Iconic landmarks, stunning natural landscapes, cultural encounters and historic temples - get beneath the surface of one of Asia’s hottest destinations.
TaipeiNational Palace MuseumSweet Potato Mama - social enterpriseDihua Street entrepreneur zoneChiang Kai-Shek Memorial HallHualienTaroko National ParkQingshui CliffDanong Dafu Forest ParkYilanKing Car DistilleryJiufenTurtle IslandSun Moon LakePuliChung Tai Chan MonasteryHugosum tea farmLukangLongshan TempleWanggongTaichung
Up to US $560 off selected dates. Late availability on these dates: 03 Sep, 09 Sep, 12 Oct, 15 Oct, 19 Oct, 21 Oct, 26 Oct, 29 Oct, 02 Nov, 04 Nov, 09 Nov, 12 Nov, 18 Nov
Responsible Travel was built out of a love of solo travel, and we want to share the joy of it with you.
Vacation information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, traveling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on vacation.
Reviews
2 Reviews of Taiwan small group vacation
4 out of 5 stars
SHOW
1
0
1
0
0
Reviewed on 01 May 2023 by Lieselot Wachters
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Evening markets Taroko Gorge Lukang Township Diverse activities
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Lots of free time to explore on your own
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Reviewed on 29 May 2019 by Eric Stead
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Kayaking on Sun Moon lake and the walk in Taroko gorgebe
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for a western level of infrastructure. Definitely a first world culture. Not a cheap place to visit.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefited local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Not as good as expected. Fell short of the description of trip. Only one and a half hours walk in Taroko gorge and no chance of free time to do other trails. Didn't do hot springs at Yilan. Would have been better to see Yehliu Geopark rather than yet another market at Jiufen ( no views cos of mist ). No chance to see the mangroves at Wanggong. We didn't actually pick oysters there and it was a waste of time. We needed a guided tour of the old quarter of Lukang in order to appreciate it. The noodles trip did not materialise either. All in all the trip wasn't quite as described. The guide, Irene, was excellent though.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your vacation to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, boasts one of the most efficient recycling systems in the world, and our leaders will explain how it works during our travelers’ initial welcome meeting. They will then understand best practise when it comes to waste disposal throughout the trip.
In a lot of the accommodation we stay in there are kettles available to use if passengers want to fill up their bottles with tea, coffee or water for the day. This dissuades them from buying bottled water in an attempt to decrease plastic waste.
Our leaders will also encourage travelers to purchase their own chopsticks to avoid using instant ones. Instant chopsticks are very common in lots of Taiwanese eateries and the plastic consumption and waste they create is substantial. As part of learning and adapting to Taiwanese food culture, it’s a great idea to carry a pair with you. Plus, they make a great souvenir to take back home!
People
On this trip, travelers will take part in the fun yet purposeful activity of selling sweet potatoes to locals on the street. The initiative is called the Sweet Potato Mama Project and helps single mothers live independently by allowing them to become vendors of these traditional Taiwanese root vegetables. This project is supported by the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation (GSWF), which has long been helping women to earn an independent living. We will help the mamas to sell their produce, get to know them and learn about their lives as they teach us how to roast sweet potatoes.
There are plenty more hands-on experiences included on this tour such as a visit to a local farm, a noodle making class and tea picking. In Taiwan’s smaller towns and cities, they face issues of labour loss because young people prefer to move to the bigger cities for a taste of modern life and better job opportunities.
Tourism definitely alleviates this issue somewhat and our group’s visit helps to support the local economy, retain their workforce and preserve the local traditions and culture too.
