Taiwan Family Holiday

Huan ying! Welcome to Taipei. Your adventure begins in the bustling capital of Taiwan with a welcome meeting at 5 pm. If you arrive early, maybe visit the hot springs at Yangmingshan National Park. After the meeting, head out with your group to visit the night market and have dinner together to kick off the adventure.

This morning, you’ll join a fun, hands-on culinary journey to create three beloved Taiwanese classics from scratch. First, you’ll learn the art of dumpling folding, carefully sealing flavourful broth inside each xiao long bao (soup dumpling). Then, explore the depth of Taiwanese comfort food by preparing a fragrant beef noodle soup from broth to bowl. To complete the experience, shake, mix and customise your own bubble (boba) tea in the country of its birth! Find the perfect balance of tea, milk, sweetness and chewy tapioca pearls that makes this kid favourite so addictive. After lunch, you’ll join a storytelling session with local elders – this experience is held by the social enterprise organisation, Rock YeNai (Rock Grandpa/Grandma), which trains seniors to become professional picture book storytellers, evolving into cultural ambassadors.

Today, you’ll take a daytrip to Shifen and Jiufen. In Shifen, you can browse the souvenir shops and snack stalls squeezed along the railway. Unlike a traditional closed market, the street intersects the Pingxi Line train, making for an excellent photo opportunity as the train parts the crowd. Look up, so you don’t miss the impressive sight of the many sky lanterns filling the sky! Then, visit the Shifen waterfall, also known as ‘Taiwan’s Niagara Falls.’ Strolling along the trail, you can admire the cascade up close and feel the refreshing coolness from the mist. Next is Jiufen, often referred to as the inspiration for the Japanese anime film Spirited Away, with its red lantern tea houses set against a mountainous backdrop. Explore the iconic Old Street and smaller laneways filled with snacks and stalls before heading back to Taipei for the night.

Today, you’ll move on to Sun Moon Lake, stopping in a small rural township to immerse yourself in the culture of the Indigenous Meixi Tribe. Try your hand at traditional Seediq hunting techniques and learn about the skills passed down through generations. Get creative in a DIY workshop where you’ll make the Seediq’s beloved banana millet cake – because it’s easy to preserve and carry, this cake was a common snack for men going out to work or hunt. The sweet, sticky flavours of millet and banana also represent family togetherness and cohesion. Later, continue to your guesthouse, where you’ll spend the next two nights.

This morning, take a leisurely bike ride around Sun Moon Lake. The round-the-lake track has attracted cyclists from all over the world and has been nominated as one of the most breathtaking cycle paths by CNN! After, experience the art of traditional papermaking at the Suho Paper Memorial Museum. Kids can admire delicate paper artworks while learning about the history and process of handmade paper. During the workshop, you’ll also create your own handmade paper fan using traditional techniques – perfect to keep you cool on the rest of the trip and take home as a souvenir. Tonight, tuck into a share-style, chef’s-choice menu in a century-old traditional courtyard house, surrounded by forest. Try some traditional home-style dishes lovingly prepared, as if by family.

Travel from the Nantou region to Kenting. When you arrive, you’ll visit the Kenting National Forest Recreation Area – a world-class ‘high coral reef’ landscape with stunning limestone caves and ancient tropical forests that resemble a natural open-air museum. The park offers well-paved, gentle paths and an elevator at the Sea View Tower, allowing you to enjoy 360-degree ocean views without climbing any stairs. Soak up the peaceful ‘forest bath’ filled with fresh air, exotic tropical plants and frequent sightings of Formosan macaques.

Today is a free day for you to relax and enjoy as you like. This morning, you might like to check out Baishawan Beach – one of the best beaches in Taiwan. This bay, renowned for its white sandy beach, is less developed compared to other beaches in Kenting, offering a more tranquil environment. Spend the rest of the day however you like – maybe explore the town, take on some water sports or ask your leader for their best recommendations based on your interests.