Taiwan - Round Island Tea Origin Experience

Price

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Inclusions

• Round-trip airport/hotel transfers (Mandarin Speaking)
• 2-nights Taipei, Sonnien Hotel
  • Full-day tour to Tieguanyin including admission to Maokong Gondola and entrance to Zhang Naimiao Tea Master Memorial Hall for a tea tasting experience
• 1-night Miaoli, Hotel National
  • Full-day tour from Taipei to Miaoli including admission to the Oriental Beauty Tea Estate and Pouyuenji Hill
• 1-night Nantou, Hotel del Lago
  • Full day tour from Miaoli to Nantou including a boat ride on Sun Moon Lake and admission to Sun Moon Lake Old Tea factory.
• 1-night Chiayi, South Urban Hotel
  • Full-day tour from Nantou to Chiayi including admission to a family-operated tea farm
• 1-night Alishan, Alishan History House
  • Full-day tour to Alishan including high mountain tea-picking (seasonal, admission to Alishan National Park and dinner
• 1-night Tainan, Hotel Cozi Ximen Tainan
  • Full-day tour to Tainan including Alishan Forest Railway and a guided walk through an ancient cypress trail
• 1-night Pingung, Fulon Poshtel Kenting
  • Full-day tour to Pingtung including admission to a coastal tea farm
• 1-night Taitung, Papago Resort
  • Full-day tour to Taitung including admission to Luye Tea Farm for the Red Oolong tasting experience
• 1-night Hualien, Lakeshore Hotel
  • Half-day tour to Hualien including a cycling experience in Chishang
• 1 night Taipei, Sonnien Hotel
  • Full-day tour/transfer to Taipei along the Suhua Highway
• Breakfast daily
• Knowledgeable English-speaking guide

Exclusions

International Airfare

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Map

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Itinerary

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  Day 1 - Arrive Taipei

  On arrival in Taipei, you will be transferred to your accommodation for a 2-night stay. The remainder of your day is free to explore at leisure or relax.

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    Sonnien Hotel (Superior)

    Sonnien Hotel Taipei is a contemporary boutique hotel that combines comfort, style, and convenience in the heart of Taiwan’s capital. Situated near Daan Forest Park, the hotel provides easy access to both natural surroundings and urban attractions. Guests can enjoy a peaceful retreat while still being just minutes away from Taipei’s bustling shopping districts, night markets, and cultural landmarks.

    The hotel features well-appointed rooms with modern décor, designed to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Each room is equipped with amenities such as flat-screen TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, and comfortable bedding to ensure a restful stay. Large windows in many rooms allow natural light to fill the space, offering guests serene views of the city or park.

    Sonnien Hotel Taipei is known for its attentive service and thoughtful facilities. The on-site restaurant serves a variety of local and international cuisines, while meeting rooms and business-friendly services make it ideal for both leisure and corporate travelers.

    Sonnien Hotel  (Superior)
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  Day 2 - Taipei Maokong: Tieguanyin (B)

  Your tea adventure begins in the lush mountains overlooking Taipei, where the Maokong area has been producing the famous Tieguanyin oolong tea for over a century. After a morning pick-up from your accommodation in Taipei City, you’ll travel into the hills via the Maokong Gondola, enjoying sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding valleys (or a scenic drive if weather conditions require). Upon arrival, visit the Zhang Naimiao Tea Master Memorial Hall to learn about the history and legacy of Tieguanyin cultivation in Taiwan. Continue with a traditional tea tasting session where you’ll sample this heavily roasted oolong while learning about the meticulous roasting process that gives the tea its distinctive toasty and orchid-like character. In the afternoon, return to the city and visit the vibrant Taipei 101 area for sightseeing, shopping, or dinner at your leisure.

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  Day 3 - Taipei - Hsinchu - Miaoli (B)

  Today you’ll discover one of the world’s most fascinating and prized teas: Oriental Beauty. After breakfast at your hotel, travel to a renowned tea estate famous for producing this remarkable oolong. During a guided tea garden tour, you’ll learn about the tiny green leafhopper whose bites trigger the tea plant’s natural defense response, creating the honey-sweet flavor and fruity aroma that make Oriental Beauty so special. A professional tasting session will introduce you to teas with different oxidation levels, allowing you to appreciate the complexity of this rare tea style. Later, stroll through the charming Beipu Old Street, known for its preserved Hakka culture and local delicacies. In the afternoon, continue to Miaoli, where you’ll enjoy a rare tasting of century-old Puer tea at PouYuenJi Hill, experiencing the depth and aged character of this treasured tea.

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  Day 4 – Miaoli to Nantou: Sun Moon Lake Black Tea (B)

  After breakfast at your hotel, journey to the breathtaking Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest and most iconic body of water. Begin with a private boat journey across the tranquil lake, surrounded by misty mountains and scenic beauty. Your visit continues at the atmospheric Sun Moon Lake Old Tea Factory, where you’ll learn about the development of the celebrated Ruby Red Tea No.18. This unique tea was created after five decades of research by crossing native Taiwanese tea trees with Burmese Assamica varieties, resulting in a cultivar with distinctive notes of mint, cinnamon, and natural sweetness. Enjoy a tasting of this celebrated tea before spending some leisure time for a lakeside lunch at your own pace (at guests’ expense).

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  Day 5 - Nantou to Chiayi: The Legacy of Dong Ding Oolong (B)

  Following breakfast, travel to Lugu in Nantou County, home of the renowned Dong Ding Oolong. Visit a family-operated tea farm where generations of tea growers have preserved traditional cultivation and processing techniques. Here, you’ll learn about the art of tea production directly from the farmer and enjoy a tasting session that reveals the balanced roasted flavors and rich aroma of Dong Ding tea. Afterward, enjoy lunch in the mountain area at your leisure (at guests’ expense) before continuing the journey south to Chiayi. In the evening, you may wish to explore the lively Chiayi Night Market, where local snacks and Taiwanese street foods offer a delicious glimpse into regional cuisine.

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  Day 6 –Chiayi to Alishan: High Mountain Oolong (B,D)

  After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive into the cool mountain landscapes of Alishan National Park, one of Taiwan’s most famous high-mountain tea regions. At a local tea farm, you’ll participate in a hands-on tea picking experience (depending on the tea growing season), learning about the delicate harvesting methods used to produce high-mountain oolong. Later, enjoy a guided forest hike through majestic ancient tree groves and misty mountain trails. As evening approaches, witness the legendary Alishan sunset as golden light spreads across the famous “sea of clouds.” Conclude the day with dinner at your hotel while enjoying the tranquil mountain atmosphere.

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  Day 7 – Alishan to Tainan: Forest Railway & Traditional Tea Culture (B)

  Begin the day with breakfast before boarding the iconic Alishan Forest Railway, a historic mountain railway originally built during the Japanese era to transport timber. The scenic ride winds through forests of towering Taiwan cypress trees, offering spectacular mountain views. After exploring the ancient forest landscape, continue by road to Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city and cultural capital. Here, you’ll explore historic temples, forts, and colonial-era architecture that reflect centuries of cultural exchange. In the evening, you may choose to visit a sophisticated traditional tea house (at guests’ expense) to experience Taiwanese tea culture in a refined and historic setting.

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  Day 8 –Tainan to Pingtung: Gangkou Tea - Where the Ocean Meets the Leaf (B)

  After breakfast, travel south to the coastal region of Pingtung to discover the unique story of Gangkou tea, grown where ocean breezes influence the character of the leaves. Visit a seaside tea farm and learn about this distinctive cultivation method that produces tea with subtle marine freshness. Later, explore the historic Hengchun Old Town, famous for its preserved city walls and charming streets. Continue to Kenting National Park, Taiwan’s tropical paradise, where dramatic coastal scenery and lush landscapes await. End the day relaxing at the beautiful Baisha (White Sand) Beach, known for its clear waters and pristine shoreline.

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  Day 9 – Pingtung to Taitung: Red Oolong on the Pacific Coast (B)

  Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before spending a relaxing morning at the beach until around 10:30 am. Afterwards, experience the culinary traditions of Taiwan’s Indigenous cultures with a unique dining experience hosted by a local tribe (at guests’ expense). Continue your journey along the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway, widely considered one of Taiwan’s most scenic drives. Arrive in Luye, Taitung, where you’ll visit a nature-friendly tea farm specializing in Red Oolong. During the tasting session, learn how this tea combines elements of black tea and oolong processing, resulting in a rich, smooth flavor with natural sweetness.

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  Day 10 – Taitung to Hualien: East Rift Valley Landscapes (B)

  After breakfast, begin the day with a cycling experience through the famous golden rice paddies of Chishang, a picturesque rural landscape known for its pristine agricultural scenery. Continue north through the beautiful East Rift Valley, one of Taiwan’s most scenic regions where mountains rise on both sides of fertile farmland. Stop for photos at the Tropic of Cancer Marker before continuing to Hualien. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, you may wish to visit Dongdamen Night Market (optional) to sample a wide variety of Taiwanese street foods and local specialties.

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  Day 11 – Hualien to Taipei: Completing the Tea Journey

  After breakfast, travel north along the dramatic Suhua Highway, stopping at breathtaking viewpoints such as the famous Qingshui Cliff where sheer cliffs drop into the deep blue Pacific Ocean. Continue toward Yilan, where you’ll have time for lunch at your leisure (at guests’ expense). Upon returning to Taipei, explore the historic Dadaocheng district, once the center of Taiwan’s tea trade and still home to traditional tea merchants and beautifully preserved streets. This visit brings your tea journey full circle, connecting Taiwan’s modern tea culture with its historic roots. Afterwards, you’ll be transferred back to your Taipei accommodation.

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  Day 12 – Departure from Taipei (B)

  After breakfast, transfer to Taipei International Airport for your onward flight, concluding your immersive journey through Taiwan’s rich tea landscapes, traditions, and cultures.

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