From vibrant night markets to mountain tea houses shrouded in mist, Taiwan rewards travellers willing to look a little deeper with a rich tapestry of culture, character and authentic experiences.
For many travellers, the island nation remains something of a mystery, often overshadowed by Japan, China and South Korea.
InsideAsia by Inside Travel is hoping to change that.
The specialist tailor-made operator has launched its first collection of fully customisable FIT itineraries designed to take travellers beneath the surface of Taiwan, revealing a destination shaped by Indigenous heritage, dramatic landscapes and one of Asia’s most vibrant culinary scenes.
For travel advisors, it’s a timely opportunity to introduce clients to a destination that works as a standalone cultural escape, a natural add-on to Japan or South Korea itineraries, or an immersive stopover en route to Europe.
A destination in its own right
Echoes of Japan can be found in the island’s hot spring culture and high-speed rail network, while centuries of Chinese heritage are woven through its festivals, cuisine and the extraordinary collection of almost 700,000 imperial artefacts housed in Taipei’s National Palace Museum.
But Taiwan’s story begins long before either. Indigenous peoples have inhabited the island for thousands of years, and successive periods of Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese rule have each added new layers to the nation’s cultural fabric.
It’s this complexity that InsideAsia’s new itineraries seek to uncover. Rather than viewing Taiwan through the lens of its neighbours, travellers are encouraged to experience it through the people who call it home.
Whether that’s sharing breakfast with a local guide over youtiao (donuts) dipped into warm soy milk, chatting with artisans preserving the ancient craft of movable type printing or sending wishes floating into the evening sky on glowing lanterns, the focus remains firmly on everyday slices of local life.
A taste of Taiwan
One of the best ways to experience any destination is on a plate.
Taiwan’s unique cuisine blends elements from Chinese and Japanese culinary traditions with distinctly local flavours. Think steaming bowls of beef noodle soup, skewers coated in spiced fried chicken and buttery cakes filled with sweet pineapple jam.
Taiwan is also the birthplace of bubble tea, sweet milk tea topped with chewy tapioca pearls that has taken the world by storm.
InsideAsia’s tailor-made journeys allow travellers to wander Taipei’s bustling night markets in search of pork pepper buns, xiao long bao soup dumplings and deep-fried sweet potato balls dusted with salty plum seasoning.
Those with more adventurous palates can sample stinky tofu – bite-sized cubes of bean curd fermented in brine.
Beyond Taipei
While Taipei serves as the natural introduction to Taiwan, InsideAsia’s itineraries take travellers well beyond the capital.
In rural Pinglin, generations of oolong tea growers share the traditions that have shaped the region for decades.
Further south, Yilan delights with hot springs, traditional indigo dyeing workshops and opportunities to harvest scallions before turning them into one of Taiwan’s signature pancakes.
On the east coast, Hualien delivers laid-back coastal charm and rugged mountain adventures in equal measure. Exploring the marble valleys of Taroko Gorge alongside a personal guide is a surefire highlight.
Sun Moon Lake offers a slower pace, where travellers can cycle trails that hug the shoreline, paddleboard across calm waters and visit the colourful terraces of Wenwu Temple.
In the mountains of Alishan, high-altitude tea plantations produce some of Taiwan’s most celebrated oolong teas. Early risers can watch the famous ‘sea of clouds’ roll across thick cypress forests.
In Kaohsiung, former shipping warehouses have been transformed into a creative precinct and ornate Buddhist temples bring unexpected colour to the city’s skyline.
Travel deeper with InsideAsia
Rather than rushing between headline attractions, InsideAsia builds its itineraries around each traveller.
Whether clients are seeking a short stopover exploring Taiwan’s cultural highlights, a family adventure filled with hands-on experiences, or a slow-travel escape in nature, each trip is entirely tailored to individual interests.
What’s more, Inside Travel Group’s specialist expertise across the region means travellers can easily combine Taiwan with Japan through sister brand InsideJapan, or continue on to South Korea, creating a seamless multi-country itinerary that showcases the distinct personality of each destination.
Because while traces of neighbouring cultures are certainly present, Taiwan is far more than ‘the next Japan’. Its welcoming people, world-class cuisine and breathtaking landscapes make it a destination unlike anywhere else in Asia.
