Help needed for a 16 days trip

[tama]

Hi peeps,

My GF and I will be going on a 16 days trip and we would like to seek your help/comments for the following (incomplete) itinerary. We will be reaching Taoyuan on 29 Jun at 5:40am and departing from Taoyuan on 14 Jul 15:35pm.

This will be our first trip to Taiwan so hope to get some suggestions and feedback on places we should or should not visit. Thanks.


Below are the list of places we would like to visit:

Route 1
6/29/2013 Day 1 (Sat): Taoyuan ->Taichung (台灣民俗村, 新社莊園) [hsr]
6/30/2013 Day 2 (Sun): Taichung ->Alishan (Late noon) [tra]
7/1/2013 Day 3 (Mon): Alishan -> Chayi -> Yunlin/Douliu [mini bus] (night)
7/2/2013 Day 4 (Tue): Janfusun -> Yunlin/Douliu -> Formosa (night)
7/3/2013 Day 5 (Wed): SML, Formosa
7/4/2013 Day 6 (Thu): Formosa -> (Puili) -> Cingjing [by ego]
7/5/2013 Day 7 (Fri): Cingjing -> Hehuanshan -> Taroko [by cab]
7/6/2013 Day 8 (Sat): Taroko -> Hualian (by cab/bus???)
7/7/2013 Day 9 (Sun): Hualian (rafting) -> Taipei [tra] (night/day???)
7/8/2013 Day 10 (Mon): Hualian -> Taipei [tra] (day)
7/9/2013 Day 11 (Tue): Longshansi, Taipei101, Sogo, Simenting, Wufengpu
7/10/2013 Day 12 (Wed): Taipei101, Sogo, Simenting, Shilin
7/11/2013 Day 13 (Thu): Jiufen, 金瓜石, Pingxi, Shifen, Keelung
7/12/2013 Day 14 (Fri): Yangmingshan, Shilin, Miramar Entertainment Park
7/13/2013 Day 15 (Sat): Beitou, Danshui
7/14/2013 Day 16 (Sun): Last minute shopping -> Taoyuan

Some questions:
Is our itinerary feasible (travelling durations are estimated) ?
Can we complete Taroko in a day or can we take cab from Cingjing to Taroko then take public transport to Hualian?
Any other parts which we should hire cab?
Our concern with hiring cab is cost as there are only two of us.
Is the Alishan Forest Railway still working?
Is our itinerary for Taipei ok? Any order which we should visit the places in Taipei?

Thanks.

 

[dilphinus]

Hi peeps,

My GF and I will be going on a 16 days trip and we would like to seek your help/comments for the following (incomplete) itinerary. We will be reaching Taoyuan on 29 Jun at 5:40am and departing from Taoyuan on 14 Jul 15:35pm.

This will be our first trip to Taiwan so hope to get some suggestions and feedback on places we should or should not visit. Thanks.


Below are the list of places we would like to visit (2 routes):

Route 1
6/29/2013 Day 1 (Sat): Taoyuan ->Taichung (台灣民俗村, 新社莊園) [hsr]
6/30/2013 Day 2 (Sun): Taichung ->Alishan (Late noon) [tra]
7/1/2013 Day 3 (Mon): Alishan -> Chayi -> Yunlin/Douliu [mini bus] (night)
7/2/2013 Day 4 (Tue): Janfusun -> Yunlin/Douliu -> Formosa (night)
7/3/2013 Day 5 (Wed): SML, Formosa
7/4/2013 Day 6 (Thu): Formosa -> (Puili) -> Cingjing [by ego]
7/5/2013 Day 7 (Fri): Cingjing -> Hehuanshan -> Taroko [by cab]
7/6/2013 Day 8 (Sat): Taroko -> Hualian (by cab/bus???)
7/7/2013 Day 9 (Sun): Hualian (rafting) -> Taipei [tra] (night/day???)
7/8/2013 Day 10 (Mon): Hualian -> Taipei [tra] (day)
7/9/2013 Day 11 (Tue): Longshansi, Taipei101, Sogo, Simenting, Wufengpu
7/10/2013 Day 12 (Wed): Taipei101, Sogo, Simenting, Shilin
7/11/2013 Day 13 (Thu): Jiufen, 金瓜石, Pingxi, Shifen, Keelung
7/12/2013 Day 14 (Fri): Yangmingshan, Shilin, Miramar Entertainment Park
7/13/2013 Day 15 (Sat): Beitou, Danshui
7/14/2013 Day 16 (Sun): Last minute shopping -> Taoyuan

Route 2
6/29/2013 Day 1 (Sat): Taoyuan -> Hualian
6/30/2013 Day 2 (Sun): Hualian (river rafting)
7/1/2013 Day 3 (Mon): Hualian -> Taroko (Can Taroko be completed in a day?)
7/2/2013 Day 4 (Tue): Taroko -> Hehuanshan -> Cingjing (assume reach Cingjing at night)
7/3/2013 Day 5 (Wed): Cingjing
7/4/2013 Day 6 (Thu): Cingjing -> (Puili) -> SML + Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village -> Janfusun
7/5/2013 Day 7 (Fri): Janfusun Fancy world -> Chayi
7/6/2013 Day 8 (Sat): Chayi -> Alisan
7/7/2013 Day 9 (Sun): Alisan -> Chayi -> Taichung (fengjia)
7/8/2013 Day 10 (Mon): Taichung (台灣民俗村, 新社莊園) -> Taipei
7/9/2013 Day 11 (Tue): Longshansi, Taipei101, Sogo, Simenting, Wufengpu
7/10/2013 Day 12 (Wed): Taipei101, Sogo, Simenting, Shilin
7/11/2013 Day 13 (Thu): Jiufen, 金瓜石, Pingxi, Shifen, Keelung
7/12/2013 Day 14 (Fri): Yangmingshan, Shilin, Miramar Entertainment Park
7/13/2013 Day 15 (Sat): Beitou, Danshui
7/14/2013 Day 16 (Sun): Last minute shopping -> Taoyuan

Route 1 is preferred (assuming we are not shopping much at Taichung).


Some questions:
Is our itinerary feasible (travelling durations are estimated) ?
Can we complete Taroko in a day or can we take cab from Cingjing to Taroko then take public transport to Hualian?
Any other parts which we should hire cab?
Our concern with hiring cab is cost as there are only two of us.
Is the Alishan Forest Railway still working?
Is our itinerary for Taipei ok? Any order which we should visit the places in Taipei?

Thanks.

If I'm not wrong (please also take a look at the map lah), it's Taipei (north) to Taroko Gorge, Hualien, to the water rafting spot (Siouguluan River). So for route 2, it's backtracking.

Also for Taichung, why one day only. Arrival at 6am and with all the travelling, you will be pretty exhuasted. Probably won't do much on day 1. Buffer in rest and travel time.

One day for Taroko Gorge is never sufficient. Most people won't be able to do 2 or 3 days (consecutive) of Taroko Gorge. Physically.

Also shopping, the department stores are almost identical. No need to go so many department stores.

 

[tama]

If I'm not wrong (please also take a look at the map lah), it's Taipei (north) to Taroko Gorge, Hualien, to the water rafting spot (Siouguluan River). So for route 2, it's backtracking.

Yes, the difference between the 2 is only the direction of travel.

Also for Taichung, why one day only. Arrival at 6am and with all the travelling, you will be pretty exhuasted. Probably won't do much on day 1. Buffer in rest and travel time.

One day for Taroko Gorge is never sufficient. Most people won't be able to do 2 or 3 days (consecutive) of Taroko Gorge. Physically.

So is it recommend to spend only 1 day at Taroko Gorge? As for the mode of transport, i suppose the recommended would be cab. Are there any other options given that we will going from cingjing to Taroko to Hualian (route 1).

Also shopping, the department stores are almost identical. No need to go so many department stores.

Noted. Thanks. Could slot in more items with we are able to finished shopping earlier but not sure how long my GF would need for shopping.

 

[tama]

Anyone have any suggestions or can answer my queries???

 

[calkel20]

Yes, the difference between the 2 is only the direction of travel.
So is it recommend to spend only 1 day at Taroko Gorge? As for the mode of transport, i suppose the recommended would be cab. Are there any other options given that we will going from cingjing to Taroko to Hualian (route 1).
Noted. Thanks. Could slot in more items with we are able to finished shopping earlier but not sure how long my GF would need for shopping.

Taroko in one day is super rush unless you can start early and do what most tour groups do, touch n go type.
Cingjing to Taroko is by the central highway, it's down for now due to landslide, duno when will recover back in operation.

So what's the big question mark that you have that needs to be answered again?

Any other parts which we should hire cab?
Our concern with hiring cab is cost as there are only two of us.
Is the Alishan Forest Railway still working?
Is our itinerary for Taipei ok? Any order which we should visit the places in Taipei?
U do not need taxis to move around. Public transport works well there too.
U need to take a bus up alishan then take the train from alishan recreation area to 祝山，神木。 No train from Chiayi to Alishan.

 

[contralto]

Anyone have any suggestions or can answer my queries???

For Alishan - you need to take the bus up (either from the HSR bus (BRT) or the Chiayi bus station) to the Alishan Forest Recreation Area. If you are staying at Lauya minsu, they have an excellent bus guide on their website, go look for it. The Alishan Forest Railway is only running between the Alishan station and the other stations (Shenmu/Zhushan etc) within the Recreation Area.

 

[tama]

Hi calkel20 and contralto,

Thanks for your replies.

Taroko in one day is super rush unless you can start early and do what most tour groups do, touch n go type.
Cingjing to Taroko is by the central highway, it's down for now due to landslide, duno when will recover back in operation.

Thanks for your feedback, I will keep to the original plan of 2 days in Taroko then. Maybe engaging the taxi for just a day depending on budget constraint.

U do not need taxis to move around. Public transport works well there too.

I suppose from Cingjing to Taroko I will still need a taxi. Can't find any information on public transport for Cingjing to Taroko unless I take the following route: Cingjing -> Taichung -> Hualian -> Taroko.

Is there any recommended website other than google maps to check the public transport time and cost?
I suppose what I need to do next is to cater in the time spend on transportation and book the hotels.

 

[calkel20]

Hi calkel20 and contralto,

Thanks for your replies.



Thanks for your feedback, I will keep to the original plan of 2 days in Taroko then. Maybe engaging the taxi for just a day depending on budget constraint.



I suppose from Cingjing to Taroko I will still need a taxi. Can't find any information on public transport for Cingjing to Taroko unless I take the following route: Cingjing -> Taichung -> Hualian -> Taroko.

Is there any recommended website other than google maps to check the public transport time and cost?
I suppose what I need to do next is to cater in the time spend on transportation and book the hotels.

Someone mentioned the price is abt 5k ntd for cj to hualien n as mentioned the central highway has landslide last few days n is temp closed. No idea when will it be up again.

 

[dilphinus]

I don't really recommend two days in Taroko Gorge. How is the physical ability of you and gf?

 

[calkel20]

I don't really recommend two days in Taroko Gorge. How is the physical ability of you and gf?

Most will not walk the trails. If got time, i will take a nice walk. Attempted half the shakadang trail back in 7/2010. Next super lobo one i just may walk to e end.

 

[dilphinus]

Most will not walk the trails. If got time, i will take a nice walk. Attempted half the shakadang trail back in 7/2010. Next super lobo one i just may walk to e end.

He budgeting two days for Taroko Gorge. Two days if not doing the trails, just touch and go, then one day is sufficient. No?

 

[calkel20]

He budgeting two days for Taroko Gorge. Two days if not doing the trails, just touch and go, then one day is sufficient. No?

At least on first day, he can do taroko, second day roam around hualien town. Or vice versa n weather dependent.

 

[calkel20]

If arrive late n cannot do tour, second day tour can start early n when it ends, he can make a trip to next destination.

 

[ses009]

We didn't walk any trail. The longest we walked was at Baiyang for about one and half hour and we were half dead. The 60+ yo driver walked faster than us young people. The main driver called me to ask why we didn't walk those beautiful places haha. Hence one day see look Taroko National Park was enough for us. 2nd day if spent at Hualien would be good.

 

[tama]

Hi all, thanks for the replies!!!

From the responses, it seems that going through the various trails will be very siong. If it is only walking I believe we should be fine but if climbing is involved, then we might not make it. Any inputs?

Someone mentioned the price is abt 5k ntd for cj to hualien n as mentioned the central highway has landslide last few days n is temp closed. No idea when will it be up again.

We were quoted the same. The cab driver expects the road to be cleared by the time we arrive in Taiwan.

Alternatively, is there any way we can travel down south from Chiayi then north to Hualian? Then we can get to see the southern part of Taiwan. Route will change accordingly and if we hire cab from Hualian to Taroko I believe it will be much cheaper.

 

[touchme]

Why not just drive to enjoy more quality time, and more freedom and less hectic with baggages? $$500 for 16 days

 

[tama]

Why not just drive to enjoy more quality time, and more freedom and less hectic with baggages? $$500 for 16 days

Sad to say, I got no driving license.

Btw, is it a must to pre-book all hotel/minsu?
I was planning to do this but if I can do last minute booking, e.g., a day or 2 before reaching then I may have more free play.

 

[calkel20]

Hi all, thanks for the replies!!!

From the responses, it seems that going through the various trails will be very siong. If it is only walking I believe we should be fine but if climbing is involved, then we might not make it. Any inputs?



We were quoted the same. The cab driver expects the road to be cleared by the time we arrive in Taiwan.

Alternatively, is there any way we can travel down south from Chiayi then north to Hualian? Then we can get to see the southern part of Taiwan. Route will change accordingly and if we hire cab from Hualian to Taroko I believe it will be much cheaper.

Trails involved walking for abt an hour to destination and another hour back. No climbing involved unless u decided to move down to see the green water body in taroko.

To go south to chiayi, then u still need to come back up which is the original route, so defeats the purpose.

 

[dilphinus]

Hi all, thanks for the replies!!!

From the responses, it seems that going through the various trails will be very siong. If it is only walking I believe we should be fine but if climbing is involved, then we might not make it. Any inputs?

Have you walked for 4 to 6 hours consecutively? If you think it's ok then it's ok.

What is your definition of 'climb'? Up and down stairs? There will be slopes and stairs.

Try doing the Berlayer's Creek and the Southern Ridges. But bear in mind that the pavements in Taroko Gorge will not be as conducive as those in SG.

 

[tama]

Trails involved walking for abt an hour to destination and another hour back. No climbing involved unless u decided to move down to see the green water body in taroko.

Noted. Will search for the images of the trails and prioritize which one to try. Too tired then skip. Hahaha.

To go south to chiayi, then u still need to come back up which is the original route, so defeats the purpose.

What I meant was to travel round the southern parts, i.e., travel in U route:
Chiayi->Pingtung->Taitung->Hualian
Seems possible and did an initial check of the train routes and the prices seems to be at most 1k ntd per pax.