Taiwan Holidays
For us, a holiday in Taiwan is a superb chance to explore the island’s ruggedly handsome landscape, where a well-served outdoor leisure culture will blow those cobwebs away in no time, leaving you fully rejuvenated.
For a fully rounded trip, add in a jaw-dropping variety of superb food, a sophisticated blend of modern culture with laid back spiritualism, and the island’s indigenous past, which is thought to hold the origins of Austronesian culture and language.
Get outdoors. Taiwan's scenic gorges, mountains and coastlines offer tempting terrain with superb views. The locals jump into their outdoor leisure with gusto, on tracks and trails that are well maintained and signposted. For the visitor, hiking or biking is an excellent way to appreciate the country beyond its cities, and there's nothing like meeting the locals at leisure to really learn what makes them tick. The marble gorge in Taroko National Park is particularly popular, while Kenting National Park has a sandy coastline to go with its excellent walking.
Feast on the food. Taiwan’s streetfood and restaurant scene is so delicious and affordable that eating out has become a tourist attraction in its own right. The country’s passion for food extends far beyond its famous night markets, however. Specialist foodie markets spring up even in the remotest countryside, and regional festivals are held to celebrate the distinctive local cuisines.
Cycling. Bicycles are a huge part of daily life in Taiwan. Cycle paths are consequently very well maintained, bike rental is good value, and you can even find bike-sized roadside loos! Scenic routes such as the ones around Taipei and Sun Moon Lake typically take you along paved tracks and wooden causeways, so the going is easy, and there’s plenty to see en route.
City life. Visit Taipei for the priceless treasures in its museums, for world-class performance art in its concert halls and theatres, and to enjoy a lazy afternoon in the city’s burgeoning cafe culture. The older southern city of Tainan offers a great contrast, and the city’s fascinating history is on display everywhere, and particularly evident in the island’s greatest concentration of temples.
Hot springs. When you have volcanically heated springwater bubbling up from beneath your landscape, you take every opportunity to bathe in it! Although Taiwan’s hot spring culture is generally more focused on healing and wellness than indulgent luxury, there are plenty of bath-houses to choose from. The waters have different mineral contents, so be prepared to wallow in some interesting colours.
Indigenous culture. It’s believed that the entire Austronesian language group originated on Taiwan, along with dozens of South-East Asian and Pacific cultures. These days the island’s indigenous population is small but famous, and their influence is preserved in areas such as Meinong on the south-west coast, and Alishan National Park.
Things to love in Taiwan
What to do in Taiwan: Discover more with our hand-picked experiences & highlights
The Selective difference
With us, you are taken care of from enquiry until your reluctant homecoming. Your holiday is designed by a specialist who knows your destination first-hand. Throughout your travels, you'll have expert personal guides where requested & our full logistical support. And, it goes without saying, we'll be waiting to hear all about it once you're home.
LOCAL EXPERTISE
Our Brighton-based Destination Specialists spend each day working closely with colleagues and partners across Asia. This ensures we stay several steps ahead when designing inspiring holidays, staying up to date and overcoming obstacles, which means your holiday will be crafted using both local and international expertise.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
The welfare of our destinations and their communities is incredibly important to us. We are focused on ensuring that your money makes a positive impact, as often as possible, by supporting communities and wildlife conservation through dedicated initiatives and by very carefully choosing our partners in Asia.
EXCEPTIONAL STANDARDS
We may be partial to the occasional bad pun, but we don’t joke around when it comes to designing first class travel experiences. Over 90% of our clients rate us 5/5 after their holiday, and we're not ashamed to crack a proud grin on behalf of our award-winning teams in the UK and Asia.
WORRY-FREE
We know your time is precious, before and during your trip. We want you to have a smooth and relaxing experience so that your main concern on holiday will be whether to order noodles or rice. There will be no hidden extras, and your holiday will be orchestrated seamlessly by your Destination Specialist plus our local guides and behind-the-scenes crews in your destination.
