0Explore the newest version of our popular Taiwan bike tour along the stunning east coast. Ride through Taroko marble gorge, by beautiful beaches, and across the lush rift valley. Enjoy coastal views, visit villages, try Stand Up Paddleboarding, and savor Taiwanese cuisine. From Taipei to Kenting, this comprehensive tour is perfect for adventurous travelers looking for an amazing cycling adventure in Taiwan.
This route takes us from Taipei in the north to Kenting in the far south of Taiwan. The first day’s ride through Taroko Gorge to the Pacific Coast and East Rift Valley is just the beginning of our journey through scenic countryside. We’ll pass through villages, orchards, and rice fields, enjoying tasty local meals along the way.
At the end of each day, Taiwan offers more surprises: from the striking Pacific Ocean to relaxing hot springs and delicious noodles. Taiwan’s unique experiences will leave you wanting more!
Cycling Distance: 310 km / 200 mi, featuring medium-length rides with some hills on certain days. The terrain varies from gentle slopes to steep climbs. Traffic is generally light, though some busier roads may be encountered. Be prepared for higher temperatures and humidity, especially from June to September.
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Highlights
- Bike through Taroko Gorge on the famous King of the Mountain route.
- Explore the Rift Valley with green rice fields, fruit farms, hot springs, and tribal villages.
- Look out for wildlife like monkeys, deer, eagles, and bears along the Walami Trail.
- Enjoy Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Donghe River Gorge.
Whats Included:
- 7 nights stay in resorts & boutique B&Bs
- Meals: Breakfast x 7, Lunch x 6, Dinner x 6
- High-quality, well-maintained bikes & equipment
- Stand-up Paddleboard experience
- Expert ABT Guide
- Comprehensive vehicle support
- Snacks & water during rides
- Complimentary cycling jersey and water bottle
Detailed itinerary ideas
If you don't like cycling tours, you can opt to travel by car.
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1
We’ll meet up early in Taipei for introductions before a beautiful train ride along the dramatic east coast to breathtaking Taroko Gorge which forges its way through the Central Mountain Range. Whether shrouded in mist or glowing in sunlight, this sheer marble gorge is a captivating sight. From the station, it’s a short but beautiful drive to our luxurious overnight lodgings, situated deep into the heart of the gorge. On arrival, we’ll check in and then have a bike fitting and take a short warm-up ride deeper into the gorge (part of the famous King of the Mountain route!)
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2
We have an early start to make the exhilarating ride down through Taroko Gorge, stopping for a short but stunning hike along the aquamarine waters of Shakadang stream, a tributary of the main Liwu River. On pedaling out of the gorge, we’ll emerge onto the Pacific Coast, and avoiding the main highway we ride narrow lanes lined with banana palms and temples, taking beachside rest stops on our way south. After lunch in Hualien we’ll move away from the city and into the picturesque but little visited East Rift Valley, a land of lush green rice paddies and small indigenous communities. We’ll spend the night in cabins magically set over the water set on the edge of the Rift Valley. In the evening we can enjoy a hearty BBQ dinner and campfire.
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3
Today it’s a shorter ride as we continue our journey down through the Rift Valley, with towering mountains on either side. We’ll stop for lunch at a community-run organic farm restaurant in an Amis village and have the chance to meet some of the friendly locals. In the afternoon we’ll move on south through prime tropical fruit growing country to our lovely resort set in the beautiful Fuyuan Forest Reserve. The reserve has numerous hiking trails through lush jungle to waterfalls and suspension bridges. Monkeys, deer, eagles and huge butterflies are commonplace, and Swinhoe’s Pheasant are occasionally spotted! When you get back from your hike soothing hot springs await! Dinner tonight is at the resort.
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4
This morning’s ride is interjected with a trio of interesting stops, first the Saoba Monoliths (Taiwan’s mini version of Stone Henge), then on to the Tropic of Cancer Monument, and finally for a well-earned cuppa’ amidst the tea farms of Wuhe. We then take a lovely little cut through road back to highway 193, and now officially in the tropics, bear south through the ever-widening Rift Valley, stopping for a delicious dumpling lunch. After lunch we continue on to our overnight stop perched atop a hill on the edge of the Rift Valley. It’s a great spot to sit back, relax and enjoy the views and in the evening our host will put on a gourmet feast for dinner.
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5This morning we pedal away from the Rift Valley, along a magical little road (often with more monkeys than cars) that cuts its way southeast through the low jungly hills of the Coastal Mountain Range. We’ll hit the coast at one of its most impressive stretches, often compared with Hawaii, and after some tasty local baozi (steamed buns) it’s only a short hop south to the laid-back surf settlement of Dulan.As well as being a mecca for surfers, Dulan is also famous for a recent indigenous arts revival that encompasses music, painting, and sculpture which can be seen in the warehouse galleries around the focal point of the village, the old Sugar Factory.
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6
This morning we’ll rise early to enjoy a sunrise SUP ride in Donghe River Gorge. Paddling the emerald green waters to a backdrop of giant white boulders and lush tropical forest makes for a magical start to the day. The rest of the day is free to relax on the beach, hike, surf, visit some of the local sights or just read a book and rest!
As well as Taiwanese and indigenous cuisine, Dulan has a host of Western-oriented cafés and restaurants serving food from around the globe, including authentic French, Indian and Vietnamese cuisine. There is also sometimes live music at the Sugar Factory on Saturday nights. Soak up Taiwanese life as you rest your legs!
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7
Today we’ll transfer by vehicle along the beautiful but busy coastal highway to Shouka where we’ll begin our epic final day’s ride through the hills of the Hengchun Peninsula. We bear off the main east-west route and cycle a lovely little road through remote jungle dotted with the odd indigenous village before bringing us back down to the coast where we’ll take lunch at a simple seafood restaurant. The coastal stretch here is one of Taiwan’s finest, with the road running right alongside the ocean, passing windswept beaches and abandoned military bases before once again ascending into the jungle in a double hill climb before another lovely descent. The last leg of the ride takes us all the way to the island’s southernmost point, from where it’s just a short ride to Kenting, Taiwan’s tropical playground. In the evening we’ll explore Kenting night market and head out for a final dinner to celebrate our incredible Taiwan ride.
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8
This morning is free for you to further explore Kenting’s bounty of activities. A group transfer is available at noon back to Kaohsiung International Airport or the High-Speed-Rail Station. The tour ends on arrival in Kaohsiung. For those who want longer to explore this spectacular region please see our Kenting Explorer tour extension.
Accommodation options
You will stay in a mix of small, locally-owned hotels and traditional homestays on this tour. These places were chosen carefully for their great location, friendly staff, tasty local food, and commitment to responsible tourism. At the homestays, you'll have dormitory-style rooms.
Booking Policy
Click here to see our Taiwan Travel Guide.
Here is some general travel information for Taiwan.
Take a moment to discover why We Love Cycling in Taiwan.
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We carefully choose our expert guides and travel concierges to make sure you have an authentic experience. They're passionate about their work and will bring your destination to life with care and enthusiasm.
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What our clients say about us
Eriberto P
16 March 2024 ★★★★★We had an amazing time with Flipside! The easy riders were fantastic and made us feel so safe over the 3 days. The food and home stays were lovely over the trip and there were plenty of stops along the way. The evenings were so much fun with the group and easy riders! Everyone was so accommodating and friendly and made the experience unforgettable. We cannot wait to come again and highly recommend Flipside
Jeremy
28 April 2024 ★★★★★Flip side honestly exceeded my expectations! Of course the views of Ha Giang were amazing but the staff were absolutely incredible and the easy riders were amazing! I felt so safe on the back of Truong’s bike the whole time. We had a small group of 6 people, 4 of us with easy riders and my boyfriend and our friend drove themselves. The drivers were steady and kept a good, safe pace for the guys riding (we saw and heard how fast the other tour’s went and how many injuries they have). Every night was super fun and our riders had such a laugh with us. Flip side take you off the beaten track and we saw some amazing views and swam in some gorgeous waterfalls that we hiked down too, it was so special. The main highlight was day 4, where we met Thiên and Truong’s families. We had the best day wild swimming with them, swimming inside a hidden cave, and drinking too much happy water while teaching everyone Scottish country dancing. Special thanks to Duc Anh, Thiên and especially Truong. Amazing people that made the four days so special!!! Flip side really feels like a family and social enterprise and really supports the staff & the villages in the mountains, it was amazing to see and hear about from a tour company! 10/10
Steven
23 April 2024 ★★★★★I had a good time and I am Glad, that I decided me to book this tour I can recommed it, it was nice and uncomplicated to book We had a really good time
Naad
16 April 2024 ★★★★★We just returned from a 14 day trip to Vietnam with FLIPSIDE. The trip was perfect, thanks to Mr. Kevin and his team, who took care of every detail of the organization and were attentive throughout, ensuring that our experience was excellent. They even provided us with tips on some great hotels in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. During our trip, we visited Hanoi, Halong Bay (two night by boat, highly recommended for a full experience), did the Ha Giang Loop for 4 days, explored Hoi An and went on a 3-day bike tour in the Mekong Delta. The guides spoke good English and took excellent care of us in each city: Tony in Hanoi and Halong Bay, Nghia in Ha Giang and Tom in the Mekong Delta, all of whom helped us enjoy the journey more. Vietnam is a wonderful country with delicious food and the people are charming. I absolutely recommend it. Many thanks to Mr. Kevin and Flipside Adventure Travel for their excellent work.
Sures M
3 April 2024 ★★★★★The flipside Ha Giang loop tour was a absolutely incredible experience which left us both completely speechless until now! Diving into the heart of the loop and being given a real experience of the life in which the local people live here was truly amazing. The company puts real emphasis into helping local communities within the loop. You are able to make donations, if you wish, to local families in need and the experience visiting the family really does change your perspective on things. Furthermore, you are taken off the main tracks and see parts of the loop no one else does. However, you still see the incredible scenery and pass through the loops most popular tracks so don’t miss out in incredible views. The easy riders ensure you make plenty of stops for delicious coffee/drinks and have the chance to take plenty of photos and videos to capture the moment! Me & my girlfriend had Ǎn and Dukang (I hope I’ve spelt that correctly) as our easy riders and they were genuinely amazing people. You connect with them over the three/four days and make a real friendship with them! They’re fantastic drivers and go above & beyond to make sure you have a brilliant time. Food was delicious and we never felt hungry as there was so much! The homestays were great too, couples on our tour were given private rooms when possible (which was both nights for us). The flipside team do an amazing job and deserve the most recognition possible! I hope one day to return & do the loop again. It was truly amazing. Thank you to everyone at Flipside, with particular thanks to Ǎn & Dukang! Legends!!
Stolecki G
10 April 2024 ★★★★★We just completed a 26 day tour of Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Giang Loop Tour by motorbike, Halong Bay cruise, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh, Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong cycle tour. We arrived by boat in the Cambodian capital and from there, we went to Siem Reap to visit the temples of Angkor. Finally, we traveled to Bangkok, visiting the city's temples, floating markets and parks. We were met for all the transfers, including 4 internal flights, a boat transfer and the cruise. Everything was perfectly organized by Kevin. All tour guides were excellent and very attentive, and the drivers and vehicles were also great. Despite choosing budget hotels, they were good quality. We felt safe and secure throughout the trip. The only accommodation that felt a bit out of place was the one in Bangkok. Flipside Adventure Travel is an agency we highly recommend as they organize tailored tours with half board, diverse activities and at a reasonable price. This experience was particularly special as it was our first trip to Asia.
Armer S
12 June 2024 ★★★★★Flipside Adventure Travel organized a fabulous 3-week trip for us to Vietnam and Cambodia. We visited Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, traveled by boat on the Mekong River with a bike tour and explored Saigon, Hoi An, Halong Bay and the Ha Giang Loop. A choice was perfectly offered in different hotels and accommodations, allowing everyone to manage their desires and budget. Our travel consultant, Stephen was always ready to answer us on WhatsApp when we needed it. We were really taken care of! Also, when bad weather made us cancel our scuba diving, Stephen quickly found us another plan. The guides were nice and spoke English well; the drivers were good and we loved our trip. Highly recommend Flipside Adventure Travel!
Vernola S
18 January 2024 ★★★★★Our trip to Vietnam was fantastic, one of the best I've ever had. Flipside Adventure Travel was very well organized throughout. We were fortunate to have a wonderful guide, Tony, who was incredibly helpful, kind and patient. The group of fellow travelers were also great. They ranged in age from about 30 to 50 years old and were easy to get along with and friendly. We always made stops at clean restrooms, dined at wonderful restaurants, and stayed in excellent hotels. The itinerary struck a good balance between sightseeing, shopping, downtime, group activities, communal meals, and individual dining choices. I particularly enjoyed visiting Halong Bay, Ha Giang Loop, Saigon, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, trying Vietnamese cuisine, watching water puppetry and more. I would definitely travel with them again and highly recommend this company.
