Taiwan

The older generation knows the island of Taiwan as Formosa, literally meaning “beautiful island”, a name given to it by Portuguese sailors first observing the island in the 16th century. However, only those who have actually visited know how appropriate this name is. Little known to most travelers, Taiwan is home to some amazing natural features. From the thick and ancient forests covering the highlands, to amazing sand beaches, and the world’s highest concentration of thermal hot springs, Taiwan offers beautiful and diverse landscapes. All this natural beauty served as the backdrop to some of the most turbulent historical events East Asia has known. This relatively small island has been trampled by the boots of Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors, the Japanese aggressor, settlers sent by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and fragments of the Chinese Republican Army fleeing from the Red Army. Add to this the unique culinary traditions evolved on the island for generations, and all this makes Taiwan a great place for nature lovers, hikers, food lovers, and anyone looking to discover a place that is still relatively off the travel map.

Going on one of our Taiwan private tour packages you cannot ignore the always-present political reference to the love/hate relations between the island and the mainland, or between the Republic of China, and the People’s Republic of China. Though Taiwan is one of the Four Asian Tigers (a common term representing the highly developed free-market economies in Asia), it is clearly evident that the more momentum the mainland’s economy gains on one hand, and the stronger the ties are between the two countries on the other, the pressure increases on the country that once was a center of manufacture and trade. But on the positive side, the slower the economy is, there’s a much larger effort to bring in visitors from all over the world, and indeed, Taiwan is constantly improving infrastructure to make a trip through the island into a more of a pleasant experience, that would fit travelers of all ages, and with all fields of interest. Join one of our Taiwan private tours packages to indulge in a country like no other, to experience local food on vibrant night markets, hike along formidable marble cliffs, cruise over serene lakes, and hike through pristine forests and old tea farms.