Top Things to do in Hualien
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Things to do in Hualien, Hualien: The Best Bus Tours
Most people come to Hualien to visit the Taroko Gorge. And with good reason—it's simply beautiful. With rope bridges over rivers, hiking trails with astounding views, and temples cut into the mountainsides, it's an unforgettable place. Feel the full power of the ocean at Shihtiping, a two-hour drive from Hualien, where the waves crash into the rocky shore.
Restaurants in Hualien
1. Private Hualien East Coast Full-Day Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Enjoy the best of both worlds in this day tour that brings you to explore the most scenic coastal route in Taiwan (Highway 11), and wander valleys bordered by mountain ranges (East Rift Valley). Highway 11 is often referred to as the most beautiful road to drive along in the whole of Taiwan with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the coastal mountain ranges on the other. Flanked by the Central mountain ranges to the west and the Coastal mountain ranges to the east, the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area reminds one of a realm hidden away from the rest of the world.
Inclusions: Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Fuel and tolls, Hualien City pick-up & drop off, Hiking stick and safety helmet, Bottled water
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Lunch, Gratuities
Reviewed By heatherfW5417UM
We booked a private day tour with Jeff and loved it! Jeff is really nice, knowledgeable, and professional and speaks really good English. My 7 year old daughter was along for the tour and had no problem keeping up. The trails were easy but really pretty. We had a great day and would highly recommend this tour.
2. Hike Zhuilu Old Trail in Taroko Gorge (Small Group/Private/Self-guided options)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
If you are looking for some challenges and take your tour in Taroko Gorge to the next level, Zhuilu Old Trail is definitely where you should visit. Visitors are allowed to walking on the cliff path to have an astonishing view of the gorge. The tour guide will keep you company to explain the history and take great pictures at the best shooting spots. There is a daily capacity on the number of visitors, and it requires permits for hiking this breathtaking trail. We are able to take care of everything and let you have peace of mind planning your trip.
Inclusions: All the needed permits, Fuel surcharge, Driver/Local English-speaking guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (within Hualien City), Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Safety Helmets
Exclusions: Food and drinks (please prepare snack for lunch), Entrance fee (NT$ 200 per person), Gratuities
Reviewed By free_wonders
My partner and I went to Hualien for a week of hiking. We booked Meet My Guide for the hiking in Datong and Dali area in Taroko National Park. It was two days hike with one night spent in an aboriginal accommodation. The whole experience is very pleasant and hassle free: Wei, our guide, picked us up from our hotel in the morning before the trip started. He knows the route well, arranged the permit for us and also kindly prepared some snacks for the journey. The hike was challenging but fun. You would see many beautiful mountain landscape, have the chance to dip into the rock pool for a swim, chat with local/aboriginal people, see the stunning sunset and sunrise close to the accommodation, not mention the delicious home-cooked dinner and breakfast! If you enjoy hiking and wants to experience the national park more than the typical landmark, it is a must-do!
3. Cycling: Taiwan King of Mountain(KoM) Challenge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Popularly known as KoM, this is a legendary cycling route spanning 105km with a 3,275m elevation gain, and one of the top "must-do" rides for avid cyclists in Taiwan. Starting from Hualien City, this challenging one-day adventure will pass through the breathtaking sights of Taroko National Park, features steep ascents and winding roads, and ends at the summit of Hehuan mountain. During the trip, you will have support by van escort, and a bicycle mechanic. There will also be pit stops along the way should you need to rest.
Inclusions: Fuel surcharge, Snacks & Sports Beverages, Hotel pickup & Hotel drop off (Hualien City only), Support Van, Shuttle to/from accommodation in Hualien City
Exclusions: Accommodation, Gratuities, Cycling Gear (Shoes, Helmet etc), Bicycle (Road Bike Rental available on request)
Reviewed By heatherfW5417UM
We booked a private day tour with Jeff and loved it! Jeff is really nice, knowledgeable, and professional and speaks really good English. My 7 year old daughter was along for the tour and had no problem keeping up. The trails were easy but really pretty. We had a great day and would highly recommend this tour.
4. 2-Day Qingjing & Hehuan Mountain Tour from Taipei
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Qingjing Farm, also widely known as the Alps of Taiwan, is the place that "elevates" you away from the busy city life. Surround yourself by fresh and crispy air, lush forests, and flocks of sheep on the grasslands. Enjoy overnight stay in tranquil Cingjing under starry sky. Complete this tour with a refreshing hiking on the roof of the island.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Air-conditioned vehicle, Professional tour guide, Admission fee and entrance ticket included in the itinerary, 1-night B&B accommodation, Insurance
Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch, Dinner
Reviewed By carsiaalik
From Nanya Rocks to Jiufen, overall amazing experience! Worth the price and the view is just incredible. Would reccomend it to those that just wants to get away for a fresh breath of air and walk around historic sites. Our tour guide Tony was very helpful and nice!!
5. Private Full Day Taroko Gorge Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 42 reviews
Enjoy a one-day 【Private Tour】exploring the majestic mountains of Taroko National Park with an experienced local guide. You will explore the magnificent Qingshui Cliff in the morning, trekking in Shakadang trail along the crystal clear river, visiting the Eternal Spring Shrine as if we were walking into a Chinese painting, strolling the most stunning spot Swallow Grotto and learning interesting stories from your knowledgeable private tour guide. After enjoying the local aboriginal cuisine, you’ll continue exploring Taroko. You will stop at Cimu Bridge and appreciate the most amazing view in the park, walking in Nine Turns Tunnel to see Liwu River has cut deep into the marble, carving out sheer cliffs that tower overhead. Finally, tour ends at Qixingtan, a pebble beach that is considered the most iconic spot in Hualien. This is a flexible and private trip suitable for every age.
Inclusions: Entrance fees to sites listed in itinerary, Private English-speaking guide, Transport by air-conditioned vehicle, Bottle water , Fuel surcharge
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By petitelily01
這是我們半年內第二次找陳先生做包車旅遊，每次的經驗都很棒。陳先生專業且誠懇，之後去花蓮需要包車還是會再找他。 Ivan is very professional and sincere. We've had two customized tours with Ivan and will absolutely book another tour with him again in the future when visiting Hualien.
6. One-day trip to Taroko National Park in Hualien, Taiwan
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Taroko National Park is known for its majestic, nearly vertical marble gorge landscape. Along the gorge landscape of Liwu Creek, you can see thousands of cliffs, cliffs, canyons, winding tunnels, Dali rock formations and streams. The waterfall is an important landscape of Taroko National Park. From the Tarokokou to the Wenshan, there are quite a few waterfalls. The most famous ones are the Baiyang Waterfall, the Silver Belt Waterfall, the Changchun Waterfall, the Green Water Waterfall, and many other unknown waterfalls. Yanzikou and Jiuqu Cave are the most exciting natural wonders of the Taroko Gorge. They are also the narrowest two sections of the canyon. There are pedestrian trails on the side of the river for visitors to enjoy. Many small caves can be seen on the marble cliffs on the other side of the swallow's mouth. Whenever it is spring and summer, there are often small swifts and Swallows singing and singing between the cliffs, or nesting in the caves, hence the name Yanzikou. The tunnel landscape of the Jiuqu Cave, such as the back of the intestines and the song of the river, allows visitors to enjoy the canyon scenery along the twists and turns of the semi-dark and semi-dark routes. In addition, the Taroko Archway is a small Chinese-style archway, which is a popular attraction for the commemoration of the commemoration; the Changchun Temple is dedicated to commemorating the demolition of the staff in the middle of the building, standing in the green valley, flying waterfalls and diarrhea , which constitutes a color tuned landscape. The hero of the road is always accompanied by green mountains and green waters.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Lunch
7. Private Tour: Taroko Gorge Day Tour From Taipei (English Speaking Driver)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
• Full-day tour of Taroko Gorge, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Asia with a private driver • Sit back and relax inside a modern air conditioned vehicle as you explore the marble cliffs and more than 30 tunnels of the Taroko Gorge • Feel safe in the hands of your experienced English speaking driver throughout the entire journey • Plan your own itinerary and let your driver find the easiest routes to get you to where you want to be • Experience the captivating site of Eternal Spring Shine, one of the most-photographed sites in Taroko National Park
Inclusions: Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle, Hotel pickup and drop-off (Please indicate your hotel address), Gas, Tolls and Parking fee
Exclusions: Meals and Accommodation, Admission tickets, Gratuities (Optional)
Reviewed By petermU9985SJ
Our tour started with a taxi driver (Andy Yu) turning up at our hotel 20 minutes before the tour was due to start and sending us a whatsapp message telling us he was waiting for us and a photo of his taxi. We were still getting ready, so this was an unwanted distraction.We were also expecting a private tour not a taxi so this was unexpected. Once we got into the taxi, the driver started ear-bashing us about how Ubers were illegal in Taiwan, and then he started to berate the "evil, corrupt, Chinese government". This was the last thing we wanted, we just wanted a nice tour, not a lecture about ubers or politics, so we asked him to stop the political discussions. He took us to the Yangmingshan mountains/fumaroles which were nice, but did not register when he entered the car park, so he could not leave it via the automated gate/barrier. He walked back to the entrance barrier and tapped in, then tapped out straight away so we could leave, presumably this meant he didn't need to pay the parking fee. This seems to be a pattern during the day. He parked in no parking zones, he parked on the corners of intersections, he double parked and blocked motorcycles from getting out (more on this later), seemingly legal or paid parking spots were nogo zones for Andy. He was always travelling faster than the rest of the traffic on the road, throwing us from side to side on the winding mountain roads, we were always catching up to "slower cars", and then there were the extreme sudden breaking incidents when he realised he was coming up to a red light camera, too fast, and it was red. His sudden, hard breaking threw us forward with tremendous force at least twice. When he took us to the Beitou hotsprings, he (again parked illegally on a corner) and gave us directions of where to go, and where he would meet us later, turns out he's only a taxi driver, not a licensed tour guide, he was basically only there to drive the taxi, when he did try to explain things he was very difficult to understand, and we often had to ask him to repeat what he was saying to try and understand it. Also, he never locked the taxi, we asked numerous times, as our valuables were there, but he said things were never stolen from taxis, and it was safe, he had CCTV (which we later learned only captured the road when he was driving) and he was always watching the taxi. Well, he wasn't and as it turned out we lost a jacket. He blamed us, saying we must have dropped it when we got out, or left it somewhere on our walks etc. We had it when we got to Beitou, and it was gone when we got back from the next stop, which was a lunch stop. Later we realised this must have been where it was stolen. While Andy was talking to the food shop owner and explaining what we wanted (and not watching his taxi), a lady at the table next to us pointed back to the taxi, and uttered some Taiwanese that we didn't understand. Andy raced back to the taxi, and moved it out of the bikers way so they could leave, and told us the motorbikes he had blocked in when he double parked was what the lady was telling us. We think she was telling us the motorbike riders had stolen the jacket in anger, because they couldn't get out of their parking spot. When we got back into the taxi after lunch was when we realised the jacket was missing. He took us to Fort San Dominigo, and again, it was "there it is, be back here in 30 minutes" he isn't a licensed guide, so he couldn't come with us even if he wanted to. Same at Tamsiu Old St, he took us to one end, and said, "take your time, I'll be waiting at the MRT station at the other end of the street". All in all we did get to see a number of nice and interesting things, but this wasn't the private tour with English speaking guide, that we were expecting. Don't waste your money with this tour.
8. Private Taroko Gorge National Park Day Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Visit one of the seven wonders of Asia, Taroko Gorge on a day tour led by a local guide. The round transfer from Taipei to Taroko National Park is covered and you will be accompanied by your personal driver guide at most of the attractions and trails. The private tour also ensure you a more personal service due to it's flexibility.
Inclusions: Private & Air-conditioned vehicle, Passenger Insurance, Parking fees and Tolls, Personal driver guide, Bottled water
Exclusions: Food and drink
Reviewed By AJ2Penghu
I had a great day! My tour guide Cipher was very friendly and helpful and knew exactly the right places to go, at just the right time to see them, eg Avoiding the crowds at the Palace Museum and then later watching the sunset over Taipei city from xiang shan (Elephant Mountain) - Beautiful!
9. Full-Day Taroko Gorge Group Tour by Air
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Taroko in a Day is specifically designed for visitors pressed for time wanting to experience the majesty of one of Taiwan's most iconic, scenic spots. You'll fly out of Taipei at 7, meet your guide 50 minutes later and be stretching your legs beneath the towering Qing Shui Cliffs by 9 before heading into Taroko Gorge! As you wind your way through the gorge's scenic road you'll learn the area's history, legends and more before stopping for a brief hike along Shakadang trail. After lunch, you'll spend the afternoon visiting Swallow Grotto, Lushui Trail and Buluowan, three scenic areas offering different vantage points of the raging river below and majestic cliffs above. Finally, it's back to Hualien for dinner at the Dongmen night market before catching your flight back to Taipei in time for a nightcap. Valid passport required and comfortable shoes recommended.
Inclusions: Round-trip flight, Professional local guide, Lunch
Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Personal expenses, Gratuities
Reviewed By 619jeffry
Taiwan is a small island with lots to see. Many people would be inclined to hire a car and drive themselves, but this is not always a good idea in Taiwan. Taiwan is mountainous, it's topography is rarely easy to follow. Therefore, arranging a tour is worth considering. You can consult the friendly people at My Taiwan Tour Travel Services directly or arrange your own itinerary on-line
10. Taroko Gorge Classic Day Tour from Hualien City (Small Group or Private Tour)
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 175 reviews
[Small Group] This tour is operated in a "small group" of 2~8 pax. Compared to a large group, you won't waste too much time on each stop and a small group can be much more flexible that we can travel to some great local spots where tour bus cannot go. - [No Shopping] There is no commercial shopping stop on this tour. - [Safety & Safety] In Taroko Gorge, there might be some risk of falling rock but our tour guides are experienced, knows every potential risk in the gorge and make your trip safe and easy. - [Authentic Local Food] We will bring you to the local good restaurants for lunch or try local snacks during the trip. You will not only see the beautiful Taroko Gorge but also enjoy the great cuisine in this area. - [Local Tour Guide] The guide speak English and tell you the charming stories about Taroko and Taiwan. You will engage and know more about Taiwan from our local experts.
Inclusions: English-speaking tour guide, 2~8 people small group OR upgrade to a private tour, 8 hours duration, Pickup and drop-off in Hualien City, Safety helmet for Yanzihkou
Exclusions: Lunch & Meal (price is around US$ 8~25, depending on what you order), Train or flight ticket to Hualien (Arrange on your own), Accommodation, Gratuities
Reviewed By hungryagain
This tour was amazing. Vincent is an expert tour guide, able to deliver the gorgeous views while making it more meaningful by explaining the history in an understandable and captivating way. He made us comfortable and ensured that we had fun while learning about the places we visited. We highly recommend.
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