Cycle: 38 km / 23 miles

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll set off from our accommodation and cycle through Hualien, making our way to the serene rice fields of the East Rift Valley. Here, we’ll pause for lunch by a picturesque lake, enjoying fresh, locally sourced food.

Our journey continues with a fantastic, mostly flat ride, following meandering rivers and tracing the base of an impressive mountain range. By late afternoon, we’ll arrive at a charming bed and breakfast offering breathtaking panoramic views of the valley and distant mountains.

Cycle: 67km / 42 miles

Today we’ll continue to follow the East Rift Valley, where mountains flank you. Ride alongside rice paddies and tropical fruit farms, past the Tropic of Cancer marker and meandering rivers, and sample locally grown tea in Wuhe. Honey Black Tea is the premium choice in this part of Taiwan. Plus, the view here is definitely worth stopping for a nice brew.

There’s also a beautiful nature park along the way we’ll visit if you’d like, the aptly named butterfly valley (the best time to see them is March-August) for a short walk over a crystal clear river.

We’ll lunch at a local Hakka restaurant, so you can try more of the fresh and delicious food this region offers, and then finish today’s ride at our hot spring hotel, where you can relax and unwind in the hot spring or a cool, crystal clear creek. Or enjoy jumping from one to the other like a happy Swede! The people, that is, not the vegetable.

Cycle: 70km / 44 miles

From the hotel, we’ll ride through the richest rice-growing area in Taiwan (where the country’s highest quality rice comes from, according to many Taiwanese) and pass agricultural villages and townships where time is marked by seasons and harvest celebrations.

As we descend through jungle-covered hills towards the coast, we’ll cycle through prime monkey habitat, where it’s common to see family troupes relaxing on the surrounding cliffsides.

Once on the coast, we’ll also stop for some famed local baozi (steamed buns) before finishing at our nearby accommodation, with a mountain backdrop and ocean views. There’s also a set of stairs across the road heading down to a beautiful, big empty beach - a stunning spot on the coast to admire the views.

Cycle: 50km / 31 miles

After a delicious breakfast, we’ll take a quick drive for a relaxing soak in a hot spring overlooking a national park known for its large swallowtail butterflies and white banyan trees.

There’s also a great (optional) short hike available. From here, we’ll cycle alongside the Pacific Ocean and numerous Buddha Head fruit (aka custard apple) farms and onto Dawu Harbor for a great meal and overnight at a delightful, home-style bed and breakfast.

This ride is one for the books, cycling along a beautiful hot spring valley and beside the Pacific in one day.

Cycle: 42km / 26 miles (+ optional 22km / 14 miles)

Following breakfast, we’ll jump in the van and head further down the coast (bypassing a section of road now frequented by heavy trucks and buses due to recent road changes) and up into the Southern mountain ranges.

At the peak, we’ll jump onto the bikes, enjoy a beautiful ride down the hills, and continue on peaceful roads that run right next to the vast blue Pacific.

Saying this ride has stunning views barely does it justice. We’ll stop by a secluded harbour and beach, which are perfect for a dip. We can finish here or continue riding for another 22km / 14 miles (if you’d like) through the coastal hills, ending at an agricultural village for lunch. We’ve also the option of heading to a secluded waterfall and swimming hole (and butterfly haven) close by if you’d like some freshwater serenity.

We’ll then drive to our accommodation tonight at South Bay, with Nanwan Beach across the road. You can enjoy watching the sun set into the ocean from the golden sands or the picturesque rooftop terrace.

The south of Taiwan is often compared to Hawaii, with beautiful beaches and warm water, and no wonder, as it’s almost on the same latitude.

While today is a no-riding (unless you want to?) rest day, many optional extra activities are available. We're happy to organize anything for you; surf lessons, SCUBA, stand-up paddle lessons & snorkelling, as well as visits to the aquarium, plus numerous beaches. There are also hot & cold springs, national park hikes, a lighthouse, and morning and night market trips.

Of course, you're also welcome to stroll Nanwan beach across the road, rent an umbrella and chairs and have swims, naps and build sandcastles all day!

There's a fantastic array of western and local food in the area, from French to Vietnamese, pizza, dumplings, traditional beef noodles and a host of excellent traditional southern Taiwanese food.

And we're happy to drive you to any of the activities or food options you'd like to experience today – we're here to make your holiday the best, and we love showing you this tropical paradise.

Cycle: 56 km / 35 miles - Mostly flat

A magic ride today, starting and finishing from our accommodation. We’ll cycle towards Hengchun National Park, complete with a beautiful tree-lined climb and descent, then past beautiful bays and sandy beaches.

We’ll cycle to the most southerly point of Taiwan, Baisha beach (used for a filming location in the Life Of Pi movie), a stunning lookout from which you can see most of the peninsula and southern mountain range. Onto the best seafood restaurant for a fantastic lunch, then a quick ride back to the hotel where you can relax and watch the sunset from the beach or the terrace - it’s a tough decision.