Flight: CX472 Hong Kong - Taipei 15.55 - 17.40

Private transfer: On arrival in Taipei you will be met by a private driver and transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Just Sleep Linsen Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Full day tour of Taipei: After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by your guide who will take you on a sightseeing tour of Taipei's main attractions. Start the tour with a visit to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, an imposing hall which is dedicated to the former president with a museum on the ground floor dedicated to Chiang's life and achievements. From there continue to visit the Lungshan Temple which dates back to the 17th century. In the same neighbourhood there is the impressive Taipei 101 tower, which until 2010 was the tallest building in the world. You will be taken up to the observatory on the 89th floor to take in the fantastic view of the city. This afternoon visit the Martyrs' shrine, dedicated to those who have lost their lives fighting for Taiwan. Watch the changing of the guards here before visiting the National Palace Museum, which has one of the world's largest collections of Chinese art. Finish your tour with a quick visit to Shilin Market, this is somewhere you may wish to head back to independently this evening to experience the local night life and do some shopping as it is in the evening that the market gets into full swing.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Just Sleep Linsen Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure to explore Taipei independently. Keen cyclists might like to catch the MRT to Tamsui at the top of the red Metro line and rent some bicycles to explore this interesting coastal area to the north of the city. Ask your guide the day before for instructions of how to get there and where to rent the bikes from.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Just Sleep Linsen Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to the Taroko National Park: This morning, you will be met at your hotel by your driver and transferred by road south from Taipei to the Taroko National Park, a journey of around 3-4 hours.

Guided tour of Taroko National Park: On arrival, you will be taken on a tour of Taroko National Park, visiting the magnificent Gorge Gateway, the Eternal Spring Shrine, the Swallow Grotto, the Tunnel of Nine Turns and Tienhsiang before being taken to your hotel to relax for the evening. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening. 

If you would like to incorporate some walking into today's itinerary, then please talk to your driver and discuss suitable walking trails within the national park that might be appropriate.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Taroko Village Hotel (Grand Taroko View Suite)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Trekking in Taroko National Park: Today you will have the opportunity to do some trekking in the Taroko National park with your guide. There are many trails, some quite difficult and others shorter and more straightforward. You can discuss with your guide what you might like to do today.

Road journey to Hualien: This afternoon, you will be driven to your hotel in Hualien city, about an hour away, and you have the evening to relax and sit down with your guide to discuss places that you might like to visit during your upcoming self-drive adventure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel Bay View (Ocean View Room with balcony)

Meals: Breakfast

Car Hire: After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will drive you to the car rental shop, where you will pick up your hired car. From this morning until the end of your holiday, you will be self-driving in a hired car with no guide. You will be provided with useful information about places you might like to visit and a GPS Satellite Navigation System which will help you to get to each hotel.

Self-drive journey to Chenggong: After familiarising yourself with the car and the GPS system (your guide will be with you to assist with this), say goodbye to your guide and set off south along Highway 11. Along this scenic coastal highway, known as the East Coast National Scenic Area, there are many interesting places to stop, including the rock formations at Shitiping, the tropic of cancer marker, Baxiandong Cave and Sanxiantai Island. Depending on the stops you choose to make, you should arrive at your hotel on the coast outside the town of Chenggong in the mid-afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fujang Villa (Wooden Chalet)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-drive tour of the East Coast: After breakfast, today is at leisure to explore the beautiful East coast independently in your hired car. Using your local map, you may like to explore some of the most scenic spots of the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area on Highway 9, which runs parallel to highway 11. You may also like to head south to Taitung City and to Chihpen with its famous Hot Springs Resorts. Alternatively, there are bicycles to rent at your hotel if you prefer to explore the rugged coastline on 2 wheels.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fujang Villa (Wooden Chalet)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-drive to Kenting: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and continue south along Highway 11 through Taitung and Chihpen and then on Highway 9 to Kenting. Once again you will be driving along a scenic coastal highway and there are plenty of places you might like to stop en-route. Depending on stops, the journey time should be around 5 hours and on arrival, check into your hotel to relax by the sea for the rest of the day. Central Kenting with its busy night market is just a few kilometres away.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Red Garden Resort (Cosy Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure to relax on the nearby beach, explore the town of Kenting or use your hired car to explore the nearby area independently. You may like to head into the Kenting Forest and do some trekking or explore the nearby area. We recommend a visit to the Eluanbi Lighthouse a few kilometres down the road.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Red Garden Resort (Cosy Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-drive journey to Maolin: Continue your journey up the west coast today towards the village of Maolin, famous for its abundance of butterflies at certain times of year and its local aboriginal culture. After breakfast, head north from Kenting on Highway 1, turning inland at the junction with Highway 185, a scenic road which takes you all the way to Maolin. Depending on stops, the journey time today should be approximately 3 hours.

Please be aware that the accommodation in Maolin is very basic.

Explore the Maolin National Scenic Area: This afternoon is at leisure to explore the villages of Maolin, Wanshan & Do Na independently. There are a number of great hiking trails in the area that can be taken, ask at the guesthouse for more details and for a local map.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the De En Gorge Guesthouse (Basic Chalet)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning optional trek: This morning, you have another opportunity to explore the local area and, if in season, visit the Purple Butterfly Valley, considered one of the two most important butterfly migratory resting grounds in the world.

Road journey to Tainan, via Fo Guan Shan Monastery: Depart Maolin in the mid-morning in order to reach Fo Guan Shan Monastery in time for your private guided tour with an English speaking nun as your guide at 2pm. On arrival at the monastery, report in to reception from where you will be shown around the impressive campus and learn more about the Buddhist way of life and the community here. The tour will take approximately 2 hours and you may wish to explore the new Buddha Memorial centre next door with its impressive giant Buddha statue. After your visit to Fo Guan Shan, continue to Tainan about an hours' drive away and check into your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Place (Relax Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-guided tour of Tainan: Today, head off on your own sightseeing trip around Tainan, either in your hired car or using public transport. Places you might like to visit include the following: the Chinese styled Chihkan Towers, built during the Qing dynasty on the site of the former 17th Century Dutch fortress, Proventia, nowadays known as Chihkan Towers; Kung Miao, the oldest Confucius Temple in Taiwan and the first educational institution on the island. Built almost 400 years ago, the temple has been restored a number of times, but still maintains its traditional style of architecture. The 17th Century Fort Anping, also known as Fort Zeelandia, the first Dutch fortress built on the island. Please be aware that all entrances fees will need to be paid locally.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Place (Relax Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-drive from Tainan to Kaohsiung airport: After a morning at leisure to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs, set off in your hire car to the airport near Kaohsiung for your flight home. Depending on traffic conditions, the airport is around 1.5 hours drive away, but you will have to return your hired car on arrival so we recommend leaving plenty of time at the airport.

Flight: CX5455 Kaohsiung - Hong Kong 19.05 - 20.35

Flight: CX251 Hong Kong - London Heathrow 23.55 - 05.40 (overnight)

Meals: Breakfast