled-out, homely farm stay is great for foodies – you’ll have the chance to sample plenty of homegrown produce, particularly kiwis and blueberries. You’ll find wines, vinegars and a host of sweet treats on tap in the cafe and two restaurants. Join a tour taking in the surrounding Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area and the local hot spring, then bed down in the simple garden cabins, sleeping up to six.

It’s all about living the slow life at this Taitung B&B. Set on Taiwan’s eastern coast, near forests and hot springs, you can watch the sun rise outside your bedroom window, then enjoy a lazy brekkie of fruit, sausages, toast and tea at one of the wooden breakfast room tables. The annual summer hot-air-balloon festival is prime time for a visit, when you can catch sight of balloons in their masses, floating above the B&B and the surrounding farmers’ fields.