Natural Wonders Tour of Taiwan

Experience the natural wonders of Taiwan’s outdoors. Straddling the Tropic of Cancer and sitting on the Ring of Fire, Taiwan is an island of staggering geographic diversity and geological phenomena. This breathtakingly rugged island in East Asia will have eyes feasting on the scenery and your mind marvelling at the biodiversity.

Within the scientific community, Taiwan’s fauna and flora have been celebrated since the late 19th century. Michael Beazeley, an Englishman travelling through what’s now Kenting National Park to survey potential locations for a lighthouse back in 1875, wrote that, when heading southwards through jungle, he came across an area of woodland ‘even more beautiful than the one we had traversed on the east side of the peninsula. Very beautiful palms of two or three kinds, yellow Nepaul pepper, caladiums, the large-leaved Indian banyan, rattans, and guava bushes were in abundance. A beautiful orchid (Phaloenopsis sanderiana) grew on the trees, and we disturbed numbers of monkeys as we passed along’.

The first Westerners to explore Taiwan encountered capricious local officials, headhunting tribes, and diseases like malaria. Where travelling by boat or on horseback wasn’t possible, they usually had to walk long distances. Beazeley and the other leaders of his 41-strong party were more fortunate than most; where the terrain allowed it they were carried in sedan chairs.

These days, we can assure you, Taiwan is one of the world’s safest tourist destinations. What’s more, getting around is a cinch. Thanks to efficient public transport and well-maintained roads, it’s possible to get from the north to the south in just a few hours. Quite a few international visitors opt to rent a vehicle — but to really make the most of your time on the island, we recommend you book a customised private tour of Taiwan with a driver-guide who’s not only familiar with the winding roads that cut through the mountains but who’s also able to introduce spots you’d otherwise miss.

Mountains as far as the eye can see

It’s not obvious as you fly into Taoyuan or Kaohsiung, nor will you truly grasp this truth if you stick to the major cities on the western plain, but Taiwan is an astonishingly mountainous place.

Well over half of the Switzerland-sized main island is too steep to build on. Around a third is one km (3,281 ft) or more above sea level, while a tenth reaches at least 2,500 m (8,202 ft). Among the 258 official peaks that exceed 3,000 m (9,843 ft), the tallest is Mount Jade (Yushan). From its summit at 3,952 m (12,966 ft), hikers blessed with perfect conditions are sometimes able to see both the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Taiwan Strait to the west.

Getting to the top of Mount Jade or another top-ten peak is a major undertaking that involves obtaining hiking permits and reserving lodge beds well in advance. Fortunately for visitors, Taiwan’s road network makes it possible to enjoy exceptional scenery without having to walk a step. But of course we urge all able-bodied travellers to walk a bit so they can truly enjoy this remarkable land’s natural splendour!

One of Life of Taiwan’s favourite drives is from Hualien in the east to Sun Moon Lake; this route passes through the spectacular Taroko Gorge and then goes over Taiwan’s highest surfaced road at Wuling (elevation: 3,275 m / 10,745 ft). Even though the distance is a mere 175 km (109 miles) this is an all-day commitment, because of the twisting character and steepness of the road, the frequency with which traffic is halted so repair work can proceed — and the absolute certainty that you’ll want to make several stops to take in incredible views.

Many visitors have been avoiding the Taroko area altogether following the April 3, 2024 earthquake. The damage it wrought was exacerbated by a typhoon a few months later, and as of autumn 2024 much of Taroko National Park remains off limits. Fortunately there’s an alternative way to access the very centre of the island from the northeast: Highway 7A, a superbly scenic road that links the Lanyang Plain in Yilan County with Lishan, a little town famous for its orchards. From Lishan it’s possible to approach Wuling via Dayuling, where an environmentally-conscious government has been buying out tea-growing operations so it can plant native trees and rebuild forest ecosystems.

The mountains are also where you’ll find Taiwan’s most authentic indigenous communities. In some of these places, hunting and gathering are still important ways to obtain protein, herbs, and vegetables. If you’d like to meet members of the Austronesian indigenous minority — there are 16 tribes — and learn something about the traditional ecological knowledge that underpins their worldview and their ancient hunting and harvesting rituals, let us know when we begin designing your private tour.

Awesome Alishan

Without a shadow of doubt, Taiwan’s most popular mountain destination is Alishan. Established as a logging outpost during the 1895-1945 period of Japanese colonial rule, this little town’s population barely reaches four figures. But thanks to its location 2,216 m (7,270 ft) above sea level and the gorgeous forests that surround it, the mist-wrapped main settlement and nearby indigenous communities draw sightseers throughout the year.

The majority of tourists arrive by car, public bus, or tour bus — but the most memorable way to get here is by narrow-gauge train. The Alishan Forest Railway looms so large in the history of Taiwan’s economic development that the island’s Ministry of Culture has nominated it as a Potential UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ministry highlights the steam locomotives that still occasionally ply the route (regular passenger services are pushed by diesel engines), the track’s switchbacks, and the way in which it spirals up Mount Duli as among the special characteristics that give the railway global significance.

Built to bring workers and supplies up from Chiayi while carrying timber and farm produce in the opposite direction, the railway overcomes the gradient at a cyclist’s pace. The quickest Chiayi-Alishan service takes just under four hours to cover the 77 km (49 miles), giving passengers plenty of time to appreciate not just the scenery but also the gradual shift through different climate zones.

It’d be a shame to visit this corner of Taiwan and to see nothing beyond the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. We heartily recommend adding at least one more day so you can visit Fenqihu and/or the Tsou tribal village of Laiji. If you enjoy hiking we can bring you to Erwanping Trail or Tefuye Historic Trail. The only way to avoid making the latter an exhausting there-and-back trek is to have a car and driver who can deliver you to the trailhead near Alishan on Highway 18, then pick you up at the other end.

Nature on your doorstep

Even if time constraints or other commitments mean you can’t venture far from Taipei, there’s a great deal you can see and do. Both Yangmingshan National Park and the indigenous district of Wulai are no more than an hour by car from central Taipei. Guandu Nature Park and Taipei Botanical Garden are even closer.

The hills of Yangmingshan might be tiddlers when compared to Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range — the highest peak is 1,120 m (3,670 ft) above sea level, only a tiny bit above Snowdonia in Wales — but the national park is filled with excellent hiking, sightseeing, and ecotourism opportunities. Even if you’ve no interest in walking to the top of Seven Stars Mountain, consider driving from central Taipei towards Jinshan so you can see the steam-belching fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng. The park’s annual Calla Lily and Hydrangea Festival is a good reason to visit during springtime.

In addition to having stunning natural scenery, Wulai offers visitors hot springs and (especially in the colder months) top-notch birdwatching opportunities. Protecting this region of steep tree-covered hillsides and turquoise creeks is a priority for Taiwan’s environmental activists. A little over two years ago, they mobilised against a government plan to build a 17.2-km-long (10.7 miles) tunnel that would divert water from Wulai’s Nanshi Creek to thirsty industrial centres. In the face of opposition united around sound arguments, the authorities backed down.

One of Wulai’s special places is Neidong National Forest Recreation Area, a 1,191-hectare (2,943 acres) nature reserve filled with thick woodlands, pristine streams, and rare ferns. It’s also one of the habitats of the only-in-Taiwan temple tree frog.

Speaking of ‘only in Taiwan’, the island’s 10,000-year separation from the Asian mainland has resulted in high rates of endemism throughout the biosphere. More than half of Taiwan’s land mammal species are endemic (meaning they’ve been found nowhere else) as are most of its snails and stag beetles, a third of its reptiles, and a quarter of its vascular plants.

In terms of international interest, however, it’s the unique birdlife that sells air tickets and specialised tours. Many visiting ornithologists head to Wulai hoping to glimpse the Formosan magpie, the Taiwan scimitar babbler, the Plumbeous redstart, and other feathered beauties.

Coastlines and islands

The geopolitical entity and heavyweight economy we call Taiwan isn’t one island but well over a hundred. The Penghu archipelago comprises 90 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabited. All but one of these windswept patches of land owe their existence to undersea volcanism; when the basaltic lava that poured from the ocean bed solidified, it formed thousands of beguiling hexagonal columns that are part of the archipelago’s timeless character.

The ‘frontline’ island groups of Kinmen and Matsu will forever be associated with the postwar face-off between Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese Nationalists and Mao Zedong’s Chinese Communists. In addition to sites that fascinate enthusiasts of Cold War and military history, the islands have notable ecological attractions. Both attract rare birds; Kinmen also has a population of Eurasian otters.

Venturing to any of Taiwan’s outlying islands is an investment in time not every visitor is able to make. The coast of the main island is easily accessible, however. Motoring from Jinshan to Tamsui is a fine way to complete the day if you spent the morning going from Taipei to Jinshan via Yangmingshan. But heading in the other direction is an even better idea.

Yehliu Geopark, a mere 7.5 km (4.7 miles) east of Jinshan, shows Mother Nature at her most artistic. Crowded with strange and captivating rock outcrops that have been carved by wind and water, it’s deservedly popular. If you continue through the port city of Keelung, you’ll soon be within striking distance of Jiufen, a quaint former mining town adored by tourists.

You’ll need time to drink in the lovely view from Jiufen. On most days, you’ll have no problem seeing the Shenao and Badouzi peninsulas, and likely also Heping Island. For an even better look at the landscape, there’s an easy hike to the top of Mount Keelung (588 m / 1,929 ft above sea level).

The southwestern coast is far less dramatic in terms of topography, but each winter the region’s lagoons and wetlands host a huge concentration of migrating waterbirds. Some travellers want to see the Black-faced spoonbill which, thanks to conservation efforts at home and abroad, isn’t nearly as endangered as it once was. Others are more interested in sites that are tied to two watershed moments in Taiwan’s history: The arrival of the Dutch in 1624 and their eviction 38 years later by an army of Ming Dynasty loyalists from the Chinese mainland.

Making every day count

Leveraging the knowledge and wisdom of a team that’s notched up close to 200 years of Taiwan travelling and guiding experience, Life of Taiwan is highly skilled at planning and leading tours for couples and families that leave fond memories and, more often than not, a strong desire to return to Taiwan. As of November 2024, out of 101 reviews on TripAdvisor, 95 gave us the best-possible five-star rating.

Whether you’re coming for just three days or an entire fortnight, we’ll ensure you’ll see the best that Taiwan has to offer at a pace that suits you to a tee, while meeting all your accommodation and culinary preferences.

Many of our tours begin with pickup at Taoyuan International Airport, where the majority of long-haul flights land, and end in the south. If your final day will be spent in Kaohsiung, we might take you to the Buddhist monastery complex at Fo Guang Shan or to the mud volcanoes that bubble nearby. If you’ll be returning to Taoyuan International Airport via Tainan High-Speed Railway Station, we might be able to squeeze in a look at Caoshan Moonworld, a region of badlands utterly different to the lush landscapes so common elsewhere in Taiwan.

Ready to get the ball rolling on the Taiwan trip of a lifetime? Contact our expert itinerary designers today so we can begin to put together your personalised private tour Taiwan’s natural wonders, whether it is the 5-Day Private Natural Wonders Tour of Taiwan, 7-Day Private Natural Wonders Tour of Taiwan, or the 9-Day Private Natural Wonders Tour of Taiwan.