Cycle the Length of Wild Taiwan: Self-Launched Edition

Fly into Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and take the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station (~40 mins, ~£4). Hop on the Bannan Line two stops west to Longshan Temple and check into your hostel or budget guesthouse in the Ximending or Wanhua area. Spend the afternoon stretching your legs, grabbing a Taiwanese milk tea, and orientating yourself. Head out to Shilin or Raohe Night Market in the evening for your first taste of Taiwanese street food — stinky tofu, scallion pancakes, and bubble tea are non-negotiable.

🚌Airport MRT from TPE to Taipei Main Station, then Bannan Line to Longshan Temple (~£4 total)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Taipei (e.g. Star Hostel Taipei Main Station or similar) — approx £15–20/night

• →Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station (~£4)
• →Self-guided orientation walk around Ximending and Longshan Temple
• →Evening at a Taipei night market (Shilin or Raohe)

Rent a hybrid bike for the day from one of Taipei's many cycle hire shops near the riverside paths (approx £10–15/day). Set off along the dedicated Tamsui River bike path heading north toward Bali Old Street — an easy, flat, 27-mile round trip on separated bike lanes with wide river views and Yangmingshan's forested slopes in the distance. Stop for a bowl of oyster vermicelli at Bali before cycling back. In the afternoon, visit Taipei 101 (viewing deck ~£18) or the free Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, then browse Tonghua Night Market for dinner.

🚌Bike hire for the day; MRT for any city sightseeing (~£1–2 per journey)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Taipei — approx £15–20/night

• →Hire a hybrid bike for the day (~£10–15) from a riverside cycle shop
• →Riverside ride to Bali Old Street along Tamsui River bike path (~27 miles return)
• →Optional: Taipei 101 observation deck (~£18) or free Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
• →Tonghua Night Market for dinner

Take an early bus or shared taxi from Taipei to Taoyuan's Fuxing District (~1.5 hrs, ~£5). Pick up your pre-hired touring bike or transport the rental you've arranged. Set off from Jiaobanshan along the Dahan River gorge, passing Atayal indigenous villages, suspension bridges, and the historic Old Baling Bridge. It's a stunning 19-mile ride through dense forested ridgelines with around 2,000ft of climbing. After the final push through woodland toward Mingchi National Forest, catch a local bus or pre-book a shared transfer (~£8) to your guesthouse above the Lanyang River valley. Dinner at a local Taiwanese restaurant.

🚌Bus Taipei–Fuxing (~£5); shared taxi/local bus to guesthouse (~£8)

🛏Local guesthouse or small hotel near Lanyang River valley — approx £18–25/night

• →Bus or shared taxi from Taipei to Fuxing District (~£5)
• →Cycling: Jiaobanshan to Mingchi via Dahan River gorge (~19 miles, 2,001ft climbing)
• →Stop at Old Baling Bridge and Atayal village viewpoints
• →Local shared transfer to Lanyang Valley guesthouse (~£8)

Roll out from the guesthouse after breakfast on a mostly downhill 29-mile ride east toward the Yilan coast, spotting Turtle Island offshore as you descend toward the lowlands. Follow the Annong Creek Bike Path through Sanxing Township — Taiwan's green onion heartland — to a local café for a break. Continue past tranquil Meihua Lake and detour to a hidden waterfall trail for a refreshing splash. Finish near Dongshan Train Station and board a local train south to Hualien (~1.5 hrs, ~£8). Check into your hostel and spend the evening at Dongdamen Night Market, the largest night market on the east coast.

🚌Self-ride to Dongshan; TRA local train Dongshan–Hualien (~£8)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Hualien — approx £15–20/night

• →Cycling: Lanyang Valley to Dongshan via Annong Creek Bike Path (~29 miles)
• →Stop at Sanxing Township and Meihua Lake
• →Short hike to hidden local waterfall
• →Train from Dongshan to Hualien (~£8)
• →Evening at Dongdamen Night Market

Today is the big one — 52 miles and nearly 3,000ft of climbing, so fuel up well at breakfast. Pedal out of Hualien and swing by Liyu Lake for a fresh fruit smoothie before entering the legendary East Rift Valley: a broad agricultural corridor framed by the Coastal Range and Central Mountain Range. Quiet roads thread through rice paddies, farming villages, and roadside convenience stores (7-Eleven has never tasted so good mid-ride). Pick up lunch near Guangfu Township. Finish strong at Ruisui Ranch for their famous dairy ice cream. Pre-book a local taxi or hostel pickup (~£6) to your accommodation, where a pool awaits your tired legs. Dinner at a local restaurant in Ruisui.

🚌Self-ride (longest day); short local taxi to accommodation (~£6)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Ruisui — approx £18–25/night

• →Cycling: Hualien to Ruisui via East Rift Valley (~52 miles, ~2,953ft climbing)
• →Stop at Liyu Lake for fresh fruit smoothie
• →Lunch near Guangfu Township
• →Reward stop at Ruisui Ranch for dairy ice cream
• →Local taxi or hostel pickup to accommodation (~£6)

Continue south from Ruisui on the quiet backroads of the East Rift Valley for a 39-mile day. Stop at the geological curiosity where the Philippine Sea Plate meets the Eurasian Plate just outside Yuli, then roll into town for an early snack. Pause at the atmospheric ruins of Yuli Shrine before a detour into the foothills of Yushan National Park to Nanan Waterfall — the eastern entrance of Taiwan's longest historic trail. Ride back out through open fields into Chishang, Taiwan's rice basket. Book dinner at a local Amis-run restaurant in Chishang to sample traditional indigenous cuisine rooted in the landscape you've just ridden through (many listed on Google Maps — budget ~£8–12).

🚌Self-ride throughout

🛏Guesthouse in Chishang — approx £15–20/night

• →Cycling: Ruisui to Chishang via Yuli (~39 miles, ~1,476ft climbing)
• →Stop at Philippine Sea/Eurasian Plate boundary marker
• →Detour to Nanan Waterfall in Yushan National Park foothills
• →Visit ruins of Yuli Shrine
• →Dinner at a local Amis indigenous restaurant in Chishang (~£8–12)

Start the morning with a serene pedal through Brown Boulevard — Chishang's iconic car-free network of farm lanes winding through rice paddies, with mountain panoramas on all sides. Continue north to the base of the Coastal Range, rest at a converted rail stop popular with cyclists, then begin the sustained climb over the range. The summit rewards you with a long, exhilarating descent toward the Pacific, turquoise water opening up below. Smooth coastal roads lead south 42 miles total into the fishing town of Chenggong. Check into a local guesthouse and spend the evening exploring the harbour and choosing your dinner from the fresh seafood restaurants lining the waterfront.

🚌Self-ride throughout

🛏Local guesthouse in Chenggong — approx £15–20/night

• →Morning ride through Chishang's iconic Brown Boulevard farm lanes
• →Cycling: Chishang to Chenggong over Coastal Range (~42 miles, ~1,575ft climbing)
• →Summit viewpoint over the Pacific before long descent
• →Evening seafood dinner at Chenggong harbour restaurants

Pedal north first to Sanxiantai Arch Bridge — Taiwan's iconic eight-arch coastal bridge connecting to a small offshore island — and walk across it for views back to the cliffs. Return to the coast road heading south, stopping at the surf town of Donghe for the cyclist's classic snack: fresh soy milk and a steamed bun. Continue to Dulan, a laid-back village of surfers and artists with beachfront cafés perfect for watching waves. A final stretch of palm-lined coast brings you to Taitung (~34 miles total). If legs allow, dip at a black sand beach en route. A local bus or shared taxi can shuttle you the final stretch if needed (~£3–5). Check in, rest up, and explore Taitung city at your own pace.

🚌Self-ride; optional local bus or shared taxi for final stretch (~£3–5)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Taitung — approx £15–20/night

• →Walk across Sanxiantai Arch Bridge
• →Cycling: Sanxiantai to Taitung via Donghe and Dulan (~34 miles)
• →Soy milk and steamed bun stop in Donghe
• →Beachfront café stop in Dulan surf village
• →Optional swim at black sand beach
• →Local bus/shared taxi to Taitung city centre if needed (~£3–5)

Take a local bus or shared taxi from Taitung to Dongyuan Visitor Center (~1.5 hrs, ~£8) to start today's 43-mile ride. Set off along scenic Provincial Highway 199, dropping through lush forest to Taiwan's secluded southeast coast. Rest near Nanren before continuing through the grasslands and rolling hills of Manzhou Township. Reach the southernmost point of Taiwan at Eluanbi Lighthouse — walk up to the viewpoint for a moment to appreciate how far you've ridden. A final push brings you to Kenting. Check into a beachfront hostel or guesthouse, relax poolside or on the beach, and head out for a celebratory seafood dinner at one of Kenting's many local restaurants.

🚌Local bus or shared taxi Taitung–Dongyuan (~£8); self-ride Dongyuan–Kenting

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kenting — approx £15–22/night

• →Local bus or shared taxi from Taitung to Dongyuan Visitor Center (~£8)
• →Cycling: Dongyuan to Kenting via Highway 199, Nanren and Manzhou (~43 miles, ~2,051ft climbing)
• →Visit Eluanbi Lighthouse at Taiwan's southernmost tip
• →Celebratory dinner at a local Kenting seafood restaurant

Enjoy a relaxed morning on Kenting beach or by the pool, then take a local bus north to Kaohsiung (~1.5 hrs, ~£6). Head to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond — one of Taiwan's most distinctive lakeside temples — and explore on foot before grabbing lunch from the surrounding street food vendors. Make your way to Zuoying High Speed Rail Station (HSR) and board the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) bullet train back to Taipei (~1.5 hrs, ~£22). Check into your Taipei hostel and spend the final evening exploring the city's night markets or rooftop bars.

🚌Local bus Kenting–Kaohsiung (~£6); THSR Kaohsiung–Taipei (~£22)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Taipei — approx £15–20/night

• →Local bus from Kenting to Kaohsiung (~£6)
• →Visit Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond
• →Street food lunch near Lotus Pond
• →Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Kaohsiung (Zuoying) to Taipei (~£22)
• →Final evening exploring Taipei night markets

A final morning in Taipei — grab a coffee and a dan bing (Taiwanese egg crepe) from a street stall, take a last wander through Ximending or along the riverside, and then head to the airport. From Taipei Main Station, the Airport MRT runs directly to Taoyuan International Airport in ~40 mins (~£4). Check out of your hostel, store luggage if needed, and depart at your leisure.

🚌Airport MRT Taipei Main Station to TPE (~£4)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final morning stroll through Ximending or riverside parks
• →Breakfast: street-side dan bing (egg crepe) and coffee
• →Airport MRT to Taoyuan International Airport (~£4)