You have the cuisine and language of China. But also Japanese influences thanks to the dominance of Chinese architecture from 1895 to 1945. The teahouses, the onsen, and that Japanese orderliness in the cities—everything runs smoothly. And let's not forget the tropical atmosphere of the south of the island, a place you'll only find in the Philippines, with palm trees, beaches, and relaxation mode on.

Seventy percent of the country is covered by forests and mountains, which immediately dispels the image of Taiwan as the world's only factory.

For us, the journey begins in Taipei. But the real adventure lies ahead east coast of Taiwan. Here you will find top-class outdoor living: hiking, cycling, surfing, diving, canyoning… We divide the trip into days, but the trip is flexible and you can adjust the number of days.

From Hualien is Taroko National Park easy easy to reach and that park is the real reason why tourists (mostly Taiwanese) are in the city. Hop on a bike or scooter from Hualien to Taroko National Park. Once you arrive, a guided tour or driving yourself is the easiest option. When you see the iconic Taroko Archway As you drive underneath, you will find yourself among the marble cliffs, rivers and bridges that make the park so characteristic.

The park is vast, and nature is doing its own thing. Therefore, certain areas sometimes become inaccessible due to landslides, earthquakes, and flooding, which are common in the area. A little flexibility is therefore required. Beautiful, yet fragile.

Must-do's in Taroko are the Shakadang Trail, a relaxing stroll along a turquoise river, perfect for your first Taroko moment. Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou Trail) is known for the swallows that skim between the cliffs here. And then there is the Baiyang Trail, which ends at a waterfall that flows right through a cave: a raincoat is not an unnecessary luxury.

On to Sanxiantai, an island reached via an iconic red-blue bridge that curves over the sea like a mermaid's spine. The view is the main reason to go: rugged cliffs, splashing seawater, basalt rocks. It's almost always windy here, and your job is simply to follow the path.

Now we've seen that water from a distance, now you can dive in. Because you can here SUP session with the local organization Sunrise SUP Taiwan books. They know the waters around Sanxiantai like no other and will take you for a paddle. If the northeast monsoon blows too strongly, which happens often, they will divert to Stone UmbrellaIt was too windy for us so we went to Stone Umbrella, but it was beautiful.

Hiking and SUPing require concentrated food, and from the Indigenous cuisine, the cuisine of the original inhabitants of Taiwan. You eat at Mibanai Mountain, a restaurant that uses local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. The cuisine of Taiwanese Indigenous communities is perhaps one of the most unique in Asia, yet remains remarkably under the radar in the rest of the world.

What you do next is up to you (the west coast and the south are also interesting!), but if time is unfortunately up, you can return to where it all began. Taipei it is, but not without a final few days in the city. The city is bustling and everything is super efficiently accessible within walking distance or via the Taipei Metro.

Sla Dadaocheng, not about one of Taipei's oldest districts. Here you can rent a bike and cycle past old warehouses, traditional teahouses, and narrow alleys full of colorful murals. Before lunch, a visit to one of the most famous beef noodle spots Tien Hsia San Chueh is a must. Hearty noodles and a rich broth. And then you can Taipei 101 Don't miss it. This iconic building offers a stunning view of the city, weather permitting. And if you really want to live the city life to the fullest, just go to a night market.

You couldn't wish for a better ending to your Taiwan trip.