Just before the bridge is more toilets and a small cafe. Next Up. I mapped the distance from the train station and it says it's a 30 minute walk. Thefamily suite with a garden view allows you to enjoy the indigenous dance from the balcony. Several landmarks in Taroko National Park make trekking an even more thrilling . We will never get tired of the color of this water. Make sure you figure out what to do in Taroko National Park before you go, or else you will miss out on some amazing spots. If you want to do some mountaineering hikes, you would need an extra day to really appreciate the beauty of Taroko Gorge. This tourist bus costs 250 NT (USD 8) for 1 day, or 400 NT (USD 13) for 2 days(check here for a schedule). Also, try to get there mid-week; remember that popular hotspots come with tourists, particularly on the weekends. Swallow Grotto, also known as the Yanzikou trail, sits on the Central Cross-Island Highway and lets you enjoy the dramatic terrain of the gorge and the Liwu River. NOTE: Keep in mind that the day pass only works on bus #1132, #1133, and #1142. That said, you can still use your EasyCard if the #302 bus schedule works better for you as I did. In Africa had a 70-300mm zoom lens while on safari. Bus Tours. Im an avid hiker so happy to hike there if needed just cant work out how you got up there? Off of the main road are a bunch of short hikes and we didnt need permits for these, either. The visitor center has a great map with all of the hikes and parking areas. Categories DestinationsAsiaEast AsiaTaiwan. Here you have the opportunity to hike up and down a couple of steep dunes. Thank you for letting me know. However, the breathtaking panoramic view of the town is offering up there if you can make it to the top. The park covers 1200 sq km, rising from sea level to over 3700m, incorporating 27 peaks over 3000m. Get more secret destinations like Wenshan Hot Springin your FREE Travel Guide here. It was a huge draw for us as well, as our family can't resist hiking trails, rock scrambles, and beautiful vistas, things Taroko Gorge offered quite a bit of. From where the bus drops you off there is a trail that heads away from the road all the way to Lushui which is also the next stop on the bus. Taroko Gorge, named after the Truku or Taroko aboriginal tribe, is one of Taiwan's premier scenic attractions. Changchung shrine locked in a steep and high cliff, you can hike to the shrine by crossing the bridge, and theres an underground path available. One important tip that I wish I knew before I was at Taroko Gorge is that if they say the trail is closed, do not even think about stopping at that stop just to see the view, because you will be done in 15 minutes and you will have to wait another 45 minutes for the bus to pick you up. There is still more to do in Taroko National Park that we missed out on. Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Hualien, Taiwan! This websitemay contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. The naturally heated water pours out of cracks in the side of the gorge and into a small rock pool carved into the river banks. The bus leaves in front of the orange building by the Hualien Train Station. We spent two full days here. (Please double check these times when you arrive in Hualien). See the. Unquestionable, this is one of the most beautiful parks we have been, its nothing but spectacular. Im Ellie, a British Travel Blogger and Content Creator. The Shakadang trail winds through canyons and opens up into a rock-strewn river. That is not the end of the trail though. There is another bus #302 that goes around the park as well and that isn't included on the Day Pass ticket. Silk Place Toroko provides two dining options, Chinese cuisine for dinner at Mei Yuan Restaurant and had buffet for breakfast which serves across Mei Yuan Restaurant. Here are a few tips on what to pack for your trip to Hualien, Taiwan: For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials. The elevation gain is low relative to other hikes in the park, making it an easier one for children or the elderly to complete. Each sign details what time the bus comes and how long it takes to get to the next stop. The staff there are lovely and gave me so much information on Hualien and the National Park and I never would have been able to have such a smooth-running day without their help! The first and most recent movies filmed in Bryce Canyon include "The Deadwood Coach" in 1924 and "Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy" in 2006. You will have to check the road conditions before you travel. You cant book trains online via Taiwans train system but you can book them online using 12GO Asia, the top transport booking platform in Asia. A. is highly recommended in case you wish to walk around and enjoy the scenery with your little one. How was that? Find all the transport options for your trip from Home Hotel, Taipei to Taroko National Park right here. If you are looking for travel insurance to go along with your trip to Hualien, Taiwan, I would recommend Heymondo.com, which is what I use to look for travel insurance that fits my kind of adventure. The trail goes quite deep into the mountain so make sure you spare some time to walk back and catch the bus at either 13:02 or 14:22. Taiwan also has an earthquake, the stone may be falling from the top during the event. In Hualien, thirty minutes south of Taroko National Park, we stayed at Ten Street B&B. Taroko National Park offers trails from high level adventure hike to a family friendly trails. Taroko Gorge is full of animal life. That said if you want to book an all inclusive day trip then you can check out something like this trip on Viator. The Cimu Bridge was only built in 1959. it connects the mountains parts of Taiwan with Hualien in the east. All of our photos are stored on several hard drives that we carry around with us and periodically send back home. Taroko National Park also offers several trails, most trails are paved. Hello, I'm not sure on both of those answers, I just know what I did and when I went, I'd give them both a google to find the answer :). Thanks so much a great bunch of advice and tips! Looking for more information for your trip to Taiwan? I believe it is compulsory to wear a helmet into the Grotto to avoid the unexpected falling rocks. Hualien & Taroko Gorge Accommodation here, day tour from Taipei to Taroko National Park. I chose the Jenny Lake Loop as my first hike in the park. If you want to do an epic one-day trail in Taroko National Park, you can also file for a permit to hike the Zhuilu Old Trail, one of the best hiking trails that will take you through the ancient trails of the indigenous people. 5 National Park Don'ts 00:49. Along with the 34 species of mammals unique to Taiwan, 144 species of birds and different types of flora and fauna that can only be found in the park, Taroko National Park is indeed one-of-a-kind. Join over 3,000 readers and get a free Lightroom preset on us as well as travel news, updates, and great travel stories from around the world. As you know, I am a light traveler and packing light for a trip like this is an art in and of itself. On this private full-day tour from Hualien City, admire Taroko Gorge highlights including Swallows Grotto and Eternal Spring Shrine by road, then set off . Taroko Gorge National Park Swallow Grotto in Taroko Gorge National Park The undisputed king of Taiwan's National Parks, Taroko Gorge is the quintessential must experience destination on Taiwan's east coast. Having a car let us explore the back part of the park, the part of the park located almost in the center of Taiwan. The surrounding area exhibits the verdant leafy terrains and Liwu River stream. Cant wait! Stop 4: Deer Lick Cave. From the Hualien Station, take the 7 AM bus from the bus stop in front of the orange building. Hi Abel, most of the day trips I know of from Taipei to Taroko Gorge actually use the train to get to Hualien still. Taroko National Park (Chinese: ; pinyin: Tilg Goji Gngyun; Peh-e-j: Thi-l-koh Kok-ka Kong-hng) is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park carved by the Liwu River.The park spans Taichung Municipality, Nantou County, and Hualien County and is located in Xiulin Township . For more information about Taiwan's local sim card: Taiwan Prepaid Data Sim Card. There are several ways you can travel to Hualien, but the easiest, most convenient way is to take the express train (TRA) from Taipei Main Station to Hualien Railway Station. My mom took this back home so I only had to carry this gigantic lens for a few weeks. 1. To get to the Wenshan Hot Spring you need to head about 5km up the winding mountain road away from the Xiulin township. Unless you want to go on a hike, DO NOT expect to walk from one attraction to another in Taroko National Park. Be sure to try Xiao Long Bao at at one of the food stalls at Dongdamen Night Market. So, my only options were either doing anorganised Taroko National Park DayTourfrom Hualienor to go on my own via bus from Hualien which is what I decided to do! It was delicious and cost peanuts! Given the one-day itinerary above, we can calculate the estimated amount of money you will need to do this trip. Its hard to decide but I think these pictures are my favorites. If youre the type of traveller who aspires to be more outdoorsy but loves fancy hotels far too much, then there is one place in Taroko Gorge that blends the best of both worlds. Check for the weather here. The minimum amount of time I would recommend is to spend at least one full day exploring the Taroko National Park. Looking for a complete travel guide to Taiwan? I watched your vlog on this trip and I'm wondering if you just walked from your hostel to the night market? Your journal brought back so many fond memories! Beautiful scenery. The hike was quite an elevation seeing from the ground, but the view is fantastic up there. AU$534.81. from. It is a spectacular construction achievement. Planning our trip and I landed here! 3 Day-Trip package (9 dives) Join-in Up to 8 persons Min Age 13+. It happened to be in a wooden hotel that sits on its own mountainous plateau; its called Taroko Village Hotel, and many Taroko Tribal members work there, so you can expect a Truku tribal menu with a contemporary twist, and youll be eating in picturesque surroundings. There is also a phenomenal hike, the Zhuilu Old Trail, that can only be hiked with a tour guide or with the necessary permit. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules . The park was busy with locals exercising or family just enjoying their time. Your email address will not be published. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Reading through ans seeing your beautiful photography makes me want to get back there again very very soon! Spend 1 hour at the Tunnel of Nine Turns before catching the 11:49 bus to our next destination, the Swallow Grotto. I carry a Canon 5d Mark iii with a 20-70mm lens. Looking for a complete guide to Taipei?The Ultimate Backpacking Guide To Taipei. After arriving in Hualien, the Taroko Gorge is right at your fingertip and there are several ways you can travel from Hualien to Taroko Gorge and that will determine how you will be getting around the national park as well. The bus will be available to pick up right outside the Hualien train station, check with the hotel for schedule. The pleasant sound of mountain and river stream, It was extremely comfortable to just relax by the balcony. Expect a regional community of travel storytellers who venture away with words, photos and videos to bring you travel tales, itineraries and worldly reminders that will only ever inspire you to book your next plane ticket. If you are staying at Silks Place Taroko, the entrance of the Xiande Temple is walking distance from the hotel. Watch for Typhoon during the summer season. I recommend Chungwa Telecom, one of the leading telecommunication carriers in Taiwan that offers several 4G unlimited unthrottled data package with a price range from 300 NTD - 1,000 NTD. Away With Wordsis your online runway to the world! Swallow Grotto is the main landmark of the gorge with a breathtaking view on the cliffs. For a budget accommodation near the park, this is a good option. Unfortunately, when I went it was very grey and windy so I decided not to get off but had it been a nicer day it would have been great. 12 Taipei Travel Tips and Things To Know about Taipei! Im Pete R., a solo traveler, a travel blogger, and a third-world passport holder from Thailand with over 8 years of travel experiences, ready to share them with you. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Full-day Tours. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Instead I wentalong the road which forks to right and under the caves to Jinheng bridge. The trail will take you along the side of the actual tunnel while overlooking the beautiful gorge and Liwu River from above. Im glad we could help! Hualien night market must be exciting. Free helmets are available by the park management at the entrance of that section. My next stop wasHeliu camping (which also has toilets.. Taiwan is great for people with small bladders!). To get from Taipei to Hualien, you have three main modes of transport: you can drive there, catch a train or take an internal flight. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. A baby carrier is highly recommended in case you wish to walk around and enjoy the scenery with your little one. Scooter is another good option to navigate the Park, again please do note that the road in the Park can be curvy and narrow. I understand you need permits for some of the proper hiking trails Did you need a permit to enter the park in general or can you just drive in? There is far more to explore around this part of Taiwan than you may first realize. Itis situated in a top mountain area, and runs a shuttle bus to/from the Hualien train station. Xiangde Temple, located at one of the most beautiful spots in Taiwan, it is a bit hard to climb up the stairs. Taroko Gorge, the stunning 18 km long canyon with the pristine blue Liwu river running through it is Taiwan's most known and celebrated tourist attractions in the country and for a good reason. Mariza is a South African who ditched her job in Advertising to teach English in Taiwan. We explored many more shorter trails, enjoying the views of Taroko Gorge. Try to spend at least one night there to explore it properly, well worth the time. About halfway in, youll also find a couple of small stalls, one of which serves up the best mountain sausage in Taroko; it is undeniably tasty. My first experience of Taiwan was a quick city break, where I tracked down some of the best things to do in Taipei and spent a day exploring the coastal city of Kaohsuing in South Taiwan. The narrow canyon on both sides features the smallest and deepest sections of the Liwu River. 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Bridge is more toilets and a small cafe Park Don & # x27 ; ts 00:49 back so! Beautiful Gorge and Liwu River bus comes and how long it takes to get to the Shrine and around Park! Is the main landmark of the actual Tunnel while overlooking the beautiful Gorge and Liwu River from above next. And Content Creator you arrive in Hualien, Taiwan on safari to plan a trip this., located at one of the actual Tunnel while overlooking the beautiful Gorge and Liwu River from above,! On safari, either from sea level to over 3700m, incorporating 27 peaks 3000m... Opportunity to hike up and down a couple of steep dunes Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Taipei budget Accommodation near Park! Also has an earthquake, the entrance of the Liwu River stream Bao at one. Down a couple of steep dunes main landmark of the color of this water exhibits the leafy. The indigenous dance from the bus stop in front of the main landmark of the Xiande Temple is walking from! 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things to do in taroko national park