Private 2-Day Northern Coast Explorer Small-group Tour from Taipei

Meet your tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby, and then embark on your adventure to Taiwan’s northern and northeastern coast.

Your 2-day trip starts with a joyful ride along Shuangwan Bikeway (8km), a seaside boardwalk for cycling that starts from Qianshui Bay and ends at Baishawan Beach, , the locals’ beloved place for a summer escape. The bikeway unleashes the charm of the coastline between Sanzhi District and Shimen District, you can capture the intertidal zone, the ventifacts, Baishawan Beach Visitor Center, and the gorgeous Instagrammable spot—Zhilan Park along the way.

Baishawan Beach Visitor Center is a green building under the concept of eco-friendly and disabled-friendly, which won an award in Svayam Accessibility Awards 2018 for “Most Accessible Tourist Attraction Site”. The original building was built in the 1980s, after a refurbishment and expansion, the visitors now can walk along the terrain to the grassland on the rooftop, as if it is a tree or rock that integrates with the land, blurring the line between landscape and architecture.

The next stop on the tour is Fugui Cape Lighthouse, the northernmost lighthouse in Taiwan. The original octagonal iron structure was built in 1897 and ruined during World War II. In 1962, the present cement lighthouse was built and made in black and white colors in order to be observed easily by the vessels. Because of the climate instability during winter and fall, the lighthouse has a foghorn to warn the vessels in foggy condition, playing a crucial role in protecting vessels and mariners. Additionally, every year during mid April to mid May, the setting sun provides the photographers a rare photo opportunity to capture a mind-blowing view of the sun falling on the lighthouse.

Lunch will be served at Chuen Jin Seafood Restaurant. The restaurant was opened in the early 90s, since then, the owner has always adhered to the business philosophy of mutual trust, serving the freshest seafood to the guests every day.

After lunch you will visit Yehliu Geopark, one of the premier attractions in the northern coast of Taiwan, also the home to a number of unique rock formations caused by wind and sea, such as the mushroom rocks, the chessboard rock, the trace fossils and all that.

The most famous rock formation is the iconic “Queen’s Head”, a mushroom rock that resembles the profile of England’s Queen Elizabeth. Besides the Queen’s Head, other remarkable formations such as the Sea Candles, the Fairy Shoe, the Ginger Rocks, the Elephant Rock, the Ice Cream Rock, the Kissing Rock, and the Princess’ Head, are worth taking a look at.

After Yehliu Geopark, your tour continues with a visit to Vasai Fishing Village. Unlike the historic relics and old streets in other places, here the houses were built with coral stones. In the past, the coral stone houses are commonly seen in the fishing villages, which were built with materials found in the coastal area such as coral, soil, shells, sandstones, etc. With the help of the member of regional revitalization team, you will take a deep dive into the life and history of the fishermen in Taiwan’s northern coast, and explore the Vasai Residence which has a hundred years of history. The residence was mainly built with woods, and the walls were contracted with bricks in a herringbone pattern; now it is used to exhibit the fishing equipment and household items in the early time.

After checking in at the hotel, you will have buffet dinner in the hotel’s in-house restaurant, which provides the guests with healthy foods prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients purchased from local suppliers.

After dinner, enjoy a cozy and comfy stay at inHouse Hotel Yehliu. The hotel is located Wanli District, near Yehliu Geopark and Guihou Fishing Harbor. It was rated as the most beautiful hotel in northern Taiwan, which allows the guests to enjoy a spectacular coast view from their rooms. 

Overnight: Inhouse Hotel Yehliu, New Taipei City or equivalent

After a good night’s sleep, enjoy a substantial breakfast at the hotel before meeting up your tour guide to continue your 2-day tour to northern and northeastern coast.

The first stop on the day is a popular hiking trail in Taiwan’s northeastern coast, Longdong Bay Hiking Trail. The coastal rocks in this area resemble a giant crouching dragon, hence the name. This paved trail spans two major and ancient capes in the northeastern coast: Longdong Cape and Bitou Cape. Without uneven and rough terrain, the trail is suitable for everyone and offers a spectacular view of the sea landscape.

The next stop on the tour is the most popular swimming beach in the northeastern coast of Taiwan, Fulong Beach. It is also the designated venue of the annual summer event—Fulong International Sand Sculpture Arts Festival. Fulong Beach Recreational Walkway is a new-built public facility, which allows the visitors to take in the stunning beach scenery and enjoy the summer breeze while strolling over it.

Lunch will be served at a popular restaurant in Aodi, Chia-yi Seafood Restaurant. Without any fancy décor, the restaurant provides a simple and clean dining area, and serves their guests freshly cooked and delectable seafood. The signature dishes such as the poached squid, lobster sandwich, pineapple shrimp balls, etc. are highly recommended by the foodies.

After lunch, your tour continues with a visit to another hundred-year-old fishing village also an important cultural heritage, Maoao Fishing Village. This idyllic fishing village is surrounded by mountains on three sides, tranquil and peaceful. Because the village is not easily accessible, it has been able to retain its original features and preserve the century-old stone houses.

“Li-hai School” is a series of courses provided by the Maoao Community, aims to make fishing village tourism to serve as a sustainable mean of revitalizing the community, by imparting the traditional knowledge in fisheries, introducing Taiwan’s “Ama Culture” and Gelidium processing, etc. With the help of the member of regional revitalization team, you will have a deeper understanding of rural redevelopment and sustainable tourism.

The last stop of your 2-day tour a famous Buddhist monastery in northern Taiwan, Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society. The monastery is situated on a steep mountain cliff and facing Pacific Ocean, offering unrivaled panoramic views of the northeastern coast of Taiwan. At the entrance there is a giant gate named “the Gate of Heavenly Eyes”; the stone gate pillars on both sides are decorated with religious totems, and topped by a crosswise beam that resemble a pair of eagle eyes.

Before the end of the tour, you will experience a 9-minute Zen meditation at the monastery. According to the medical reports, Zen meditation not only gives people a peace of mind, but also brings positive impact on physical health, truly an activity for everyone. The “inner peace operation” comes from Zen meditation, advocating the idea of seeking peace and cherishing the earth through self-reflection and emotional regulation.

You will then head back to downtown Taipei and arrive in your hotel in the evening, marking the end of your 2-day trip in northern and northeastern Taiwan.