The Self-Launched Adventure Through Wild Taiwan

Touch down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and take the Airport MRT direct to Taipei Main Station (~160 TWD / ~£4, 40 mins). Check into a centrally located hostel in Ximending or Zhongzheng — both lively neighbourhoods packed with street food, night markets and easy metro access. Spend the evening getting your bearings: head to Ximending for a wander, grab dinner at a local beef noodle shop or browse the night market stalls. Rest up — you've got a full 10 days ahead.

🚌Airport MRT from TPE to Taipei Main Station: ~£4 one way

🛏Star Hostel Taipei Ximending or Meander Taipei Hostel — dorm from ~£12/night, private twin from ~£28/night

• →Arrive at TPE, take Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station (~£4)
• →Check into hostel in Ximending or Zhongzheng district
• →Explore Ximending neighbourhood and street food scene
• →Optional: visit Longshan Temple in the evening (free entry)

Take an early local bus or train from Taipei toward the Pingxi area to access the Tamshui-Kavalan Historic Trail. The Pingxi section is publicly accessible with no permit required — follow trail markers through lush forest and past stream crossings to the coastal town of Wai'ao. Grab a late lunch at a beachside café (Wai'ao is a popular surf spot with several casual eateries), and take a dip if the surf is calm. In the afternoon, take a local bus south to Jiaoxi, a relaxed hot spring town in Yilan County. Book a budget guesthouse with an in-room hot spring tub (common and affordable here) and soak away the trail dust.

🚌Train from Taipei to Ruifang then local bus/taxi to trailhead ~£5; local bus Wai'ao to Jiaoxi ~£2

🛏Jiaoxi hot spring guesthouse (e.g. Waterfall B&B or similar) — private twin with hot spring tub from ~£30/night

• →Hike Pingxi Historic Trail (Tamshui-Kavalan Trail Network) — free, ~7 miles
• →Relax at Wai'ao Beach — free
• →Optional swim or surf watch at Wai'ao
• →Soak in Jiaoxi hot spring hotel's thermal baths (~£5-8 public baths, or free if included with guesthouse)

Rise early and take a taxi or local bus to the trailhead for the Our Lady Hiking Trail (Matcha Mountain / Moshang Mountain). This is a free, publicly accessible trail — follow the path past the Catholic sanctuary and up through dense forest to the iconic green ridgeline summit, with sweeping views over the Pacific on a clear day. Allow 5–6 hours return. After descending, take a local bus or taxi to the nearest train station and board a Tzu-Chiang or Puyuma express train south to Hualien (~£8–12, 2 hrs). Check into your hostel and head to the famous Dongdamen Night Market for a self-guided street food feast — dumplings, scallion pancakes, grilled skewers and local sweets await.

🚌Local bus/taxi to trailhead ~£5; express train Yilan to Hualien ~£10

🛏Hualien Hostel or Sincheng Hostel — dorm from ~£10/night, private twin from ~£25/night

• →Hike Our Lady Trail to Matcha Mountain summit — free, ~8 miles return
• →Panoramic summit views over the Pacific Ocean
• →Train south to Hualien (Tzu-Chiang Express, book via Taiwan Railways app) ~£10
• →Self-guided dinner at Dongdamen Night Market, Hualien (~£6-8)

Take a local bus or rent a scooter from Hualien to reach Liyu Lake (Carp Lake), about 20km south of the city. Multiple local operators at the lakeside rent stand-up paddleboards by the hour — expect to pay around £8–12 for a 1–2 hour session. After paddling, grab lunch at one of the lakeside restaurants (fresh fish dishes are a local specialty). In the afternoon, rent a bicycle at the lake (~£3–5/hr) and pedal the flat 10km loop around the shore, stopping at scenic viewpoints framed by forested mountains. Return to Hualien by bus or scooter in the late afternoon for more street food exploration at your own pace.

🚌Local bus Hualien to Liyu Lake return ~£4, or scooter rental ~£12/day

🛏Hualien Hostel (second night) — dorm from ~£10/night, private twin from ~£25/night

• →Stand-up paddleboarding on Liyu Lake — book locally at lakeside rental stands (~£8-12)
• →Lakeside lunch at local restaurant (~£6-8)
• →Bike ride around Liyu Lake cycling path (~£3-5 bike rental)
• →Free time in Hualien — explore Zhongzheng Night Market

Take an early train from Hualien south to Yuli (Tzu-Chiang, ~£5, 1.5 hrs), then arrange a local taxi or join a shared transfer to the Walami Trailhead in Yushan National Park. The Walami Trail is a stunning section of the Batongguan Historic Path — book your free entry permit in advance via the Yushan National Park website (required). Hike through dense subtropical jungle, across suspension bridges and along cliff-carved paths above the Nanan River, keeping an eye out for Formosan macaques and colourful birds. Pack a lunch. After the hike, return to Yuli and check into a hot spring guesthouse — Yuli is known for its sodium bicarbonate springs. Soak tired muscles and grab a bowl of Japanese-style ramen at a local restaurant for dinner.

🚌Train Hualien to Yuli ~£5; taxi to Walami trailhead and back ~£15-20 shared

🛏Yuli hot spring guesthouse (e.g. Yuli Spa B&B) — private twin from ~£28/night

• →Train Hualien to Yuli (~£5)
• →Hike Walami Trail, Yushan National Park — free (permit required, book at ysnp.gov.tw)
• →Spot Formosan macaques and suspension bridges
• →Soak in Yuli hot spring guesthouse baths (free or ~£5 if external)
• →Dinner: ramen at local Yuli restaurant (~£6)

After an optional morning soak in the hot springs, take a short local train north to Chishang (one stop, ~£2), one of Taiwan's most photogenic rural towns. Rent a bicycle from one of several shops near the station (~£4–6 for the day) and pedal the flat countryside lanes past the iconic Brown Boulevard (伯朗大道), with picture-perfect views of emerald rice paddies backed by distant mountains. Stop for a traditional Chishang bento box lunch — the town is literally famous for its railway bento boxes, available from local shops for ~£3–4. Continue cycling along quiet backroads in the afternoon. In the evening, look out for local restaurants serving Amis indigenous cuisine — ask your guesthouse for a recommendation.

🚌Train Yuli to Chishang ~£2; bicycle rental ~£4-6

🛏Chishang guesthouse or B&B (e.g. Chishang Farm Stay) — private twin from ~£25/night

• →Train Yuli to Chishang (~£2)
• →Full day cycling — rent bike near station (~£4-6/day)
• →Cycle Brown Boulevard and rice paddy backroads — free
• →Traditional Chishang bento box lunch (~£3-4)
• →Amis indigenous dinner at local restaurant (~£8-10)

Take a local bus or hire a scooter for a day trip south along Taiwan's stunning east coast highway. First stop: Sanxiantai Arch Bridge — an iconic eight-arch bridge connecting the mainland to a small offshore island. Cross the bridge and hike the rocky trail past surreal basalt formations, coastal scrub and turquoise sea to a small lighthouse with sweeping views (~2 miles, free entry). Continue south to Donghe, where several local operators offer stand-up paddleboarding and river tracing (canyoneering) experiences in the Donghe River gorge — book via GetYourGuide or directly with Donghe SUP operators (~£25–35 for 2–3 hrs including guide). Grab famous Donghe steamed buns (東河包子) for a snack en route. End the day in Taitung — check in and stroll the pedestrian-friendly Tiehua Music Village for evening food and live music.

🚌Bus/scooter rental for coastal day trip ~£12-15; bus to Taitung ~£5

🛏Taitung hostel (e.g. Microtel Hostel Taitung) — dorm from ~£10/night, private twin from ~£24/night

• →Visit Sanxiantai Arch Bridge and island hike — free (~2 miles)
• →Climb to the island lighthouse for coastal panoramas
• →SUP session through Donghe Gorge — book via GetYourGuide or locally (~£25-35)
• →Donghe steamed buns snack stop (~£2)
• →Evening stroll at Tiehua Music Village, Taitung — free

Today is the adrenaline highlight of the trip. Book a river tracing (溯溪) experience on Mulberry Creek in advance through a local Taitung outdoor activity operator — this guided experience includes all safety equipment (wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, river shoes), a safety briefing and a riverside lunch. Expect 3–4 hours of scrambling upstream through a jungle-framed gorge, swimming through cool rock pools, climbing past waterfalls and navigating natural chutes. Operators to check include Taitung Adventure Tours or search GetYourGuide for 'Taitung river tracing' (~£40–55 per person including guide and lunch). A taxi or provided shuttle will get you to and from the creek. Return to Taitung in the afternoon, exhausted and exhilarated. Grab a quiet dinner near the hotel.

🚌Taxi/shuttle to Mulberry Creek trailhead — often included with operator, otherwise ~£8 taxi

🛏Taitung hostel (second night) — dorm from ~£10/night, private twin from ~£24/night

• →River tracing (溯溪) on Mulberry Creek — book via GetYourGuide or local Taitung operator (~£40-55, includes guide, gear and lunch)
• →Waterfall swims, rock pools and natural chutes
• →Return to Taitung — free afternoon to rest
• →Dinner at local Taitung restaurant (~£6-8)

The Alangyi Historic Trail is one of Taiwan's most remote and culturally significant coastal paths, winding through protected forest and black pebble beaches along the island's last undeveloped coastline. A trail permit is required — arrange this in advance through the Shimen Township Office or via a local indigenous guide operator in Taitung (permits are free but must be pre-registered). Hiring a local indigenous guide is highly recommended and typically costs ~£20–30 per person — they provide cultural context that transforms the hike. Pack your 'Hunter's Box' lunch (your guide can arrange this). Take a local bus from Taitung toward Mudan to reach the northern trailhead, hike south (~5 miles, 3 hrs), and arrange a taxi or local bus pickup from the southern trailhead to Mudan. Check into a budget guesthouse near the Sichongxi Hot Springs area and soak in the sodium bicarbonate-rich thermal waters (public pools from ~£4).

🚌Local bus Taitung to Alangyi north trailhead ~£6; taxi from south trailhead to Mudan ~£10

🛏Mudan guesthouse near Sichongxi area — private twin from ~£25/night

• →Permit required — register in advance via Shimen Township Office (free)
• →Hike Alangyi Historic Trail with local indigenous guide (~£20-30/person)
• →Black pebble beaches, protected coastal forest and ocean views
• →Traditional 'Hunter's Box' packed lunch (arranged via guide)
• →Soak in Sichongxi Hot Springs, Mudan (~£4 public pools)

Arrange a morning 4x4 taxi or local guide transfer into the mountains to visit Laoqijia (Tjuvecekadan), a beautifully preserved Paiwan indigenous slate village. Cultural visits here are best arranged through an indigenous tourism operator — contact Pingtung County's indigenous affairs office or book via iRohasTaiwan.com, a platform connecting travellers with indigenous community experiences (~£15–25 per person, including a home-cooked lunch and village walk). After bidding farewell to your hosts, take a local bus or taxi west to Kaohsiung (2–3 hrs), then board the Taiwan High Speed Rail north to Taipei (HSR from Zuoying Station, ~£25–30, 1h45). Check into your Taipei hostel for the final night. Celebrate your adventure over a self-chosen farewell dinner — splurge on a sit-down hot pot restaurant or head back to a night market for one last street food session.

🚌Taxi to Laoqijia ~£15-20; bus/taxi to Kaohsiung ~£8-12; HSR Zuoying to Taipei ~£28

🛏Back in Taipei — Star Hostel Ximending or equivalent — dorm from ~£12/night, private twin from ~£28/night

• →4x4 transfer into mountains to visit Laoqijia Paiwan slate village
• →Indigenous cultural visit with community welcome ceremony — book via iRohasTaiwan.com (~£15-25 incl. home-cooked lunch)
• →Hike old hunting trail through the village
• →Local bus/taxi to Kaohsiung (~£8-12)
• →Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) Zuoying to Taipei (~£25-30, 1h45)
• →Farewell dinner — hot pot restaurant or night market (~£10-15)

After breakfast, check out of your hostel and store luggage at the front desk if your flight is later. Make the most of any remaining time in Taipei: visit Longshan Temple (free), take the lift up Taipei 101 (observation deck ~£18, or admire it from outside for free), browse the Da'an or Gongguan areas, or grab one last bowl of beef noodle soup. When ready, take the Airport MRT from Taipei Main Station back to Taoyuan International Airport (~£4, 40 mins). Safe travels!

🚌Airport MRT Taipei Main Station to TPE ~£4

• →Optional: Longshan Temple visit — free
• →Optional: Taipei 101 observation deck (~£18) or view from ground level — free
• →Final breakfast at a local café or traditional Taiwanese breakfast shop (~£3-4)
• →Airport MRT from Taipei Main Station to TPE (~£4, 40 mins)