Hualien Lodge
Lodge
Days 1, 2
East coast — 8 days (Hualien, Qingshui, Rift Valley, Taitung & Green Island)
Eight days from Hualien to the southern cape. Eight days with all rail, both Green Island ferries and a rift valley homestay.
Meridian Overland
Runs this trip
Trekking
Eight days from Hualien to the southern cape
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
HualienEight days down the east coast — cliffs into the Pacific, a rift valley between two ranges, and an island that was a political prison. Qingshui cliffsThe cliffs drop about a thousand metres to the sea and the old highway was cut into them. YuliThe East Rift Valley sits between the Central Range and the Coastal Range, and the Tropic of Cancer runs across it — there is a marker…
Itinerary
Eight days down the east coast — cliffs into the Pacific, a rift valley between two ranges, and an island that was a political prison.
HualienHow the day runs
- 3 hrsThe express down the coast from Taipei
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationHualien Lodge
Included Activities
- Rail from Taipei
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Hualien Dongdamen market Pacific Start point Hualien, Hualien railway station 00:00 - 23:59The cliffs drop about a thousand metres to the sea and the old highway was cut into them. Seeing them from a boat is the only way to see the scale.
Hualien, QingshuiHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:00 AM — north up the Suhua highway
- 3 hrs11:00 AM — the cliffs from the water, and whales in season
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationHualien Lodge
Included Activities
- Boat with a naturalist
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Qingshui cliffs Suhua highway Pacific The East Rift Valley sits between the Central Range and the Coastal Range, and the Tropic of Cancer runs across it — there is a marker on the road.
Hualien, Rift ValleyHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:00 AM — south to Yuli
- 5 hrs9:30 AM — the valley floor by bicycle
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationRift Valley Retreat
Included Activities
- Rail and bike hire
- Homestay in the valley
LANDMARKS Yuli Brown Boulevard Rice terraces Tropic of Cancer marker Green Island held political prisoners through the White Terror, and the Oasis Villa prison is now a human rights memorial you can walk through.
Rift Valley, Taitung, Green IslandHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:30 AM — south to the coast
- 1 hrs1:00 PM — the ferry out, which is rough
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationGreen Island Lodge
Included Activities
- Ferry
- Guesthouse on Green Island
LANDMARKS Green Island White Terror memorial Zhaori hot spring Zhaori is one of very few saltwater hot springs anywhere — seawater heated geothermally, in pools on the rocks at the tide line.
Green IslandHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — snorkelling the reef
- 5:00 PM — Zhaori, one of three saltwater hot springs in the world
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationGreen Island Lodge
Included Activities
- Snorkel gear and guide
- Hot spring entry
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Zhaori hot spring Green Island reef Oasis Villa The South Link road crosses the bottom of the Central Range and is one of the best drives in Taiwan.
Green Island, Taitung, KentingHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:00 AM — back to the mainland
- 3 hrs11:00 AM — south along the South Link highway
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationKenting House
Included Activities
- Ferry and transport
- Guesthouse at Kenting
LANDMARKS South Link highway Kenting Eluanbi Sheding is a coral reef pushed above sea level and colonised by forest — you walk through fissures in what was seabed.
KentingHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:30 AM — Sheding uplifted coral forest and Eluanbi point
- 4:00 PM — Longpan grassland for the light
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKenting House
Included Activities
- Park entries
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Sheding Nature Park Eluanbi lighthouse Longpan Uplifted coral Zuoying to Taipei is ninety minutes on the high-speed line.
Kenting, HualienHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — to Zuoying for the HSR
- 2 hrs10:30 AM — north to Taipei
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Transfer and rail to Taipei
- Day 1Rail from Taipei
- Day 1Guesthouse night
- Day 2Boat with a naturalist
- Day 3Rail and bike hire
- Day 3Homestay in the valley
- Day 4Ferry
- Day 4Guesthouse on Green Island
- Day 5Snorkel gear and guide
- Day 5Hot spring entry
- Day 6Ferry and transport
- Day 6Guesthouse at Kenting
- Day 7Park entries
- Day 8Transfer and rail to Taipei
- Day 1 · 2 nightsHualien Lodge
- Day 3 · 1 nightRift Valley Retreat
- Day 4 · 2 nightsGreen Island Lodge
- Day 6 · 2 nightsKenting House
- Day 1Hualien to HualienThe express down the coast from Taipei
- Day 2Hualien to Qingshui8:00 AM — north up the Suhua highway
- Day 3Hualien to Rift Valley8:00 AM — south to Yuli
- Day 4Rift Valley to Taitung8:30 AM — south to the coast
- Day 4Taitung to Green Island1:00 PM — the ferry out, which is rough
- Day 6Green Island to Taitung8:00 AM — back to the mainland
- Day 6Taitung to Kenting11:00 AM — south along the South Link highway
- Day 8Kenting to Kenting8:00 AM — to Zuoying for the HSR
- Day 8Kenting to Hualien10:30 AM — north to Taipei
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Rift Valley Retreat
Hotel
Day 3
Green Island Lodge
Lodge
Days 4, 5
Kenting House
Hotel
Days 6, 7
What you'll eat
7 breakfasts and 5 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
- BreakfastServed on days 2–8
12 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.9/5
Based on 11 reviews
Review summary
Food4.5/5
Guide4.5/5
Itinerary4.7/5
Transport4.7/5
Accommodation4.5/5
Tour operator4.5/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
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Tom Bergman – Melbourne2025-10-10 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Rooms were basic in the best way — dry, warm, and right where we needed them.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
A
Aditi Rao – Chennai2025-10-10 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Lodges along the way were simple and comfortable enough after a long day. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – London2025-10-10 · Verified booking
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. The teahouses were warm and the beds were fine after eight hours walking. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Would book with them again.
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5
D
Dev Chatterjee – Kochi2025-10-10 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought.
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5
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Nagpur2025-10-10 · Verified booking
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. The teahouses were warm and the beds were fine after eight hours walking. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude.
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5
R
Rohit Verma – Ahmedabad2025-01-06 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Lodges along the way were simple and comfortable enough after a long day. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy.
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5
R
Rahul Menon – Pune2025-01-06 · Verified booking
Eastern Taiwan in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Crew were professional without being stiff about it. Would book with them again.
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4
R
Rahul Menon – Ahmedabad2025-01-06 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →